Alabama voters are facing a deadline if they want to take part in the March primary elections. Today is the last day to hand in your registration form in person. APR student reporter Tori Martinez breaks down the deadlines.
Monday is the last day for Alabamians to register online for the so-called SEC Primaries. Registration forms sent in the mail have to be postmarked by Saturday, and Friday is the last day to hand-deliver your forms.
The State of Alabama did a soft rollout of the new online registration system late last month. As of Monday, the Secretary of State’s office reports almost 28,000 Alabamians had signed up on the internet.
Alabama is among seven southeastern states to band together for a March 1 primary election. Observers say this may give the collection of southern states a little more clout among the contenders seeking their party’s nomination for President.
A U.S. Representative from Alabama is pushing for national legislation to require drug testing for food stamp recipients.
Alabama U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt unveiled his bill yesterday. It’s an attempt to support efforts in states like Wisconsin, where Republican Gov. Scott Walker is looking to require food stamp recipients to undergo drug screening. Walker's administration filed suit against the U.S. Agriculture Department, which says federal law bars the practice.
The U.S. government says states cannot impose new standards of eligibility under the law. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says drug testing recipients is intrusive and ineffective.
Representative Aderholt is the chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees spending for the Agriculture Department, which administers the food stamp program.
Blues musicians of all ages will take the stage tomorrow night as the Alabama Blues Project celebrates its 20th anniversary.
The Tuscaloosa-based nonprofit is dedicated to preserving Alabama’s blues heritage by passing it on to a new generation. The group holds music camps, teaches after-school music classes at area schools and travels to rural schools across the state to introduce kids to the blues.
Paula Demonbreun is the Executive Director of the Alabama Blues Project. She explains what kids can expect from the group’s camps.
“What they’ll do is they will select which instrument they want to learn, either guitar, harmonica, percussion, or vocals. And they’ll also learn a lot about blues history, we’re going to throw some songwriting in there… So, all kinds of fun stuff for kids to do.”
The 20th anniversary celebration starts at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Band of Brothers Brewing Company in Tuscaloosa. Tickets will be available at the door.
President Barack Obama has nominated an Alabama judge to fill a vacancy in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Obama issued a news release yesterday announcing the nomination of Judge Abdul K. Kallon, a U.S. District Judge in the Northern District of Alabama. Kallon has been serving in Birmingham since being appointed to his current position by President Obama in 2010.
The President praised Kallon, saying the Sierra Leone native has an extensive record of reaching fair decisions and will make for a strong addition to the appellate court.
Kallon received his bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Prior to his 2010 appointment, he had a litigation and counseling practice working on corporate civil defense cases.