6 of 18 governors attend Southern governors meeting

HOOVER (AP) — Alabama threw a convention for the South’s governors and less than half of the region’s chief executives attended.

But the host of the Southern Governors’ Association convention, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, called it “an absolutely outstanding conference.” Riley predicted it will be remembered as the place where Southern states began working to increase trade with China.

The convention wrapped up Monday, Aug. 30, with Riley handing over the association’s chairmanship to North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue.

Meeting between state, BP set for Sept. 13

HOOVER (AP) — BP officials and representatives of Alabama’s governor and attorney general will meet two weeks later than originally announced to discuss the state’s $148 million claim against BP.

Incoming BP CEO Bob Dudley said Sunday in Hoover that such a meeting was planned Monday, Aug. 30. BP spokesman Justin Saia said Monday officials had tried to arrange the meeting for that day, but scheduling conflicts prevented it.

Saia and Attorney General Troy King’s spokesman, Chris Bence, said the meeting is set for Sept. 13.

Gov. Bob Riley is seeking $148 million from BP for tax revenue lost after the Gulf oil spill. The attorney general has taken a different course and is suing the oil company on behalf of the state.

Hurricane Earl lashes Caribbean, threatens US

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Hurricane Earl lashed the northeastern Caribbean on Monday as a still-growing Category 3 storm, tearing roofs off buildings and cutting power to islanders on a course that could threaten the eastern United States this week.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Earl, which formed on Sunday, was already a major hurricane with sustained winds of 125 mph, and it was likely to keep gaining force.

“Interests from North Carolina all the way to Maine should keep an eye on the system,” said Jessica Schauer, a meteorologist at the Hurricane Center.

The storm’s center was forecast to pass over or near the northernmost Virgin Islands later Monday as it gradually turns to the north before running roughly parallel to the U.S. East Coast.

Man killed in shootout with Etowah County deputies monitored police bands

(FROM AL.COM) – Carol Robinson of The Birmingham News has reported Anthony Ray Sampson who was found shot to death in his home Sunday, Aug. 29, near Boaz, following a showdown with Etowah County sheriff’s deputies had the ability to monitor authorities’ movements and radio traffic, officials said Monday.

The deputies had tried to serve a failure to appear on a felony drug warrant on Bobby Ray Emery, who lives at the residents at Shady Grove.

Etowah Sheriff Todd Entrekin said deputies entered the house at 12:10 p.m. Sunday. When they identified themselves, Sampson stepped out behind a wall and pointed a gun at them. Deputies fired shots at 12:18 p.m., pulled out of the house and called for backup, according to the sheriff.

Etowah County Joint Special Operations Group found Sampson dead after authorities with the unit entered the house.

The Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the Alabama Department of Forensic Science are investigating the incident.

Emery was not captured by the deputies.