Birmingham Church Bomber Denied Parole

| August 3, 2016 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2016/08/Thomas_Blanton_Wide.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:339;s:4:"file";s:31:"2016/08/Thomas_Blanton_Wide.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:6:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"Thomas_Blanton_Wide-336x190.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:190;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"Thomas_Blanton_Wide-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:29:"Thomas_Blanton_Wide-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"Thomas_Blanton_Wide-550x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:550;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"Thomas_Blanton_Wide-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:31:"Thomas_Blanton_Wide-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:116849;s:14:"optimized_size";i:52943;s:7:"percent";d:54.689999999999998;}s:5:"sizes";a:8:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/08/Thomas_Blanton_Wide.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:24746;s:14:"optimized_size";i:8326;s:7:"percent";d:66.349999999999994;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/08/Thomas_Blanton_Wide-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:5677;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4168;s:7:"percent";d:26.579999999999998;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/08/Thomas_Blanton_Wide-336x190.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:9174;s:14:"optimized_size";i:5101;s:7:"percent";d:44.399999999999999;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/08/Thomas_Blanton_Wide-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:21879;s:14:"optimized_size";i:8302;s:7:"percent";d:62.049999999999997;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/08/Thomas_Blanton_Wide-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:16897;s:14:"optimized_size";i:10366;s:7:"percent";d:38.649999999999999;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/08/Thomas_Blanton_Wide-550x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:18678;s:14:"optimized_size";i:6682;s:7:"percent";d:64.230000000000004;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/08/Thomas_Blanton_Wide-470x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:14989;s:14:"optimized_size";i:6417;s:7:"percent";d:57.189999999999998;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/08/Thomas_Blanton_Wide-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4809;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3581;s:7:"percent";d:25.539999999999999;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => Alabama Department of Corrections
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_rs_image_updated] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_edit_lock] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1593196515:26
        )

)
1640216459 
1470216282

Alabama’s parole board has decided against freeing a one-time Ku Klux Klansman convicted in a church bombing that killed four black girls more than 50 years ago.

The Wednesday decision to keep 78-year-old Thomas Edwin Blanton Jr. imprisoned was met with applause at the hearing.

At the hearing, relatives of the girls spoke against Blanton’s release.

Blanton is the last surviving KKK member convicted of murder in the bombing of Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church in 1963. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2001 for being part of a group of Klansmen who planted a bomb outside the church during the civil rights movement.

Two other former KKK members were convicted of murder and died behind bars.

Blanton can be considered for parole again in five years.

 

Millions face wintry weather for what could be a record-setting holiday travel season

More than 119 million people are expected to travel for Christmas and Hanukkah, which both fall on the same day this year, through the New Year, according to AAA.

Review by Senate Democrats finds more unreported luxury trips by Clarence Thomas

A report by Democrats on the Judiciary Committee found additional travel taken in 2021 by Thomas but not reported on his annual financial disclosure, including trips on private jets and a yacht trip.

Where did Barry Jenkins feel safe as a kid? Atop a tree

Director Barry Jenkins is best known for films like "Moonlight" and "If Beale Street Could Talk." On Wild Card, he opens up about where he felt the safest as a kid.

Israeli strikes across Gaza kill at least 20, including five children

Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip overnight and into Sunday killed at least 20 people, including five children, Palestinian medical officials said.

I discovered one way to fight loneliness: The Germans call it a Stammtisch

Modern life can be lonely. Some are looking to an old German tradition – of drinking and conversation – to deepen connection through regular meetups.

This Christmas I’ll be grieving. Here’s how I’ll be finding joy.

Since her husband's death, newscaster Windsor Johnston has been looking for ways to recapture joy and continue her healing journey — one that's taken her to a place she'd never expected.

More Front Page Coverage