Auburn announcer Rod Bramblett, wife killed in auto accident

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Rod Bramblett, the longtime radio announcer for Auburn football and basketball games, and his wife were killed in a two-vehicle accident. Lee County Coroner Bill Harris says in a statement that Rod Bramblett died Saturday night at UAB Hospital in Birmingham from a head injury. He was...

Vandy powers past LSU 13-4 and into SEC championship game

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Ty Duvall drove in four runs and Ethan Paul three, powering Vanderbilt into the Southeastern Conference Tournament championship game with a 13-4 victory over LSU on Saturday. The top-seeded Commodores (48-10), chasing their third SEC Tournament title and first since 2007, face defending...

Kessinger, bullpen lead Ole Miss past Georgia 5-3 in semis

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Grae Kessinger had three hits, including a two-run homer, to help lead Mississippi to a 5-3 win over Georgia Saturday in the semifinals of the Southeastern Conference Tournament. The Rebels (37-24) advanced to Sunday's championship game seeking a second straight SEC Tournament title and...

State abortion bans may hand Democrats a political weapon

WASHINGTON (AP) — A flood of laws banning abortions in Republican-run states has handed Democrats a political weapon heading into next year's elections, helping them paint the GOP as extreme and court centrist voters who could decide congressional races in swing states, members of both parties say. The...

LSU rides big innings to 12-2 rout of Mississippi State

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Drew Bianco, Zach Watson and Chris Reid each drove in two runs and LSU routed Mississippi State 12-2 on Friday night in the Southeastern Conference Tournament. The game was called after seven innings under the 10-run mercy rule. The Tigers (37-23), who lost a 17-inning game against the...

Defending champ Ole Miss tops Arkansas 3-2 in SEC Tournament

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Thomas Dillard and Grae Kessinger drove in the tying and go-ahead runs in the eighth and defending Southeastern Conference Tournament champion Mississippi stayed alive Friday with a 3-2 victory over Arkansas. The Rebels (36-24) will play Georgia in the semifinals Saturday. Dillard drove...

Missouri governor signs bill banning abortions at 8 weeks

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Friday signed a bill that bans abortions on or beyond the eighth week of pregnancy without exceptions for cases of rape or incest, making it among the most restrictive abortion policies in the nation. Under the law that comes into force Aug. 28,...

Federal lawsuit filed to block Alabama's new abortion ban

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A federal lawsuit filed Friday asks a judge to block an Alabama law that outlaws almost all abortions, the most far-reaching attempt by a conservative state to seek new restrictions on the procedure. The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood filed the lawsuit on...

Groups file federal lawsuit to block new Alabama law that would ban most abortions in the state

Funeral set for Alabama police officer killed by gunman

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — A police officer killed by a gunman in Alabama is being honored with a funeral at the 9,100-seat Auburn Arena. The ceremony for Auburn police officer William Buechner is being held Friday afternoon. City offices are closed for the day, and residents are being asked to line a street to...