NEW YORK How accurate is “Zero Dark Thirty”? Is “Lincoln” an epic of historical recreation or a high school history lesson? What did you think of “Django Unchained”? Can we get Anne Hathaway something to eat, already? As a crop, this year’s nine best picture nominees has been one of the most talk-provoking, op-Ed-generating bunches [...]
‘Argo,’ ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ win Writers Guild of America awards
The Writers Guild of America gave its top prizes to Chris Terrio for “Argo” for adapted screenplay and Mark Boal for “Zero Dark Thirty” for original screenplay on Sunday night in a bicoastal awards ceremony held simultaneously in Los Angeles and New York City. In the cruel algebra of awards season, where x-award plus y-award [...]
Instead of arming teachers, hire police: Column
Heed a voice of caution from a conservative Alabama senator. And consider school resource officers. Fourth-grade teacher Joanna Baginska attends a concealed-weapons training class for Utah teachers in West Valley City in December.(Photo: George Frey, Getty Images) HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Despite calls from conservatives to arm teachers, a voice of reason and dissent has emerged [...]
Birmingham CARE program, aimed at keeping ex-inmates from returning to …
Federal court CARE program aimed at keeping ex-inmates from committing new crimes and landing back in prison (FILE PHOTO AP) BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — One day in January 2012 four men who had recently been released on probation from federal prison sat in a courtroom and listened to U.S. District Court Judge Karon O. Bowdre [...]
‘Argo’ goes into Oscar night as favorite for best picture
It’s an unexpected tale, full of curious developments and inside-Hollywood machinations, with a square-jawed leading man at its center. The awards-season odyssey of “Argo,” the Iran hostage drama with a Hollywood twist, includes Ben Affleck’s glaring Oscar snub in the directing category, subsequent awards from other Hollywood awards bodies and the picture’s current status as [...]
Report: Bill would set an 8-year path to residency
People take part in an immigration march near Big Spring International Park where speakers talked against the Immigration Bill HB 56. (The Huntsville Times/Dave Dieter) WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is circulating a draft immigration bill that would create a new visa for illegal immigrants living in the United States and allow them [...]
Conviction overturned in Alabama bridge deaths
MOBILE, Ala. – An Alabama appeals court has thrown out the 2009 conviction and death sentence of a Vietnamese immigrant tried for killing four small children by tossing them off a coastal bridge, ruling that publicity surrounding the case made it impossible for the suspect to have a fair trial in Mobile where the crime [...]
Gators set sights on Tigers in SEC matchup
Auburn, AL – The seventh-ranked Florida Gators continue their quest for an SEC regular-season title, as they take on the Auburn Tigers in league action at Auburn Arena on Saturday. Billy Donovan’s Gators have had a superior season both in and out of conference. Florida comes into this contest with a stellar 20-3 record, which [...]
US state and territory travel offices
States and many U.S. territories have tourism offices to help visitors. When requesting travel literature, be as specific as possible. Alabama: Alabama Tourism Department, 401 Adams Ave., Suite 126, P.O. Box 4927, Montgomery, AL 36103; (800) 252-2262 or (334) 242-4169, http://www.alabama.travel. Alaska: Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development, 550 W 7th Ave., Suite [...]
Exonerating the Scottsboro Nine
The trials were feverish displays of American racism and injustice that stirred a lynch mob outside the Scottsboro jail. The travesty drew worldwide attention and eventually resulted in landmark Supreme Court rulings on the right to adequate counsel and prohibiting the exclusion of black people from juries. The case consumed the lives of the nine [...]