State Troopers say it was tragic accident. Five-year-old Bessiah Hedges, a kindergarten student, was struck and killed by a Macon County school bus after he dropped his books and stopped to try and pick them up on County Road 2 in the Fort Davis Community. The crash happened around 6:30 a.m.
Suspects in Custody
Montgomery Police say suspects are in custody in connection with a Saturday night shooting in the downtown district and for last week's fatal shooting at a Montgomery nightclub. MPD said 21-year-old Datony Anderson is behind bars charged with assault for shooting into a group of juveniles late Saturday night near the intersection of Coosa and Jefferson streets. Two juveniles were hit by gunfire, their injuries were not serious. Police said they are looking for a second suspect.
In a separate case, 20-year-old Dvonte Flonnoy of Montgomery is charged with reckless murder in the October 21st death of 41-year-old Tracy Edwards. He was slain at Club Big Boyz on Holt Street. Flonnoy is being held under a $150,000 bond. A second suspect identified as Telvin Brown was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals Service, police have not said when his alleged role he played in Edwards' death.
Annual Research Symposium
An award winning author, college professor and New York Times columnist will be the keynote speaker today at Alabama State University's Annual Research Symposium. Samuel Freedman has authored seven books, including his most recent writing "Breaking the Line." Freedman said there is a connection between black college football and civil rights. Samuel Freedman will speak today at 4 p.m. in ASU's Student Center Theater.
NAACP Convention
The president of an Alabama civil group and the Alabama Secretary of State found themselves in an awkward situation Friday at the state NAACP convention in Mobile. Al.com reports Bernard Simelton refused to allow John Merrill to hand out posters that featured the likeness of Alabama and Auburn's football coach promoting voter registration. Simelton said he remains upset about the closure of 31 driver's license offices in rural counties. He said football coaches at Alabama State and Alabama A&M universities should have also been asked to promote voter registration. The Justice Department sent a letter to Attorney General Luther Strange last month warning that the state has not complied with federal voter registration guidelines.