Strong storms moving across central Alabama Tuesday left a trail of scattered, mostly minor damage. Authorities say several trees and power lines were blown down near Moundville in Hale County, blocking roads. In Millbrook, one person was hurt as winds gusting to 45 miles -per-hour damaged a patio cover. The weather service says some of the storms could have winds as strong as 60 miles-per-hour.
Preliminary Hearing
The Montgomery man accused of killing three people and wounding three others at a pool party in Auburn is scheduled to appear in a Lee County courtroom today. District Judge Russell Bush will decide whether to send the capital murder case against 22-year-old Desmonte Leonard to a grand jury for review.
New Leadership
Two Montgomerians are going to lead State Board of Education for the upcoming school year. The State Board of Education voted Tuesday to elect Stephanie Bell of Montgomery as vice president and Ella Bell of Montgomery as president pro tem. The terms are for one year.
State BOE
The Alabama Board of Education met Tuesday and received an update on a state-developed assessment and accountability plan. State Schools Superintendent Dr. Tommy Bice says the scoring system would measure a student's growth over the year, unlike the current No Child Left Behind system. Alabama was recently granted a waiver by the federal government to freeze the Adequate Yearly Progress goals of the No Child Left Behind Act from last year for the next two years.
No Bond
The Pike County Sheriff has refused to allow a man suspected of multiple rapes in Troy to post bond. Sheriff Russell Thomas said he will keep Andre Ellis behind bars. Ellis is charged with two rapes, burglary and theft of property. He tried to make his $360,000 dollar bail, but Sheriff Thomas said the bonding company has posted too many bonds in the county.