The Alabama Supreme Court will hear a petition from two conservative groups looking to halt same-sex marriage in the state.
The court voted 6 to 2 to hear arguments from the Alabama Policy Institute and Alabama Citizens Action Program. They claim that U.S. District Judge Callie Granade's ruling which declared Alabama's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional doesn't apply to Alabama's probate judges.
They say the state's probate judges aren't compelled to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, despite a later ruling from Judge Granade forcing Mobile County's probate judge to do just that.
The attorneys involved say this petition hopes to eliminate confusion between probate judges and put same-sex marriage on hold in Alabama until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the issue later this year.
Dissenting Alabama Supreme Court Justice Greg Shaw says the petition will likely cause more confusion and may open up even more probate judges to federal litigation against them.
The court has not said yet whether it will hear oral arguments before responding to the petition.
Tomorrow is Mardi Gras along Alabama’s gulf coast, and it may take a little longer to let the good times roll.
FedEx Express says customers should expect delivery delays in cities like Mobile because of road closures due to Mardi Gras parades. That could cause headaches for customers waiting for last minute shipments of things like Mardi Gras king cakes.
Pollman’s Bakery in Mobile is shipping about five hundred king cakes this year. Owner Fred Pollman says he gotten complaints in the past due to delivery problems…
“Well, people call up say I didn’t get my king cake on time, and it was due to the weather. But I would refer to them and let them know that the cake is still fine, and there’s nothing wrong with the product. It’s better when it’s fresher because there’s no preservatives in it.”
FedEx Express says Mardi Gras delivery delays could occur between now and tomorrow. Mobile prides itself as the originator of the Mardi Gras celebration here in the United States.
More than 500 people gathered inside the Paul W. Bryant Conference Center this past Saturday for the ninth annual great Tuscaloosa Chili cook-off. 31 teams put their best recipes up for judging as eventgoers tasted all kinds of chili.
Curtis Baggett is the team coordinator for the Tuscaloosa Exchange Club. He says the event was another success and enjoyable for everyone.
“You know, it’s always fun to just come out and see people that you live and work with in the community in costume and rare form and whether you like chili or not, it’s just neat to come out and see.”
The team “Schlitz Creek” took top honors at the chili cook-off, earning a trophy and a $500 cash prize. Baggett says proceeds from the event benefits the Tuscaloosa Exchange Club. It's a non-profit group that provides volunteer community service, youth development, and the prevention of child abuse.