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March is Women's History Month!

Alabama State Capitol Arrests

Seven people who are participating in a week long protest at the Alabama State Capitol were arrested late Thursday afternoon after they refused to leave the building during a protest over an expansion of Medicaid in the state.  A spokesman for the Alabama law enforcement agency said officers made numerous request for the group to leave when the building closed at 5 p.m. The seven were charged with criminal trespassing and taken to the Montgomery County Jail.  They included civil rights activist Kenneth Glasgow of Dothan and Faya Rose Toure of Selma.  State Senator Hank Sanders said the protesters refused to leave the building as an act of defiance in response to the governor's refusal to expand Medicaid. 

Life Sentences

Two Montgomery men will each serve life in prison in connection with the armed robbery of a convenience store on McGhee Road in August 2013.  At a sentencing hearing Thursday, the lengthy prison terms were given to 27-year-old Rodney Potts and 22-year-old Charles Newman.  Montgomery County District Attorney Darryl Bailey said both men had prior robbery convictions and that resulted in life prison sentences.  In the past six weeks, at least eight in individuals have received life in prison for committing violent crimes in Montgomery. 

School Fundraising

Students, faculty and others have raised money to help the family of a Capitol Heights Middle School student who was critically injured earlier this week when he was hit by a vehicle Monday afternoon.  The student remains in critical condition at Children's Hospital in Birmingham.  Brewbaker Middle School Principal Cameron Whitlow presented a check for $567 to Capitol Heights Principal Glenda Horton at Thursday's football game between the two schools.  Horton said she will take the money to the student's family who are staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham. 

Burglary Ring

Elmore County Sheriff's officials believe they have broken up a major burglary ring.  Six adult males have been charged for their roles in a string of break-ins that occurred mainly in the Wallsboro and Dexter communities.  Sheriff Bill Franklin said a total of nine burglaries were committed.  The stolen property was recovered from pawn shops in the Montgomery area.  The six suspects are being held in the Elmore County jail. 

Parks' Memorabilia

Hundreds of items that belonged to civil rights icon Rosa Parks have been sitting unseen for years in a New York City warehouse were sold to a foundation run by the son of billionaire investment guru Warren Buffett.  Howard Buffett says his foundation will donate the items to an institute or museum.  They include Park's Presidential Medal of Freedom.