The Sunrise News Sampler

Construction of the Shoppes at Legacy Park is under way, according to the Tuscaloosa News. The development will be on the parcel of land between McFarland Blvd and Dr. Edward Hillard Drive near Krispy Kreme, and the center plans to have a grand opening by the end of October 2015, although some retailers will open earlier.

The Tuscaloosa Police Department has announced that it is now accepting applications for the 7th class of the Tuscaloosa Citizen's Police Academy, which will run from Feb. 2 to March 23. Attendance is free, but applications must be turned in by Dec. 31.

The Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center will hold a town hall meeting on Dec 18 in the sports atrium of building 137 at 6pm to provide a forum for veterans and their families to discuss their health-care needs and to give feedback about their level of satisfaction with the medical center's services.

Republican leaders of the Alabama Legislature are asking the state Supreme Court to make a quick decision on the fate of the Alabama Accountability Act, as scholarships must be funded by Dec. 31 for the next school year.

The co-chairmen of the Pre-K Task Force of the Alabama School Readiness Alliance say they will ask the Legislature to increase the allocation for the state's voluntary pre-kindergarten program for 4-year-olds for a total of $51.7 million for the next school year, which would add space for about 2,600 children and boost total enrollment over 10,000.

UAB is shutting down its football program, following a campus-wide study by a consulting firm over the past year. Players can transfer to other schools and play immediately.

Alabama Power is planning a rate increase next year that will mean an increase of almost $7.00 in typical household bills.

Americans with disabilities could benefit from a bill about to be passed that stands out for its massive support in a bitterly divided Congress. The bill would allow Americans with disabilities to open tax-sheltered bank accounts to pay for certain long-term expenses.

House Homeland Security Commission chairman Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas says President Obama's move to protect millions of immigrants from deportation will encourage more illegal immigration and undermines the Constitution and democratic process while Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says deferring deportation for longtime residents who aren't deportation priorities makes sense.

Secretary of State John Kerry says the global fight against Islamic State militants will likely take years to fully succeed, but nations are ready to engage "for as long as it takes" to defeat the bloody insurgency.

Work in one case was made easier for police in Stockton, California, as one man who stole an iPhone from a car keeps taking selfies, which are being uploaded to the owner's iCloud account.

Judy Huth of Southern California says comedian Bill Cosby molested her in 1974 when she was 15 years old.

50 Cent's personal bank account has reportedly been frozen after he failed to pay a $17.2 million court judgment.