DECATUR, Ala. — Danny Duane Pitts, a former pastor of GracePoint Church in Decatur, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison following his conviction for second-degree sodomy. The case, which dates back to allegations first reported in 2007, involved Pitts engaging in sexual acts with a teenage boy during counseling sessions. Pitts, 61, was…

GADSDEN, Ala. — Students at an Episcopal school in Gadsden got an unexpected visitor Thursday morning when a man fell through the ceiling and into their classroom, causing a commotion that disrupted the day’s lessons. The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, reportedly crashed through the ceiling tiles of the school building, startling everyone…

ATALLA, Ala. — Dean Sausage Company, a long-standing Alabama meat processing facility, faces $103,245 in fines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for repeated safety violations. Founded in 1955 by Perk and Opal Dean, the company has grown from a home kitchen operation to a prominent supplier across the Southern United States. OSHA’s…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama State Auditor Andrew Sorrell has proposed a novel and controversial idea: the creation of a state-held bitcoin reserve. Critics call it impractical, dangerous, and emblematic of political posturing rather than sound financial stewardship. Sorrell’s pitch hinges on bitcoin’s potential as a hedge against inflation, a concern often raised by Republicans wary…

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Two former dancers have filed a lawsuit against Sammy’s Gentlemen’s Club, alleging wage violations and unfair labor practices. The legal complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, accuses the Birmingham-based club of forcing dancers to participate in a mandatory tip-sharing system and misclassifying them as independent…