Author: WAKA Action 8 News

Statewide Fuel Tax Begins Sunday

Drivers can expect to pay a few cents more at the pump starting this weekend. Sunday, September 1st  a six cent fuel tax will go into effect for anyone purchasing gas in Alabama. It’s the first time the state has seen a fuel tax hike since 1992. Lawmakers say all of the money will go into infrastucture. The first phase…

Second Jury Convicts Montgomery Man of Murder

A second Montgomery County jury has found Jordan Thomas guilty of murder for the October 2012 killing of Dennis Johnson, District Attorney Daryl Bailey announced. Thomas was first convicted of murder in 2014, but his conviction was overturned when the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals held that the jury charges in his first trial were incomplete. The evidence at trial…

Man Convicted of Reckless Murder in 2017 Fatal Crash

A Montgomery County jury has found Ladarius Laffitte guilty of causing a deadly 2017 crash that claimed the life of a mother of two young children, District Attorney Daryl Bailey announced. Laffitte was convicted of reckless murder and two counts of first-degree assault in the death of Ashleigh Perkins and injuries to her parents. On May 13, 2017, Laffitte and…

Birmingham Mayor Promises Free College Tuition to Birmingham High School Graduates

The mayor of Birmingham is promising to help students there attend the state’s public colleges “tuition free,” but many details of the plan are yet to come. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin posted a video Wednesday describing his so-called “Birmingham Promise.” He created a stir Tuesday when he tweeted that in 2020, Birmingham high school graduates could attend in-state public colleges…

Less Humid Days; Watching Hurricane Dorian

DRIER AIR SETTLING IN: For our Thursday, the sky is sunny with temperatures reaching for those upper 80s and lower 90s by this afternoon. Our dewpoints are lower, making for lower humidity levels the next couple of days. We we are in store for a couple of delightful nights ahead as clear conditions means 60s are in the forecast for…

Former Stanhope Elmore Principal, Coach Involved in Crash with Train

  Update: Conrad Henderson died Saturday from his injuries. We now know that the man hit by a train last night in Coosada is a former Elmore County Principal and Football Coach. 89-year-old Conrad Henderson is in the hospital Thursday night with life threatening injuries. Police say he is in stable condition. “when we heard about it, it’s just one…

$20 Million Renovation Plan in the Works to Revamp Garrett Coliseum

New plans are in the works to begin a $20 million renovation project that would revamp Garret Coliseum. Mayor Todd Strange says there is an arrangement between the city, county and the state to fund about $400,000 on an annual basis to keep it going. Now, Strange says city and county officials are working to take over the coliseum from…

Montgomery Historic Preservation Committee Tables Plans to Demolish Historic Church

The oldest church building in Montgomery may be demolished and rebuilt soon, but some people are fighting to keep the landmark in tact. The historic First Presbyterian Church was built in the 1800’s. Today the building is owned by First Baptist Church, and officials with the church say it is costing too much to maintain. “We realize that in the…

Why Were Montgomery’s Election Results So Slow to Come In?

When the polls closed at 7PM for Montgomery’s city elections last night, it took until about 8:30 before the first returns were posted. Some have been asking why was there a 90-minute wait? Officials at the Montgomery Election Center held a news conference this afternoon to explain the delay. They say two jump drives had been taken out of voting…