The Sunrise News Sampler

Sunday evening, a Dodge Challenger driven by Kevin Gray crashed into the Black Warrior River at Lock 7. A passenger in the car was able to swim to shore, according to our daily, but Gray had not been found as of yesterday.

The Alabama HBCU Summit to be hosted by Stillman College was postponed during the times of inclement weather and has been rescheduled for April 3rd and 4th. This event will bring student leaders from HBCU's throughout the state to Stillman's campus. Sponsorships for the event are available.

The Tuscaloosa City Council has adopted a new policy of striving for 10 to 20 percent participation from minority and women contractors for future projects. The city has hired the Birmingham Construction Industry Authority to help meet its goals.

The Community Unity-led "Assume the Position" Men's Conference will begin at Cornerstone Full Gospel Baptist Church tomorrow evening and will culminate Saturday with a men and boys breakfast followed by panel discussions.

Tuesday, March 18, Shelton State Community College will hold a wellness and health fair in the atrium of the main campus from 8am until 1pm.  The free event is open to the public and will include information on medicine, fitness, disease prevention, health, beauty, nutrition, and various community service agencies.

The Alabama Senate has approved legislation that would allow a marijuana derivative to be used to treat severe epileptic seizures. The bill now goes to the House.

Federal officials report that more than 55,000 Alabamians have selected a health insurance plan through the federal facilitated health insurance exchange.

Malaysian officials say they don't know which direction a Malaysia Airlines plane was flying when it disappeared Saturday with 239 people on board.  Civil aviation authorities and the military said the plane may have turned back from its last known position between Malaysia and Vietnam.

The head of the Senate Intelligence Committee says the CIA improperly searched a standalone computer network that was established for Congress as part of its investigation into possible CIA abuse in a Bush-era detention and interrogation program.

A Beverly Hills police sergeant is suing the city, claiming he faced retaliation after reporting that a detective made inappropriate remarks about Whitney Houston's body at her death scene.

Authorities are investigating the theft of $600,000 in checks and cash from a safe at Pastor Joel Osteen's megachurch in Houston.

Of the 11 remaining "American Idol" contestants, 3 from Alabama are hanging tight. Tonight's episode will feature songs from movies.