“Friendship” Playing Big Role in Hubbard Trial

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2010/10/bob-riley.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:548;s:6:"height";i:664;s:4:"file";s:21:"2010/10/bob-riley.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"bob-riley-336x407.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:407;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"bob-riley-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:19:"bob-riley-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:21:"bob-riley-548x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:548;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"bob-riley-548x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:548;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"bob-riley-257x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:257;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"bob-riley-219x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:219;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:21:"bob-riley-548x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:548;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:21:"bob-riley-548x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:548;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"bob-riley-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:306115;s:14:"optimized_size";i:184628;s:7:"percent";d:39.689999999999998;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:49:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2010/10/bob-riley.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:164459;s:14:"optimized_size";i:88631;s:7:"percent";d:46.109999999999999;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2010/10/bob-riley-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:6712;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4935;s:7:"percent";d:26.469999999999999;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2010/10/bob-riley-336x407.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:29857;s:14:"optimized_size";i:18687;s:7:"percent";d:37.409999999999997;}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:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2010/10/bob-riley-548x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:43510;s:14:"optimized_size";i:31223;s:7:"percent";d:28.239999999999998;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2010/10/bob-riley-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:21694;s:14:"optimized_size";i:13770;s:7:"percent";d:36.530000000000001;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2010/10/bob-riley-257x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:19204;s:14:"optimized_size";i:12257;s:7:"percent";d:36.170000000000002;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2010/10/bob-riley-219x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:14940;s:14:"optimized_size";i:10899;s:7:"percent";d:27.050000000000001;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2010/10/bob-riley-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:5739;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4226;s:7:"percent";d:26.359999999999999;}}}
        )

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

    [_wp_attachment_image_alt] => Array
        (
            [0] => Former Alabama Governor Bob Riley, a lobbyist, is considered a "father figure" and "friend" of House Speaker Mike Hubbard.
        )

)
1654787864 
1465459927

The trial of House Speaker Mike Hubbard has brought to light some curious aspects of Alabama ethics law, most notably an exemption provision regarding friendship. Hubbard took the stand in his own defense this week and testified about how he emailed so-called “friends” for business opportunities and advice when he was laid off in 2011. The prosecution argued that the emails were evidence that Hubbard illegally sought jobs and favors from lobbyists such as former Alabama Governor Bob Riley. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses the latest in the speaker’s public corruption trial.

 

Netflix’s ‘The Eternaut’ makes a haunting series of an esteemed Argentine comic

El Eternauta has acquired near-mythic status in Argentina since it was first published in 1957.

This city is exploring an unconventional solution to water scarcity: sewage

A booming population and changing climate have strained water supplies in St. George, Utah. Local leaders are betting that recycled wastewater can keep the city's taps flowing.

President Trump said he fired a Smithsonian museum director. Can he do that?

Since taking office, President Trump has aggressively tried to reshape cultural institutions. Last month, he claimed he was firing the director of the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery.

‘I don’t have no pity party’: Alabama execution set for Tuesday evening

Gregory Hunt is scheduled to be executed for the 1988 murder of Karen Lane in Walker County. It would be Alabama's fifth execution by nitrogen gas.

4 things to know about the immigration raid protests that roiled LA this weekend

Protesters opposed to federal immigration raids faced off with law enforcement in Los Angeles over the weekend. President Trump called in the National Guard against the wishes of the governor.

Trump’s trade war is raising money for the government, but at whose expense?

Tariff collections are up sharply in the last 2 months. Congressional forecasters say tariffs could help reduce the federal debt, but they'll also lead to higher inflation and slower economic growth.

More Front Page Coverage