Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman will stay in jail for now. U.S. District judge Clay Land of Georgia is denying Siegelman's request to get out of prison while he continues to appeal his 2006 bribery conviction. The Judge says the defense raised significant issues that deserve serious consideration. Still, Judge Land believes an appeal isn’t likely to result in a new trial or a lower sentence. The former Democratic governor is arguing his 2006 trial was tainted by the involvement of a prosecutor with ties to GOP politics.
Apple C-E-O and Auburn University Graduate Tim Cook is donating money to help fund a gay rights initiative in Alabama and two other Southern states. A-P-R’s Stan Ingold has more…
The Washington-based Human Rights Campaign announced the contribution Thursday.The amount isn't being disclosed, but the organization calls it "substantial." A Human Rights Campaign spokesman says the group hopes Cook's support will encourage others to support its Project One America campaign in Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi. The 8.5 million dollar campaign aims to build acceptance for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people in the states. Cook made headlines in October by coming out as the first openly gay chief executive of a Fortune 1,000 company. His announcement came just days after Cook encouraged Alabama to be more accepting of gay rights during a speech in Montgomery.
An adoptive family here in Alabama will be getting some national attention tonight. The CBS television network is airing a program called A Home for the Holidays. One family that will be spotlighted is headed by Denver and Susan Nolin. They adopted a fifteen year old girl after seeing her picture on the website of a Birmingham group called Heart Gallery Alabama. Development Director Joycelyn Heywood says the internet is their way to putting together families and children needing adoption…
“We have a website where we put pictures of children that are available for adoption. We have photographers who volunteer to take our children’s pictures. And we put them on our website along with their video.”
Heywood says the Nolin’s story is especially important since they adopted a fifteen year old. She says most adoptive families want babies, so placing older children is tougher.
The fallout continues following the end of UAB’s football program. Faculty members at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have drafted a no-confidence resolution against the president. The document accuses UAB President Ray Watts of failing to share decision making faculty members. The resolution sites a series of moves including the end of the UAB football team. The Faculty Senate is scheduled to vote on the document during a special meeting in mid January 15. The resolution is only symbolic. But, it would undermine Watts' authority.
