The Sunrise News Sampler

Yesterday afternoon, Ron Abernathy, the chief deputy at the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office, announced his intent to run for sheriff. Current Sheriff Billy Sharp, who was appointed by the governor to replace Sheriff Ted Sexton, is not planning to run.

Tuscaloosa County Schools Superintendent Dr. Liz Swinford has recommended to the school board that they build a brand new Holt High School, as the current building is beyond repair. Community input is requested, and the project is expected to take two to three years to complete.

Governor Bentley says the Legislature will have to approve money for new industrial incentives if Alabama lands Boeing's new aircraft plant. Yesterday was the deadline for the 15 competing states to submit their offers for the plant.

As another blast of cold air heads into Alabama, officials in Birmingham are opening the Boutwell Auditorium as a warming shelter nightly through tomorrow, as a means of protecting the homeless and those without heat. Temperatures are expected to fall into the mid-to-upper 20s each night.

A report by the Pew Research Center which is to be released today finds that young American women are increasingly likely to receive pay nearly equal to their male counterparts, with earnings at 93 percent of men.

An Associated Press GfK poll finds that nearly 9 in 10 adults disapprove of the way lawmakers are handling their jobs.

Alabama placed nine players on the coaches All-SEC teams, chosen by league head coaches who were not allowed to vote for their own players.

The Republican chairman of the House Budget Committee and his Senate counter part have unveiled a modest budget agreement designed to avoid another round of the partison gridlock that has made Congress so unpopular.

The body of Nelson Mandela is lying in state at the amphitheater where he was sworn in 19 years ago as South Africa's first black president.