The Sunrise News Sampler

Residents of West Tuscaloosa and parents of children in the Western Cluster of Tuscaloosa City Schools are invited to participate in a planning process for community and educations excellence to be held Thursday, February 27 at the McDonald Hughes Center from 6pm until 8pm.

Alabama Representative Rod Scott has proposed legislation to allow people older than 70 to withdraw from jury polls, as many seniors have trouble making it to court. However, the bill would allow seniors to reinstate themselves to the pool if they wished.

Today, President Obama will announce the creation of two Pentagon-led institutes that will combine public and private resources to foster manufacturing innovation. One will be in Canton, Michigan and another in Chicago. The president promised last year to create three manufacturing hubs. The first is in Raleigh, NC.

Saturday night, Oprah Winfrey tweeted her first selfie, taken at the 45th Annual NAACP Image Awards.

According to the Community Service Programs of West Alabama, applications are being accepted for Head Start for low-income families with children ages 6 weeks to 4 years in Bibb, Fayette, Lamar, Hale, Greene, and Tuscaloosa Counties.

Abortion opponents will rally outside the Alabama Statehouse as lawmakers consider a series of bills putting new restrictions on abortions. One of the bills would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, a measure both sides say would be destined for a court battle if it became law.

House Republicans are about to unveil a plan to simplify the tax code. It would cut income tax rates but impose a new surtax on some high-income families. However, the plan is said to have no chance of becoming law without Democratic support.

Singer Robin Thicke and his actress wife Paula Patton have separated after nine years of marriage.