THE BIRMINGHAM NEWS

The latest news, sports, entertainment and more from Birmingham and surrounding areas

Governor Bob Riley said today that expanding gambling in Birmingham is the wrong way to generate money, and he'll oppose efforts to legalize bingo in the city.

DENVER -- U.S. Rep. Artur Davis of Birmingham seconded the nomination of friend Sen. Barack Obama this afternoon, telling the Democratic National Convention that Obama's victory "takes us closer to becoming what we know America can be, a place where who you are, what you have and where you come from pose no permanent barriers; where our destiny is what our God and our dreams determine it to be."

Alabama's delegation to the Democratic National Convention has cast 48 votes for Sen. Barack Obama and five for Sen. Hillary Clinton.

It was the first state heard from in the roll call vote leading up to the nomination of Obama as the Democratic candidate for president.

ASHLAND -- Gov. Bob Riley expected to attend next week's Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn., but Hurricane Gustav may force a change.

"We had planned to go up on Sunday and be there for four days, but with a hurricane in Gulf we're probably going to wait," Riley said this afternoon.

ASHLAND -- Gov. Bob Riley expected to attend next week's Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn., but Hurricane Gustav may force a change.

"We had planned to go up on Sunday and be there for four days, but with a hurricane in Gulf we're probably going to wait," Riley said this afternoon.

Family members of a couple found shot to death in a burning Jefferson County home on the outskirts of Brookside, said this afternoon they hope the deaths were not a murder-suicide, but are not sure what to think.

The family of Joseph and June Yates gathered in the Mineral Springs community where the couple was found shot to death this morning.

About 75 soldiers with the Alabama Army National Guard's 128th Medical Company will leave friends and family members Thursday to fly to Fort Lewis, Wash., for a month's training before deploying to Iraq.

The 128th, headquartered in the Clay County seat of Ashland, was in Iraq from December 2004 to November 2005, and about a third of its current soldiers are veterans of that first tour.

Gov. Bob Riley, a Clay County native, spoke today to the assembled soldiers and their families who gathered for a ceremony at Fort Pete Phillips Armory.

"Take care of one another. Look after one another. Be proud of what you're doing. This is a noble cause that you're about to enter," Riley said.

The Alabama Army Guard has one unit in Iraq, the 1207th Quartermaster Detachment (Water Distribution) from Goodwater, which has about 20 members. Earlier this month, a 16-member Army Guard training team began a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Other state Guard units are expected to deploy to Iraq or Afghanistan in the months ahead.

Earlier this month, members of the 128th Medical Company plastic-wrapped supplies and equipment that will be shipping with them to Iraq. From left are Spc. Jonathan Businelle, Spc. Christopher Turnage and Sgt. John Heath

America's energy crisis is a national security issue, Sen. Jeff Sessions said today. Speaking to a Rotary Club of Birmingham meeting, Sessions said the United States needs to lower its dependency on foreign oil.

Independent candidates for the Jefferson County Commission District 1 seat have until 5 p.m. today to submit 914 valid signatures from District 1 voters.

So far, current commissioner George Bowman is the only person who has turned in signatures, according to a county election official.

The Tennessee Valley Authority has asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to reinstate its construction permits for two unfinished nuclear reactors at its Bellefonte site in Jackson County as part of an effort to evaluate the feasibility of completing them to meet future power needs.

Central Alabama Pride Inc. filed a federal lawsuit today against Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford in his official capacity, contending he discriminated against the group when he refused to allow city workers to hang banners supporting Gay Pride Week.