September 24 News
September 12, 2012, Morning News
A Birmingham man faces up to five years in federal prison for tweeting threatening messages to President Barack Obama. The Birmingham News reports (links has tweets) that 25 year old Jarvis Britton was charged late Friday with making a threat against the president. Britton allegedly made two comments about killing the president in June. The Birmingham News quotes court documents that indicate he was warned not to do it again, but did last week. He’s being held without bond at the Jefferson County Jail.
Former University of Alabama Huntsville professor Amy Bishop (pictured above) goes on trial today for shooting six people, killing three of them, during a faculty meeting two years ago. Jury selection will begin this morning, but it’s expected to be a short trial. The Harvard-educated biologist pleaded guilty earlier this month, in a deal to avoid the death penalty and face life in prison instead. But, under Alabama law, a trial is still required since she admitted to a capital charge of murder. Bishop is also awaiting trial for the shotgun death of her brother in Massachusetts in 1986.
A plea deal may be in the works for an Etowah County woman accused of running her 9 year old stepdaughter to death as punishment for lying. The Gadsden Times reports a defense attorney for the girl’s grandmother, who is also charged and faces the death penalty, indicated during a court hearing last week that talks between the girl’s stepmother and prosecutors may be under way. The grandmother is accused of forcing Savannah Hardin to run for about three hours in February. The stepmother failed to intervene. The girl collapsed and died three days later. Both women have entered not guilty pleas.
Former Alabama liquor store clerk Kellie Adams says she has difficulty going out in public 10 years after she was shot during a robbery that was tied to the “D.C. Snipers” case. Adams was severely wounded and a co-worker killed ten years ago this month. Adams tells The Montgomery Advertiser she went through 30 surgeries in five years and was hospitalized for psychological problems. Her marriage ended in divorce with her ex-husband getting custody of their child. Adams shooting has been attributed to the Beltway Snipers: John Allen Muhammad, who was executed in 2009, and Lee Boyd Malvo, who was 17 at the time of the shootings and is now serving life without parole.
Democratic President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney won’t be the only candidates for president on Alabama’s general election ballot Nov. 6. The secretary of state’s office says three other candidates have received the 5,000 signatures necessary to get on the ballot. Former U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode Jr. of Virginia is running on the Constitution Party ticket. Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson leads the Libertarian Party ticket. And Massachusetts doctor Jill Stein tops the Green Party ticket. Goode is on the ballot in 27 states, Johnson in 47, and Stein in 38 so far.
President Obama is tapping a Huntsville attorney to become only the second Alabamian to serve on the Tennessee Valley Authority board during its 79-year history. Attorney Joe Ritch tells The Huntsville Times it’s an honor to be nominated. His nomination is subject to Senate approval. Ritch has been active in economic development work and is the longtime chairman of the Tennessee Valley BRAC Committee.
Alabama drivers are required to carry liability insurance on their vehicles, but an estimated 22 percent of Alabama vehicles don’t have insurance. Your chance of being hit by one of those uninsured motorists may go down after January 1. That’s when a new system goes into effect that will make it easier to make sure a motorist has the state-required liability insurance. County license plate offices will verify insurance information when issuing or renewing car tags. Police will do it when they stop cars for traffic offenses. And the state Revenue Department will do random computer checks.
Workers at Alabama’s Mercedes plants vote against joining a union
The workers voted 56% against the union, according to tallies released by the National Labor Relations Board, which ran the election.
Taylor Hunnicutt is championing her home state with debut album ‘Alabama Sound’
Alabama offers a diverse symphony of swampy rock, swaggering blues, murky country, and bone-rattling soul. It’s a sound singer-songwriter Taylor Hunnicutt recently reimagined on her debut album, Alabama Sound, which is out now.
UAB building among Alabama’s first to feature ‘bird safe’ glass
Advocates hope the new glass will prevent window collisions, a leading causes of bird mortality.
Researchers look into community health impact of wood pellet production in rural Mississippi
Brown University and Tougaloo College students are testing for potential air and noise pollution near the Drax wood pellet plant in Gloster, Mississippi.
Alabama coal company sued for a home explosion is delinquent on dozens of penalties
Crimson Oak Grove Resources has been cited for 204 safety violations since the March 8 blast, many involving “significant and substantial” safety violations.
The United Auto Workers faces a key test in the South with upcoming vote at Alabama Mercedes plant
The United Auto Workers is aiming for a key victory at Mercedes-Benz in Alabama. More than 5,000 workers at the facility in Vance and nearby battery plant will vote this week on whether to join the UAW.
