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Winery Joins Ala. Wine Trail

By Brian Desarro / ASSISTANT INTRIGUE EDITOR | March 11

When Tim Watkins and Chad Ledbetter were brainstorming on how to use the 50 acres of land Watkin's father owned, an article in "Progressive Farmer" magazine inspired them to take a chance.Five years later, Whippoorwill Vineyards produces eight varieties of wine by hand and is one of the newest farm wineries to join the Alabama Wine Trail."Anytime you go to a winery, the winemaker themselves is going to define what the wine tastes like," said Chad Ledbetter, co-owner of Whippoorwill Vineyards.

'Leave Your Mark'

By Daniel Chesser / ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR | March 11

Shouting from a loud speaker, marching bands and the smell of barbecue filled the air in Montgomery's city streets last week.Representatives from Alabama's 13 four-year universities gathered on the stairs of the State House for the 13th Higher Education Day Rally March 4."It is outstanding to bring young people who are enrolled in our higher ed.

State Healthcare Becomes Electronic

By Daniel Chesser / ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR | March 11

The heart of Dixie may beat easier with the help of electronic medical records.Gov. Bob Riley announced last week that Alabama was awarded $10.5 million in federal funding to build an Electronic Health Record system."Electronic health records make our health care system more efficient and improve care patients receive," Riley said in a press release.

Bill Allows Employees to Keep Guns In Cars

By Jillian Clair / STAFF REPORTER | March 11

A bill proposed by Sen. Roger Bedford (D-Russellville) would allow employees with gun permits to keep their firearms locked in their vehicles while at work.The bill passed through the Senate 26-2.But now the bill must be approved by the Alabama House of Representatives.Bedford said this bill has no connection with the shooting at UAH, and it would be federally against the law for the state to change regulations about guns on university campuses.This bill would prevent employers from making a rule banning employees from keeping their firearms in their car."I believe that if someone is legally licensed to have a firearm, that they should be able to have it locked up, out of sight, in their vehicle so that they can have the protection of it going to and from work," Bedford said.

Arts Center, Play Celebrates Dr. Seuss

By Ashley Marks / WRITER | March 11

Great stories are remembered, like those of Zeus, but no stories are as special as those of Seuss.The Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center remembered the children's book legend by putting on a musical called "Seussical, Jr!" which incorporated his words in song.

Alabama Attorney General Takes On EPA

By Davis Potter / WRITER | March 11

The Alabama attorney general is suing the Environmental Protection Agency for its December ruling in which the agency concluded greenhouse gas emissions are a threat to human health.Attorney General Troy King has challenged the EPA's ruling by filing a petition in federal appeals court.

Bill Divides Electoral College Votes

By Nicole Emmett / WRITER | March 11

Debate arose over the significance of "second place" when an Alabama House committee approved a bill that would scrap the "winner take all" system of dividing Alabama's nine electors in presidential elections Wednesday.The House Constitution and Elections Committee voted 7-5 in favor of the bill.The bill faces another vote by the full state house.

Moran Finds Balance in Words

By Ellison Langford / News Editor | March 11

Mary Carol Moran has made an art of discerning an equilibrium between joy and sorrow.Moran said this balance is the subject of her book of poems published last year which won the Alabama State Poetry Society 2009 Book of the Year award."I only found out on Sunday so I haven't really come down yet," Moran said of her excitement about winning the award.She said she also likes the permanent feeling of winning an award.

Recycle Your Blues: Turning jeans into insulation

By Ellison Langford / News Editor | March 8

The Gap is hosting a donation drive called "Recycle Your Blues" for people to donate denim to provide insulation for houses.

Museum of East Alabama Tribute

By David Norwood / ASSISTANT MULTIMEDIA EDITOR | March 8

Local history enthusiasts and music lovers gathered in the ballroom of the Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center Thursday evening in support of the Museum of East Alabama.It was the museum's main fundraiser for the year and featured Tim Wells in a production of "Nat King Cole: As I Knew Him," a one man show written by Wells and Wade Hall and directed by Margie Benson.

Fourth In A Series: What Happens Next?

By Ellison Langford / News Editor | March 4

Five generator-powered lights and a red-lettered sign warning drivers to watch for pedestrians have been installed on Magnolia Avenue as part of collaboration between the city and University to make that area safer for pedestrians.However, these are only a few of the projects planned for the city.The city and the University meet approximately once a month to discuss issues of mutual interest and how they will handle them, said Catherine Love, civil engineer in the University's facilities division.

Poor scores demand writing program

By Jillian Clair / STAFF REPORTER | March 4

Five years ago, tests showed that Auburn students were not writing as much as peer institutions. This year, the creation of a writing initiative has brought positive attention to the University.Margaret Marshal, director of the University Writing Program, said Auburn's writing initiative is the first of its kind.A writing task force, which included faculty from every college as well as student representatives, spent two years investigating writing at Auburn, studying what actually happens in the classrooms, Marshall said.

House and Senate Struggle With PACT Money

By Daniel Chesser / ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR | March 4

An uncertain future for Alabama's prepaid college tuition program has the House and Senate searching for the appropriate solution.The two bills being proposed offer the same amount of money, but one has a substituted effort that wants to put a 2.5 percent cap on tuition cost for PACT contractholding students.Sen.

Home Brewing May Become Legal in Alabama

By Patrick Dever / ASSOCIATE SPORTS EDITOR | March 4

Editor's note: The photos have been changed because of misrepresenting content.Alabama's alcohol laws are changing again.Legislation was approved in the Alabama Senate legalizing home brewing of beer, wine and mead.Republican Sen.

Bill Will Require Voters to Show Valid Photo IDs

By Ben Bartley / COPY EDITOR | March 4

An Alabama House committee passed a bill that will require voters to show valid photo identification at polling places.The House Constitutions and Elections Committee passed the bill 8-3 Feb.

House Kills Vote for Constitution Reform

By Daniel Chesser / ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR | March 4

Alabama's 109-year-old constitution remains intact from reformation after a resolution that would let citizens vote for reform was killed by the Alabama House of Representatives."The House voted to lay the resolution on the table," said Nan Ekberg, co-chair Alabama Citizens for Constitutional Reform.

Arts Center Gives 'Junk' New Home

By Crystal Cole / STAFF REPORTER | March 4

The art gallery of the Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center resembled a garage for the last two weeks, with scrap metal, pots and even an old mannequin.The Found Objects II exhibition ran from Feb.

Formation of Public School Budgets May Change

By Jake Mastroianni / WRITER | March 4

The Rolling Reserve Budget Act, developed by Rep. Greg Canfield, may change the way budgets are planned for public schools in Alabama.Canfield's bill will look at the next 15 years and average those budgets together to figure out a reasonable cap for the budget.The hope is that this bill will avoid proration and will help schools regain funds lost during this slow economic period.Proration occurs when projected budgets are reduced so the amount of funds requested changes to match the amount of funds available."There is too much uncertainty that comes along with proration," Canfield said.