🌱 State Court Denies Conviction Appeal + DEI In Huntsville

Hey, friends! It's Monday in Huntsville and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening locally. Hope you all have a great day.

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But first, today's weather:

Cool with plenty of sunshine. High: 53 Low: 28.

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Here are the top four stories today in Huntsville:

1. On Mar. 17, the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals’ Judge Kellum upheld the murder conviction against former Huntsville nurse Marjorie Nicole “Nikki” Capello. Capello’s lawyers had appealed the initial judgment of the Madison County Circuit Court, issued in July of last year. Unless her defense team successfully appeals to the state Supreme Court, Capello will serve a life sentence for allegedly poisoning her husband, James Capello, with an overdose of insulin. (WHNT News 19)
2. A few neighborhoods over, members of the Madison Academy baseball team are bringing baseball equipment, expertise, and Christian charity to Honduras! Madison Academy, a Christian private school, helped to bring much-needed sports equipment to young baseball fans in Honduras, where standard athletic gear can be a rare luxury. The Academy mission trip brought student-athletes, their mentors, their families, and Santa Rosa, Honduras, locals together to celebrate both their faith and their shared love of the game, culminating in a two-day baseball camp for young people aged 6-15. (themadisonrecord.com)
3. Kenny Anderson, the Director of the City of Huntsville’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, spoke with CBS News 19’s Steve Johnson on Leadership Perspectives, to discuss what Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) really means, and what he does for the City of Huntsville. Anderson explained that diversity is how people are different from one another, and how DEI work encourages people to experience and celebrate those differences, to help communities grow, and offer the chance for people of all backgrounds to bring something unique to the place they call home. As the Director of the City of Huntsville’s DEI Office, Anderson works full-time to ensure fairness, opportunity, and conversation in Huntsville. The full exchange is available at the link. (WHNT News 19)
4. Celtic folk-inspired act Andrew’s Legend will be performing at Burritt on the Mountain on Mar. 28. For those unfamiliar, Burritt on the Mountain is a historic park, containing the 1938 mansion of Dr. William Burritt, as well as other attractions like hiking trails, a barnyard, and a blacksmith shop! Lawana Beard, a Celtic folk harpist, will open for Andrew’s Legend at 7 p.m. Advance tickets can be purchased at the Huntsville Traditional Music Association website for $10, and $12 at the door — and children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult! (Arts Huntsville via Facebook)

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Today in and around Huntsville:

• Stroller Tuesdays At Huntsville Botanical Garden (9:00 AM)
• 2023 Basic Excel For Small Business: Part 1 At Toyota Training Room, 3rd Floor Of Chamber Building (10:00 AM)
• Kendall Outdoors Ribbon Cutting At 14 Short St., Madison (12:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Five new homes are for sale in the Huntsville area. Prospective buyers looking to put down roots may be interested in these residential properties, going from $219,900 to $499,900! (Huntsville Patch)
• The Huntsville Ballet Company will be putting on performances of Cinderella this April! If you’re in the know, it’ll come as no surprise to you that Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev wrote the music in “Cinderella,” as well as “Romeo and Juliet,” and “Peter and the Wolf!” (Huntsville Ballet via Instagram)
• Maybe the ballet is a little posh for your taste. Not to worry! Instagram user @rocketcitymom delivers family event content with all sorts of goodies, including pics from Mar. 19’s Monster Jam monster truck show at the Huntsville Von Braun Center. (Family Fun In Huntsville, AL via Instagram)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Monday off right. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with another update!

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.