The Associated Press

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Former Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford says he is dying in the federal prison where he's serving time for accepting bribes. Langford tells al.com in an email that he is terminally ill. Langford says he sought an early release from prison because of his medical condition but was refused. Federal prison records show the 65-year-old Langford is being held at a federal prison medical facility in Lexington, Ky. He's set for release in 2023.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Former Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford says he is dying in the federal prison where he's serving time for accepting bribes. Langford tells al.com in an email that he is terminally ill. Langford says he sought an early release from prison because of his medical condition but was refused. Federal prison records show the 65-year-old Langford is being held at a federal prison medical facility in Lexington, Ky. He's set for release in 2023.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A Korean company that makes seats for Kia and Hyundai vehicles says it plans to rapidly grow its workforce to go along with a new $50 million Montgomery plant. The Montgomery Advertiser reports executives of DAS North America want to expand their workforce from 100 Alabama employees to about 400 workers over the next four years. The company's workers have started production using a temporary facility in Hope Hull. Employees are scheduled to move into a new 300,000-square-foot factory at Montgomery Industrial Park next year.

WETUMPKA, Ala. (AP) — Court officials are asking for the man who pleaded guilty to poisoning oak trees at Auburn University to pay about $1 million in restitution. AL.com reports a motion filed Wednesday by the Lee County District Attorney's office is based on costs Auburn University absorbed by trying to save the oaks and the estimated cost of their planned replacements. Defense attorney for Harvey Updyke, Andrew Stanley, says he'll file an appropriate response at a later date after researching case law, state restitution laws and the figures provided by the district attorney's office.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Governor Robert Bentley has appointed Bill Newton to serve as acting finance director. Bentley said Friday that Newton, who previously served as assistant finance director, has more than 30 years of experience in state government finance operations. Newton oversaw two state budgets, purchasing, accounting, payroll, financial reporting and debt management functions in his previous role. Bentley says Newton's commitment to public service and legal background made him the ideal candidate for the position.

GULF SHORES, Ala. (AP) — From Cape Cod to the southern tip of Texas, coastal homeowners are feeling the pinch with rising insurance rates. Rates have increased sharply since 2003, forcing homeowners to take greater risk by accepting higher deductibles. The cost of homeowners insurance rose 36 percent from 2003 to 2010. An AP analysis of national insurance figures shows 14 of the 15 states where rates increased by the largest percentages border the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The state of Alabama can move ahead with its lawsuit to shut down a Birmingham abortion clinic. Lawyers for individuals and companies linked to the clinic withdrew their motions to dismiss the case during a brief hearing Friday. That means the state's lawsuit goes forward, with the two sides swapping evidence. Circuit Judge Joseph Boohaker set a hearing for Aug. 5 to consider the state health agency's claims that New Women All Women Health Care is operating as an illegal, unregulated abortion clinic.

Dean Young is announcing that he plans to run for the Alabama congressional seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner.

   Alabama's 1st Congressional District is in southwestern Alabama and includes Mobile.

   Young, an entrepreneur and businessman, said he would work to create jobs, shrink the size of the federal government and return the nation to Christian principles. Young also noted the current scandals facing the Obama administration and said he would help put the nation "back on track."

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Alabama State Troopers investigated two deadly crashes in the state during the Memorial Day holiday period. The holiday period is considered the 78 hours between 6 p.m. Friday and midnight Monday. The figure only reflects trooper-investigated traffic fatalities. A final statewide tally will be computed as other law enforcement agencies report their weekend statistics. Authorities say both of this weekend's trooper-investigated fatal crashes occurred on Saturday. Authorities said both involved motorcycles, and helmets were used by the people involved.

County officials in eastern Alabama are set to discuss a proposed natural gas pipeline that would cross through parts of Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

   Lee County commissioners are scheduled to meet Tuesday night to discuss the proposed project by Sabal Trail Transmission, a subsidiary of Spectra Energy Corp.

   The Opelika-Auburn News reports (http://bit.ly/10xiIAD) that Logan Gray, a partner at Southern Strategy Group in Montgomery, is scheduled to give a presentation at Tuesday's meeting.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama Democrats cried foul when Republicans pushed through a sweeping education law that will create new income tax credits to help some parents pay private school tuition. Because they're an overwhelming minority in the Legislature, there wasn't much the Democrats could do. Now, with the session over, leading party figures tell The Decatur Daily (http://bit.ly/17hnl6u ) they'll use the Republicans' act as a primary issue in the 2014 legislative elections. Sen.