Closing Arguments Begin in Speaker Hubbard’s Felony Ethics Trial

 ========= Old Image Removed =========1Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2016/06/habbard-stuff.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:760;s:6:"height";i:452;s:4:"file";s:25:"2016/06/habbard-stuff.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"habbard-stuff-336x200.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:200;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"habbard-stuff-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:23:"habbard-stuff-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"habbard-stuff-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"habbard-stuff-600x452.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:452;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"habbard-stuff-523x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:523;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"habbard-stuff-446x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:446;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"habbard-stuff-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"habbard-stuff-600x452.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:452;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:25:"habbard-stuff-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:199631;s:14:"optimized_size";i:128715;s:7:"percent";d:35.520000000000003;}s:5:"sizes";a:8:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:53:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/06/habbard-stuff.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:50510;s:14:"optimized_size";i:28442;s:7:"percent";d:43.689999999999998;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/06/habbard-stuff-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:6547;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4903;s:7:"percent";d:25.109999999999999;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/06/habbard-stuff-336x200.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:16938;s:14:"optimized_size";i:12338;s:7:"percent";d:27.16;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/06/habbard-stuff-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:39524;s:14:"optimized_size";i:25973;s:7:"percent";d:34.289999999999999;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/06/habbard-stuff-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:20528;s:14:"optimized_size";i:13445;s:7:"percent";d:34.5;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/06/habbard-stuff-523x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:33665;s:14:"optimized_size";i:22109;s:7:"percent";d:34.329999999999998;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/06/habbard-stuff-446x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:26449;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17329;s:7:"percent";d:34.479999999999997;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:61:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/06/habbard-stuff-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:5470;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4176;s:7:"percent";d:23.66;}}}
        )

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

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] =>  Todd J. Van Emst
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => Opelika-Auburn News/Pool
        )

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

    [_wp_attachment_image_alt] => Array
        (
            [0] => Attorneys for both sides talk to Judge Jacob Walker during Alabama Speaker Mike Hubbard Trial on Thursday, June 9, 2016 in Opelika, Ala.
        )

)
1637547710 
1465538626
Attorneys for both sides talk to Judge Jacob Walker during Alabama Speaker Mike Hubbard Trial on Thursday, June 9, 2016 in Opelika, Ala.

Attorneys for both sides talk to Judge Jacob Walker during Alabama Speaker Mike Hubbard Trial on Thursday, June 9, 2016 in Opelika, Ala.

Todd J. Van Emst, Opelika-Auburn News/Pool

Indicted Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard’s trial on 23 felony ethics charges is drawing to a close. Lawyers make final closing remarks Friday.

“Closing arguments got underway in Hubbard’s trial shortly before 3 p.m. Thursday, after an intense morning of testimony from Hubbard himself – the sole witness called by the defense,” says the Opelika-Auburn News’s Meagan Hurley. It’s a turn of events Hurley says surprised most people tracking the trial. She tells WBHM’s Rachel Lindley more about what happened in court this week, and what’s next.

Hubbard is accused of using his position as Speaker of the House for personal financial gain. If convicted, Hubbard will automatically lose his position as Speaker.

 

Trump names former Florida AG Pam Bondi as his new pick for U.S. attorney general

After former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration, President-elect Donald Trump named Pam Bondi, a former attorney general of Florida, as his next pick for U.S. attorney general.

Police report gives details, timeline of the sexual assault claim against Pete Hegseth

The woman who accused then-Fox News host of sexual assault in 2017 said that she "remembered saying 'no' a lot," according to a police report. Hegseth is President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Secretary of Defense.

Alabama Black Belt’s sewer crisis a tougher fix for residents in manufactured homes

Poor sanitation has long plagued residents in Alabama’s Black Belt. For people with manufactured houses, finding a solution has been more challenging.

In Birmingham, Black men’s groups work to save young men from the cycle of gun violence

As the city inches closer to its homicide record, community members are trying to address a sense of fatalism and lack of opportunity felt by some young men.

What is the ICC and can it really arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu?

The ICC also issued warrants for Yoav Gallant, former Israeli defense minister, and Hamas leader Muhammad Deif. But it doesn't have an enforcement mechanism and relies on states to make the arrests.

Former Brazilian president indicted over alleged coup plot

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro and several others have been charged with attempting to overthrow incoming government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2022.

More Front Page Coverage