Mary Claire Wooten

Mary Claire is a reporter. You can reach her at [email protected].

Local news

PARCA: Jefferson County sees fewer homicides and overdoses in 2025

Homicides and overdose deaths have dropped significantly in Jefferson County in 2025 with progress in public safety and health efforts.

July 31, 2025

Alabama AG seeks crackdown on abortion shield law protections

Marshall urges Congress to override shield laws protecting out-of-state abortion access and criminalize abortion-related support.

July 30, 2025

Judge halts Alabama execution to assess inmate’s mental competency

An Alabama judge stayed David Lee Roberts’ execution to assess mental competency amid concerns that include schizophrenia, delusions and constitutional protections.

July 29, 2025

Judge sanctions Alabama lawyers over fake AI citations in filing

Three Alabama attorneys were reprimanded and removed from a case after submitting court documents with fake citations generated by ChatGPT.

July 25, 2025

Families ask legislators not to “shove old problems into shiny, new buildings”

At Alabama’s annual prison oversight hearing, testimonies highlighted poor conditions, parole guideline issues and the violent nature of the system.

July 24, 2025

ACLU of Alabama presses lawmakers to address prison death reporting shortfalls

The organization asked Alabama lawmakers to improve prison death reporting and transparency ahead of today’s Joint Prison Oversight Committee hearing.

July 23, 2025

Home For Sale Raeal Estate Sign in Front of Beautiful New House.

Alabama Economic and Real Estate Report reveals increased home sales

Alabama home sales rose in June, continuing a rebound, though activity remains below pre-2024 levels.

July 22, 2025

Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. speaks at the Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to be Defense secretary, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.()

Sen. Tuberville demands tariffs to defend cabinet manufacturing jobs

Tuberville urged 100 percent tariffs on foreign cabinets to protect U.S. manufacturing.

July 18, 2025

Advocacy groups push for fairer parole guidelines in overhaul

Advocates challenge Alabama’s proposed parole guidelines, urging fairer scoring, transparency and some additions to better reflect rehabilitation and public safety.

July 17, 2025

Peoples’ preliminary autopsy report leaves family with more questions

An independent autopsy revealed no exit wound or remaining projectiles in Peoples' body.

July 16, 2025