July 27 Morning Newscast

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2012/07/newspaper-412452_640.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:640;s:6:"height";i:426;s:4:"file";s:32:"2012/07/newspaper-412452_640.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"newspaper-412452_640-336x224.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"newspaper-412452_640-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"newspaper-412452_640-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"newspaper-412452_640-600x426.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:426;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"newspaper-412452_640-467x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:467;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"newspaper-412452_640-398x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:398;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"newspaper-412452_640-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"newspaper-412452_640-600x426.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:426;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"newspaper-412452_640-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => already_optimized
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

)
1640189058 
1343347200

July 27, 2012 Morning Edition News

After weeks of silence, Governor Robert Bentley is finally commenting on the situation at Alabama Public Television. Last month, the Alabama Educational Television Commission – which oversees APT — unexpectedly fired the television network’s executive director and chief financial officer. The commission said it wanted to take APT in a new direction, but the executives maintain they were fired because they protested a suggestion to air a controversial documentary series from a conservative, religious activist. Earlier this week, another APT executive sent a letter to Governor Robert Bentley expressing concerns about the agenda of commission members appointed by the governor. At an economic development event in Cullman, Governor Bentley told Huntsville public radio station WLRH what he thinks the commission’s role should be in overseeing APT.

Yesterday – About a dozen people including religious leaders, Alabama Public Television employees and community members delivered thousands of petition signatures to the APT headquarters in Birmingham. They called on the Alabama Educational Television Commission to not air a controversial documentary series and to reinstate the former executive director and chief financial officer. We’ve got extensive coverage of this issue, including video of the documentary series and photos from yesterday’s petition delivery.


The judge who presided over Alabama’s two gambling corruption trials says the U.S. Supreme Court needs to clear up when a campaign contribution constitutes a bribe. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson issued an opinion saying there is “considerable confusion” about how federal corruption laws apply to campaign contributions. He says a precise definition of bribery would help. The two trials before Thompson involved legislators and lobbyists accused of promising campaign contributions in return for votes on pro-gambling legislation. No one was convicted.


Alabama is asking a federal court to rule that its redistricting plan for the state Legislature does not violate the Voting Rights Act. The state filed a lawsuit yesterday seeking a declaratory judgment. It argues the redistricting plan does not deny the right to vote based on race or color. Democrats in the Legislature have complained the plan was written to favor Republicans and packed black voters in some districts while leaving them with little influence in other districts. Alabama and several other Southern states or counties need federal approval for election changes under the 1965 Voting Rights Act because of their histories of voter discrimination.


A Republican leader in the Alabama Legislature is resigning his seat to go to work for Governor Robert Bentley. Blaine Galliher represents House District 30, which includes Etowah and St. Clair counties. But effective August first he’ll become to the governor’s legislative director. The 63-year-old Galliher is chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee. The panel determines the chamber’s daily work calendar and as chairman, Galliher plays a major role in setting the agenda. Galliher was first elected in 1994 as a Democrat. He switched to the Republican Party in 2001. Bentley will set a date for a special election to fill Galliher’s seat. (a side note: Blaine Galliher is the lawmaker who sponsored a bill that would allow students to get high school credit for taking creationism classes from private groups. WBHM’s Southern Education Desk reporter Dan Carsen has an extensive interview with Galliger on this subject.

 

Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 20, including five children

Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Sunday killed at least 20 people, including five children, Palestinian medical officials said.

I discovered one way to fight loneliness: The Germans call it a Stammtisch

Modern life can be lonely. Some are looking to an old German tradition – of drinking and conversation – to deepen connection through regular meetups.

This Christmas I’ll be grieving. Here’s how I’ll be finding joy.

Since her husband's death, newscaster Windsor Johnston has been looking for ways to recapture joy and continue her healing journey — one that's taken her to a place she'd never expected.

College students get emotional about climate change. Some are finding help in class

A recent survey finds that more than half of young people aged 16-25 are highly worried about climate change. Some universities are now trying to help them navigate those emotions in class.

On tap for the holidays: A blend of multicultural drink traditions and fond memories

For this year's All Things Considered holiday cocktail interview, we visited Providencia in Washington, D.C., a bar that brings its owners' personal stories to life.

Two US Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent ‘friendly fire’ incident

Two U.S. Navy pilots were shot down Sunday over the Red Sea by apparent "friendly fire", the most serious incident to threaten troops in over a year of America targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels.

More Education Coverage