February food stamps are coming early to Alabama residents.

The ongoing partial federal government shutdown is not allowing for funding of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, commonly referred to as food stamps, after this coming Sunday. As a result, all money for February SNAP benefits is being sent to SNAP recipients by this weekend.

Alabama residents will still be able to apply for SNAP benefits, and if someone needs to be re-certified for January aid, they can do so and receive both January and February benefits by this coming weekend.

The mayor of a small town in southeast Alabama has been convicted of voter fraud and removed from office.

News outlets report former Gordon, Alabama mayor Elbert Melton was convicted Wednesday of unlawfully falsifying ballots when he was elected in 2016.

Melton defeated mayoral challenger Priscilla Wilson by a 16-vote margin. This conviction strips him of his office. The Gordon Town Council will appoint an interim mayor to serve until an election is held.

One of the nation's largest and most iconic Pepsi bottlers has filed suit against PepsiCo over its franchise territory.

Birmingham-based Buffalo Rock Co. issued a news release saying it has tried for years to resolve its differences with PepsiCo without success. The bottler says it filed suit in state court in Birmingham on Tuesday.

Buffalo Rock says the larger company has repeatedly violated its franchise agreements and intruded into its exclusive territories. The company says it is suing PepsiCo and other entities.

Former Congressman Jo Bonner has been named as Gov. Kay Ivey's new chief of staff.

Ivey announced the change Tuesday, just one day after her inauguration for her first full term.

Steve Pelham, Ivey's longtime chief of staff, is leaving to take a position at Auburn University.

Ivey's office said Pelham will be the university's vice president for economic development and chief of staff to Auburn University President Steven Leath.

A judge has overturned an Alabama state law preventing the removal of Confederate monuments from public property.

A ruling issued yesterday by Jefferson County Circuit Judge Michael Graffeo says a 2017 state law barring the removal or alteration of historical monuments violates the free speech rights of local communities.

Graffeo says the law cannot be enforced, but the state of Alabama could still appeal. Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office had no immediate response to an Associated Press email seeking comment.

Mobile County has approved a $4 million incentive deal for Airbus as the European aircraft maker is set to start building a factory near its existing plant there.

The Mobile County Commission voted to approve the money yesterday. Airbus will host a groundbreaking ceremony tomorrow for its new facility assembling the A220-300 plane. It'll be right next to a plant where Airbus already produces the A320 in Mobile.

A statement from the county commission says the incentive money will be paid out as $400,000 annually over 10 years.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey will take the oath of office this morning as she begins her first full term as governor.

The 74-year-old Ivey is the state's second female governor and the first Republican woman elected to the position. The inauguration ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. this morning.

Ivey was lieutenant governor 21 months ago when she automatically became governor when Gov. Robert Bentley suddenly resigned in the midst of an impeachment investigation partly centered on his relationship with an aide.

One Birmingham police officer was killed and another was critically wounded in a shooting early Sunday morning as the officers questioned two people suspected of trying to break into cars.

Two suspects are in custody, one of whom was shot and is receiving medical treatment, according to police.

Authorities identified the officer who was fatally shot as Sgt. Wytasha Carter, 44, a member of the department since 2011. The names of the wounded officer and the suspects were not immediately released.

All-America safety Deionte Thompson and cornerback Saivion Smith have joined a growing crowd of Alabama players leaving early for the NFL draft. Thompson announced his decision on Twitter. He's the sixth Crimson Tide underclassman to announce his decision to leave early. Thompson was a consensus All-American in his first season as the starter. He made 79 tackles and had two interceptions and four forced fumbles. Smith made his decision on Saturday.