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The day editor is Errin Haines.
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TOP STORIES:
ALABAMA GAMBLING TRIAL
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A former federal judge said it’s highly unlikely that a casino developer who admitted offering millions in bribes will come out a winner in his attempt to avoid a prison sentence. Three of the four people who pleaded guilty in Alabama’s gambling corruption case — Country Crossing casino developer Ronnie Gilley, casino lobbyist Jarrod Massey and former state Rep. Terry Spicer — are scheduled for sentencing Monday in Montgomery by U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson. The four pleaded guilty in a wide-ranging federal corruption investigation that ensnared the owner of the state’s largest casino, Milton McGregor; four present and former state senators; two of the state’s most prominent lobbyists; and two others. Gilley was a key witness for the government at their trials, but none of them was convicted. The U.S. Justice Department’s only success was in the four guilty pleas. By Phillip Rawls.
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SPACE WORKERS-A YEAR LATER
TITUSVILLE, Fla. — A year after NASA ended the three-decade-long U.S. space shuttle program, thousands of formerly well-paid engineers and other workers around the Kennedy Space Center are still struggling to find jobs to replace the careers that flourished when shuttles blasted off from the Florida “Space Coast.” Some have headed to South Carolina to build airplanes in that state’s growing industry, and others have moved as far as Afghanistan to work as government contractors. Some found lower-paying jobs beneath their technical skills that allowed them to stay. Many are still looking for work and cutting back on things like driving and utilities to save money. More than 7,400 people, who once had labored on one of history’s most complicated engineering achievements, lost their jobs when the shuttle program ended last July. While other shuttle workers in Houston, New Orleans and Huntsville, Ala., lost jobs, those areas had bigger economies to absorb the workers. In less economically diverse Brevard County, the mainly contractor positions cut by NASA accounted for just under 5 percent of the county’s private sectors jobs. By Mike Schneider.
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HEALTH OVERHAUL-ELECTION
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Millions of uninsured people may have to wait until after Election Day to find out if and how they can get coverage through President Barack Obama’s health care law. More than two weeks after the Supreme Court gave the green light to Obama’s signature legislative achievement, many governors from both parties said they haven’t decided how their states will proceed on two parts under their control: an expansion of Medicaid, expected to extend coverage to roughly 15 million low-income people, and new insurance exchanges, projected to help an additional 15 million or so purchase private insurance. In some states, such as Colorado, Oklahoma and Wyoming, governors said they’re crunching the numbers to determine what’s best for their residents. But in other states, including Virginia, Nebraska and Wisconsin, Republican governors said not to expect a decision before Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney square off in November. By Josh Lederman.
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AP MEMBER EXCHANGE:
LIBRARY-1821 LETTER
FLORENCE, Ala. — Library work might appear dull to the casual observer, but there are days when the staff gives thanks they showed up for work. Patti Hannah, a volunteer conservator at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library, had one of those days several months ago. When the mail was delivered one morning, a manila envelope with an Irish postmark was dropped on her desk. Intrigued, she opened it to find a photo copy and transcription of a letter dated June 1821. The lengthy letter contained detailed descriptions of the countryside and people the writer and his family encountered while traveling from Tennessee to Florence, and later on to Philadelphia.
By Robert Palmer. TimesDaily.
AP Photos.
UA-SCIENCE GRANTS
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — With more than $1.6 million in grants from the National Science Foundation, three University of Alabama instructors will study earthquake seismology and advance nanotechnology to improve MRIs and solar energy collection. The five-year project grants are known as CAREER grants, because they’re awarded to boost researchers who are still on the path to achieve tenure. “It says it in the name: It kind of helps jump-start your career,” said Samantha Hansen, an assistant professor in the Department of Geological Services, who will take teams to Antarctica with her $715,000 grant. “When you’re new on faculty and you come into the job without a lot of resources, it’s a nice way to get your research off the ground.”
By Mark Hughes Cobb. The Tuscaloosa News.
ALSO:
— SALES TAX HOLIDAY — Ala.’s 1st sales tax holiday for severe weather supplies seen as good trial run
— OYSTER STUDY — 10-year study shows limit on how much pollution oysters can clean up
— PEOPLE-ROSA PARKS — Ala. lawmaker says he will block efforts to rename library honoring Rosa Parks
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