In a stunning turn of events, a federal judge in Alabama selected a redistricting map submitted by an anonymous member of the public, identified only as “DD,” over those drafted by a court-appointed special master. The mapmaker, Daniel DiDonato, an 18-year-old college freshman, created the map using readily available online software and data. His success highlights how easily anyone can participate in mapmaking, influencing the political landscape and online communities. The selected map remedies a Voting Rights Act violation.
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A Roman Catholic priest, Robert Sullivan, has been laicized after a woman accused him of providing financial support in exchange for companionship, including sex, starting when she was 17. The accuser, Heather Jones, filed a formal complaint, backed by financial and email records, alleging Sullivan paid her hundreds of thousands of dollars to remain silent. The bishop’s investigation found no misuse of church funds. Sullivan, who was in a high-ranking position within the diocese, had previously taken personal leave and subsequently requested to be relieved of his priestly obligations, which the Pope granted.
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A 2nd-grade teacher, Randi Nicole Staples, was arrested in Mobile, Alabama, after a video surfaced online depicting her physically abusing her 12-year-old child. The video, filmed inside a home, reportedly shows Staples striking the child multiple times with a belt or strap before grabbing him by the hair and using profanity. Following the incident, Cottage Hill Christian Academy terminated Staples’ employment and is cooperating with law enforcement. Staples faces a felony charge of willful abuse of a child under 18, and the Department of Human Resources has placed the children with a family member while the investigation continues.
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An Alabama man, Anthony Boyd, was executed by nitrogen gas on Thursday for his role in the 1993 murder of Gregory Huguley. Boyd, who maintained his innocence, was convicted of setting Huguley on fire over a $200 drug debt. The execution process appeared to take longer than previous nitrogen gas executions, drawing criticism from Boyd’s spiritual advisor and sparking conflicting accounts from officials. The U.S. Supreme Court denied a stay of execution and a request for an alternative method, though Justice Sotomayor dissented, citing concerns about the method’s constitutionality.
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During a town hall in Daphne, Alabama, Rep. Barry Moore faced relentless heckling and laughter from constituents as he attempted to defend President Trump. The audience challenged Moore on various issues, including Medicaid cuts, immigration policies, and Trump-era tariffs, often interrupting his responses. Unable to quell the crowd, Moore abruptly ended the event and exited through a back door. Despite the contentious atmosphere and accusations of evasiveness, Moore later denied a hasty departure, attributing the disruptions to a specific group of individuals.
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At a town hall in Daphne, Alabama, Republican Senate candidate Barry Moore was met with boos and shouts from constituents after he made several controversial statements. Moore was criticized for defending Trump’s tax bill, misrepresenting its impact, and attempting to dodge questions about tariffs. The crowd challenged his assertions on immigration, elections, and abortion laws, eventually leading to chants of “Shame!” as Moore exited the event. Following the event, Moore attributed the crowd’s reaction to “left-wing agitators,” despite the event not being publicly advertised.
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A federal judge has mandated that Alabama lawmakers redraw state Senate districts, citing a violation of the Voting Rights Act due to the dilution of Black voters’ influence in the Montgomery area. The judge ordered the creation of a new district in Montgomery where Black voters would have a majority or close to it, barring the use of the current map in the 2026 elections. This ruling stems from a 2021 lawsuit alleging the packing and extraction of Black voters to diminish their electoral strength in Montgomery, although no violation was found in Huntsville. The NAACP, along with other groups, brought the lawsuit, and while celebrating the win, continue to seek more comprehensive changes.
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Seven individuals have been charged in Alabama for their involvement in an alleged sex-trafficking operation that took place in a concrete bunker, with victims as young as three years old. The suspects face charges including rape, sexual torture, kidnapping, and human trafficking, with reports indicating the children were drugged, bound, and subjected to abuse for profit. The investigation, which began in February, revealed that the operation, which potentially made $1,000 per night, involved relatives of the ten alleged victims aged 3-15, and the children are currently in state custody. Authorities are investigating potential links to a national sex-trafficking ring, with additional arrests and charges expected, and they are urging anyone with information to come forward.
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Alabama Governor Kay Ivey is supporting the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s decision to withhold body camera footage related to the fatal police shooting of Jabari Peoples, citing the need for a thorough investigation. The shooting occurred when a Homewood Police Department officer approached Peoples, an 18-year-old Black college freshman, at a soccer complex. Peoples’ family and girlfriend dispute the police’s account of the events, particularly the claim that Peoples reached for a gun, leading to demands for the video’s release from the family, local leaders, and Homewood residents. Despite these calls, the agency has not released the video as protests and threats of boycotts are made by the public.
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A Cullman County grand jury indicted four Hanceville police officers and the chief, leading to the dismissal of 58 felony cases due to widespread corruption within the department. The indictments stemmed from mishandling and removal of evidence, prompting a recommendation to abolish the department. An audit revealed significant evidence mismanagement, including undocumented evidence bags and missing firearms, cash, and drugs. Consequently, the Hanceville Police Department was disbanded and will be rebuilt.
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John Q. Hosedrinker