Jeffco Voters Elect County’s First African-American Sheriff and District Attorney
Longtime Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale lost his bid for re-election, defeated by Democrat Mark Pettway, who is the county’s first African American sheriff. Pettway is a detective in the sheriff’s office. He received 51 percent of the vote and Hale received 49 percent in the sheriff’s race, according to preliminary results.
Voters also elected Democrat Danny Carr as Jefferson County’s next district attorney, the first African American to hold the post in Jefferson County. Carr defeated Republican Mike Anderton, who was appointed interim district attorney last year by Gov. Kay Ivey. Unofficial results show Carr received 57 percent of the vote and Anderton with 43 percent.
Incumbent GOP Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight defeated Democrat J.T. Smallwood to hold onto his seat.
Only one incumbent Jefferson County Democrat lost to a Republican. Eddie Brown, a Republican, defeated Jefferson County school board member Martha Bouyer. Brown is a retired Jefferson County school administrator.
Democrats controlled judicial races in Jefferson County; however one race may not be over. Democrat Linda Hall defeated Republican Teresa Pulliam in the race for Circuit Court Place 14. A judge last week said Hall would be disqualified from taking office because she does not meet the residency requirement. A Jefferson County voter challenged Hall’s residency, saying she lived most of the year in Shelby County. It is unclear how the vacancy will be filled.
Pilot who died in N.C. plane crash tried to avoid a turtle on airport runway
The pilot of a small plane that crashed near an airport tried to avoid hitting a turtle on the runway, according to a National Transportation Safety Board report. The pilot and a passenger were killed.
Day after day, Palestinians in Gaza risk harrowing journey in desperate search for food
Israel has begun allowing food into Gaza. Most of the supplies go to GHF, which operates food distribution points. A trickle of aid goes to the U.N. and humanitarian groups. Both systems are mired in chaos.
Photos: Why it took courage for these women to pose for the camera
Wearing traditional cosmetic face masks from their homeland of Madagascar, they agreed to be photographed to take a stand.
Court blocks Louisiana law requiring schools to post Ten Commandments in classrooms
The ruling marked a win for civil liberties groups who say the mandate violates the separation of church and state, and that displays would isolate students — especially those who are not Christian.
Israel and Iran’s war enters its ninth day as talks fail to reach a breakthrough
With the war between Israel and Iran now in its second week, the two countries continued to trade missile attacks on Saturday, and Iran's foreign minister warned against a U.S. strike on Iran.
Opinion: From tragedy, words of wisdom
Sophie and Colin Hortman remember their parents, Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman and Mark Hortman, as "the bright lights at the center of our lives." The couple was murdered in their home last weekend.
