MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama House of Representatives has passed legislation allowing mugshots of people charged with soliciting prostitutes to be published. It was one of two bills approved Wednesday aimed at combatting human trafficking. The bill says the mugshot may be published in any printed or electronic media. The other legislation would up the financial penalties certain bars, hotels and gas stations could face if they fail to post human trafficking hotline information. The bills passed unanimously and now move to the Alabama Senate. There are seven days remaining in the

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — When Motown legend Martha Reeves sings her 1964 hit "Dancing in the Street" in the Alabama House of Representatives, let the record show that lawmakers feel compelled to sing along. Reeves, a native of Eufaula, Alabama, led lawmakers in song Wednesday. The lead singer of the R&B group Martha & The Vandellas was in town to receive the Distinguished Artists Award by the Alabama State Council on the Arts at an event later in the day. She told the legislators that she's thrilled to be back in her home state. After singing "The Lord's Prayer," Reeves was persuaded to

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Alabama historical officials say researchers have located the wreck of the last ship known to bring enslaved people from Africa to the United States. A statement issued Wednesday by the Alabama Historical Commission says remains of the Gulf schooner Clotilda have been identified and verified after months of assessment. The commission's executive director, Lisa Demetropoulos Jones, calls the discovery "an extraordinary archaeological find." In 1860 the wooden ship illegally transported 110 people from what is now the west African nation of Benin to Mobile, Alabama.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — When Motown legend Martha Reeves sings her 1964 hit "Dancing in the Street" in the Alabama House of Representatives, let the record show that lawmakers feel compelled to sing along. Reeves, a native of Eufaula, Alabama, led lawmakers in song Wednesday. The lead singer of the R&B group Martha & The Vandellas was in town to receive the Distinguished Artists Award by the Alabama State Council on the Arts at an event later in the day. She told the legislators that she's thrilled to be back in her home state. After singing "The Lord's Prayer," Reeves was persuaded to

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A key lawmaker says a lottery bill is dead for the legislative session. Rep. Steve Clouse said Wednesday that supporters have been unable to get the 63 votes needed to pass the measure in the 105-member House of Representatives. Clouse, who was handling the bill in the House, said the bill will not be coming back this session. The proposed constitutional amendment would have authorized a state lottery played with paper tickets but not with video lottery terminals. The proposal narrowly cleared the Alabama Senate, but stalled in the House. The proposal faced

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Abortion opponents held a rally at the Alabama Capitol, savoring victory after the state's governor signed the nation's most stringent abortion ban into law last week. Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America said Wednesday's rally was to celebrate the law's passage and thank legislators. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the legislation that would outlaw abortion in most cases. It hasn't taken effect and is expected to be blocked as a legal challenge plays out. Standing in front of the banner, "Pro-Life Pro-Woman," speakers said they are gaining momentum in the fight

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Abortions opponents held a rally at the Alabama Capitol, savoring victory after the state's governor signed the nation's most stringent abortion ban into law last week. Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America said Wednesday's rally was to celebrate the law's passage and thank legislators. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the legislation that would outlaw abortion in most cases. It hasn't taken effect and is expected to be blocked as a legal challenge plays out. Standing in front of the banner, "Pro-Life Pro-Woman," speakers said they are gaining momentum in the fight

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Abortions opponents held a rally at the Alabama Capitol, savoring victory as Alabama and other states seek stringent abortion bans. Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America said the Wednesday rally was to celebrate the passage of the Alabama law and to thank lawmakers. Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation that would outlaw abortion in most cases. It hasn't taken effect and is expected to be blocked as a legal challenge plays out. Standing in front of the banner, "Pro-Life Pro-Woman," speakers said they are gaining momentum in the fight against abortion. Rally

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — A group of automobile suppliers announced plans to invest $220 million in a manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Alabama. The venture by Y-tec Keylex Toyotetsu Alabama is expected to create 650 jobs. The facility will produce structural body stampings and assemblies, as well as functional and chassis parts for Mazda Toyota Manufacturing U.S.A. Gov. Kay Ivey joined executives from a trio of Mazda and Toyota suppliers at a ceremony Wednesday announcing the development. Construction on the plant is set to begin this month. The company has already begun hiring its

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama police officer who was seriously wounded in a shooting that killed another officer is improving. A statement released Wednesday by the Auburn Police Division says Officer Webb Sistrunk has been moved into critical care at a hospital in Columbus, Georgia. That's an improvement because Sistrunk was in intensive care. Sistrunk and two other officers were shot in Auburn on Sunday night. Officer William Buechner was killed, and another officer suffered a less severe wound. A suspect is jailed in the shootings. The statement relayed by police from Piedmont Columbus

ALICE, Texas (AP) — An Alabama inmate serving a life sentence for robbery has been indicted in the 1974 fatal shooting of a Texas police officer. Prosecutors joined police in Alice, Texas, on Tuesday to announce the May 10 indictment of Roberto Lopez on a capital murder count. Officer Matthew Murphy was shot during a traffic stop in Alice, 120 miles (193.11 kilometers) south of San Antonio. Alabama Department of Corrections records show Lopez in 1981 was sentenced to life in prison without parole for robbery. Alice police in 2017 identified Lopez as a suspect. An affidavit says the inmate

ALICE, Texas (AP) — An Alabama inmate serving life in prison for a robbery conviction has been indicted in the 1974 fatal shooting of a Texas police officer. Prosecutors joined police in Alice on Tuesday to announce the May 10 indictment of Roberto Lopez on a capital murder count. Officer Matthew Murphy was shot during a traffic stop in Alice, 120 miles (193.11 kilometers) south of San Antonio. Alabama Department of Corrections records show Lopez in 1981 was sentenced to life in prison without parole for robbery. Alice police in 2017 identified Lopez as a suspect. An affidavit says the

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A Senate committee has advanced legislation that seeks to end Alabama's status as one of two states without an equal pay for equal work law. The Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee on Wednesday approved the bill by Rep. Adline Clarke of Mobile. The Alabama House of Representatives voted 98-0 last week to pass the bill. The bill would prohibit businesses from paying workers less than employees of another race or gender without reasons to account for the difference. Those reasons could include seniority, a merit system or productivity

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama House of Representatives has approved legislation to put doctors in prison if they don't try to save babies "born alive" after an attempted abortion. Representatives voted 66-18 for the bill Tuesday. The bill now moves to the Senate The bill by Republican Rep. Ginny Shaver says doctors would face 20-year prison sentences for failing to provide reasonable care to save a "child born alive after an abortion." Shaver says the bill is named for a California woman who survived a late abortion. Alabama doesn't allow abortions after fetal viability. Democrats