There is a not so good report on the well-being of Alabama's children. The latest Kids Count Data book was released at midnight. The report shows the state's children suffer from higher rates of poverty and or live in more low-income households than they did 15 years ago. The Kids Count Data numbers translates into about 300,000 children and families who live at or below the poverty line. The study finds Wilcox County, which has the Alabama's highest unemployment rate, is the worse county for children while Shelby County, which maintains the state's lowest jobless rate, is the best for kids. Alabama also faired poorly in the availability of daycare facilities and the infant mortality rate. The Kids Count Data book is compiled annually by Voices for Alabama's children.
Six Fatalities
The Thanksgiving weekend was marred by violence that left six people dead. According to Montgomery Police, a husband and wife Anthony and Sherika Parker, were slain at their residence on Endicott Drive Thanksgiving morning. Two fatal shootings occurred on Saturday. A shooting on Upper Wetumpka Road resulted in the death of Shedrick Brooks. Police arrested Jonathan Norman and charged him with murder.
Another shooting Saturday on Rialto Drive led to the death of 25-year-old Lakoya Brown and the death of her unborn child. 25-year-old Raymond Woods of Marion is charged with two counts of capital murder. Montgomery Police said 75-year-old James Chapman of Montgomery was shot and killed Sunday evening in the 4600 block of Rosa Parks Avenue. The shooter remains at large.
Holiday Accidents
Alabama State Troopers say there were nine traffic fatalities over the four day Thanksgiving holiday travel period that ran from Wednesday through Sunday. Troopers say weekend fatalities happened in Macon, Talladega, Geneva, Limestone, Escambia, Mobile and Lauderdale counties. Six people died on Alabama roads over the same period last year.
Troy Murder
A 19-year-old man is behind bars charged with murder in connection with a Friday night homicide in Troy. Troy Police Chief Randall Barr said 20-year-old Leon Flowers of Troy was apprehended Sunday by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department. Authorities in Troy said Flowers is accused of killing a 19-year-old male Friday night on North Knox Street. Flowers was booked into the Pike County Jail on a $100,000 bond.