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Max Frankel, former New York Times top editor, dies at 94

Frankel was The New York Times' executive editor from 1986 to 1994. He remained with the newspaper for nearly half a century, ushering it through different eras.

George Foreman, the fearsome heavyweight who became a beloved champion, dies at 76

The heavyweight who lost the "Rumble in the Jungle" to Muhammad Ali before authoring an inspiring second act as a 45-year-old champion and a successful businessman was 76.

Alabama House passes $192 million in tax cuts

Many lawmakers like tax cuts and evidence of that came this week when a package of $192 million in tax cuts flew through the Alabama House. We take a look at what's in that package, alongside other action in Montgomery this week, with Todd Stacey, host of Capital Journal and Alabama Public Television.

Alabama lawmakers approve paid parental leave for state employees

The Republican dominated House of Representatives voted 94-2 to pass legislation that would offer up to eight weeks of maternity leave and two weeks of paternity leave after the birth, stillbirth or miscarriage of a child. The legislation now goes to Republican Gov. Kay Ivey.

Ex-F1 team owner and media personality Eddie Jordan has died at 76

Jordan ran his own team in the 1990s and 2000s in Formula 1. He became a popular pundit on TV after selling the team in 2005.

Data centers bring billions to Mississippi. Are the investments worth the risk?

State leaders have lauded the beginning of two new projects, but some industry experts said they come with big power demands and few permanent jobs.

Alabama lawmakers approve a ban on devices that convert semi-automatic weapons into machine guns

A bipartisan coalition pushed the Alabama legislation after several multiple mass shootings last year, including the shooting deaths of four people outside a Birmingham nightclub in September. The devices are already banned under federal law, but there’s currently no state law that bans them.

Louisiana executes Jessie Hoffman by nitrogen gas in 1st use of death penalty in 15 years

With Hoffman’s execution, Louisiana joins Alabama as the only other state in the U.S. to use the controversial gas method on a person condemned to death.

Aurelio Martínez, ambassador of Garifuna music, has died

The Honduran musician, one of the most recognized proponents of a Caribbean culture dating to the 17th century, died Monday in an airplane crash.

Five years out, an ER doc reflects on how he and his colleagues faced down COVID-19

In Alabama, emergency departments were overrun during the Covid-19 pandemic – the state had one of the highest rates of hospitalizations in the country. Children’s of Alabama ER doc David Bernard remembers “the first time we started to feel that maybe we wouldn't die.”

Jesse Colin Young, singer of The Youngbloods’ ‘Get Together,’ dies at 83

Prolific musician Jesse Colin Young, best known for being the voice of the '60s folk-rock anthem "Get Together," died on Sunday at age 83.

Attorneys, advocates make last-minute bid to stop Louisiana’s execution of Jessie Hoffman

Hoffman’s execution is set for Tuesday after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a federal judge’s decision to block it earlier this month.

Threat of tornadoes moves south after storm unleashes winds and fans wildfires

The threat of tornadoes moved east into the Mississippi Valley and Deep South on Saturday, a day after a massive storm system unleashed winds that damaged buildings in several central states.

Big March storm system threatens U.S. with tornadoes, blizzards and wildfire risk

A storm system crossing the U.S. threatens to unleash tornadoes Friday in the Mississippi Valley, blizzards in the northern Plains and dry conditions in Texas and Oklahoma that pose a wildfire risk.

John Feinstein, sports writer and author of ‘A Season on the Brink,’ dies at 69

Feinstein was comfortable writing fiction and nonfiction, and took on an array of sports, including golf and tennis, but he was known most for his connection to college basketball

Sofia Gubaidulina, the composer who fused sound and spirituality, has died at age 93

One of the first modern women composers to reach international acclaim, Gubaidulina wrote bold music, inspired by Eastern and Western philosophies, and the joy of sound itself.

Playwright Athol Fugard, who chronicled apartheid and its aftermath, dies at 92

The celebrated South African playwright was known for Blood Knot, The Road to Mecca and "Master Harold"...and the Boys. He said his job was to make "leaps out of my reality and into other realities."

D’Wayne Wiggins, founding member of the R&B group Tony! Toni! Tone!, has died at 64

Wiggins died Friday morning after battling bladder cancer for over the past year, according to a statement released by his family on social media.

Immigration bills make headway in Montgomery

Immigration is one of the major issues of the moment at the national level. Alabama lawmakers are not far behind by taking up several bills intended to fight illegal immigration. We hear about some of those measures plus other action this week in Montgomery from Todd Stacy, host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public Television.

Roy Ayers, whose ‘Everybody Loves The Sunshine’ charmed generations, dies at 84

The vibraphonist, composer and jazz-funk pioneer helped inspire the neo-soul movement, and his best-known song was sampled over 100 times.

Blizzards, wildfires and thunderstorms are expected across the nation on Wednesday

A major storm sweeps across the U.S., bringing severe weather conditions such as blizzards, wildfires and tornadoes. Blizzard warnings are in effect for Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota.

Carl Dean, Dolly Parton’s husband of nearly 60 years who inspired ‘Jolene,’ dies at 82

"Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years," Parton wrote in a statement.

Severe weather and critical fire risk, ranked ‘multi-hazard,’ expected nationwide

A spring storm is bringing various weather conditions across the U.S. Some regions are facing snow, possible tornadoes, and critical fire conditions, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

James Harrison, whose blood donations saved over 2 million babies, has died

Harrison, whose plasma contained a rare antibody, rolled up his sleeve 1,173 times from 1954 to 2018. The Australian is credited with helping 2.4 million babies and advancing scientific research.

Angie Stone, soul singer who broke ground in hip-hop, dies at 63

Stone, a Grammy-nominated R&B singer who rose to fame in the late 1970s, was known for hits like "No More Rain" and "Wish I Didn't Miss You. She was killed in a road collision in Alabama on Saturday.

David Johansen, who fronted the New York Dolls, dies at 75

Johansen, a pioneer in punk music who found solo success under the moniker Buster Poindexter, died on Friday. His family announced last month that he had been in treatment for advanced stage cancer.

In the fight over Louisiana’s execution plans, religion plays a prominent role

Faith activism against the state's plan to resume executions adds to a history of religious engagement with social questions in the South.

Under Trump, Huntsville might finally gain Space Command. It could also lose much more

The 1,600 jobs Space Command would bring to the Rocket City might not make up for potential cuts to NASA and the Department of Defense.

Alabama lawmakers target social media

Social media is under fire nowadays, especially when it comes to use by children. Several bills in the Alabama Legislature would restrict how kids could use social media. We hear more about that and other happenings in Montgomery from Todd Stacy, host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public Television.

Q&A: What immigrants should know about their Constitutional rights during an ICE visit

Anxiety has reigned at some schools, churches and hospitals after moves by the Trump administration rolled back protections that had previously shielded them from visits from U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The moves have sparked conversations, including some worry and public pushback, in the South.

Inside a Mississippi man’s fight with health insurance and a hospital for life-saving surgery

Trevor Malosh’s heart surgery was finally on the books after months of negotiations with his insurance company and the hospital. Then, another setback happened.

Crime bills go before the Alabama legislature

Gov. Kay Ivey has said public safety would be her top priority this legislative session. Ivey put that into action this week as she and several mayors from around the state took to the Capitol to promote what's been called the "Safe Alabama" package of bills. We talk about that and other happenings in Montgomery with week with Todd Stacey, host of Capital Journal and Alabama Public Television.