Kayla Smith

1 week ago | whnt.com | Kayla Smith

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — A mother who has waited years for justice after her daughter was killed in a 2021 crash by an accused drunk driver says a chapter is closing on the case. 24-year-old Hannah Parton and 47-year-old Arlene Velasquez were killed in the crash. “You know, she just was that soft-natured young lady that wanted everyone to do well,” Sheila Smith said about her daughter Hannah. Smith said the families waited almost a year to see movement in the case.

1 week ago | whnt.com | StormSolymallshop Now |Kayla Smith

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Community leaders said they wanted to take Juneteenth as an opportunity to educate. Juneteenth celebrations commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S., honoring the day a group of enslaved people heard the news of emancipation after the end of the Civil War. “Its very important now that we understand the past, not to hurt anyone, not to shame anyone, but to help us all to go forward,” said Karockas “Doc Rock” Watkins, the event’s moderator.

1 week ago | whnt.com | Kayla Smith

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The federal budget bill championed by President Trump is before the U.S. Senate, and it could include changes to Medicaid that would prevent women from receiving early prenatal care provided by a state bill. In May, Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill that would speed up Medicaid access to pregnant mothers in Alabama. Rep. Marilyn Lands said the goal of that bill was to get pregnant mothers in front of doctors faster.

2 weeks ago | whnt.com | Rebecca Teutsch |Kayla Smith

DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — Opening statements began Tuesday in the trial of Brian Mann, the Decatur chiropractor accused of attempting to poison his wife in September 2022. Mann has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder. Mann and his wife were in the middle of a divorce when he “intentionally caused her to unwittingly ingest particles of lead,” according to court documents. Court records said Mann’s wife spent two months in the hospital because of the lead poisoning.

2 weeks ago | whnt.com | Kayla Smith

DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) — The trial of Brian Mann, the Decatur chiropractor accused of attempting to poison his wife, began Monday. Mann has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder. 30 potential jurors were questioned, and attorneys narrowed the pool to 12 and two alternates. The alternate jurors will not be identified until the jury is ready to deliberate.