This Hour: Latest Alabama news, sports, business and entertainment - WLOX.com - The News for South Mississippi

HAZARDOUS WEATHER

Flash flooding from storms reported in east Ala.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Forecasters say flash flooding across roads is being reported in eastern Alabama and more could occur as showers and thunderstorms move into the central areas of the state.

Al.com reports National Weather Service meteorologist Jessica Talley said Saturday flash floods were reported from Talladega to Oxford about 20 miles away. Emergency officials in St. Clair County reported some flooding in the Moody and Odenville areas and along parts of Highway 78.

The weather service Saturday issued a hazardous weather outlook for more than 30 Alabama counties.

CHILD RUN OVER

Ala. woman charged with running over child age 3

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) - Police say a Talladega woman has been charged with manslaughter after a running over a 3-year-old child who fell out of her SUV.

The Daily Home of Talladega reports Rymeshia Williams was arrested Friday and charged with manslaughter. A judge set her bond at $30,000.

Police Capt. John McCoy says Williams told investigators the child freed itself from restraints inside the car Thursday afternoon and fell out while she was driving. He says police are still trying to piece together what happened. After being run over, the child died several hours later at Children's Hospital in Birmingham.

The child's identity was not immediately released and it was unclear if Williams was the mother. It was also unknown if Williams had hired an attorney.

NEW DEMOCRATS

Kennedy tries new strategy for Ala. Democrats

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Nearly a month has passed since the chairman and staff of the Alabama Democratic Party quit and started the new Alabama Democratic Majority.

Chairman Mark Kennedy said the new organization has the enthusiasm and youthfulness that the state Democratic Party lacked. He says it is raising money and has already signed up 2,000 volunteers to help in next year's election.

The acting leader of the Democratic Party, Nancy Worley, says the party's executive committee will meet June 1 in Montgomery to select a new leader.

No big names have announced for the position. Veteran Democratic state Sen. Hank Sanders of Selma says he wonders who would want to lead a divided party.

ESCAPED INMATE

Escaped Alabama inmate recaptured

GADSDEN, Ala. (AP) - Authorities in eastern Alabama say a man who escaped the Etowah County Detention Center has been recaptured.

Sheriff's spokeswoman Natalie Barton says 30-year-old Justin Wade Hopkins, of Collinsville, was working in the kitchen when he escaped early Friday morning.

Barton says Hopkins was captured in Gadsden by an Etowah County Sheriff's deputy who is assigned to the U.S. Marshals regional task force.

Authorities say a tip from a citizen led to the man's arrest.

TRIATHLON-ALABAMA

Outdoor athletes converge on Ala park for race

PELHAM, Ala. (AP) - Hundreds of athletes are converging on Alabama's largest state park for a major competition this weekend.

About 1,000 pro and amateur athletes will be at Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham beginning Saturday for the XTERRA Southeast Championship.

The triathlon includes a one-mile swim, a 20-mile mountain bike ride and a 10k off-road run through woods just a few miles south of Birmingham.

This is the eighth straight year the regional competition has been held at Oak Mountain, which is considered 1 of the top mountain-biking destinations in the nation.

Organizers say athletes from 30 states and eight countries will participate.

The 2-day Southeastern championship is the second of 4 regionals leading up to the XTERRA USA Championship, which will be held in Utah on Sept. 21.

BIRMINGHAM ILLEGAL GAMBLING

Police bust suspected illegal gambling operating

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - Police in Birmingham have shut down a recording studio and removed 33 machines they say were being used for illegal gambling.

Authorities began the raid at cMe Recording Studio Friday afternoon and arrested 22 people who were inside. Police Sgt. Johnny Williams tells WBRC-TV the studio was split into three rooms and each housed various gaming machines.

Authorities say 20 people were charged with visiting and illegal gaming establishment and two were charged with operating an illegal gaming establishment. They're being held in the Birmingham City Jail.

HOSPITAL MALPRACTICE LAWSUIT

Ala. Supreme Court reinstates $3.2 million verdict

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama Supreme Court has reinstated a $3.2 million malpractice verdict awarded to the estate of a Montgomery woman who died in 2005 after being treated at the Baptist East Emergency Room in Montgomery.

Lauree Durden Ellison had visited the Baptist Medical Center-East emergency room, operated by the Health Care Authority for Baptist Health. She was initially released from the emergency room, but later died after it was determined she had an infection.

A jury later found against the authority in a malpractice trial and awarded the estate $3.2 million. The verdict was later overturned when courts ruled the authority was a state entity and possessed immunity from being sued. But the Supreme Court ruled Friday that the authority is not immune from its debts in this case.

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