The Sunrise News Sampler

Temporary Emergency Services, a local non-profit agency that assists area residents in both times of disaster as well as times of regular hardship, is accepting donations of non-perishable food items on Saturday, January 19th. Their location at 1705 15th St will be open from 9am until 5pm.

In state news, the Medicaid Advisory Committee, created by Governor Bentley to find better and more economical ways to manage the health care program for the poor, is recommending that our state Medicaid program be divided into as many as 11 or 12 divisions across the state.

In other news, remember when Russia passed a law in December banning adoptions by US citizens? Well, many American families who are trying to adopt Russian children say their authorities are refusing to turn the children over to them, although Russian courts ruled in favor of some families before the ban was enacted.

In entertainment news, actor Conrad Bain had died at the age of 89. Bain is most known for his role as the father on "Diff'rent Strokes."

Yesterday, President Obama signed 23 executive actions in efforts of curbing gun violence. They included mandatory background checks for all gun sales, bans on military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, and ending a freeze on government research on gun violence. However, the President says these steps will have much less impact than broad measures needing approval from Capitol Hill.

In state government news, Tuesday, Alabama asked the US Supreme Court to review a section of our law on illegal immigration that makes it a crime to assist, harbor, or transport anyone who's in the country illegally.

In local news, ESPN's SportsCenter anchor and host of "College Football Live" and "College GameDay" Rece Davis will offer a short lecture at the University of Alabama's Ferguson Student Center Theater on Thursday, January 31st at 11. The event is free and open to the public.

And in sports entertainment news, Katherine Webb, who shot to social media stardom during the BCS championship, will serve as a correspondent for "Inside Edition" leading up to next month's Super Bowl.