“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.
        )

)
1637559792 
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.

 

Trump names former Florida AG Pam Bondi as his new pick for U.S. attorney general

After former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration, President-elect Donald Trump named Pam Bondi, a former attorney general of Florida, as his next pick for U.S. attorney general.

Police report gives details, timeline of the sexual assault claim against Pete Hegseth

The woman who accused then-Fox News host of sexual assault in 2017 said that she "remembered saying 'no' a lot," according to a police report. Hegseth is President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Secretary of Defense.

Alabama Black Belt’s sewer crisis a tougher fix for residents in manufactured homes

Poor sanitation has long plagued residents in Alabama’s Black Belt. For people with manufactured houses, finding a solution has been more challenging.

In Birmingham, Black men’s groups work to save young men from the cycle of gun violence

As the city inches closer to its homicide record, community members are trying to address a sense of fatalism and lack of opportunity felt by some young men.

What is the ICC and can it really arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?

The ICC also issued warrants for Yoav Gallant, former Israeli defense minister, and Hamas leader Muhammad Deif. But it doesn't have an enforcement mechanism and relies on states to make the arrests.

Former Brazilian president indicted over alleged coup plot

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro and several others have been charged with attempting to overthrow incoming government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2022.

More Front Page Coverage