Author: WAKA Action 8 News

Iraq’s Parliament Calls for Expulsion of U.S. Troops

Iraqi MPs have passed a motion calling for the expulsion of US troops, but they are unlikely to be forced to leave. Photograph: Handout/ReutersBAGHDAD (AP) – Iraq’s Parliament is calling for the expulsion of U.S. troops from the country in reaction to the American drone attack that killed a top Iranian general. Lawmakers approved a non-binding resolution Sunday asking the…

Auburn’s Police Chief to Become City’s Next Public Safety Director

Auburn Police Chief Paul Register/Source: Auburn Police Division AUBURN – Auburn Police Chief Paul Register will soon become the city’s newest public safety director. Chief Register will succeed outgoing director Bill James, who is set to retire on March 1. Chief Register has been with the Auburn Police Division for 31 years and has served in nine positions during his…

Alexander City Woman Dies in Single Vehicle Accident

ALEXANDER CITY – An Alexander City woman was killed in a single-vehicle crash early Saturday morning. ALEA says 47-year-old Charlotte Smith Tuggle was driving on Coosa County 63 near Coosa County 26 when the vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. Authorities say Tuggle was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead on the scene. The cause of…

Montgomery Police Investigating Rash of Car Break-ins

Montgomery Police are actively investigating a string of car break-ins in at least two neighborhoods. From Tuesday December 31st to Thursday January 2, more than a dozen cars were forcefully broken into in at least two neighborhoods. Montgomery Police Chief Earnest Finley says that roughly 8 people have been arrested in connection to the crimes. It is not yet known…

Millbrook Police Make Arrest in Theft Investigation

A Montgomery man is behind bars in Elmore County. Millbrook Police say they arrested 42-year-old Michael D. Smith, who was wanted in connection with to two thefts committed at a business on the 1100 block of Highway 14. Police say Smith was captured while attempting to flee near the highway 14 on Kelley Blvd. He’s being charged with two counts…

Attorneys: Alabama Making Little Progress in Prison Staffing

Attorneys for state inmates say Alabama has made little progress in meeting a court order to dramatically increase the number of corrections officers working in state prisons. Attorneys from the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote today in a court filing in an ongoing case over prison healthcare that the state has increased staff by only 25 officers over nearly two…

Body found in Hueytown shallow grave identified as Paighton Houston

Birmingham media outlets report the body found in a shallow grave has been identified as missing Trussville woman, Paighton Houston. Jefferson County District Attorney Lynneice Washington told news outlets that a woman’s body was found in a shallow grave behind a residence on Chapel Drive in Hueytown.  There had been a heavy police presence at the home for two days…

Funeral Plans Set for Montgomery Radio Host and Attorney, Mark Montiel

Funeral plans have been finalized for Mark Montiel, Sr., a well-known radio talk show host and attorney in Montgomery. According to Dignity Memorial, a Celebration of Life Service will be held at St. James United Methodist Church at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 6, 2020 with Minister John Schmidt officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service….

Mississippi State Fires Head Football Coach Joe Moorhead

Mississippi State has fired football coach Joe Moorhead after just two seasons. The Bulldogs went 14-12 under Moorhead, who was previously the offensive coordinator at Penn State. He was hired after the 2017 season when Dan Mullen left Mississippi State for Florida. Moorhead took over a team with high expectations in 2018, but the Bulldogs finished a disappointing 8-5. This…

ALEA Releases Data for 2019 Holiday Travel Period

  The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) says troopers investigated 22 traffic deaths during the 2019 Christmas-New Year’s holiday travel period. ALEA says among those killed was a 4-year-old, who died in an Etowah County crash. The others killed included 10 drivers, nine passengers and one pedestrian. One motorcyclist, who was using a helmet, also was killed. Of the 20…