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• Alabaster police identify one of two charged in fake bomb... Two teenagers in custody Alabaster police this afternoon identified one of two people charged in connection with a fake bomb incident at an Alabaster shopping center last week. James Payton Hutchens, 18, of Alabaster was charged with making a terrorist threat and is in the Shelby County Jail on a $10,000 bond. A 17-year-old boy whose name was not released also was charged with making a terrorist threat and was being held in the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Center. Last Tuesday, bomb technicians were called to inspect a suspicious briefcase found in front of the Best Buy store at the Colonial Promenade Alabaster South shopping center. The briefcase contained a fake bomb, authorities said. Deputy Police Chief Curtis Rigney said the incident caused police to spend five hours at the scene and cost at least $1,500. Police plan to seek restitution from the two charged, Rigney said.
• Injured driver Hamlin released from hospital Associated PressDenny Hamlin is loaded from his crashed car at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday.Denny Hamlin was released from UAB Hospital today, a day after a tire failure led to a hard crash at Talladega Superspeedway. Hamlin was kept overnight for observation after his car slammed into a wall. He was alert and awake when he was taken to the hospital Sunday, but was complaining of a headache and possibly had a concussion. He was also favoring his right foot after a slow exit from his crumpled car.Hamlin, one of 12 drivers racing for the Sprint Cup title, was leading midway through the race when his right front tire failed and his Toyota shot into the outside wall. He said nothing over his in-car radio after the hit and took several moments to get out of the car. Hamlin was 39th in the race and fell to 12th in the Chase standings.
• Drugs, weapons taken in Jefferson County raids Assault rifles, two "sawed off" shotguns, cocaine, marijuana, marijuana plants, pills, scales and cash seized in raids conducted by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division. A series of drug raids at nine houses and apartments over the course of two weeks resulted in more than 20 weapons being confiscated and the arrests of 13 people, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office announced today.Assault rifles, two "sawed off" shotguns were among the weapons seized in raids conducted by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division. A variety of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, including cocaine, marijuana, marijuana plants, pills, scales and cash, were taken as well, according to a press release. Those items were seized during raids at nine residences in the communities of Village Springs, Center Point, College Hills, Woodlawn, Ensley, East Lake and Smithfield. Those arrested were: • Jimmy Bonner, 74, of Village Springs, of drug possession and paraphernalia charges. • Carlos Lamont Tate, 42, of Gate City on outstanding drug and marijuana possession charges. • Manza Walker, 42, of Woodlawn, on marijuana possession charges. • Michele R. Meadows, 39, of College Hills, on theft and paraphernalia charges • Tammy Blackwell, 36, of College Hills, on outstanding paraphernalia charges. • Michael Baker, 28, of College Hills, on an outstanding marijuana charge. • Regina L. Haynes, 31, of College Hills, on outstanding marijuana and chemical endangerment of a child charges. • James Gregory Jr., 49, of Center Point, on drug and weapons charges. • Adam Lee Jackson, 21, of Pratt City, on an outstanding marijuana charge. • Terrence Wayne Ham Jr., 24, of Fairfield, on marijuana and paraphernalia charges. • Alfonso Crim, 25, of East Lake, on drug and paraphernalia charges. • Michelle Ann Mathews, 28, of Village Springs, on a paraphernalia charge. • Alfred L. Perkins, 24, of Smithfield Community, on a failure to appear on a drug possession charge and another drug possession charge. "This is well over 300 of these drug houses we have shut down over the last three years and the common denominator in all of them is dangerous weapons," stated Sheriff Mike Hale. "These are not avid hunters or gun collectors we are dealing with, they are drug dealers wreaking havoc in our communities" Hale added.
• Birmingham police standoff ends without injury A man had taken his 3-month-old daughter from Tuscaloosa to his Birmingham apartment after a dispute with the child's mother. The tactical squad was called and the man surrended the child safely at 10:10 a.m.A police standoff near Avondale Park ended this morning after a man surrendered to police and handed over his 3-month-old daughter, police said.Around 5:15 a.m., officers from Birmingham's South Precinct responded to a possible hostage situation at an apartment at 4201 4th Ave. South, said Lt. Henry Irby, spokesman for the Birmingham Police Department. A man had taken his 3-month-old daughter there from Tuscaloosa after a dispute with the child's mother, Irby said. Police tried unsuccessfully to contact the man inside the apartment, and at 7:30 a.m., the tactical squad was brought in. At 10:10 a.m., the man surrendered and was taken into custody, while the child was released to police, Irby said. .
• Alabaster police arrest two people in fake bomb incident ... More details to come at 2 p.m. press conference Two people have been arrested in connection with a prank bomb left outside an Alabaster shopping center a week ago, the Alabaster Police Department said today. One adult and a juvenile have been arrested, Deputy Police Chief Curtis Rigney said. More details are to be released at a 2 p.m. news conference. Last Tuesday, bomb technicians were called to inspect a suspicious briefcase found in front of the Best Buy store at the Colonial Promenade Alabaster South shopping center. The briefcase contained a fake bomb, authorities said.
• Lane on U.S. 31 Warrior River bridge to be closed through... Repairs being done on southbound lane of bridge between Kimberly and Warrior. State transportation officials say a lane closure on U.S. 31 over the Warrior River between Kimberly and Warrior will extend through the end of the week. The southbound, right lane of the four-lane bridge was closed when a hole was found about a week ago in the deck. Alabama Department of Transportation officials say repairs to the bridge deck will be more extensive than was first believed.
• Commission committee approves bankruptcy resolution Jim Carns and Bobby Humphryes say resolution sends signal to county's Wall Street creditors.The Jefferson County Commission's Environmental Services Committee has approved a resolution asking the county's attorneys to begin filing for protection under Chapter 9 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The committee includes Commissioners Jim Carns, Bobby Humphryes and Shelia Smoot. The full commission can now consider the resolution at its meeting next week. Carns and Humphryes, who supported the resolution, said the vote would send a signal to Wall Street creditors who are demanding a cut of the 1 cent sales tax for education and other revenues to help solve the $3.2 billion sewer debt crisis.
• Birmingham police release details in Sunday homicide One woman killed and another injured in what appears to be an act of domestic violence.Birmingham police this morning released information in a shooting that injured one woman and left another dead Sunday morning.At 1:22 a.m. a woman flagged down East Precinct officers who were on patrol in the area of 2905 Gallant Dr. The 28-year-old woman told the officers she and her cousin, Caneshua Henry, 21, of Birmingham, had both just been shot, according to a police press release. The officers arrested a 25-year-old male suspect who was armed with a handgun, but as of this morning had not been charged. The officers found Henry lying in the doorway of the residence, suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Paramedics arrived at the scene and pronounced her dead. Paramedics took the injured cousin to UAB Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Police said the incident appears to be an act of domestic violence.
• Montevallo man killed in four-wheeler accident A Moulton man was also killed in another four-wheeler accident on Saturday.A 21-year-old Montevallo man was killed Sunday when a four-wheeler he was driving flipped, according to the Bibb County Coroner.Thomas Shane Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:32 p.m., said Coroner Downey McGee. The accident happened at about 11:45 a.m. in the Brierfield community, McGee said. On Saturday, a father of two died when the four-wheeler he was driving ran off a road near Moulton and rolled over multiple times. Lawrence County Coroner Micah Coffey says 41-year-old Gregory Wilson of Moulton died at the accident scene at 8:10 p.m. on Saturday. State troopers say the crash happened about 10 miles north of Moulton on Lawrence County 152. Coffey says Wilson apparently didn't see a sharp curve and drove his all-terrain vehicle off a deep embankment. Wilson's sister, Charlotte Gillespie of Town Creek, says her brother was a free spirit who loved his family. His funeral is set for 2 p.m. today.
• Monday eye-openers: Highlights from today's Birmingham News Bands do battle in Birmingham. Insurance rating drop may mean higher water bills. Confusion over former felons' ability to cast votes. New approach to care at Birmingham nursing home. Gas availability cuts crowd at Talladega race. Complete coverage of the AMP Energy 500.HOT TOPICS Jeff Roberts/Birmingham News The Wenonah Dragons' drum majors take the field for Battle of the Bands competition on Sunday. MUSIC, CHOREOGRAPHY IMPRESS FANSThe Birmingham Water Works' insurance rating drop may mean higher bills. St. Martin's offers a less hospital-like approach to senior care. Confusion reigns over ex-felons' ability to vote. The new Hewitt-Trussville High held an open house. MORE NEWS SPORTS OPENERS Tony Stewart won at Talladega for the first time. Regan Smith believes yellow-line loss decision incorrect But, gas availability may have kept crowd smaller than usual. Gordon's Talladega chance ends in wreck Big wrecks forge new Talladega Speedway lore Rubber meets the road, and the road wins, reports Kevin Scarbinsky Talladega notebook Race photo galleries MORE SPORTS HEALTH OPENERS Jefferson County will throw rabies vaccines in areas where raccoons live. The ages of the most likely victims, the breakdown of towns where the bites occurred and the most likely month of the year to be bitten -- see the graphics OPINION OPENERS Gas prices have diminished love for our cars. Trinity's hospital purchase makes good business sense.