Five mayoral candidates and thirty-five candidates for city council seats have now qualified to run in next month's municipal elections. Tuesday afternoon was last day to submit the required paperwork. The candidates qualifying for mayor are: incumbent Todd Strange, Montgomery County Commissioner Dan Harris, former Congressman Artur Davis, Montgomery Rescue Mission founder Buena Browder and State school board member Ella Bell. The only city councilman with no opposition is Glen Pruitt in District 8 and Charles Jinright in District 9. The Montgomery City election is August 25th.
Armed Members
Alabama's Army and Air National Guard personnel soon could be armed with a weapon. Governor Robert Bentley and National Guard commanders met Tuesday and reached agreement on a plan. The details were not disclosed. The policy change follows last week's shooting rampage in Chattanooga that left five service members dead.
Flag Design
A Montgomery City Council committee will study the city seal and city flag. Council members approved a resolution at a Tuesday meeting to begin discussions about changing the flag and seal both have references to the Confederacy. Mayor Todd Strange said the issue was bound to surface sooner or later. The city council also plans to study a proposal that would require that teenagers be escorted by adults at major city events in the downtown district. The issue arose after a 14-year-old was charged with firing a weapon during a fireworks show Saturday night.
Suspect Wanted
Authorities in Bibb County have been searching for a man suspected of abducting his girlfriend and killing her sister. The Bibb County Sheriff's Office says 60-year-old John Barry Hubbard is considered armed and dangerous. Police are searching for his white Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck. Authorities say Hubbard went to the home of girlfriend Tammy Carpenter in the Eoline community Tuesday afternoon. He allegedly forced her into the vehicle before fatally shooting her sister and driving away. Bibb County District Attorney Michael Jackson says Hubbard will face charges of capital murder and kidnapping after he is captured.
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Governor Robert Bentley has some not so kind words to say about an Alabama Indian tribe's offer to cover a $250 million shortfall in the General Fund budget. Bentley said the Poarch Creek Tribe is being quote "totally disingenuous." The governor said he doubts Alabamians would agree to give the Poarch Creeks a monopoly on gambling.