Family and friends are mourning the shooting death of an Auburn football player. Opelika Police say a 22-year-old man is being held in the Lee County Jail following his arrest in connection with Sunday morning's murder of 18-year-old Jakell Mitchell of Opelika. Police said the shooting took place at the same apartment complex where two former football players and a third man were slain in June 2012. Opelika police said 22-year-old Markhale Hart of Camp Hill, Alabama was taken into custody in Dadeville late Sunday morning. Authorities said the freshman football player was gunned down after an argument.
Gay Couples Coverage
Alabama's largest health insurer now offers family coverage to legally married gay couples in order to comply with a federal rule that insurance companies must treat married couples the same, regardless of sexual orientation. A spokeswoman for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama says the company began offering same-sex spousal coverage for underwritten plans early this year in response to federal regulations.
Revenue Package
In 2015, Governor Robert Bentley will propose Alabama's first major revenue-raising package since voters defeated Governor Bob Riley's 1.2 billion dollar tax package in 2003. Since that defeat, Alabama's General Fund budget has been patched together with borrowed money, federal stimulus funds and other non-recurring revenue. Senate budget chairman Arthur Orr of Decatur said the 1.8 billion dollar general fund is facing a minimum hole of about $260 million dollars for fiscal year 2016. Orr said that does not include needs for prisons, Medicaid and money owed to the federal government for Medicaid overpayments.
MPD Leadership
Montgomery city officials are poised to name a new police chief this week. The Advertiser newspaper reported Saturday that veteran law enforcement officer Ernest Finley of Atlanta will assume this role of police chief. Finley has served as deputy police chief in Atlanta since 2010. Mayor Todd Strange previously said that a formal announcement will be made Wednesday at city hall. Finley will replace Kevin Murphy who stepped down in June.
Jackson Comments
The Reverend Jesse Jackson says he's concerned about recent police slayings in Missouri and New York. The civil rights leader visited Montgomery over the weekend. Reverend Jackson tells WVAS that a series of demonstrations nationwide must continue to press for changes to the criminal justice system. Also, congregants in African-American churches nationwide wore black to Sunday services and said special prayers to draw attention to fatal police shootings.
Siegelman Request
Former Governor Don Siegelman will be in Montgomery federal court today for a hearing on his request to get out of prison while he appeals his 2006 bribery conviction. Siegelman is asking the federal judge to release him until his appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals is resolved.