Author: WAKA Action 8 News

Alabama Communities Still Cleaning up After Deadly Flooding

PELHAM Ala. (AP) — Alabama communities affected by last week’s flash flooding are still working to clean up the mess and address persistent drainage issues that seem to be getting worse. Emergency management officials have assessed damage to 250 homes near Birmingham in Shelby County. The city of Pelham earmarked $500,000 for storm cleanup and crews are making rounds to…

Coroner: Autopsy Confirms no Foul Play in Police Van Death

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — A coroner says an autopsy confirms an Alabama woman found dead inside a police van parked outside headquarters wasn’t the victim of foul play and didn’t suffer any trauma. Dr. Tyler Berryhill says the examination by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences was conducted Tuesday. But he says a cause of death for 29-year-old Christina Nance…

Mental Capacity at Issue as Alabama an Faces Execution Date

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Federal judges have heard arguments over whether an Alabama inmate had the mental capacity to understand paperwork setting up his planned execution next week. Willie B. Smith III is set to receive a lethal injection Oct. 21 for the 1991 kidnapping and murder of 22-year-old Sharma Ruth Johnson in Birmingham. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of…

Two More Very Warm Days Before Chilly Nights Arrive

REMAINING VERY WARM: The weather will remain mainly sunny and dry today and tomorrow with highs in the mid to upper 80s. Tomorrow, a cold front will cause clouds to increase late in the day with scattered showers and storms likely late Friday night and early Saturday; these should be after most of the Friday night football games. Limited moisture…