Just like the original PAC, “Alabama for Healthy Families” in its sole finance report only listed in-kind contributions: one from Planned Parenthood Southeast for $3559.31 that only discloses it as “administrative” and one from Planned Parenthood’s federal PAC – “Planned Parenthood Action Fund” – for $710.06, again calling it “administrative” with no other information.

The only activity shown on the old PAC’s reports were in-kind contributions totaling $18,744.72 from Planned Parenthood Southeast, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Inc. and Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Its original April and May monthly reports were amended on August 23 to show that the federal PAC (not the Planned Parenthood Federation of America itself) gave money to the state PAC.

Alabama’s Fair Campaign Practices Act (FCPA) defines a PAC as:

Any political committee, club, association, political party, or other group of one or more persons, whether in-state or out-of-state, which receives or anticipates receiving contributions and makes or anticipates making expenditures to or on behalf of any Alabama state or local elected of cial, proposition, candidate, principal campaign committee, or other political action committee.

Alabama currently has a ban on PAC-to-PAC transfers, which then-Attorney General Luther Strange called “instrumental in limiting campaign corruption while adding greater transparency to the elections process” when it was upheld by a federal appeals court in 2016.

The stated purpose of both Alabama Planned Parenthood PACs was “to accept contributions and make expenditures in order to support elected officials, propositions, candidates, or principal campaign committees that support access to health care for all Alabamians.”

Neither the original nor the new PAC disclosed monetary contributions or spending of any kind over the entirety of its existence. This also means that it is unclear what candidates and elected officials, if any, they supported or opposed.

That original PAC was formed on the exact date Sen. Doug Jones (D-Mountain Brook) won election to the United States Senate and dissolved on the same day that Jones voted to continue federal funding of Planned Parenthood.

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

Auburn came in at number eight on the elite list, with average revenue of $112 million and profit of $61 million.

This is the first time Forbes has ranked college football teams since 2015, when Alabama ranked eighth and Auburn tenth.

On the spending side, the publication’s 2015 edition explained that teams like Alabama and Auburn are continually investing in their respective program’s success, which has become expensive in modern times.

Between facility costs, extravagant game-day operations, staffing, recruiting expenses and scholarships, the programs are reinvesting revenue to ensure longevity.

Only Texas A&M and Texas averaged more revenue than Alabama, with Michigan tying the Capstone.

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn

This year, Neverthirst is celebrating its ten year anniversary. In ten years the organization has served more than half a million people through more than 10,000 water projects. In places like India, Cambodia, Chad, Uganda, Nepal, and Myanmar, Neverthirst is working with local partners to provide access to clean water through bio-sand filters and wells with hand pumps. The gospel is shared with each water project through the pastors in the communities where Neverthirst is working.

The results have been staggering. When Neverthirst first started in 2008, 1.2 billion people lacked access to a safe water source. Now the number is 660 million. “It’s truly amazing to reflect on ten years as a ministry and all that God has done around the world,” Whitehead says. “We would have never dreamed that ten years into the ministry we would be able to help over 500,000 people gain access to a safe water source and ultimately get the opportunity to hear about the love of God.”

But still much work must be done. According to World Health Organization, every day more than 800 children under the age of five die from preventable diseases caused by poor water, and lack of sanitation and hygiene. That’s why Whitehead feels an urgency while looking ahead to the next ten years. “We’re committed to playing our part in ending the water crisis but we can’t do it alone,” he says.

On Thursday, September 13th at 6:30 p.m., Neverthirst will hold a 10 Year Celebration at Noah’s Event Venue in Hoover (2501 International Park Place). It will be an event that has come full circle for Whitehead. The pastor who inspired the mission, Dr. David Platt, will be the keynote speaker. In addition, dozens of virtual reality simulators will be available for guests to try on and feel like they are half a world away as they experience “virtually” what it’s like to be on a Neverthirst project. All are invited and the event is free; but, it is necessary to R.S.V.P. by visiting NeverthirstWater.org.

What does the future hold for Neverthirst and the people it serves? “It truly takes an army of people getting involved to make an impact,” Whitehead says. “We are so thankful for how God continues to move in the hearts of people that want to make a difference! We’re really excited about the years ahead and being able to continue to help families throughout Africa and Asia gain access to a safe water source.”

Whitehead believes there will be an end to the water crisis in our lifetime. But just as was preached ten years ago in that pivotal sermon, it will take men and women who have experienced God’s blessing to be obedient to His purpose.

It will replace the aging current facility, the Kirkwood R. Balton Clubhouse, which has been in uses since the late 1990s.

The club’s chief executive officer told Al.com that a new building was needed to handle the Gaston club’s average daily afterschool attendance of 150 and a summer average daily attendance of 240 members.

The new 24,300-square-foot clubhouse would allow the Boys and Girls Club to increase its capacity and allow for an average daily attendance of 450 children and youths.

Groundbreaking is set for December and construction is expected to take 12 to 14 months.
(Associated Press, copyright 2018)

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Edwards died Sept. 1 when he was hit by bullets fired outside his home.

Police have not said what prompted the arrest of the suspect. Officers also have not released a motive for the shooting yet.

The victim’s mother, Vatongula Edwards, says she has been told her son and the suspect did not know each other.
(Associated Press, copyright 2018)

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