Heads and tales: Season of change

It’s now or never: If the occupant of the governor’s mansion can’t be colorful, at least the race to get there can be. In case you’d forgotten (and Lord knows we’ve tried), it’s an election year and three candidates are looking to unseat the incumbent for governor of Alabama. At one political rally, “A lot more people showed up this year. I guess it’s because of the governor’s race. You know, we like our politics down here in Alabama.” The observer? An Elvis impersonator. Wake us on Nov. 8.
• In Race to Lead Alabama, It’s Politics as Unusual [New York Times]

Life and limbs: The young man from Ashville dreamed of being an underwater welder. But during his second tour of duty in Iraq, Noah Galloway lost his left arm and left leg to a roadside bomb. Now the soldier is an outpatient at an army hospital in Washington, facing months of rehab. His goal is to attend college and open a gym, but first, he must master his new artificial limbs. Spc. Galloway is one of about 10,000 American military personnel injured by improvised bombs in Iraq.
• State soldier working to rebuild bomb-battered life [Birmingham News]

Silvertron shocker: Quite a few people are stunned about the death of Alan Potts, owner of the Silvertron Cafe in Forest Park. He was found dead early Wednesday, shot in the head once. The 55-year-old husband and father of two had operated the restaurant for 20 years. Police found forced entry at the back door and the gun apparently used. The restaurant was closed Wednesday, with no indication of when it would reopen. If it’s ruled a homicide, the toll would keep Birmingham ahead of this point last year.
• Owner of Silvertron Cafe found fatally shot in kitchen [Birmingham News]

Also: