Mitt Romney faces continued criticism over his refusal so far to release the names of his campaign “bundlers” -- the big money fundraisers who have helped him rake in tens of million dollars for his presidential race. But two invitations to Romney private fundraisers, obtained by NBC News, reveal where many of them come from: big private equity firms. It's the same corporate buyout industry where Romney, as chief of Bain Capital, made his personal fortune and which, in recent days, has become a campaign lightening rod. NBC's Michael Isikoff
Submitted 1 years 157 days ago

President Obama says a campaign is like an investment. If so, his is one of the most expensive start-ups of all time -- having raked in $750 million in 2008 and potentially on track to surpass that amount in 2012. His campaign and the Democratic Party raised $224 million in 2011 alone, more than the Republican field combined. In a flagging economy, it may be hard to fathom not only where that money is coming from but also what it could buy if it were diverted elsewhere. Foxnews.com
Submitted 1 years 157 days ago

As many as three groups that had planned to be among the first to use Nashville’s Music City Center convention hall when it opens in 2013 will meet elsewhere because of concerns the massive building may not be ready by their meeting dates. The Tennessean
Submitted 1 years 157 days ago

A week after Joseph P. Kennedy III said he was mulling a run to replace Rep. Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat who is retiring, would-be primary challengers are beginning to step aside. Democratic state Sen. Marc Pacheco, who had considered running for the seat, said this week that he won't jump into the race and instead will back Mr. Kennedy. And Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan also said this week he would stay put and not seek the Democratic nomination. The Washington Times
Submitted 1 years 157 days ago

BIRMINGHAM -- UAB researchers say that motorcycle helmets, football helmets and bicycle helmets offer a practical, inexpensive solution to reducing the risk of head injuries during a tornado and are calling on the federal Centers for Disease Control to incorporate the advice in its tornado preparedness messages. "It's such a common sense idea that we wonder why it hasn't caught on," said Scott Crawford, an epidemiologist and one of authors of "Safety Helmets: A Practical Inexpensive Solution for Reducing the Risk of Head Injuries Resulting from Tornadoes." The Birmingham News
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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Lawyers for the Alabama Democratic Party chairman filed an official objection Thursday to a Luverne man's request for a black Jefferson County judge to step down from his lawsuit challenging President Obama's candidacy. Harold Sorensen, who filed the recusal motion Monday, has no evidence to support "his baseless and unfounded allegations of bias" that Circuit Judge Helen Shores Lee cannot fairly decide the suit, said the motion, filed by lawyers for state party chairman Mark Kennedy. On Monday, the same day Sorensen filed his suit in Jefferson County Circuit Court, Lee dismissed a similar suit filed by a Birmingham man. The Birmingham News
Submitted 1 years 157 days ago

MOBILE, Alabama -- Alabama schools earned an A- for stringent academic standards set by the state but only a D for the way students are actually performing, according to the latest Quality Counts study by Education Week magazine. That means improvement in a long-struggling state could be on the way, said Amy Hightower, who directed the Quality Counts study. Rena Havner Philips, Press-Register
Submitted 1 years 157 days ago

MONTGOMERY, Alabama --- Alabama's attorney general expects the state will fare well in the upcoming trial over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, but said he would still welcome a settlement provided it is "fair." The trial over liability for the 2010 spill will begin Feb. 27 in New Orleans. "It will be a huge priority for us because of the magnitude of the damages from an environmental and economic standpoint. The dollars at stake for the state are huge," said Attorney General Luther Strange. The Birmingham News
Submitted 1 years 157 days ago

Submitted 1 years 157 days ago

NEW YORK -- According to Mitt Romney, the nation's growing focus on income inequality is all about envy. "You know, I think it's about envy. I think it's about class warfare," the leading Republican presidential candidate said Wednesday on The Today Show. When asked if there are any fair questions about wealth distribution, Romney replied, "It's fine to talk about those things in quiet rooms and discussions about tax policy and the like." (CNNMoney)
Submitted 1 years 157 days ago