EJ Bradford Lawsuit; Shelby Co. Murder-Suicide: The Week In News

BIRMINGHAM, AL — Some hisotry was made in Jefferson County this week when the Jefferson County school system appointed Dr. Walter Gonsoulin to superintendent, the first African American to hold the position in the system's history.

As well, a new arrest was made in the kidnapping of Homewood resident Aniah Blanchard, the family of EJ Bradford filed a civil rights suit against Hoover and a runoff for a Birmingham City Council seat was completed.

Here are some of the stories that made headlines on Patch this past week:

2 Dead In Murder-Suicide Incident In Shelby County

Two men are dead after an apparent murder-suicide incident at the Brook Highland apartments in Shelby County.

Alexander Wins Re-Election In District 7 Runoff

Wardine Alexander, the incumbent District 7 representative in the Birmingham City Council, won her bid for re-election Tuesday night. Alexander defeated challenger Ray Brooks in a runoff, getting 859 votes to Brooks' 751.

Walter Gonsoulin Named Jefferson County Superintendent

The Jefferson County Board of Education approved the permanent hire of Dr. Walter Gonsoulin as superintendent, making him the first African American to head the system in its 120-year history.

EJ Bradford's Family To File Civil Rights Suit 1 Year After Death

Bradford's family, along with attorney Benjamin Crump and a team of additional attorneys, held a press conference at Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham on Friday to address the family's search for justice, and to discuss a lawsuit the family plans to file against the Hoover Police Department and other pending defendants. The lawsuit will be considered a federal civil rights lawsuit.

Second Arrest Made In Aniah Blanchard Disappearance

A second person has been arrested in connection with the disappearance of 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard, the Homewood woman who was a student at Southern Union State Community College and has been missing for a month.