Montgomery Police have identified the adult male who was shot to death last night on Troy Highway. MPD said 26-year-old Rahulkumar Patel sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said the victim was slain in the 4400 block of Troy Highway. The fatal shooting happened around 9 p.m. Patel's death has been ruled a homicide. The motive is under investigation and no arrests have been made.
State Taxes
Governor Bentley's opposition to new state taxes during his first term could change in a second term. The governor said he's looking at all possibilities for the next four years. Bentley has opposed new state taxes during his first term, including raising the state cigarette tax. One reason is that money from a state trust fund that has shored up the state General Fund budget for three years won't be available for the next state budget. Bentley's opponent, Democratic nominee Parker Griffith, says Bentley could solve part of the financial problem by expanding the Medicaid program.
Alabama Power Scam
Alabama Power company is warning customers about a scam that involves individuals pretending to be employees of the utility to get money. The company said the scammers call from a number that appears to be Alabama Power and tell customers they have a short deadline to make a payment. Customers then are incorrectly told they must purchase a money pack from a retailer and then call another number to pay off the balance. Alabama Power says its employees will never come to your door and demand payment or call and ask for bank information or a credit card number.
Service Station Robbery
Authorities in Autauga County say Police SWAT teams responded to an armed robbery this morning at a convenience store just north of Prattville. According to Autauga County Chief Deputy Joe Sedinger, around 1 o'clock this morning, two men entered a Chevron station near the intersection of Highway 31 and Interstate 65. SWAT teams surrounded the building, but the two suspects managed to elude capture. No one was injured.
New Format
Alabama's school superintendent has told all Alabama public school systems to start using a new student enrollment process that makes clear a Social Security number or birth certificate is not necessary for enrollment. Superintendent Tommy Bice sent out a standardized enrollment form after the Southern Poverty Law Center complained that more than 70 percent of Alabama's school systems were using enrollment practices that violated federal prohibitions against denying or discouraging the enrollment of immigrant children. Many of the previous forms required a Social Security number or birth certificate.