Starting in April, more detailed tornado warnings are coming to Central and North Alabama. The National Weather Service office in Birmingham is adopting the new Impact-Based warnings after positive reviews from test areas in other parts of the country. Warning Coordination Meteorologist for the Birmingham office emphasizes that the change is in the wording only, not in warning philosophy. While counties served the Birmingham and Huntsville offices will begin using the new warnings April 1st, Alabama counties served by the Mobile and Tallahassee offices are set to come on board in September.
Child Abuse Prevention
The Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention will be participating in April's National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The department also known as the Children's Trust Fund uses April as the kick-off to their annual grant application process. Last year, nearly 140 agencies statewide received funding to aid in preventing child abuse; grant applications will be available online at ctf.alabama.gov starting April 1st. Funding is through a competitive grant process. The deadline for applications is May 8th.
Prosecutorial Misconduct
Lawyers for indicted Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard are asking a judge to dismiss the case on claims of prosecutorial misconduct. In the court filing, defense lawyers accused Deputy Attorney General Matt Hart of making threats to ruin Hubbard's political career. Defense lawyers also accused Hart of leaking information to the media. Hubbard lawyer Mark White called prosecutors' behavior "shocking" and inappropriate. The attorney general's office declined to comment.