Author: WAKA Action 8 News

Committee approves parole board changes

A legislative committee has advanced a bill to make changes at the state parole board. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 8-3 Wednesday for the bill that is a reaction to concern about the parole of violent offenders. The bill by Republican Sen. Cam Ward would require prisoners convicted of murder, rape, and certain other crimes to serve at least 85…

Very Warm Wednesday; Weekend Storm Threat

REST OF THIS WEEK: Sunshine returns in full supply today and it will be very warm with highs in the mid 80s. Thursday will be very warm as well with mid 80s expected again; it will be a breezy day and we are going to see more clouds as cold front approaches the state. This front will bring a chance…

Staton Prison Inmate Shot in Failed Escape Attempt

Prison officials say an Alabama inmate who scaled a razor-topped fence during an escape attempt was shot and wounded. A statement from the Department of Corrections says 32-year-old Sedric Clayton was treated for a minor shotgun wound to a buttock during an attempted breakout Monday afternoon. The agency says the man climbed a razor-topped fence at Staton prison in Elmore…

CBS Televised National Championship Yields Higher Ratings Than Last Year

An average of 19.6 million people watched as Virginia beat Texas Tech in the NCAA Tournament championship game, an increase of 23% over last year. The audience peaked at 23.5 million during overtime Monday night, according to Nielsen and CBS. Last year’s championship game between Villanova and Michigan averaged 16.5 million on TBS, TNT and TruTV. The news was not…

Rapper Lil Boosie Arrested on Gun and Drug Charges

The rap artist Boosie Badazz and former New York Jets player Antonio Allen were jailed on drug and gun charges after being pulled over south of Atlanta. Coweta County jail records show the 36-year-old rapper whose real name is Torrence Hatch Jr. faces charges of failing to maintain his lane, drug possession and having a gun during a crime. The…

Alabama and Oklahoma Set to Play Home-and-Home Series in 2032 & 2033

Alabama and Oklahoma have scheduled a home-and-home football series – but fans will have to wait awhile. The schools announced Tuesday that they’ll meet on Sept. 11, 2032 in Norman, Oklahoma. They’re scheduled to play again the following season in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Sept. 10. The Sooners and Crimson Tide have met six times, including Alabama’s 45-34 win in the…

Lawmakers Vote on Budget That Provides Money to Hire 500 Additional Correctional Officers

Alabama lawmakers are set to vote on a budget that provides money for 500 additional correctional officers as the state seeks to stave off a federal lawsuit over prison violence. The House of Representatives on Tuesday will take up the general fund budget that includes funding for the Department of Corrections’ request for more officers. The Department of Justice last…

Lingering Rain Today, Dry & Very Warm Midweek

We are forecasting lingering showers and storms through the day as a low moves across the state. It will be another warm and muggy day with highs generally in the upper 70s. The rain and storms will come to an end and the sky should begin to gradually clear during this evening and into the overnight hours as drier air…