Alabama top stories in brief

• A request to film the execution of Alan Miller, who is scheduled to be executed by way of nitrogen hypoxia on Sept. 26, has been challenged by the state. The request was admitted by the defense lawyers of Carey Dale Grayson, who is currently scheduled to be executed by the same method this coming November. The question of filming Miller’s execution follows Alabama’s initial nitrogen gas execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith, to which mixed opinions followed regarding how humane the method is. While Steve Marshall, Alabama’s attorney general, stated that Smith’s execution was a “textbook success,” Grayson’s defense lawyers said, “Serious constitutional questions linger over Alabama’s nitrogen hypoxia protocol. To date, the only instance of a judicially sanctioned execution—that of Kenneth Eugene Smith—using nitrogen did not proceed in the manner defendants promised.” Videotaping executions is uncommon across the country, and the state has asked the U.S. District Judge R. Austin Huffaker, Jr. to reject the request of filming Miller’s execution this month.

• Audits performed by the United States Post Office’s Office of the Inspector General found issues related to mail delivery and operations at four postal sites in Center Point, Northport, Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. Each site had separate reported issues, which included missing fire extinguishers, missing clearance times, mail security and delivery delays of several hundred to several thousand items. Audit reports included management actions and future measures to ensure better practices at each site. Reports state that additional review will be held to monitor compliance. 

• Kent Davis, the Alabama Veterans Affairs commissioner, has agreed to resign from his position at the end of this year. The agreement comes after an initial refusal to resign with Davis publicly rejecting the order on his FaceBook account page — however, after a meeting with Gov. Kay Ivey, Davis has agreed to resign from his position. Davis’ resignation comes after accusations of dysfunctional relationships between state departments — accusing Mental Health Commissioner Kim Boswell of ethics concerns — and an absence of grant applications for $7 million of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Ivey has received support behind her decision with a combined statement from Alabama representatives, legislators and committees, stating, “We fully agree with Governor Ivey and join her in calling on Commissioner Kent Davis to do the right thing for the department and step down from his position…” However, other members of veteran communities in Alabama have expressed different opinions. Pete Riehm, who is both the Mobile Area Veteran of the Year (2020) and president of the Mobile Council Navy League, said “We’re very disappointed because (Davis) has been the best commissioner we’ve ever had.” 

• A lawsuit submitted on Sept. 13 in Birmingham by naturalized citizens and a long-term Alabama resident born in Florida claims that they have been targeted by Wes Allen, Alabama secretary of state in his efforts to exclude them from voter rolls. In August, Allen said that 3,351 non-citizen identification numbers had been given to registered voters, to which counties in Alabama were instructed to remove these individuals from voter rolls. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which was filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Fair Elections Center and Campaign Legal center, are all legal U.S. citizens and residents of Alabama. The lawsuit also targets Steve Marshall, Alabama’s attorney general, who received the non-citizen identification numbers from Allen in order to investigate the possibility of prosecution. The lawsuit states, “It subjects registered, eligible voters identified under the Purge Program to intimidation in the form of a letter threatening them with unjustified criminal 61 prosecution and requires them to re-register under the Re-Registration Process in order to vote and be on the voter rolls.” Specific violations of the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause and National Voter Registration Act are listed in the lawsuit. The suit cites that two of the plaintiffs, James Stroop, who has been a resident of Alabama since 1978 but was born in Florida, and Roald Hazelhoff, who received legal permanent residence 10 years ago and his U.S. citizenship in 2022, both encountered errors in unemployment applications, to which their voting status was changed and never corrected. Other plaintiffs had been given noncitizen identification numbers in the past. 

• The city of Montgomery passed an ordinance requiring that anyone carrying a concealed weapon within the city’s limits must have photo identification. According to the ordinance, if an individual does not have photo identification, law enforcement may confiscate the firearm. The owner can retrieve the firearm if they provide proof of ownership, a valid identification and pay a fine within 30 days of the weapon’s confiscation. The Alabama attorney general’s office has said that the ordinance is in violation of state law. “The Code of Alabama plainly states that the Legislature is the sole regulator of firearms and related matters,” said a spokesperson for the office. 

Our articles you might have missed

• “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” In this month’s edition of The Breathing Room, Hannah Irvin echoes Mary Oliver’s famous poem, “The Summer Day,” as she invites readers to consider what to do with their own wild and precious lives.

• Alabama isn’t known for its mountains, but the ones it has are beautiful. In the latest edition of The Longleaf Hiker, Xander Swain travels to Cheaha State Park, and explores Alabama’s highest point.

Like our work? Then support it!

Want to get early access to columns, unique newsletters and help keep The Sunrise News active? Then support us on Ko-Fi!

Support our work!