A Montgomery judge says extra security is unnecessary in the case against a white police officer charged with fatally shooting a black man.
Officer Aaron Smith sat quietly between his two attorneys today as the court considered several motions.
Smith’s attorney Mickey McDermott filed a motion for extra security as a "necessary precaution" due to threats against Smith. But in court, the lawyer agreed with Judge Jimmy Pool that existing courthouse security was adequate.
Smith was arrested less than a week after police say he fatally shot Greg Gunn in February. The district attorney says he found probable cause to justify Smith's charges. Smith returns to court next week for a probable cause hearing. An investigation is ongoing.
The Community Foundation of South Alabama will celebrate 40 years of charity work tomorrow.
The group will have their annual luncheon at the Alabama Cruise Terminal in Mobile. The foundation is a group based in Mobile that helps local businesses and individuals give money to various charities in southwest Alabama.
Jessica Sawyer is the Director of Marketing and Communications for the group. She says the luncheon will help The Community Foundation to continue to achieve its goal…
“Our vision is to create an inclusive and economically thriving community that is healthy and safe for all. To do that we assemble and direct philanthropic assets so we can simply make southwest Alabama a better place.”
The foundation serves an eight-county area in south Alabama including Mobile, Baldwin, Conecuh, Monroe and Escambia, counties.
Events in Alabama and across the country today will encourage kids not to smoke.
Today is the 20th annual National Kick Butts Day. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids calls it a day of activism encouraging kids to stay smoke-free and protesting tobacco marketing geared at young people. Kick Butts Day events are being held in Sheffield, in the Mobile area, and at the state capitol in Montgomery.
Gustavo Torrez is the Director of Youth Advocacy for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. He says tobacco use in Alabama has major consequences.
“8,600 adults will die prematurely in Alabama because of tobacco use. With youth smoking rates at 18%, this is truly staggering, and we have to do more to protect our young people from the dangers of tobacco use.”
Torrez says his organization encourages lawmakers to consider smoking bans and marketing restrictions on tobacco companies. The University of Alabama and University of Alabama at Birmingham have banned smoking on their campuses.