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Judge blocks one part of new Alabama absentee ballot restrictions

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2 months ago

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Judge blocks one part of new Alabama absentee ballot restrictions


MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday blocked a portion of a new Alabama law limiting help with absentee ballot applications, saying it violates the Voting Rights Act’s assurances that voters who are blind, disabled or cannot read can get help from a person of their choice.

Chief U.S. District Judge David Proctor issued a preliminary injunction stating that the law’s ban on gifts and payments for help with an absentee ballot application “are not enforceable as to blind, disabled, or illiterate voters.”

“The court easily concludes, after reviewing its language, that SB 1 unduly burdens the rights of Section 208 voters to make a choice about who may assist them in obtaining and returning an absentee ballot,” Proctor wrote.

The injunction blocked only one portion of the new law. Most of the law, which was challenged by voter outreach groups, remains in effect. Alabama is one of several Republican-led states imposing new limits on voter assistance.

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Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office indicated in a court filing that it is appealing the decision.

The new law, originally known as Senate Bill 1, makes it illegal to distribute an absentee ballot application that is prefilled with information such as the voter’s name or to return another person’s absentee ballot application. The new law also makes it a felony to give or receive a payment or a gift “for distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, completing, prefilling, obtaining, or delivering a voter’s absentee ballot application.”

The American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama, the Legal Defense Fund, Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program and the Campaign Legal Center filed a lawsuit challenging the law on behalf of voter outreach groups. Proctor previously dismissed most of the claims.

The voter outreach groups said their paid staff members or volunteers, who are given gas money or food, could face prosecution for helping disabled voters with an application.

“Our democracy works best when everybody can participate in it, and this ruling prevents the enforcement of a cruel law that would have suppressed the voices of blind, disabled, and low-literacy voters,” the organizations said.

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In a request to stay the injunction, Marshall’s office wrote that the decision does not follow “common sense.” They argued anyone could help a disabled voter, but “just not in exchange for cash or gifts.” The state had argued the prohibitions are needed to stop paid operatives from corralling large numbers of absentee votes.

“Alabama’s elections will be less secure and the voting rights of the State’s most vulnerable voters less protected if SB1’s injunction remains in place,” Marshall’s office wrote.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.



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Alabama

Nebraska Women’s Basketball Dominates North Alabama; Natalie Potts Leaves with Injury

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3 hours ago

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November 20, 2024

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Nebraska Women’s Basketball Dominates North Alabama; Natalie Potts Leaves with Injury


A dominant win with a potential loss for Nebraska women’s basketball Tuesday evening.

No. 21 Nebraska hammered North Alabama 85-48 at Pinnacle Bank Arena. The Huskers improve to 5-0 while the Lions fall to 2-3.

NU led by 11 after the first quarter and inched that out to 13 midway through the second. That’s when disaster struck.

A turnover led to a fast break opportunity for North Alabama. Natalie Potts retreated to cut off the scoring chance, but when she turned to contest the shot, her knee gave way and she collapsed to the floor. She was eventually helped to the locker room as a number of teammates were visibly emotional.

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“She’s pretty upset,” Nebraska coach Amy Williams said after the game. “Her teammates are pretty upset. We’ll just kind of wait and see, once she’s had a chance to be evaluated, where we go from here.”

Potts returned in the second half to sit behind the bench in street clothes, aided by crutches. Williams said the doctors did not make an immediate determination of how long Potts will be out.

Back on the court, Nebraska continued to pull away, leading by as much as 39 before settling for the 37-point difference.

Nebraska shot 48.4% for the game, making 8-of-21 3s. North Alabama managed to shoot at just a 28.8% clip, including 7-of-18 from deep.

Five Huskers scored in double figures, including Callin Hake with a game-high 17 points. Jessica Petrie was next with 14 points, while Britt Prince and Alberte Rimdal each added 13.

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Nebraska heads on the road to Creighton Friday. Tip from Omaha is set for 4 p.m. CST on FloHoops. Subscriptions are $150 for a year or $30 for a month.

Box score

MORE: Carriker Chronicles: On Dylan Raiola, Matt Rhule and Saturday’s ‘Ugly Duckling Bowl’

MORE: By The Numbers: Nebraska Volleyball’s Winning Streak

MORE: College Football Playoff Rankings: Four Big Ten Teams in Top Five

MORE: Oregon Has Already Punched Its Ticket to the Big Ten Football Championship Game

MORE: Dana Holgorsen Dives Into Some of the Good and Bad of Nebraska’s Offense

Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.



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Alabama

Alabama Community College Conference adds women’s flag football

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10 hours ago

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November 19, 2024

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Alabama Community College Conference adds women’s flag football


MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – The Alabama Community College Conference has launched women’s flag football as an official sport.

Women’s flag football is one of newest athletic offerings sanctioned by the National Junior College Athletic Association.

ACCC will offer the sport to female student-athletes beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year.

“This new and exciting sport is going to bring additional opportunities to female student-athletes and provide that additional opportunity for them to continue the sport that they love,” said ACCC Commissioner Dean Myrick.

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Myrick said women’s flag football has exploded on the parks and recreation level, as well as within the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

Once completion begins next fall, Alabama will feature the largest flag football conference in the NJCAA.

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Copyright 2024 WSFA. All rights reserved.



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How to buy Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Oklahoma Sooners tickets

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18 hours ago

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November 19, 2024

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How to buy Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Oklahoma Sooners tickets


The No. 7 Alabama Crimson Tide face a fellow SEC foe when they visit the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.

If you are looking to find Crimson Tide vs. Sooners tickets, information is available below.

Alabama vs. Oklahoma game info

Shop Alabama vs. Oklahoma tickets

How to buy Alabama vs. Oklahoma tickets for college football Week 13

You can buy tickets to see the Crimson Tide take on the Sooners from multiple providers.

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Alabama vs. Oklahoma betting odds, lines, spreads

  • Spread favorite: Crimson Tide (-14)
  • Moneyline favorite: Crimson Tide (-610)
  • Total: 47.5 (O: -110, U: -110)

Odds courtesy of BetMGM

Alabama Crimson Tide schedule

  • Week 1: Aug. 31 vs. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, 63-0 win
  • Week 2: Sept. 7 vs. South Florida Bulls, 42-16 win
  • Week 3: Sept. 14 at Wisconsin Badgers, 42-10 win
  • Week 5: Sept. 28 vs. Georgia Bulldogs, 41-34 win
  • Week 6: Oct. 5 at Vanderbilt Commodores, 40-35 loss
  • Week 7: Oct. 12 vs. South Carolina Gamecocks, 27-25 win
  • Week 8: Oct. 19 at Tennessee Volunteers, 24-17 loss
  • Week 9: Oct. 26 vs. Missouri Tigers, 34-0 win
  • Week 11: Nov. 9 at LSU Tigers, 42-13 win
  • Week 12: Nov. 16 vs. Mercer Bears, 52-7 win
  • Week 13: Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET at Oklahoma Sooners
  • Week 14: Nov. 30 vs. Auburn Tigers

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Alabama Crimson Tide stats

  • Alabama is averaging 438.2 yards per game on offense this year (30th in the FBS), and are allowing 324.7 yards per game (32nd) on the defensive side of the ball.
  • The Crimson Tide have been thriving on both offense and defense, ranking eighth-best in scoring offense (39.5 points per game) and 10th-best in scoring defense (16.9 points allowed per game).
  • Alabama ranks 48th in pass offense (246.1 passing yards per game) and 35th in pass defense (192.5 passing yards allowed per game) this season.
  • The Crimson Tide are compiling 192.1 rushing yards per game on offense (29th in the FBS), and they rank 53rd on the other side of the ball with 132.2 rushing yards allowed per game.

Oklahoma Sooners schedule

  • Week 1: Aug. 30 vs. Temple Owls, 51-3 win
  • Week 2: Sept. 7 vs. Houston Cougars, 16-12 win
  • Week 3: Sept. 14 vs. Tulane Green Wave, 34-19 win
  • Week 4: Sept. 21 vs. Tennessee Volunteers, 25-15 loss
  • Week 5: Sept. 28 at Auburn Tigers, 27-21 win
  • Week 7: Oct. 12 vs. Texas Longhorns, 34-3 loss
  • Week 8: Oct. 19 vs. South Carolina Gamecocks, 35-9 loss
  • Week 9: Oct. 26 at Ole Miss Rebels, 26-14 loss
  • Week 10: Nov. 2 vs. Maine Black Bears, 59-14 win
  • Week 11: Nov. 9 at Missouri Tigers, 30-23 loss
  • Week 13: Nov. 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
  • Week 14: Nov. 30 at LSU Tigers

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Oklahoma Sooners stats

  • While Oklahoma’s offense has been stuck in neutral, ranking 18th-worst with 326.8 total yards per game, its defense ranks 23rd-best with just 319 total yards surrendered per contest.
  • The Sooners rank 91st in the FBS with 25.1 points per game on offense, and they rank 40th with 21.9 points ceded per contest on the defensive side of the ball.
  • Oklahoma ranks 21st-worst in passing yards per game (183.6), but it has been better on the other side of the ball, ranking 55th in the FBS with 210 passing yards surrendered per contest.
  • The Sooners rank 86th in the FBS with 143.2 rushing yards per contest, but they’ve been lifted up by their defense, which ranks 17th-best by allowing only 109 rushing yards per game.

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This content was created for Gannett using technology provided by Data Skrive.



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