Alabama wants to move forward with executions using lethal injection. The move comes following the U.S. Supreme Court upholding the use of a drug that Alabama plans to begin using in capitol punishment.
The state attorney general's office asked a federal judge in U.S. District Court Monday to dismiss a death row inmate's lawsuit. Tommy Arthur claims the sedative midazolam is ineffective.
A lawyer for Arthur says the case should still go to trial. Attorney Suhana S. Han says Oklahoma's lethal injection protocol differs from Alabama's.
The Supreme Court ruled five to four in a case last month from Oklahoma. The decision means the same drug can be used in executions without violating the constitutional prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment.
Alabama has not carried out an execution in almost two years.
The Vestavia Hills City Schools district meets today. No resolution is expected today on the fate of Vestavia High School’s mascot. But the future of the Rebel Man appears to be high on everyone’s mind.
A recent school board meeting allowed members of the community to voice their support and opposition for the proposed change.
Whit McGhee is the spokesman for Vestavia Hills City Schools. He says Superintendent Sheila Phillips is expected to make a decision on the mascot by the end of the month…
“By the time we reach the end of July we are going to be about two weeks from the start of school. We want to make sure that our focus at all times is on the educational experiences that we’re providing for more than 6,700 students. So I think we’re going to see a resolution pretty soon.”
The next regular school board meeting is scheduled for the end of the month.
University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban and some of his players took part in the annual SEC Media Days in Hoover this morning. The Tide were twelve and two last season and took part in the inaugural College Football Playoff. The team lost to the eventual Champion, Ohio State.
One burning question for this year’s team is the quarterback position and who will replace former signal caller, Blake Sims. Saban was not ready to tip his hand on who will be under center this season…
“That’s going to be one of the keys to the drill in terms of somebody taking the bulls by the horn at that position. Being assertive, playing with confidence, distributing the ball and executing in a positive way, being a good decision maker and showing leadership at the same time. We do not have an experienced player at that position.
The Crimson Tide has five options at quarterback, including Jake Coker, David Cornwall and heralded recruit, Blake Barnett. Alabama begins the 2015 season on September fifth against Wisconsin in the Cowboys Classic in Dallas, Texas.