BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Got an opinion on who makes the best barbecue in Bama? You can vote for your favorite barbecue joint in the state out of 32 restaurants listed in the first-ever Alabama Barbecue Bracket.

The competition is sponsored by Alabama Tourism and follows a March-Madness style bracket that narrows down the options from four regionally-based divisions.

The match-ups are based on a social media poll that Alabama Tourism conducted last year that garnered more than 180 responses. The top eight submissions for each region, North, South, Central and Gulf Coast, ended up in the Alabama BBQ Bracket.

Some of the Central Alabama contestants include Birmingham's Full Moon, Golden Rule, and Moe's Original restaurants, Tuscaloosa's Jim 'N Nick's and Dreamland, Northport's Archibalds and Saw's BBQ in Homewood.

MONTGOMERY, AL (AP) -The long-term unemployed in Alabama will be among the first to feel automatic federal budget cuts scheduled to take effect Friday. 

A spokeswoman for the Alabama Department of Labor says federal officials have advised the department to prepare for a cut of 9 percent to 10 percent in unemployment benefits for Alabamians who have exhausted their 26 weeks of state unemployment benefits and are now getting the extended 37 weeks of federal benefits.

Spokeswoman Tara Hutchison said the unemployment cuts are supposed to take effect Sunday and will affect 16,000 people.

The federal benefits are administered by the state Department of Labor.

The average benefit is $202 weekly and the max is $265.

By Rachel Brown | Content provided by Investopedia

At this time of year, when people have returned to work after a break from the office, many begin to contemplate the thought of another year passing by in the same job. But before you rashly start firing out your resume, it's important to give due consideration to a move. Is it your job you don't like, or your career? Could you make a change at your current employer or do need to move on entirely? Here we look at some questions and considerations for those thinking of changing careers in 2013.