Collier Era Begins at Selma Police Department
From the West Alabama Newsroom-- Today was the first official day on the job for new Selma police chief Spencer Collier. Collier says his main focus as chief is developing…
News
Future of Alabama Mental Health
The future of mental health in Alabama is sure to be among many issues discussed in next week's legislative session. Jim Perdue, the Commissioner of Mental Health in Alabama spoke to…
Federal Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Over State Minimum Wage Law
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit challenging a state law that blocked a plan to raise the minimum wage in Birmingham. U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor on Wednesday dismissed the lawsuit filed by the Alabama Chapter of the…
Auburn to Break Ground for New Engineering Building
Officials at Auburn University are preparing to break ground for the Brown-Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center. The university said in a news release that a groundbreaking ceremony will take place Thursday afternoon to celebrate the beginning of construction on the…
2017 Battle of Selma Re-enactment Cancelled
The 2017 Battle of Selma Re-enactment has been cancelled. Organizers say it's because of new city fees. Organizers say after meeting with mayor Darrio Melton, they received a letter from the mayor's chief of staff stating the city wouldn't pay for…
Update: Montgomery Police Make Homicide Arrest
Montgomery police say they've arrested a suspect in the shooting death of 18-year-old Jaylen Henderson on Monday. Police have charged 17-year-old Markeefé Hill of Montgomery with one count of murder in connection with Henderson’s death. Officers say Hill turned himself…
Apple Snaps Out of iPhone Slump, But What's Next?
Apple has snapped out of the first sales slump in the iPhone's decade-long history, but the upturn doesn't mean that the company has broken out of its innovation funk. If anything, the numbers Apple released Tuesday served as the latest…
UPDATE: Delaware Union Lawyer Says Inmates Have 5 Hostages
The Latest on hostage situation at Delaware prison (all times local): 4 p.m. A woman whose son is incarcerated at the Delaware prison where three guards and counselor were taken hostage says he recently told her that trouble was brewing.…
Data: Self-driving Cars Needing Less Human Help Than in Past
Self-driving car prototypes appear to be getting better at negotiating California streets and highways without a human backup needing to intervene. California regulators released documents Wednesday which report data from 11 companies that have been testing the technology on public…
Senate Confirms Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State
The Republican-led Senate has confirmed Rex Tillerson as President Donald Trump's secretary of state. Senators voted 56-43 largely along party lines to approve Tillerson's nomination to be the nation's chief diplomat. Most Senate Democrats opposed Tillerson's nomination, angering Republicans who…
Congressional Republicans Move to Dismantle Obama Rules
Congressional Republicans are moving to dismantle former President Barack Obama's rules on the environment, gun ownership and financial disclosure. They're looking to reverse years of what they see as excessive government regulation during the Democrat's presidency. House Republicans are expected…
Toadlick Festival Ending After 5-year Run in Alabama
A music festival that brought big names to southeast Alabama is ending after a five-year run. The Toadlick Music Festival won't be held this year. Festival organizer Chris Gilbert says the even doesn't owe anyone and is going out on…
Gorsuch Gets Warm Welcome From GOP on Hill
The Latest on President Donald Trump's nomination of Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court (all times local): 11:10 a.m. President Donald Trump's Supreme Court pick is earning GOP praise as he visits Capitol Hill. Judge Neil Gorsuch was accompanied by…
Sessions Approved by Judiciary Committee; Vote Goes to Full Senate
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has approved the nomination of Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) to be attorney general after angry exchanges between Republicans and Democrats. The 11-9 vote was along party lines. All the panel's Democrats voted against the…
Panel vote on budget director delayed
The Latest on President Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees (all times local): 10:50 a.m. The top Democrat on a Senate panel responsible for advancing President Donald Trump's pick to head the White House budget office says she needs time to examine…
Bentley Empties Campaign Account to Pay Legal Bills
Embattled Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley emptied his leftover campaign funds to pay legal bills as his faced an impeachment push and fallout from a scandal. Bentley's campaign finance report filed Tuesday shows the governor's campaign paid more than $320,000 in…
Alabamians Well-Being? Not great.
Gallup is out with an annual ranking of the states based on the well-being reported by residents, and Alabama is near the bottom. States With 10 Lowest Well-Being Scores, 2016 State Well-Being Index Score West Virginia 58.9 Kentucky…
Montgomery Public Schools Budget Hearing
With the possibility of a state takeover looming, Montgomery Public Schools officials are working on issues highlighted by State Superintendent Michael Sentance. The first issue involves the school's finances. The School Board recently appointed Brenda Palmer as Interim Chief School…
I-85 Shutdown; 2 separate crashes; 1 fatality
Interstate 85 is shut down in both directions following two separate crashes Tuesday evening near Chantilly Pkwy. Montgomery Police say one of the crashes is fatal. One accident involved an overturned 18-wheeler carry logs on the southbound side. One person…
SCOTUS Nominee a Win for Conservatives
President Trump made good on his campaign promise to nominate a conservative to the Supreme Court. Judge Neil Gorsuch was selected to fill the seat on the Supreme Court left vacated by the late Antonin Scalia. Political analyst Steve Flowers says…
Troy University Officials Address Immigration Ban
President's Trump's immigration order has many immigrants already in the U.S wondering what's next. Troy University officials addressed the president's order in a press conference Tuesday. University officials say they understand the president's desire for national security. But also will not…
Troy University Postcard Exhibit Celebrates State's History
Troy University officials are celebrating the start of two traveling exhibits, created by those at the Troy University library. The exhibit highlights historical postcards. The postcards are from cities across Alabama, dating back all the way to the 1890's and ending…
Dallas Co. Man Charged in Rash of Truck Break-Ins
From the West Alabama Newsroom-- A Dallas County man is arrested for a rash of 18-wheeler break-ins. Sheriff's office investigator Capt. Mike Granthum says 20 year old Derrell King…
Butler County Career Academy Opens Job Shadowing Program
The Butler County Career…
AG Strange Announces Settlement with Western Union
Attorney General Luther Strange today announced a settlement with Colorado-based The Western Union Company to bring approximately $7,865,024 in refunds for Alabama consumers. The settlement resolves a multistate investigation which focused on complaints of consumers who used Western Union’s wire…
