Maggie Martin

Authorities say more than 500 power workers from Alabama are heading north along the East Coast to help restore power as Hurricane Sandy makes landfall.

Alabama Power Co. spokesman Mike Jordan says the company mobilized a force of 365 people Friday and those workers were scheduled to be in the Washington, D.C. area by Sunday.

The author of "Forrest Gump" is scheduled to speak at the University of Alabama.

The Tuscaloosa News reports (http://bit.ly/QHNq3l) that Winston Groom will speak at noon on Oct. 29 at the Ferguson Theater on the campus.

The event is free and open to the public.

Groom is a 1965 University of Alabama graduate. He is expected to discuss the influence of the university and football on his writing.

Former Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine has been sentenced to two years in jail in a case that grew out of the death of his former girlfriend, Angel Downs.

Baldwin County Circuit Judge Charles Partin ordered Nodine to serve two years in jail for perjury and one year each for a domestic violence charge and an ethics violation. The judge said Wednesday the sentences will run concurrently.

The former commissioner made a plea deal in September just days before his second murder trial was set to start for Downs' shooting death. The murder case was closed.

As the November 6th elections draw near, APR News is taking a closer look at each of Alabama's congressional districts to understand what issues voters in those areas have on their minds leading into next month. This week, we take a look at Alabama's 4th Congressional District, which stretches from East to West Alabama and include the cities of Gadsden and Jasper. Doctor Larry Powell is an expert on political communications, political ads and polling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He says there have been fewer campaign ads for both local and national races this year.

If you’re a fan of fried anything, the smell here can be intoxicating. Hundreds have turned out for the first ever Athens Grease Festival, with knives and forks at the ready, The celebration of all things fried is a play on the origin of the city’s name from Athens, Greece.

(Martin): For residents in Alabama's second congressional district, what are the issues they're going to be concerned with this election season?

(Taylor): Well I think clearly the issues that are most in the minds of people in the second district is true across the state is still the state of the economy and jobs, I think the themes that are important to the district are mostly generic ones like the basic state of the economy.

(Maggie): Now there’s also Fort Rocker which is in Dale County what will this US army post look for this election season? 

Operators of some nonprofit clinics that spay and neuter animals say new rules being considered by a state board could cause them to close their doors.

The Birmingham News reports (http://bit.ly/Uy6Wib) that the proposed rules are under consideration by the Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.

If approved, the rules would prohibit non-veterinarians from hiring veterinarians and would prohibit non-veterinarians, including non-profit groups, from owning veterinarian equipment.

U.S. voters are just a few weeks shy of casting their ballot for president. Both candidates have discussed several issues during their campaigns, with economic recovery taking the forefront. That’s an issue that resonates with residents in Alabama’s first congressional district, which includes Mobile. Several developments over the summer are spurring economic growth in the coastal city, including an agreement with Airbus.

Four original Tuskegee Airmen from Dallas will return to Tuskegee for the first time since the 1940s on Friday and Saturday. Their arrival at Montgomery Regional Airport in Montgomery, Ala. will be greeted by cadets from Tuskegee University’s Air Force ROTC Friday.

“We’re going to come out strong, cheer and give them a path of honor,” said Lt. Col Kelly Primus, commander of the Air Force ROTC.

Doctor E.O. Wilson is probably best known for his expertise on insects, particularly ants. But Wilson’s new book isn’t about tiny creatures. Why We Are Here: Mobile and The Spirit of A Southern City is a profile of Wilson’s boyhood town. He collaborated with photographer Alex Harris to capture the history of the coastal city.

September is National Preparedness Month and Alabama officials are hosting a Ready Alabama Day in Jacksonville on Thursday, September 6. It’s a chance for Alabamians to see how nearly 50 federal and local agencies prepare for hurricanes, tornadoes and other disasters.

“Ready Alabama Day is basically a time when first responders at the local, federal and state levels come together and really bring their toys,” says Jon Mason. He’s director of Serve Alabama, a state agency that focuses on disaster preparedness and volunteerism.

Residents along the Gulf Coast are beginning to survey the damage left in Hurricane Isaac’s wake. Some University of Alabama research students are also assessing the impact of the storm. Four UA graduate students went to New Orleans and braced themselves against the high winds and heavy rains for research. John Mason is one of those students.

The 2012 Paralympic Games in London kick off today and the University of Alabama has is well represented in this year’s games. Seven athletes from UA’s Adapted Athletics program will compete in wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis. Charlie Katica is head coach for the women’s wheelchair basketball team at UA.

“Everyone who’s here is extremely motivated,” says Katica. “Really the challenges were to almost hold them back at some point just because they were training real hard and really trying to be at their peak for the Paralympics.”

Many schools and colleges along Alabama’s coast are closed as residents brace for Tropical Storm Isaac. The Press-Register compiled the following list:

-Mobile and Baldwin County public schools (closed through Wednesday)

-Catholic schools in Mobile and Baldwin County (closed through Wednesday)

- UMS-Wright Preparatory, St. Paul’s Episcopal and St. Luke’s Episcopal schools (closed through Wednesday)

-Bayside Academy in Daphne (closed through Wednesday)

-Saraland public schools (closed through Wednesday)