Ditch the Marriage Licenses? Senate Says ‘I Do’
The roads were treacherous in many parts of the state, but Alabama lawmakers still managed to get to the State House this week to hammer out a few bills.
One bill the Senate passed this week would do away with marriage licenses. The bill’s sponsor, Republican Sen. Greg Albritton, said this would take the state out of marriages. Under the proposed bill, couples wouldn’t need a probate judge to decide whether to issue a marriage license. And no ceremony would be required to make it official. Instead, a couple would submit documents to the judge stating that they aren’t currently married or related. Albritton first proposed similar bills in 2015 when the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage.
Another bill the Senate passed, proposed by Democratic Sen. Rodger Smitherman of Birmingham, aims to curb racial profiling. Smitherman says he has been the victim of racial profiling by police. His bill would require police to record the race and ethnicity of people pulled over, as well as their own race.
And that’s where WBHM’s Gigi Douban begins this week’s legislative wrap-up with Don Dailey, host of Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal.
Prediction market trader ‘Magamyman’ made $553,000 on death of Iran’s supreme leader
It's the latest trade drawing scrutiny on the popular prediction market site for appearing to show an insider making profits on military secrets.
Oil prices rise sharply in market trading after attacks in Middle East disrupt supply
The high prices came as U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory strikes against Israel and U.S. military installations around the Gulf sent disruptions through the global energy supply chain.
Satellite images provide view inside Iran at war
Satellite images from commercial companies show the extent of U.S. and Israeli strikes, and how Iran is responding.
Mideast clashes breach Olympic truce as athletes gather for Winter Paralympic Games
Fighting intensified in the Middle East during the Olympic truce, in effect through March 15. Flights are being disrupted as athletes and families converge on Italy for the Winter Paralympics.
A U.S. scholarship thrills a teacher in India. Then came the soul-crushing questions
She was thrilled to become the first teacher from a government-sponsored school in India to get a Fulbright exchange award to learn from U.S. schools. People asked two questions that clouded her joy.
Sunday Puzzle: Sandwiched
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with WXXI listener Jonathan Black and Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz.
