http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/al-news/ en-us Sun, 5 Jul 2009 07:42:21 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285802/posts Today Fort Payne had a nice gathering of concerned citizens come together in heart and mind in defense of America and it's citizens. A wonderful group of locals spoke from about noon to 2pm at the city park (formally known as Union Park). Fort Payne with a population of about 12,000 put together a nice T.E.A. party and had 200 (+/- 50) people attend. It was a pleasant day with a nice breeze to help with the low 90's temperature. self http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285802/posts#comment Sun, 5 Jul 2009 07:42:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285442/posts Trieu Duong was killed Thursday afternoon during a robbery at his Fairfield jewelry store. Edward Morsby III was arrested in Virginia and charged with capital murder Perry Cauthen was arrested in southwest Birmingham and charged with capital murder Trieu Duong and his family arrived in the U.S. on the most American of days. It was the Fourth of July. In 1976. And that made it their adopted nation's bicentennial, and a perfect time to embark on the American Dream. The Birmingham News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285442/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 15:23:32 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285063/posts Huntsville Congressman Parker Griffith faced a crowd of more than 100 people Thursday night who wanted answers on plans for health care reform, an issue Congress is working on now. There were vocal advocates for a single-payer system similar to ones in Europe and Canada. Maybe a larger contingent - judging by the applause - was anxious that the government was going to take over health care. ...cut... The event at the Davidson Center at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center was spirited, with cheers for tort reform and boos for higher taxes and long-winded questioners. The audience also seemed... The Huntsville Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285063/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 20:56:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284504/posts BIRMINGHAM, AL—Joyce White Vance, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, Charles E. Regan, Acting Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Reginael McDaniel, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, announce that a federal jury returned a verdict finding GREGORY JOHN KATOPODIS guilty on 97 counts of mail and wire fraud in connection with his scheme to defraud and steal over $162,000 from Jefferson County and from Computer Help for Kids (CHK), a Jefferson County based charity. “This verdict is especially appropriate and just given the egregious nature of the defendant’s crimes.... Department of Justice http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284504/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 00:15:48 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284241/posts Attorney General Wants Video Showing Planned Parenthood Sex Abuse Coverup Montgomery, AL -- Alabama Attorney General Troy king wants a copy of the full video footage activist Lila Rose took showing Planned Parenthood stuff covering up a potential case of sexual abuse. The video also shows the abortion business telling her how she could violate the state's parental consent law. See http://www.LifeNews.com/state4275.html LifeNews.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284241/posts#comment Thu, 2 Jul 2009 17:31:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2280195/posts TUSCALOOSA.AL Family and friends paid tribute to Bert Bank with patriotism, humor and a solemn Jewish service as the 94-year-old broadcasting pioneer and Tuscaloosa legend was laid to rest in Evergreen Cemetery on Thursday with full military honors. Tuscaloosa News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2280195/posts#comment Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:46:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279548/posts BIRMINGHAM, AL—United States District Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced JASON EARL ROY, 29, on June 23, 2009, to 180 months of imprisonment for receiving child pornography and 120 months for possessing child pornography with the sentences to be served concurrently. The time served is to be followed by a lifetime term of supervised release. Roy will also be required to register as a sex offender. According to the plea agreement, Roy received and possessed images of child pornography using the Internet. Law enforcement recovered the images during the execution of a search warrant. His computer contained thousands of images of... Department of Justice http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279548/posts#comment Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:16:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279537/posts BIRMINGHAM, AL—United States District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced Qunitus Montea Woods, on June 24, 2009, to 189 months in federal prison. Woods, 32, of Birmingham, Alabama, was previously indicted by a federal grand jury on multiple counts of bank robbery, armed bank robbery, use of a firearm during an armed bank robbery, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pled guilty to these charges on March 26, 2009. Following his release from prison, Woods will be placed on supervised release for a period of five years. He has been ordered to make restitution to Compass... Department of Justice http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279537/posts#comment Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:04:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2278623/posts Shoppers saw lower prices at the supermarket in June, but falling costs may spell trouble for struggling Alabama farmers. According to a food price survey complied by the Alabama Farmers Federation, the price of 20 basic market items including milk, eggs and bacon, fell in June. The market basket averaged $51.60 the first week of June, down 58 cents from a month earlier. Prices of dairy products such as cottage cheese and milk dropped sharply. Falling costs can be linked to an oversupply of milk that is flooding the market, the federation said in a news release. The average cost... birmingham business journal http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2278623/posts#comment Wed, 24 Jun 2009 20:28:07 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2277912/posts Bert Bank was a World War II veteran who survived the Bataan Death March, became a state legislator and founded two Tuscaloosa radio stations. Perhaps his biggest claim to fame, though, was as founder of the Alabama Football Network. Bank died Monday night at age 94. The Tuscaloosa News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2277912/posts#comment Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:30:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2274440/posts Verdict reached in Scrushy trial Updated: Thursday, 18 Jun 2009, 9:54 AM CDT Published : Thursday, 18 Jun 2009, 9:54 AM CDT BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC) - A verdict was reached Thursday in the civil lawsuit against former HealthSouth chief executive Richard Scrushy. The decision was scheduled to be announced before 11 a.m. Shareholders filed suit on behalf of HealthSouth seeking $2.6 billion in damages from Scrushy, whom they claimed directed a massive accounting scam. Scrushy, who is serving time in federal prison on an unrelated criminal conviction, testified during the trial, denying any wrongdoing. He agreed that he made lots... Fox 6 News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2274440/posts#comment Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:26:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2268500/posts Secretary of State: False Information Circulating About District 7 Senate Election MONTGOMERY, AL - Word came in late Tuesday afternoon from Secretary of State Beth Chapman that false information is being circulated regarding today's District 7 State Senate race between Democrat Laura Hall and Republican Paul Sanford. Chapman says someone is circulating emails and fliers that state due to "heavy expected turnout" there will be two elections this week, one on Tuesday for Republican voters and another one Wednesday for Democratic voters. This is not the case. If you live in District 7, you must have cast your ballot today.... WHNT.COM http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2268500/posts#comment Wed, 10 Jun 2009 04:10:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2268448/posts HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Restaurateur Paul Sanford has defeated state Rep. Laura Hall to win a special election for a vacant seat in the Alabama state Senate. With 56 of 57 precincts reporting, Sanford, a Republican who operates "Little Paul's Barbecue" in Huntsville, had nearly 12,000 votes to about 8,900 for Hall, a Democrat who has represented Huntsville in the House since 1993. Gov. Bob Riley campaigned for Sanford, and he had the endorsements of the five candidates he defeated in the Republican primary and runoff. Sanford will replace Huntsville physician Parker Griffith, a Democrat who was elected to the... WHNT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2268448/posts#comment Wed, 10 Jun 2009 02:20:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2267822/posts THERE was no reasonable prospect of proving a murder charge against American man Gabe Watson, the Director of Public Prosecutions said today. Tony Moynihan S.C. today said the decision to accept Watson’s plea of guilty to the manslaughter of his wife on a Queensland diving holiday "was made after a careful and thorough examination of the admissible evidence, and was not taken lightly", The Courier-Mail reported. Mr Moynihan said that "given the complex circumstantial nature of the case, Mr Watson’s admission that he breached his duty to render assistance to his wife ultimately meant there was no reasonable prospect of... Courier Mail (Brisbane) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2267822/posts#comment Tue, 9 Jun 2009 08:09:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2265942/posts BIRMINGHAM, Ala., June 5, 2009 – Nearly 65 years ago, Robert Blatnik found himself fighting for his life on a beach in Normandy, France, on what he called a day of miracles for those who survived. Robert Blatnik, 89, is a World War II and Army veteran who participated in his sixth National Veterans Golden Age Games in Birmingham, Ala., in June 2009. He credits the games and the Department of Veterans Affairs for helping him deal with his combat experiences in North Africa and Europe. DoD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden  (Click photo for screen-resolution... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2265942/posts#comment Sat, 6 Jun 2009 01:29:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2264998/posts BIRMINGHAM, Ala., June 4, 2009 – At first glance, Angelo Athas and Harry R. Johnson looked as though they’d known each other their entire lives. They looked more like teenagers than senior citizens, talking and laughing and joking as they waited for their turn at shuffleboard. Angleo Athas, right, an Army and World War II veteran from Texas, and Harry R. Johnson, a Navy and Korean War veteran from California, become quick friends as they wait for their turn at shuffleboard June 3, 2009, in Birmingham, Ala., at the 23rd Annual National Veterans Golden Age Games. DoD photo by... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2264998/posts#comment Thu, 4 Jun 2009 23:38:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2264268/posts BIRMINGHAM, Ala., June 3, 2009 – Military veterans competing in the National Veterans Golden Age Games each year have their own reasons for participating. Some come out for the camaraderie, while others come to socialize and catch up with old friends. Jonah Hicks, a 64-year-old Marine Corps and Vietnam War veteran, speeds around the track June 2, 2009, in Birmingham, Ala., as part of the cycling event at the 23rd Annual National Veterans Golden Age Games. DoD photo by Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. But others simply come to win. This... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2264268/posts#comment Thu, 4 Jun 2009 01:23:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2263429/posts <p>BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The owner of an Alabama abortion clinic that was once hit by a deadly bombing says protests at the clinic have increased since President Barack Obama's election.</p> <p>Diane Derzis said Monday the fatal shooting of Kansas abortion doctor George Tiller appears to be part of a pattern that's taken hold since the vote last year. Derzis said she has been seeing more protesters outside her clinic in Birmingham, and their rhetoric is getting tougher.</p> WHNT TV http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2263429/posts#comment Wed, 3 Jun 2009 02:07:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2262567/posts BIRMINGHAM, Ala., June 1, 2009 – Nearly 700 American military veterans from conflicts ranging from World War II to the Persian Gulf war arrived here today to prove that their best days are still ahead of them as they prepare to compete in the 23rd Annual National Veterans Golden Age Games. Judy Tarter, a 73-year-old Navy veteran walks through the registration line for the 23rd Annual National Veterans Golden Age Games June 1, 2009, in Birmingham, Ala. Nearly 700 senior veterans ages 55 and older registered to participate in the athletic competitions here. DoD photo by Army Sgt. 1st... American Forces Press Service http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2262567/posts#comment Tue, 2 Jun 2009 00:58:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2262273/posts Montgomery, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama's Ten Commandments judge is running for governor again. Roy Moore's campaign Web site went up Monday morning, inviting supporters to sign a pledge to help elect Moore governor. AP via SFGate http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2262273/posts#comment Mon, 1 Jun 2009 17:38:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2260482/posts WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Richard Shelby said Friday the government should have allowed the marketplace to decide General Motors' fate and that the huge federal stake in the company puts Washington on "the road to socialism." Shelby, ranking Republican on the Banking Committee, argued that the financially beleaguered GM could have saved "lots of money" if it had chosen six months ago to file a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition. "What I worry about" is Washington's large interest in the company, the senator said in a nationally broadcast network interview. "It's basically going to be a government-owned, government-run company ... a... AP http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2260482/posts#comment Fri, 29 May 2009 13:38:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2260194/posts You'd expect to see this in the liberal blogosphere or possibly some of the national mainstream media outlets with an obvious agenda. But now some of the preemptive strikes against Republican senators leading up to the Senate confirmation hearings and eventual vote to confirm President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, are finding their way into local newspapers. An op-ed published in The Anniston (Ala.) Star on May 28 by Ari Rabin-Havt, the managing director of the left-wing Media Matters Action Network, attacked the new ranking Republican of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala. ...more... NewsBusters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2260194/posts#comment Fri, 29 May 2009 00:20:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2258852/posts Are we looking at the biggest political scandal since Watergate? Big Dem Donor Group allowed to keep all 6 Chrysler dealerships open.... Local competitors eliminated by Obama's task force!! Earlier it was reported that the Obama Administration may have targeted GOP donors in deciding which Chrysler dealerships would have to close their doors. Now there's this... RLJ-McLarty-Landers is owned by three men. One was the former Chief of Staff for President Clinton. One is the founder of Black Entertainment Television and a huge Obama supporter. All 6 of their Chrysler dealerships will remain open. And, get this... Their local competitors... Gateway Pundit http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2258852/posts#comment Wed, 27 May 2009 05:09:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2256454/posts Republicans temporarily blocked Senate committee action on President Barack Obama's first judicial appointment, attacking the nominee for rulings based on separation of church and state. Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned the fitness of U.S. District Judge David Hamilton of Indiana to be promoted to a federal appeals court in Chicago. www.onenewspage.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2256454/posts#comment Fri, 22 May 2009 18:33:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2254721/posts Birmingham police beating video: Five officers fired Posted by Carol Robinson - The Birmingham News May 20, 2009 9:08 AM Five Birmingham police officers have been fired for a January 2008 beating of an already-unconscious suspect with fists, feet and a billy club, a battering caught on videotape until a police officer turned off the patrol car camera, city and police officials said today. Authorities believe the video, [see the full chase here: http://videos.al.com/birmingham-news/2009/05/birmingham_police_beating_vide_1.html] taken after a high-speed chase by several area law enforcement agencies ended when the fleeing suspect's van flipped, has been seen by numerous Birmingham officers and... The Birmingham (AL) News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2254721/posts#comment Wed, 20 May 2009 15:45:37 GMT