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Copper Top shooting suspect's trial to begin

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- It was almost a year ago, an armed man walked through the streets of Tuscaloosa on a shooting rampage, injuring more than a dozen people. Today, the trial begins for that suspect.

Court documents show today is the day Nathan Wilkins is set to begin trial in last summer's mass shooting in downtown Tuscaloosa that left at least 17 people injured.

Just last week, this case took a strange turn. Nathan Wilkins wrote a letter to the judge in the case asking for the death penalty and apologizing to everyone he hurt. Because no one died in the shooting, Wilkins does not qualify for the death penalty. In the letter, Wilkins says he never liked hearing about other criminals who would live in prison the rest of their lives, supported by taxpayers.

Wilkins has blamed prescription sleeping pills for what happened and he says he wishes this incident would bring attention to that issue.

Your week in review: May 3

Your week in review: May 3

(RNN) - Police said they arrested three people in connection with the Boston Marathon bombing attacks. Two of the students were roommates with Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the surviving suspect in the attacks. Azamat Tazhayakov and Dias Kadyrbayev, from Kazakhstan, were charged with obstruction of justice. Robel Phillipos, a U.S. citizen, was charged with making a false statement. Officials do not believe they helped planning the attack, but that they tried to cover up the crime after the fact.

NBA player Jason Collins has come out, saying he is gay. He is the first active openly gay athlete in the NBA.

'Puppy break' helps UA students de-stress from finals

UA students meet one of Hand in Paw's therapy dogs on campus. Source: Kelvin Reynolds

TUSCALOOSA, AL (WBRC)- After hours of studying for intense exams, college students are usually extra stressed by the time finals week rolls around.

Some students turn to extra caffeine and others pull all-nighters before crashing once tests are over. But a group called Hand in Paw is hoping to change some of those unhealthy end of the semester habits by bringing therapy dogs to campus.

Hand in Paw held one of their "Puppy Breaks" at the University of Alabama on Friday, May 3, the last day of final exams. The program, which aims to reduce stress among students and even help improve test scores, has already visited the campuses of the University of Montevallo, Samford, UAB and Birmingham-Southern.

"Spending just a few minutes petting a friendly animal can calm nerves in the midst of a stressful time," Liz Wilson, Hand in Paw interim director, said.

Families fight to save Tuscaloosa nursing home

Source: WBRC video

TUSCALOOSA, AL (WBRC)- Several families in Tuscaloosa are fighting to keep open a nursing home that may be shut down soon.

The families want a judge to grant a temporary restraining order to keep the facility open past the end of May.

The company that operates Martinview Assisted Living says their landlord refuses to sign another lease agreement with the company.

Without a building, they can't care for their residents. All of the residents are elderly and many suffer from Alzheimer's.

Attorneys for the caregivers say they had to let those families know what was happening and to find other facilities for their loved ones to go.

Carol Gartman's parents live in Martinview. Her attorneys want a judge to consider how moving those residents could impact their health.

UA to hold spring commencement May 3-4

TUSCALOOSA, AL (WBRC)- The University of Alabama will hold their spring commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4.

The schedule is as follows:

6 p.m. Friday: College of Commerce and Business Administration, College of Engineering

9 a.m. Saturday: Capstone College of Nursing, College of Communication and Information Sciences, College of Education and College of Human Environmental Sciences

1:30 p.m. Saturday: School of Social Work, College of Arts and Sciences

5 p.m. Saturday: School of Law

All of the commencement ceremonies will be streamed over the internet and available on UA's website here: http://www.ua.edu/commencement

The graduation ceremonies will be archived and available for viewing on the website throughout May.

New coffee house opens in Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center

The first cups of coffee are being served from Patriot Brew, a coffee house that opened Thursday in the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center. Source: Kelvin Reynolds

TUSCALOOSA, AL (WBRC)- A new coffee house serving Starbucks coffee and other specialty drinks opened Thursday inside the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

The grand opening for Patriot Brew was celebrated at 10:30 a.m. The coffee shop is located in the Community Center Building 145. Patriot Brew will be under the management of the same staff members who manage the cafeteria, barber shop and retail store at the VAMC, which are open to the public.

In addition to Patriot Brew's grand opening, an exhibit created by University of Alabama students also opened Thursday morning inside the Community Center. The exhibit resulted from a project between UA Interior Design students and veterans at the medical center.

"We are honored to open Patriot Brew proudly serving Starbucks products for our veterans, staff and visitors," Damon Stevenson, public affairs officer at the Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, said.

Food fight places Tuscaloosa high school on lockdown

Source: WBRC video

TUSCALOOSA, AL (WBRC)- A high school in Tuscaloosa County was placed on lockdown while officials responded to a pre-planned food fight among students.

Between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. a group of students at Paul W. Bryant High School started a food fight inside the school, Leslie Bruinton, a spokesperson for Tuscaloosa County Schools, said.

The students allegedly brought water, flour, eggs and pickles from home to be used in two separate food fights. They also set off firecrackers at the school.

No one was injured in the disturbance, but one student was arrested for disorderly conduct.

Police officers and school administrators took control of the situation after placing the school on "code yellow" lockdown.

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