Today is National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day. It was today in 1942 that the Imperial Japanese began transferring American and Filipino POWs via the 65-mile Bataan Death March that led to the deaths of thousands.

And speaking of military service members: There’s a bill aimed at preventing suicides that was just signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey. More on that below.

More odd news from the City of Tarrant

If you think all Washington and Montgomery politics need is a little more nuttiness, then you might consider moving to Tarrant, Alabama.

We’ve chronicled issues between the mayor and the city council and other city officials. There have been firings, firings reversed, the insulting of spouses, punches thrown, lawsuits filed and a racial slur in the I-think-I-can-say-it-in-this-context kind of way.

We had AL.com’s Joseph D. Bryant on the show late last year to go over much of it with us.

Now, Bryant reported that Tarrant Police is investigating an incident caught on video in which it appears that city magistrate Tanilya Jackson pulls a gun out of her handbag during an exchange with another woman.

It should be noted that visitors and employees, including city magistrates, are prohibited from bringing firearms into public buildings in Tarrant. Police Chief Wendell Major, apparently seeing the handwriting on the wall, clarified that in a letter to city employees four years ago.

The argument between the two women happened March 28. The other woman was in for a traffic citation and has admitted that, after an argument took place with Jackson, she cussed and spat at the magistrate. She was arrested and, after she bonded out later that day, she saw Jackson in the parking lot, where the alleged brandishing took place.

A new suicide-prevention law

Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law the bill to encourage those having suicidal thoughts to temporarily give up their guns while they sort through their troubles, reports AL.com’s Heather Gann.

The Houston Hunter Act was from state Sen. Keith Kelley, an Anniston Republican. Houston Tumlin and Hunter Whitley — an Army soldier and a Marine, respectively — died by suicide after returning to Alabama. Their moms were at Ivey’s signing.

The law creates firearm hold agreements, under which gun owners hand over firearms to federally licensed gun dealers or law-enforcement officers. Dealers and officers return the firearms after an agreed-upon period of time without incurring civil liability.

The idea here is some suffering with PTSD or some other form of severe anxiety or depression might be more willing to give up their firearms to someone a little more removed personally who is bound to return it.

If anybody out there is going down that road and having dark thoughts, please call or text the suicide prevention line at 988. There are better times ahead when you and others will be so glad you stuck it out.

Overabundance of CHOOSErs

If participation numbers are a measure of the CHOOSE Act’s success, then supporters are doing end-zone dances on the fields of their choice.

As a matter of fact, there are far more students signed up than there are funded spots in the program.

The application deadline for Alabama’s latest school-choice program has come and gone and AL.com’s Rebecca Griesbach reports that 36,873 students have applied for 14,000 spots.

Under the Choose Act, families receive up to $7,000 in education savings accounts to use on private-school tuition or up to $2,000 per student for home-education expenses.

The state plans to prioritize the applications from students with disabilities, then military students and students from low-income homes. However, private schools still decide who they’ll admit.

An early release

Former state lawmaker John Rogers, who had been serving a 13-month sentence for his role in a kickback scheme to misuse public money, was released early this week, reports AL.com’s Hannah Denham and Joseph D. Bryant.

Rogers is 84 years old, and he was released after he had heart surgery.

Co-conspirator and fellow former state lawmaker Fred Plump also has been released from federal prison, records show.

More Alabama News

Born on This Date

In 1854, composer in the Sacred Harp tradition Seaborn McDaniel Denson of Arbacoochee.

In 1942, former Congressman Earl Hilliard of Birmingham.

In 1971, former NFL lineman Anthony Redmon of Brewton.

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