Why Republican Presidential Hopefuls Need Alabama’s Support

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/08/024dd9bcdec9c113_640_president.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:640;s:6:"height";i:395;s:4:"file";s:42:"2015/08/024dd9bcdec9c113_640_president.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"024dd9bcdec9c113_640_president-336x207.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:207;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"024dd9bcdec9c113_640_president-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:40:"024dd9bcdec9c113_640_president-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"024dd9bcdec9c113_640_president-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"024dd9bcdec9c113_640_president-600x395.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:395;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"024dd9bcdec9c113_640_president-504x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:504;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"024dd9bcdec9c113_640_president-429x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:429;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:42:"024dd9bcdec9c113_640_president-600x395.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:395;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"024dd9bcdec9c113_640_president-600x395.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:395;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"024dd9bcdec9c113_640_president-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
        )

)
1664993044 
1440455282

Alabama has been in the political spotlight after GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump spoke to some 20,000 people in Mobile on Friday. But Trump isn’t the only candidate visiting the state. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker was in Talladega on Saturday. Today, retired neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson is in Montgomery and Texas Senator Ted Cruz speaks in Tuscaloosa. On Wednesday Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida, is scheduled to be in Birmingham. For more on why Alabama matters to Republicans vying for the presidential nomination, WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley spoke to UAB professor Larry Powell. Powell has studied presidential campaigns since the seventies, and is co-author of a book on political campaign communication. Powell says this time around, Alabama looks very different from the way it has at this point in previous campaign seasons.

 

States are cutting Medicaid provider payments long before Trump cuts hit

North Carolina and Idaho have cut their Medicaid programs to bridge budget gaps, raising fears that providers will stop taking patients and that hospitals will close even before the brunt of a new federal tax-and-budget law takes effect.

At least 5 dead in large-scale nighttime Russian strike on Ukraine

At least five civilians died after Russia launched a major nighttime attack on Ukraine overnight into Sunday, a barrage which officials said targeted civilian infrastructure.

With makeshift jump ropes and hide and seek, kids play to cope with crisis

From Gaza to Ukraine to South Sudan, children play to deal with the stress — and find a moment of joy.

25 years after its premiere, ‘Gilmore Girls’ still draws fans to small town Connecticut

Lorelai and Rory Gilmore's fictional hometown of Stars Hollow was born after Gilmore Girls creator, Amy Sherman-Palladino, stayed in northwestern Connecticut. The show premiered in the fall of 2000.

The mother of Colombian corals

Known as the mother of Colombian corals, at 70, marine biologist Elvira Alvarado is still diving — and pioneering "coral IVF" to help save endangered reefs.

How apple cider vinegar cured everything — until it didn’t

A headline-grabbing study touting apple cider vinegar for weight loss has been retracted. Other claims for the internet-famous remedy are also under fire.

More Front Page Coverage