Author: WAKA Action 8 News

‘Art Splash’ Raises Support for Local School

Artists came together Thursday night in Montgomery to make a big “splash” for a local school. It was the sixth annual Art Splash fundraiser for the Montgomery Christian School. Eighteen artists worked on masterpieces throughout the night and then auctioned them off at the end of the event. All proceeds go to help students in our community get a quality…

Cloudy Days and Spring-Like Warmth

If clouds are your favorite type of weather features, good news, you are in luck for the foreseeable future. A very warm, moist air mass in place due to southwesterly flow aloft will keep the Alabama sky mostly cloudy, and we will continue to mention a chance of showers. Temperatures remain very mild with upper 60s and lower 70s for…

Montgomery Couple Celebrates 70 Years of Marriage on Valentine’s Day

This Valentine’s Day is an extra special day for a Montgomery couple celebrating quite a milestone. Walter and Jean Spiro look back at memories made 70 years ago this Valentine’s Day. The day they said “I do.” But it all started several years before that. “Oh, we met in our homeroom at Gadsden High School and began dating. He was…

Governor Ivey Appoints New Alabama Community College System Board Trustee Member

On Wednesday, Matthew Woods was sworn in as a member of the Alabama Community College System board of trustees. Woods was appointed by Governor Kay Ivey and confirmed by the Alabama Senate on February 8. Woods replaces Frank Caldwell who resigned from the board effective January 31, 2017. Woods, who represents District 4, is a second-generation entrepreneur and Manager of Jasper…

Court OK’s Execution of Inmate Claiming Lethal Injection to be Cruel Due to Damaged Veins

A federal appeals court says Alabama, at least for now, can proceed toward the execution of an inmate who argues that a lethal injection would be cruel because lymphoma and hepatitis C have damaged his veins. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday overturned a federal judge’s stay of execution for Doyle Lee Hamm, who is scheduled to…

Montgomery Police Officer Paid Nearly $40,000 While on Administrative Leave for Sodomy Charge

A Montgomery police officer charged with sexual assault was paid for 18 months before pleading guilty to reduced charges and resigning. The Montgomery Advertiser reports Deonte Hamner went on paid administrative leave after being charged with first-degree sodomy in June 2016. He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of domestic assault and unlawful imprisonment on Thursday and resigned from the department….

Alabama Lawmakers Want Anti-Gay Language Removed from State’s Education

Alabama lawmakers are moving to strike anti-gay language from the state’s sex education law. The current law says students are to be taught that homosexuality is a lifestyle that’s not “acceptable to the general public.” The Senate Education Policy Committee voted Wednesday to delete that phrase, sending the bill to the full Senate. Republican Sen Tom Whatley, the bill’s sponsor,…

Not A Lot of Sun in the Forecast

TODAY-FRIDAY: Moisture deepens and we will mention a chance of showers for the entire state with highs in the upper 60s and lower 70s. Tomorrow looks mostly cloudy and mild with some risk of showers with mid 70s for highs, but then upper 70s and dare I say some lower 80s are expected to return to many areas Friday. Also…

Gov. Ivey Kicks Off Governor Campaign

“I’m Kay Ivey and I want to ask for your vote and support to be elected Governor of Alabama!” Governor Kay Ivey spoke to a crowd at the Renaissance hotel in downtown Montgomery Tuesday evening. She says since she has been governor, unemployment is at its lowest point of 3.5 percent. Ivey also talked about how she has been instrumental…