Public education in Alabama is taking a new direction. The state Legislature, voting along mostly party lines, has given final approval to a bill allow charter schools in the state. The Alabama House passed the legislation Wednesday. The measure was sent to Governor Robert Bentley who has indicated he will sign the bill into law. No timetable was given.
Suspects Captured
Montgomery police say three adult males are in custody in connection with a brazen day light shootout Wednesday along the Atlanta Highway. Police said the three males exchange gunfire near the 5600 block of Atlanta Highway. There were no injuries. MPD said officers recovered handguns, marijuana and cocaine from suspects.
In a separate criminal case, police have 22-year-old Finney Banks of Montgomery with the armed robberies at businesses on the Eastern Boulevard. Finney was arrested Tuesday and ordered held on $120,000 bond. Authorities said the business robberies occurred December 27th and January 2nd.
Fetus Representation
The ACLU is asking a federal judge to block an Alabama law that allows a fetus to be represented in court when a minor is seeking judicial permission for an abortion. The ACLU's lawyer told a judge Wednesday the law forces teens to go through an adversarial court proceeding. State lawyers say it allows judges to obtain information and permission for the abortion is usually granted.
Hacker Sentenced
State prosecutors say a north Georgia man has been sentenced for hacking confidential data stored on computer systems maintained by the state of Alabama. The state attorney general's office says Thomas Jack Hixon of Chickamauga, Georgia, pleaded guilty this week to attempted computer tampering. He is accuse of manipulating his caller ID to appear to be from a police department in Weaver, Alabama while making calls. Hixon was sentenced to five years in prison.