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Bonner Steps Down, Lethal Injection Lawsuit, Toy Drive

The Montgomery Advertiser

    

The first female president of the University of Alabama is stepping down.

The university released a statement from President Judy Bonner on Wednesday saying she will leave office no later than September 30, 2015.

Bonner says she wants to return to the classroom. She plans to take a yearlong sabbatical and resume teaching in fall 2016.

Bonner says she's announcing her departure early to allow time for trustees to begin a search for her replacement next month.

The state of Alabama wants a federal judge to reject a lawsuit over lethal injection. A-P-R’s Pat Duggins explains…

                Alabama inmate Christopher Lee Price says the state’s method of lethal injection is cruel and unusual punishment. The issue is the combination of drugs Alabama uses to execute death row inmates. Lawyers for the state say courts in Florida have upheld the use of a similar drug combination. U.S. Magistrate Judge William Cassidy gave lawyers until late January to file briefs on why the case should or shouldn’t go to forward. Price argues that one of the drugs won’t stop him from feeling the pain of the next two drugs to stop his heart. Price claims the drug was used in botched executions in other states. Lawyers for Alabama said other courts determined the drug will make an inmate unconscious. Alabama hasn’t executed an inmate since 2013 because of an execution drug shortage.

The Downtown Rescue Mission in Huntsville is looking for a few good toys.  The relief agency will be hosting its annual Christmas party this Saturday and the main event is the gift bags for local needy children. The mission is looking for donations for youngsters in age ranges that are hard to shop for. Corey Buckner is Director of Development at the mission. He says there are two groups of kids who are particularly in need…

                “Zero to two and nine to twelve year olds are the ones we always run short on every year. Stuff like footballs, basketballs, making jewelry sets or craft type stuff.”

                Each child gets a gift bag with one large item and around four stocking stuffers. Today is the deadline to drop off donations at the Downtown Rescue Mission in Huntsville.

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