The Sunrise News Sampler

Yesterday, demolition began on McFarland Mall, and according to the Tuscaloosa News, developer Stan Pate is moving toward construction of a new retail center called Encore Tuscaloosa, which will open in late 2015 or early 2016.

The Alabama House has approved a resolution to designate cornbread as the official state bread.

Four military search planes are on their way to a remote part of the Indian Ocean to determine whether two large objects spotted by satellite are debris from the missing Malaysian airliner.

The NCAA's March Madness 2014 television viewings begin today at 11:15 with Ohio State facing Dayton in the South and Duke facing Mercer in the Midwest.

Yesterday, Comcast added 18 live streaming channels to its Xfinity TV Go app. Xfinity TV subscription holders will now be able to use their smartphones or tablets to watch TBS, TNT, and truTV, which will televise 26 NCAA Tournament games in the next three days.

The IRS says millions in refunds may be waiting for 15,700 Alabamians who did not file a tax return for 2010. A person has until April 15 to file a return for 2010.

The Alabama Senate has approved a bill to allow people to carry loaded handguns in their vehicles without getting a pistol permit. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.

People accused, but not convicted, of certain crimes in Alabama might soon be able to have their records cleared. The Alabama House has approved the bill, which now returns to the Alabama Senate.

Yesterday, the Alabama House Health Committee held a public hearing on a bill that would decriminalize midwifery. It is currently illegal for a woman in the state to have at-home births attended by midwives.