Author: WAKA Action 8 News

Charges Filed Against Teen in Ala. Vigil Shooting

Authorities say a teen has been charged with assault for firing gunshots during a vigil for a woman who died in a car crash. The Selma Times-Journal reported Tuesday (http://bit.ly/1sNn1Yf ) that the teen is being held on $500,000 bond in the Dallas County Jail. Sheriff’s officials say the teen was at a vigil for 19-year-old Jamira Barley, who died…

Ethics Commission Approves Senator’s Contract

The Alabama Ethics Commission has approved of a state senator contracting with the city of Montgomery to help with youth activities planned for the 50th anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march. Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange had asked the commission for advice concerning contracting with Democratic Sen. Quinton Ross of Montgomery. The commission approved it Wednesday. But the commission said…

Main Suspect in Natalee Halloway’s Disappearance is Now a Father

This video is no longer available.The main suspect in the disappearance of Alabama teen Natalee Halloway is now a father. Joran Van der Sloot’s daughter was born Sunday in Peru. He got married in prison in July. A month later, he was sent to a prison in the Andes after authorities say he threatened to kill the warden. Van der Sloot is serving a…

2 Missing Clanton Girls Found

Birmingham police say two girls who were reported missing form Chilton County have been found safe.  Lt. Sean Edwards said Wednesday that the teens told investigators they jumped on to a cargo train and rode it to Birmingham. The two 14-year-old girls were reported missing over the weekend. Edwards says the two told police they slept outside and panhandled before…

Alabama Arrests Down But Prison Crowding Remains

A group studying overcrowding in Alabama’s prisons has found that arrests are declining and sentences are getting shorter. But Alabama’s prisons remain at nearly double their designed capacity. The Council of State Governments Justice Center presented the statistics to the Alabama Prison Reform Task Force. Research manager Andrew Barbee says felony arrests declined about 21 percent from 2009 to 2013….