NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Tennessee Supreme Court has begun a program to make videos of oral arguments in Nashville available to the public.
The program started last week, and the court says video will be available on the tncourts.gov website 21 days after arguments.
The court said in a news release that oral arguments have always been open to the public, although it’s difficult for some people to attend a live court session. Audio recordings of oral arguments have been posted on the website since 2013.
The court said video will give lawyers, students and others a better idea of how the court and lawyers interact during oral arguments.
Chief Justice Jeff Bivins said in the release that the court is committed to allowing the public to see its process and decisions.
Man charged in crash dies in another one
CULLMAN, Ala. – Alabama authorities say a man who was charged in a crash that killed the daughter of a state representative and police official has died in another wreck.
State Law Enforcement Agency Senior Trooper Chuck Daniel tells news outlets 33-year-old Brandon Adam Hamm died Monday morning at a Huntsville hospital from injuries he suffered during the single-vehicle crash. Troopers say his vehicle hit a tree Sunday morning.
Hamm was indicted on a manslaughter charge in the February collision that killed Mortimer Jordan High School volleyball coach 31-year-old Kelsey Treadaway, the daughter of Alabama District 51 Rep. and Birmingham Police Assistant Chief Allen Treadaway.
Troopers say Treadaway was traveling on a highway near Good Hope when her car was struck from behind by Hamm’s pickup.
Hamm had a January court appearance scheduled.
Cops say police chief touched self at resort
LEVEL PLAINS, Ala. – Authorities say a police chief of a small Alabama city has been placed on leave without pay after police in Florida say he was touching himself improperly at a beach resort.
Panama City, Florida, police say several guests reported 44-year-old Billy Driggers had his hand down his shorts while riding in an elevator with women and children.
Police said in a statement surveillance video matched the reports, and Driggers also was taking photos of teenage girls rinsing off in showers just off the beach.
Driggers was charged with four counts of disorderly conduct.
Level Plains Mayor Bruce Grantham told media outlets Driggers was arrested last week at the police station in the Dale County city and was placed on leave without pay.
It wasn’t known if Driggers had a lawyer.
Two wounded in shooting after football game
BROWNSVILLE, Tenn. – Police say two people have been wounded in a shooting after a high school football game in Tennessee.
The Jackson Sun reports a 16-year-old suspect in the Friday shooting at Haywood High School was arrested on charges including criminal attempt to commit first-degree murder. Brownsville police say Demetrius Harper and Cameshia Murphy were treated and released.
Police Chief Barry Diebold has credited a local U.S. Army veteran’s quick thinking for stopping the shooting.
Veteran Patrick Shields was there to watch his son play in the game. He says he heard gunshots and saw “the flame coming out of a pistol, and a bunch of the kids were running toward us.”
Shields said he forced the shooter to the ground, where the boy was then handcuffed by responding police.
Police: Train strikes, kills man in Georgia
RICHMOND HILL, Ga. – Police say a train struck and killed a man while he was walking on the tracks.
WTOC-TV reports 20-year-old Steven Vega Maldonado was struck and killed by a train on Sunday in Richmond Hill, Georgia.
The train’s conductor tried to warn Maldonado as it approached, but he did not respond to the warning. Richmond Hill police spokesman Lt. Brad Sykes says earbuds were found in the area.
Cpt. Brendon Greene says people should take precautions when they’re walking and operating around railroad tracks because it can be very dangerous.