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Two men indicted for fake invoice scheme against Birmingham Water Works Board

A federal grand jury indicted two men Thursday on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Jerry Jones, former vice president of Birmingham engineering and consulting firm Arcadis, and Mount Vernon Mayor Terry Williams were indicted for conspiring between December 2014 and January 2016 to create false invoices and submitting them for … Continued
May 31, 2019

Shelby, Cotton, Byrne introduce No Leniency for Terrorists Act

U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby joined Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, to unveil legislation that would make anyone convicted of a terrorist offense ineligible for early release from federal prison for “good behavior” on Thursday. U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne, R-Montrose, introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. This action is in response to the early release … Continued
May 28, 2019

House passes bill to make the pictures of those convicted of solicitation public

Wednesday, the Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at shaming men and women arrested of trying to hire a prostitute. House Bill 262 was sponsored by State Representative Merika Coleman, D-Midfield. Coleman is the assistant House Minority Leader and a longtime member of the state’s Human Trafficking task force. According to a statement … Continued
May 23, 2019

Alabama Department of Corrections releases strategic plan

The Alabama Department of Corrections is pleased to share its 2019-2022 Strategic Plan, which will serve as an actionable road map to reverse long-established, negative trends and to transform corrections in Alabama. The plan outlines concentrated efforts over the next three years in four strategic focus areas: staffing, infrastructure, programming and culture. “We recognize the … Continued
May 23, 2019

Auburn police officer killed in the line of duty

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey asked that flags be flown at half-staff Monday to mourn the loss of Auburn Police Department Officer William Buechner, who was killed in the line of duty. Two other officers were wounded in an incident late Sunday night. “Just last week, in Alabama and across the country, we honored the sacrifice … Continued
May 21, 2019

Human trafficking remains an Alabama problem

The Republican Women of Shelby County were briefed on Saturday on the human trafficking problem in Alabama by Detective Trent Kempster with the Tuscaloosa Police Department. Kempster heads the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force, the largest human-trafficking task force in the state. He has 23 years of law enforcement experience, including working narcotics. The … Continued
May 20, 2019

Former Washington County revenue commissioner indicted

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Wednesday the arrest of Laura Lee (Lewis) Taylor, a former Washington County revenue commissioner and former treasurer of the Public Park and Recreation Board of Washington County. Taylor, 68, is charged with 26 felonies, including first-degree theft of property, identity theft, second-degree criminal possession of forged instruments and attempt … Continued
May 17, 2019

ADOC wants contract with communications company at center of multiple lawsuits, complaints

UPDATE: A Securus representative reached out to APR to share updates on two key issues related to the story. First, Securus, after a number of complaints and bad publicity, no longer offers location-based tracking services. Secondly, the company also doesn’t have any control over whether prisons elect to discontinue in-person family visits with inmates. It … Continued
May 2, 2019

Senate committee expected to consider juvenile justice reform bill Wednesday

A Senate committee will consider legislation Wednesday aimed at creating better outcomes for youth in Alabama’s juvenile justice system by reducing the number of youth placed in state detention for low-level offenses. The bill — sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster — aims to keep low-level offenders at home instead of in state facilities, … Continued
April 30, 2019

Reps. Merika Coleman, Terri Collins introduce legislation aimed at fighting human trafficking

Rep. Merika Coleman, D-Birmingham, and Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, introduced four bills aimed at fighting human trafficking on Wednesday in honor of Human Trafficking Awareness Day. Three of the bills passed unanimously through the committee. One, HB260, will receive a public hearing and will be voted on next week. “Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal … Continued
April 26, 2019