MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey has appointed Houston County Circuit Judge Brad Mendheim, Jr. to the Alabama Supreme Court. Ivey announced Friday that Mendheim will fill the seat held by Justice Glenn Murdock, who announced his resignation this year. Ivey’s office says Mendheim has served as a circuit judge since 2008 in...
U.S. Sen. Doug Jones made federal funding for the Children’s Heath Insurance Program, or CHIP, a centerpiece of his successful special election campaign. Even before the allegations of sexual abuse surfaced against opponent Roy Moore, Jones used CHIP to run circles around Moore, who awkwardly stumbled when asked about his position on the issue. Now, it...
By JAY REEVES, Associated Press CALERA, Ala. (AP) — Kathleen Dawn West described herself as a full-time wife and mom on Facebook but lived another life on other social media platforms, calling herself an exhibitionist and posting risque photos with a chance for subscribers to see sexier images for $15.99 a month. West, 42, was found...
By ANDREW TAYLOR and ALAN FRAM, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A bitterly divided Congress hurtled toward a government shutdown this weekend in a partisan stare-down over demands by Democrats for a solution on politically fraught legislation to protect about 700,000 younger immigrants from being deported. Democrats in the Senate have served notice they will filibuster...
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama’s unemployment rate is holding steady at a record low level. Gov. Kay Ivey’s office says the state’s jobless rate was 3.5 percent in December. That’s the same as November, when the state matched its all-time low for unemployment. Ivey’s office says the December rate means nearly 2.1 million people were...
Late Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation keeping the federal government open and funding the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The continuing resolution would extend government funding at current levels for four weeks, essentially buying time for House, Senate and White House negotiators to reach a full appropriations deal that could include immigration reforms....
Good morning! This is your Alabama Daily News digest for Thursday, January 18, 2018. 1. Still cold, still dangerous Snow, ice and record cold gripped the South Wednesday, and at least ten people were reportedly killed in weather-related accidents. Even Dale Jr. got in a wreck. Central Alabama was in the BOOM range of the winter storm, receiving...
By ALAN FRAM and ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said Wednesday there’s “very, very strong” sentiment among Democrats in the chamber to oppose GOP-drafted legislation to keep the government’s doors open, comments that could indicate the chances are increasing that the government could shut down at midnight Friday night....
By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The world won’t end if a dysfunctional Washington can’t find a way to pass a funding bill before this weekend. That’s the truth about a government “shutdown”: The government doesn’t shut down. It’s a crummy way to run a government, sure, but Social Security checks will still go...
By KATE BRUMBACK and JAY REEVES, Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — Snow, ice and a record-breaking blast of cold closed runways, highways, schools and government offices across the South and sent cars sliding off roads Wednesday in a corner of the country ill-equipped to deal with wintry weather. At least 10 people died, including a baby...
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Dale Earnhardt Jr. is warning North Carolina drivers not to venture out into a snowstorm after he slid off the road and hit a tree. Earnhardt said on his Twitter account Wednesday that he had just used his winch to help a sedan out of a ditch in snowy weather when...
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — The University of Alabama says social media videos of a student repeatedly using a racial slur have been reported to the school’s student-conduct office. In the first video, the woman uses a racial slur for African-Americans. In a second video responding to criticism, she says she’ll use the word “as much...
By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole knew the art of the deal before President Donald Trump published the 1987 book. The two shared a stage under the Capitol dome Wednesday as Dole, 94, accepted Congress’ highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, for his World War II service...
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama Senate has approved a bill that would do away with marriage licenses and the requirement for people to go through a wedding ceremony. The bill comes as a few Alabama probate judges refuse to issue marriage licenses to anyone so they do not have to give them to gay...
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama Senate has approved a bill that would require police agencies to collect data on race and traffic stops. Senators on Tuesday approved the legislation on a 27-0 vote. It moves to the Alabama House. The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Rodger Smitherman of Birmingham, said “racial profiling exists.” During the...
