The Sunrise News Sampler

Officials at the University of Alabama say the school has been awarded a $2.2 million grant to improve the school readiness of more than 500 Head Start pre-schoolers in West Alabama counties and their families. 

A hearing for Jefferson County's bankruptcy exiting is scheduled for today.

Today, Governor Bentley will pardon Clyde the Thanksgiving turkey. It will be the first pardoning ceremony since the August death of South Alabama turkey grower Bill Bates.

The U.S. Supreme Court has denied a stay of execution for white supremacist serial killer Joseph Paul Franklin, who's on death row in Missouri. Franklin was sentenced to death for one of eight murders of which he's been convicted, and he's also admitted shooting and wounding civil rights leader Vernon Jordan and Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt, who's been paralyzed since the 1978 attack.

Early yesterday morning, 55-year-old bicyclist Robert Kenneth Snow was found lying unconscious on the ground near Skyland Boulevard and Palisades Drive. He died a short time later at DCH Regional Medical Center; and while Snow is said to have suffered a serious injury, there are said to be no apparent signs of foul play.

Testimony continued yesterday in the trial of James Heath Moss, the state trooper charged in the deaths of two people he crashed his patrol car into while traveling 120 mph.

Republican Florida congressman Henry "Trey" Radel is set to appear in a D.C. courtroom today to answer a charge of cocaine possession. Radel says he regrets the incident and he struggles with alcoholism.

Also appearing in court today is R&B singer Chris Brown. The schedule is for a probation update. It will be his first time in court since he was arrested last month in Washington, D. C. Brown recently attended rehab for anger management.

Adam Levine has been named People magazine's "sexiest man alive" of 2013.