Former state Sen. Lowell Barron and aide Jill Johnson are asking a state appeals court not to hear issues that the attorney general's office has raised about their criminal case. Barron and Johnson are charged with misusing $58,000 in campaign donations from Barron's unsuccessful re-election campaign in 2010. Attorney General Luther Strange's staff has asked the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to block a judge's ruling that would let Barron present evidence about how other candidates have spent campaign money. The attorney general is also contending the judge abused his discretion by not ruling before trial on whether prosecutors can use Johnson's grand jury testimony. Barron's and Johnson's lawyers say the attorney general is making "a baseless attack" on the trial judge, Randall Cole, and the judge's decisions should stand.
Baseball Bat Attack
A south Alabama man has been sentenced to life in prison for attacking a man with a baseball bat during a robbery. Kahlif Cooper was sentenced on charges of attempted murder and armed robbery Wednesday in Houston County Circuit Court. The Dothan Eagle reports that 34-year-old Cooper was also sentenced to 20-years for breaking and entering into a motor vehicle. District Attorney Doug Valeska told jurors that Cooper used an aluminum baseball bat in September 2013 assault on the 32-year-old victim. The victim suffered a broken leg and Valeska says the victim suffered a broken leg and Valeska says Cooper stole $100 from the man's wallet and his cellphone from his car. Cooper's attorney Christopher Williams says his client was enrolled at Troy University at the time, and isn't the career criminal prosecutors accused him of being.
Graduates Accepted
With graduation season right around the corner, one group of students has so much more to look forward to than just receiving a diploma. Every 2014 graduate from Autaugaville School has been accepted into college, a first for the school. About four of the 21 member graduating class will begin courses at Alabama State University in the fall.