Montgomery Police believe they have solved a robbery-murder case with the arrest of a 56-year-old suspect. On Saturday, Detectives charged 56-year-old Jerry Purnell of Montgomery with capital murder in connection with last Wednesday's homicide in which 43-year-old M.B. Manik was shot during a holdup at a convenience store on Mobile Road. The store clerk later died at a local hospital. MPD said Purnell also is charged with another count of first-degree robbery related to an incident that occurred May 10th at the corners of Oak and Mill streets. Purnell is being held in the Montgomery County Jail without bond.
Abortion Trial
A federal court trial begins today in downtown Montgomery over an Alabama abortion law that proponents say will make abortions safer and opponents say will close three of Alabama's five licensed abortion clinics. The trial at the Montgomery federal court building stems from a 2013 law that requires doctors at abortion clinics to have approval to admit patients to nearby hospitals.
Free Summer Lunch
Alabama officials will soon resume a free summer lunch program for students. The state Department of Education offers free meals to children while school is out to make sure low-income children don't go hungry. Roughly 137,000 children participated in the program last year. The goal is to serve more than 500,000 children who already received free or reduced-price lunches at schools.
Sewell Support
Alabama's lone Democrat in Congress, U.S. Representative Terri Sewell says she supports the citizens and elected officials of Macon, Lowndes and Greene counties who have argued that their voting rights were violated when Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange ordered raids on electronic gaming facilities in Shorter, Eutaw and Hayneville. Sewell said she has asked the Justice Department to determine whether votes were violated in counties that voted in favor of electronic bingo.
Dogs Euthanized
Authorities in east Alabama say three dogs accused of attacking and killing a woman in Phenix City have been euthanized. The pitt bulls were euthanized sometime after 6 p.m. Friday. Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said the decision to euthanize the dogs was made by their owners. 20-year-old Katie Morrison was playing with the dogs when one of the dogs attacked her and two other dogs then joined in.