Woman Charged With Financial And Identity Crimes + 'Test To Stay'

Happy Saturday, neighbors! Let's get this day started off right. Here's everything going on today in Montgomery.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and humid. High: 83 Low: 69.

Here are the top stories today in Montgomery and surrounding communities:

1. Montgomery woman Kari Oates has been accused of multiple financial and identity crimes. She was charged with 10 counts of illegal possession of a credit card, seven counts of third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, two counts of identity theft, and one count of trafficking stolen identities. Montgomery Police took Oates into custody on Tuesday. She is being held in the Montgomery County Detention Center with bail set at $270,000.(WFSA 12 News)
2. The Alabama Department of Public Health has modified its guidance to include a new “Test to Stay” quarantine model. The change now allows students and staff who have been deemed a close contact to return to school after eight days of quarantine if they are able to present a negative PCR test. Previously, people who were exposed in school had to quarantine for at least 10 days but did not have to show test results. Voluntary testing in schools provided by the University of Alabama at Birmingham and ADPH began this week in Montgomery Public Schools with the goal of limiting disruptions to in-person learning. According to State Superintendent Eric Mackey, over 100 schools have elected to participate. (AL.com)
3. Alabama's final two-cent gas hike went into effect on Friday, with funds going toward statewide road improvement projects. (AL.com)
4. Faulkner University’s Annual Benefit Dinner featuring former Vice President Mike Pence is completely sold out. (Alabama Political Reporter)
5. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff football team dropped a conference matchup to Prairie View A&M on Thursday night at Panther Stadium. (Delta Plex News)

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You're all caught up for today. I'll be in your inbox Monday morning with a new update! If you're loving these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Samantha Friedlander

About me: Samantha Friedlander is an avid reader and writer who loves storytelling. She is a freelance writer for the content creation agency Lightning Media Partners and assists Patch.com with community newsletter curation. She has a dual degree in English and Psychology.