It’s been over a week since same-sex couples gained the right to legally marry in Alabama, but some counties are still refusing to issue them marriage licenses.
Even after a U.S. Federal Judge forced the probate judge in Mobile County to begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses late last week, not everyone’s playing along.
As of this morning, at least seven of Alabama's 67 counties are still refusing to give marriage licenses to gay couples while giving them to heterosexual ones.
A few other counties are not issuing licenses to anyone at all.
The state Supreme Court is currently considering a petition from two conservative groups that would stop all judges from issuing same-sex marriage licenses.
Lawyers are trying to convince the state Attorney General, Luther Strange, to block that petition.
Fans of organic produce in Alabama will have a new place to shop starting today. The Sprouts grocery store chain is opening the first of three outlets in the central and northern parts of the state. The first store will be in Birmingham to be followed by Huntsville and Hoover. The chain began in Arizona in 2002. It has since grown to two hundred stores with a new presence in the southeast. Sprouts spokeswoman Donna Egan says the chain wants to be an alternative to higher priced organic markets…
“We don’t just offer organic items. We offer fresh and organic and natural items across our store at lower price points that you might expect to find at a healthy retailer.”
Egan says the chain picked its Alabama locations based on things like the education and income levels of average residents. Huntsville’s store will open next month and Hoover’s will open in April.
West Virginia lawmakers may name a highway after University of Alabamafootball coach Nick Saban.
Senators have introduced a resolution to name a section of Route 19 in Marion County after Saban, who grew up in the area. It would be dubbed the "Nicholas Lou 'Nick' Saban, Jr., Expressway."
Saban, Alabama's coach since 2007, grew up in Fairmont, West Virginia.
Saban's Alabama teams clinched national championships in 2012, 2011 and 2009. He led Louisiana State to a share of the title in 2003.
He also was head coach for the Miami Dolphins, Michigan State University and the University of Toledo.
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, a former West Virginia governor, was raised less than 10 miles away from the Sabans and is a family friend.