Maggie Martin

Jefferson County Circuit Judge Robert Vance Jr. is the only Democrat to sign up to run for chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court.

The Democratic Party's deadline to sign up was noon Wednesday.

The Democratic Party began seeking a new candidate after a party committee disqualified the original Democratic nominee, Pelham attorney Harry Lyon, on Friday. Lyon said Wednesday that he plans to vote for Republican nominee Roy Moore as a matter of principle.

It's the Saturday afternoon of the show and several Muscle Shoals musicians are warming up for a sound check. The big drawing card is rhythm and blues legend Percy Sledge, whose signature song, “When A Man Loves A Woman,” was recorded in the Shoals area. It’s a tune bassist David Hood knows well.

Hood has worked with Percy Sledge for 45 years. His job tonight is to get the band tuned up and ready for Sledge’s arrival just before show time. He says almost five decades of doing that has taught him a few things.

The Alabama Educational Television Commission unanimously approved to hire the Birmingham law firm of Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt LLC to represent the commission in a lawsuit. Commission members voted during a special/called meeting at Alabama Public Television headquarters earlier today.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham says a new federal program focused on disease prevention is having a positive impact on the region. UAB’s local coalition aims to decrease death rates for cervical and breast cancer.

“Our program focused on women in eight counties in Alabama, particularly around screening for breast cancer and cervical cancer,” says Dr. Edward Partridge, Director of UAB’s Comprehensive Cancer Society.

More than 25,000 people are gathering in Washington, D.C. this week for the 19thAnnual International AIDS Conference. It’s the first time in more than 20 years that the U.S. will host the conference.

“The reason that the U.S. could not have the conference is because we had a ban on allowing people who are HIV-positive into the United States,” says Kathie Hiers, CEO of AIDS Alabama. “And we were one of the few countries that had that ban.”

When you go to any cemetery, you hear the sound of weed cutters and lawn mowers carefully cutting grass around graves for maintenance. But at Lincoln Cemetery, it’s a new sound of progress.

“We’re looking at a cemetery that has been neglected for many years that right now we are trying to restore and save it,” says volunteer Phyllis Armstrong, as she carefully navigates through the cemetery. She’s been cleaning up Lincoln for a decade and is familiar with its dark history.

A project may shed new light on Alabama's Black Belt region. "The Black Belt 100 Lenses Project" showcases the culture of the region through the eyes of high school students. The exhibition at the University of Alabama uses photography and interviews of residents of the Black Belt to document what their culture means to them.

Doctor Heather Pleasants is Director of Educational Development at UA's Center for Community-Based Partnerships.

Early on a Saturday morning in Fort Worth, Texas, today's gay rodeo is slowly picking up pace. Competitors quickly move to make it to their event and spectators wander about the arena. William Edlin of Austin, TX is bright-eyed and ready to go. In his eight years on the circuit, Edlin says he hasn't seen too much conflict and anticipates a gay rodeo in Alabama will have a positive impact.

Excitement buzzes in the air of a large arena in Fort Worth, TX as the loudspeakers boom with the announcer's voice.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! TGRA would like to welcome you to Fort Worth, Texas!"

More than 100 people gathered in a large arena in Fort Worth, TX to watch and compete in what was called a "traditional" rodeo. However, the term traditional may depend on your point of view. The event is a gay rodeo. It's like a traditional rodeo with bull riding and calf roping, but it's open to the LGBT community. John Beck of Denver is an expert on the gay rodeo. He's hard to miss with his large, red feather on his cowboy hat.

"That's been my signature for close to ten years," he says.

Excitement buzzes in the air of a large arena in Fort Worth, TX as the loudspeakers boom with the announcer's voice. "Ladies and Gentlemen! TGRA would like to welcome you to Fort Worth, Texas!" The Texas Gay Rodeo Association is putting on its 29th gay rodeo and more than 100 people are ready to watch or compete. Excitement buzzes in the air of a large arena in Fort Worth, TX as the loudspeakers boom with the announcer's voice.

Excitement buzzes in the air of a large arena in Fort Worth, TX as the loudspeakers boom with the announcer's voice. "Ladies and Gentlemen! TGRA would like to welcome you to Fort Worth, Texas!" The Texas Gay Rodeo Association is putting on its 29th gay rodeo and more than 100 people are ready to watch or compete. Excitement buzzes in the air of a large arena in Fort Worth, TX as the loudspeakers boom with the announcer's voice.