TOP STORIES: • Bigbox license fees to go up in Mobile?

• Driver who hit cyclists in Baldwin County pleads

• DA 'exceedingly angry' about gang rape

• More Headlines

VIDEO: JaMarcus Russell Foundation Turkey Give-A-Way

MOBILE, Ala. -- The JaMarcus Russell Foundation, with assistance from the Mobile Police Department Explorers, gave away turkeys on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2009, during the foundation's second annual Thanksgiving Turkey Give-A-Way. The event was held at Taylor Recreational Park facility at 1050 Baltimore St. in Mobile. JaMarcus Russell is a Mobile native and former football star at Williamson High School. Following a college football career at LSU, Russell went on to play for the NFL's Oakland Raiders, where he is quarterback.

• JaMarcus Russell Foundation Turkey Give-A-Way

• Pretty Things Peep Show at Alabama Music Box

• Inside 'Firefighter's Funhouse,' a mobile training unit

• Watch More Videos

PHOTO GALLERIES: • See More Photos

LATEST COLUMNS

Kristen Campbell

• Sometimes it's OK to just decide

Gene Owens

• Jelling or gelling? AU students wonder

George Talbot

• Austal bets big on Mobile

• More Columnists

FORUMS

Mobile: • Music by kindablondie 11/21/2009 9:04 p.m. CT

• Couple of interesting... by knuckledragger 11/21/2009 4:02 p.m. CT

• More
Baldwin: • The people win again by gsbubba 11/21/2009 8:39 p.m. CT

• Alabama Unemployment by 1 11/21/2009 7:03 p.m. CT

• More; • All Forums

BLOGS

For the Love: • Sharing that which makes us grateful 4:20 a.m. CT

• Embrace your own mistakes 4:20 a.m. CT

• Find and live your best story 4:20 a.m. CT

• More

AG says county can give money to USA football program

Friday, November 06, 2009

By RHODA A. PICKETT

Staff Reporter

Alabama Attorney General Troy King has issued an opinion suggesting the Mobile County Commission could give money to the University of South

Alabama football program.

County Attorney Jay Ross told commissioners at Thursday's conference meeting that the attorney general issued the opinion dated Wednesday.

"The Mobile County Commission may appropriate funds to the University of South Alabama, a state institution of higher learning, to be utilized in support of its football program if the commission determines that the appropriation serves to promote economic development within the county," the opinion stated.

The commissioners are scheduled to consider the matter at their regular meeting Monday at 10 a.m.

In July when the commission requested the opinion, it originally wanted to give the football program $500,000. At Thursday's conference meeting, commissioners discussed spreading that amount over a two-year period, awarding the school $250,000 this year and the remainder next year.

USA will hold its first football homecoming game Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

Attorney general's opinions are not legally binding but essentially carry the weight of law, absent any court interpretation otherwise.