Republicans have strengthened their grip on Alabama Statehouse. The GOP, which already held a supermajority in Montgomery, picked up additional seats in Tuesday's election. Republicans defeated several Democratic incumbents and will hold 72 of 105 seats in the House of Representatives, according to unofficial returns.
Bentley's Press Conference
Republican Governor Robert Bentley won a second term by a record margin and helped the Alabama GOP maintain its dominance of all three branches of state government. The governor met with members of the media Wednesday morning and said he'll spend the next four years addressing issues like prisons and Medicaid. Bentley will begin his second term in about two months facing crisis, including finding new revenue for the two major budgets.
Homicide Arrest
Montgomery police have made an arrest in an August homicide. A department release states that 21-year-old Tavaras Brown of Montgomery has been charged with murder after being taken into custody Tuesday. He is charged with the August 30th shooting death of 22-year-old Ronald James, also from Montgomery. It happened in the 4700 block of Park Towne Way Drive. At the time, investigators said the shooting stemmed from an ongoing dispute. Brown is being held in the Montgomery County Detection Facility under a $75,000 bond.
Leonard Sentencing
A judge has delayed the sentencing of a man convicted of capital murder for the shooting deaths of two former Auburn University football players and a third man. A Lee County judge has rescheduled the sentencing for Desmonte Leonard until Jan. 7. Leonard's attorney requested more time to prepare for the hearing since Leonard is facing the death penalty. A jury last month convicted Leonard in the 2012 shooting deaths that occurred when Leonard opened fire outside a party in Auburn. The jury recommended that Leonard receive life in prison instead of the death penalty. Lee County Circuit Judge Jacob Walker will make the final decision.