Senior Advisor to Governor Paid Through Questionable Means

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/09/Robert-Bentley.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:4:"file";s:26:"2015/09/Robert-Bentley.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:6:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Robert-Bentley-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Robert-Bentley-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:24:"Robert-Bentley-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Robert-Bentley-552x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:552;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Robert-Bentley-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Robert-Bentley-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_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:132049;s:14:"optimized_size";i:64889;s:7:"percent";d:50.859999999999999;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:54:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/09/Robert-Bentley.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:30360;s:14:"optimized_size";i:11160;s:7:"percent";d:63.240000000000002;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/09/Robert-Bentley-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:6100;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4590;s:7:"percent";d:24.75;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/09/Robert-Bentley-336x189.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:10142;s:14:"optimized_size";i:6048;s:7:"percent";d:40.369999999999997;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/09/Robert-Bentley-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:25307;s:14:"optimized_size";i:11194;s:7:"percent";d:55.770000000000003;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/09/Robert-Bentley-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:17536;s:14:"optimized_size";i:10873;s:7:"percent";d:38;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/09/Robert-Bentley-552x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:20831;s:14:"optimized_size";i:9346;s:7:"percent";d:55.130000000000003;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/09/Robert-Bentley-470x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:16578;s:14:"optimized_size";i:7780;s:7:"percent";d:53.07;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/09/Robert-Bentley-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:5195;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3898;s:7:"percent";d:24.969999999999999;}}}
        )

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

)
1658935911 
1441877935

There are two big stories in state politics right now. There’s the special legislative session that started this week. Then there’s all the chatter around the governor’s divorce. Alabama’s First Lady Diane Bentley filed for divorce from Governor Robert Bentley last month after 50 years of marriage. That’s fueled rumors of an affair by the governor. He says this is a private matter and the legal filing has been sealed. Still the situation has drawn attention to happenings within the administration that is on the record, particularly how a senior advisor is paid. We talk about that now with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.

 

His name is Mohammad Al-Motawaq. He is 18 months old. And he is starving in Gaza

Hidaya Al-Motawaq's son Mohammad is a year and a half old and weighs less than 10 pounds. Doctors and aid workers warn of permanent damage to the health of children in Gaza due to chronic malnutrition.

Thai and Cambodian leaders to meet in Malaysia for talks to end deadly border dispute

Thai and Cambodian leaders will meet in Malaysia for talks to end hostilities, a spokesperson for the Thai prime minister's office said on Sunday.

How a flat tire scam in Colombia can lead to costly car repairs

Bandits on motorcycles secretly spread sharp objects on the road to puncture car tires. Then, they offer to lead marooned motorists to nearby mechanics suspected of being in on the con.

Sunday Puzzle: Kennections

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with special guest, 'Jeopardy!'s' Ken Jennings.

‘Hell on Earth’: Venezuelans deported to El Salvador mega-prison tell of brutal abuse

Deported under a little-known wartime law, more than 130 Venezuelans were sent from the U.S. to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador. Now released, several tell NPR they endured beatings, sexual abuse, and near-total isolation.

She’s trying to open a birth center near a maternity desert. It’s not easy

When Katie Chubb was pregnant she wanted to have her baby at a birth center, but there was no local option. Now she's trying to open one herself. She has community support, but not from the hospitals.

More Front Page Coverage