Alabama

October 23, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – Alabama Governor Bob Riley today promoted legislation that will strengthen Alabama’s penalties for DUI convictions and close a loophole that currently allows repeat drunk drivers to elude harsher punishments. The proposal will allow for every DUI offense to count toward felony status and not just those committed in a five-year period.    » read more »

October 25, 2007 -- (MONTGOMERY) — Alabama Attorney General Troy King announced the arrest yesterday of a former employee of the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles, who is charged with misusing confidential law enforcement information. Christopher Maturi Jr., 54, of Prattville, surrendered at the Montgomery County Jail following his indictment.

The Attorney General's Office presented evidence to a Montgomery County grand jury on October 19, resulting in a 21-count indictment* against Maturi. Specifically, the indictment charges Maturi with:    » read more »

October 18, 2007 -- (MONTGOMERY)— The State of Alabama on Tuesday updated its complaint in the long-running federal court dispute with the Corps of Engineers over water releases from federal reservoirs in the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin. As part of the update, Alabama added new claims attacking the Corps' illegal operation of Lake Allatoona in north Georgia during the ongoing drought.    » read more »

October 9, 2007 -- (MONTGOMERY) — Alabama Attorney General Troy King announced the conviction today of a Montgomery woman for identity theft. Kwantrice M. Thornton was arrested August 6 on a warrant brought by Attorney General King's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and this morning she pleaded guilty as charged, in an information document filed with the Montgomery County Circuit Court.    » read more »

Oct 08, 2007 -- Boston, MA –Today, Governor Mitt Romney announced his intention to participate in the Alabama Presidential Primary on February 5, 2008. Kay Ivey delivered the necessary paperwork and petitions to the Alabama Republican Party Headquarters in Birmingham. Ivey serves as the Chairman of Governor Romney's Alabama Campaign. Ms. Ivey released the following statement:    » read more »

October 02, 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Gunnery Sgt. Herman J. Murkerson Jr., 35, of Adger, Alabama, died Oct. 1 while conducting combat operations in Al Anbar province, Iraq.

He was assigned to Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 2, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, N.C.

Source: DoD

The Chase - NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series Live Sunday from Talladega on ABC

October 1, 2007 -- The Chase for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup continues Sunday, Oct. 7, at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. ESPN on ABC will have live coverage of the Talladega event and all 10 races in the Chase. The Talladega telecast begins at 1 p.m. ET with NASCAR Countdown.    » read more »

September 27, 2007 -- (MONTGOMERY) — Alabama Attorney General Troy King today announced a second arrest in a case involving welfare fraud at a Birmingham grocery store. Faramarz Mohammadi-pour, 48, of Hoover, was arrested on September 21. Mohammadi-pour, also known as Faramarz Mohammadipour, is an employee of Family Supermarket at 513 23rd Street North in Birmingham. The store's owner—Abolghassem Mohammadipour, also known as Abolghassem Mohammadi Pour, 59, also of Hoover—was arrested on July 24 on related charges.    » read more »

September 23, 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Command Sgt. Maj. Jonathan M. Lankford, 42, of Scottsboro, Alabama, died Sept. 22, in Baghdad, Iraq, of injuries sustained from a non-combat related incident.

He was assigned to the 79th Ordnance Battalion, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.

Source: DoD

September 20, 2007 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Edmund J. Jeffers, 23, of Daleville, Alabama, died Sept. 19 in Taqqadum, Iraq, of injuries suffered from a non-combat related accident.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

The circumstances surrounding the death are under investigation.

Source: DoD

September 20, 2007 -- (MONTGOMERY) — Alabama Attorney General Troy King announced that a former DHR employee today was sentenced to two 20-year prison sentences for misusing her public position and stealing more than $120,000 in welfare benefits. Yvette Wilson of Huntsville pleaded guilty yesterday in Madison County Circuit Court to a felony ethics violation and to first-degree theft.    » read more »

September 19, 2007 -- (MONTGOMERY)— "LaSamuel Gamble has been convicted of murdering three people in cold blood. District Attorney Robby Owens sounded the retreat of common sense and justice when he testified to free this monster from Death Row where a Shelby County jury had sent him ten years ago. Owens says he was compelled to do so. He is wrong – wrong on the facts, wrong on the law, and wrong on his duty. Whether 30 DAs or 42 DAs call for me to do so, I will never turn my back on Alabama's victims or desecrate the graves of those who Gamble murdered.    » read more »

September 17, 2007, NORFOLK, VA -- A special train will travel to Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi Sept. 17-21 to provide emergency preparedness training to first responders as part of the 2007 Norfolk Southern TRANSCAER Whistle-Stop Tour.

TRANSCAER (Transportation Community Awareness and Emergency Response) is a nationwide program that assists communities in preparing for and responding to a possible hazardous material transportation incident.    » read more »

September 11, 2007 -- MONTGOMERY – Alabama Governor Bob Riley swore in 27 new recruits to the Alabama National Guard during a special ceremony at the State Capitol on the sixth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The recruits, who range in age from 17 to 32, are the “embodiment of what’s best about America,” Governor Riley said. “Your courage humbles us and it also frightens those who attacked us on 9-11,” he told them.    » read more »

September 12, 2007 -- (MONTGOMERY) — Alabama Attorney General Troy King has notified Shelby County District Attorney Robbie Owens that he is using his statutory authority to superintend—taking over from the District Attorney—the case of convicted murderer LaSamuel Gamble.    » read more »