Category: Alabama

“Alabama Does What Alabama Does” Black Lawmakers Decry SCOTUS Forced Redistricting Maps Passed by GOP

Lawmakers in Alabama argued over new maps as required to be redrawn by Friday to follow guidelines set forth in a Supreme Court ruling which upheld the same ruling by a federal district court’s three-judge panel in June. The legislature was required to redraw districts to conform to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act…


Alabama to Carry Out First Lethal Injection After Review of Execution Procedures

ATMORE, Ala.—Alabama plans to execute an inmate on Thursday for the 2001 beating death of a woman as the state seeks to carry out its first lethal injection after a pause in executions following a string of problems with inserting the IVs. James Barber, 64, is scheduled to be put to death Thursday evening at…


Police Cast Doubt on Carlee Russell’s Kidnapping Claim After Reporting Toddler on an Alabama Highway

Authorities in Alabama cast doubt Wednesday on the story of a woman who set off a frantic search when she disappeared for two days after calling 911 to report a toddler wandering on the highway. Carlee Russell told investigators she was abducted and forced into a car Thursday, but they have been unable to verify…


Officials: 1 of 2 Firefighters Shot at Alabama Firehouse Dies

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—One of two firefighters shot at an Alabama firehouse over what police suspect was a personal conflict has died, officials said. Jordan Melton died Monday, fire officials said. Mr. Melton and Jamal Jones were shot last week while on duty at a Birmingham firehouse. Birmingham Police Officer Truman Fitzgerald said Tuesday that police were…


Sinking Tugboat Released Thousands of Gallons of Diesel in an Alabama River

A tugboat sank into the Tennessee River in north Alabama over the weekend, releasing thousands of gallons of diesel into the water, authorities said. According to the Florence Alabama Police Department, the boat released between 3,000 and 5,000 gallons of diesel into the water after it sank near O’Neal Bridge. The department said diesel fuel…


Alabama Inmate Asks Appeals Court to Block His Execution, Citing State’s Past Problems

MONTGOMERY, Ala.—Attorneys for an Alabama inmate on death row asked a federal appeals court Monday to block his upcoming execution, arguing the state has a history of troubled lethal injections. James Barber, 54, is scheduled to receive a lethal injection Thursday as the state seeks to resume executions following a lengthy pause. Gov. Kay Ivey…


Alabama Woman Who Disappeared After Reporting Child on Highway Returns Home Following 2-day Search

HOOVER, Ala.—A 25-year-old Alabama woman returned home late Saturday after being the focus of a two-day search by police and family members who reported her missing after she stopped to check on a child who was walking along a highway. Police said Carlethia “Carlee” Nichole Russell had returned to the home she shares with her…


Man Who Shot 2 Firefighters in Alabama Motivated by Personal Conflict With One of Them, Police Say

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Investigators believe the man who shot two on-duty firefighters at an Alabama firehouse had a personal conflict with one of them, a police spokesman said Thursday. Detectives are still trying to determine the basis for that conflict. They have not yet been able to talk to the firefighters, but believe only one of them…


Officials Respond to Reports of TikTok Boat Jumping Challenge Causing Deaths

An Alabama law enforcement agency said on July 10 that it is not aware of any deaths linked to a TikTok challenge that encourages people to flip off the rear of a boat while moving at a high rate of speed, despite a slew of news reports quoting an Alabama official as saying otherwise. In…


Alabama Governor Calls Special Session After Supreme Court’s 5–4 Decision

The Alabama legislature will initiate a special session in the coming weeks to redraw the state’s congressional districts after a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling, according to an announcement from Gov. Kay Ivey. Earlier this month, in a 5–4 ruling, the Supreme Court ruled that the state’s congressional district likely violated the Voting Rights Act…