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.
        )

)
1664975708 
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.

 

Why Gen Z protesters worldwide are flying an anime pirate flag

Gen Z protesters from Indonesia and Nepal to Madagascar and Morocco, are rallying behind an unexpected banner: a grinning skull in a straw hat.

What to expect as Syria holds first parliamentary elections since Assad’s ouster

Syria is holding parliamentary elections on Sunday for the first time since the fall of the country's longtime autocratic leader, Bashar Assad, who was unseated in a rebel offensive in December.

Some Democrats share Trump’s goal of forcing more homeless people into medical care

President Trump says one part of the answer to homelessness is civil commitment and forced medical care. Some Democrats agree.

Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump’s National Guard deployment to Portland

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard to Portland, Ore., which the president had ordered over the objections of local leaders.

Largest US Lutheran denomination installs first Black presiding bishop

Rev. Yehiel Curry succeeds Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, who served for 12 years and was the first woman to lead the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

National parks caught in the crosshairs of government shutdown

National parks across the country face conflicting demands and uncertainty as a result of the ongoing federal funding dispute.

More Front Page Coverage