August 20 Morning Newscast
August 20, 2012, Morning Newscast
Republicans and Democrats from across the country will start streaming into the south later this week for their national presidential conventions. The Republican Convention gets underway a week from today in Tampa. The Democratic Convention follows on its heels in Charlotte. Used to be the “Solid South” was a political fact, benefiting Democrats for generations and then Republicans, with Bible Belt and racial politics ruling the day. But demographic changes and recent election results reveal a more nuanced landscape now. Barack Obama won both Florida, North Carolina and Virginia four years ago – propelled by young voters, non-whites and suburban independents. Each state is in play again, with Republican Mitt Romney needing to reclaim Florida and at least one of the others to reach the White House.
Alabama Public Television has a new executive director. The Alabama Educational Television Commission has voted to hire broadcast veteran Roy Clem (pictured above). Clem is the former general manager of ABC 33/40 and currently manages WVUA/WUOA at the University of Alabama. He’s expected to start his new job in early September. Clem replaces Allan Pizzato, who was fired in June in what the commissioners describe as a change in direction for the network. Pizzato is suing saying the commission violated the state’s open meetings law when it met to discuss his job. Pizzato and some commissioners were at odds over a push for Christian-themed programs on the public network..
It’s alligator hunting season on the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and hunters bagged 17 gators in the opening night. The Mobile Press-Register reports that Chris Williams of Hoover checked in the first gator. Williams told the paper it’s the first time he’s hunted alligators. Seven of the alligators that were caught were longer than 11 feet. One was longer than 12 feet, and another was over 13 feet.
Israel’s Netanyahu agrees to join Trump’s Board of Peace
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said Wednesday he had agreed to join U.S. President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, after his office earlier criticized makeup of the board.
Iran warns Trump not to take action against Khamenei
Iran on Tuesday warned Donald Trump not to take any action against the country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, days after the U.S. president called for an end to the nearly 40-year reign.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have been subpoenaed by the DOJ
The Minnesota attorney general and St. Paul mayor have also been subpoenaed as local, state and federal officials have clashed in the aftermath of the shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent.
ASEAN won’t endorse election in military-ruled Myanmar, Malaysia says
Malaysia's foreign minister Mohamad Hasan cited concerns over the lack of inclusive and free participation.
‘The miracle’: A 6-year-old walked away from the train wreck that killed her family
Her parents, brother and cousin were killed in the collision, but the girl was found walking barefoot on the tracks. She's being cared for by grandparents after receiving three stitches in her head.
Trump says U.K. return of Chagos Islands to Mauritius is a reason to acquire Greenland
The president previously supported Britain's agreement to hand back sovereignty of the Indian Ocean archipelago, where the U.K. continues to lease the U.S.-U.K. Diego Garcia military base.
