On this date in 2003, 20 years ago now, State Chief Justice Roy Moore was suspended when he defied a federal court order to remove a rock inscribed with the Ten Commandments from the Alabama Supreme Court building.

Today we have news updates on eastern equine encephalitis, Darius Miles in court, a big amateur golf win and changes to some prep football kickoffs.

Ike Morgan

Mosquito danger

Two cases of eastern equine encephalitis — one fatal — have turned up in Spanish Fort, reports AL.com’s John Sharp.

The virus, which is transmitted by mosquito bites, is extremely rare. There was only one case in the U.S. last year and only eight previous cases in Alabama in the past 20 years. But the CDC tells us that around one out of every three infected people die from it.

So while it’s not something to worry yourself sick about, it’s definitely worth taking the usual anti-mosquito precautions.

Use repellent, keep the screen door shut, dump the water out of the old tires you keep in the backyard for beautification purposes, and wear long sleeves and pants if you can stand it.

In the Spanish Fort area, where the recent encephalitis cases occurred, you might see mosquito traps that’ve been set out. Those are for testing mosquitoes to see whether there continues to be any spread.

If convicted …

Former University of Alabama basketball player Darius Miles, if convicted of capital murder, could face life in prison without the possibility of parole. But the state is not seeking the death penalty, reports AL.com’s Matt Stahl.

Remember, it was Miles’ friend Michael Davis who is accused of firing the gun and killing Jamea Harris in January near The Strip in Tuscaloosa. Miles is accused of providing the gun. In Alabama, you don’t have to be the guy who pulled the trigger to face full punishment for a murder if you took part in it.

The prosecution stated its decision to not seek the death penalty in a notice at the Tuscaloosa County Sixth Judicial Court on Monday. Miles’ defense team is seeking pre-trial immunity on the grounds of self-defense.

Just like Tiger

When Nick Dunlap won the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship this past weekend at Cherry Hills Country Club in Colorado, he put himself into a footnote with one of the game’s greats.

Dunlap is a sophomore at the University of Alabama, and he’s from Huntsville. He led the Tide during his freshman season with an average round of 70.35.

AL.com’s Nick Alavarez reports that with Sunday’s win in the U.S. Amateur, Dunlap joined Tiger Woods as the only male golfers to win that tournament and the U.S. Junior Championship. It also qualified him for the 2024 Masters, U.S. Open and Open Championship.

Heat wave and football

It’s so hot outside that Vulcan’s fashion choices are looking more and more reasonable.

As the “heat dome” covers up Alabama again this week, we’re expecting the year’s highest temperatures. And they happen to be coming on the same week as the high school football season openers.

If you plan on heading out to a ballgame Friday night, make sure you watch your school’s announcements for possible changes to the kickoff time. Some are expected to move games from 7 p.m. to 7:30 so it might be a few degrees cooler come game time.

More Alabama news

On the calendar

Through Sunday: Sidewalk Film Festival

Technically, opening night is Friday in downtown Birmingham. But “Spotlight Night” events will be taking place all week long at the Sidewalk Film Center and Cinema.

Monday’s quiz results

Recently a patient at UAB survived seven days with a transplanted kidney that came from …

• a pig (CORRECT) 91%
• a 3-D printer in Huntsville 6%
• a baboon 1%
• a gorilla 1%

Germany-based Aldi just purchased which grocery chain?

• Winn-Dixie (CORRECT) 93%
• Piggly Wiggly 6%
• Kroger 1%
• Publix 0%

The sharecropping family that hopped trains to California in the early 1930s and later became a pioneering country-music act were known as:

• The Carter Family 70%
• Maddox Brothers and Rose (CORRECT) 23%
• Pinkard & Bowden 4%
• The Secret Sisters 3%

State Sen. Tim Melson recently returned home after having a health issue in what foreign country?

• South Korea (CORRECT) 89%
• Ukraine 7%
• Costa Rica 4%
• New Jersey 0%

What Alabama city recently was ranked third on a national list of the most picturesque small towns?

• Orange Beach (CORRECT) 59%
• Eufala 27%
• Fort Payne 13%
• Opp 1%

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