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.
Taylor Hunnicutt is championing her home state with debut album ‘Alabama Sound’
Alabama offers a diverse symphony of swampy rock, swaggering blues, murky country, and bone-rattling soul. It’s a sound singer-songwriter Taylor Hunnicutt recently reimagined on her debut album, Alabama Sound, which is out now.
UAB building among Alabama’s first to feature ‘bird safe’ glass
Advocates hope the new glass will prevent window collisions, a leading causes of bird mortality.
Researchers look into community health impact of wood pellet production in rural Mississippi
Brown University and Tougaloo College students are testing for potential air and noise pollution near the Drax wood pellet plant in Gloster, Mississippi.
Alabama coal company sued for a home explosion is delinquent on dozens of penalties
Crimson Oak Grove Resources has been cited for 204 safety violations since the March 8 blast, many involving “significant and substantial” safety violations.
The United Auto Workers faces a key test in the South with upcoming vote at Alabama Mercedes plant
The United Auto Workers is aiming for a key victory at Mercedes-Benz in Alabama. More than 5,000 workers at the facility in Vance and nearby battery plant will vote this week on whether to join the UAW.
Gambling, ethics bills fall short as legislative session ends
Alabama lawmakers closed the books on this year’s regular legislative session Thursday. While Republican leaders passed many of their priority bills, perhaps the most talked about issue – gambling – died.
