Turkey hunter shot by friends in Alabama
GADSDEN, Ala. - Sheriff's officials in western Alabama say a man who was shot during a hunting trip has been hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Sheriff's spokeswoman Natalie Barton told the Gadsden Times the 26-year-old man was turkey hunting with friends near Ball Play on Tuesday morning when he was shot. Barton said he suffered wounds to his face and chest.
Sheriff Todd Entrekin said his department and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources are investigating the shooting. It's unclear whether charges are expected to be filed.
About 12,000 use online voter tools
ATLANTA - State officials say nearly 12,000 people have taken advantage of Georgia's new online voter system, either registering for the upcoming May 20 primary or updating their information.
Secretary of State Brian Kemp said Tuesday that it was "enormously gratifying" that so many Georgia residents took advantage of the new system, which was launched three weeks ago.
Kemp said about 6,800 new voters used the system to register, while about 5,000 already-registered voters accessed the system to update their information.
The system is available online or through the "My Voter Page" mobile app. Monday was the deadline to register to vote in the May 20 primary. The deadline to register for the general election is Oct. 6.
College opens aquaponics lab
CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Cleveland State Community College recently implemented a year-round aquaponics teaching lab in the Cleveland/Bradley Innovation Center. The lab will be used by students in the college's Environmental Science and Wildlife Fisheries classes.
Aquaponics is the combination of hydroponics and aquaculture, or fish and plants, in recirculating systems. The project involves tanks stocked with tilapia, bluegill, catfish and other fish species and vegetables, such as lettuce, herbs and peppers, grown in 8-foot tanks.
The lab was built entirely by students, who will receive stipends for working there, feeding and harvesting fish and cultivating vegetables.
Family, staff ties affect Barron case
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Two of the three appeals court judges who stepped aside from former Sen. Lowell Barron's case say they did it because of family or staff ties to Barron and co-defendant Jill Johnson.
Three of the five judges on the Court of Criminal Appeals recused themselves Monday without giving reasons. On Tuesday, two followed up with explanations.
Judge Liles Burke wrote that his father's wife, Sharon Barron Burke, was previously married to Barron, and his two step-siblings are Barron's children.
Judge Michael Joiner says his senior staff attorney's cousin was married to Barron for many years and his senior staff attorney's brother is Johnson's lawyer.
Barron and Johnson face six charges accusing them of misusing $58,000 in campaign donations to Barron's unsuccessful re-election campaign in 2010.