🌱 Montgomery M Transit Expansion + Local Arrested For Fatal Shooting

Morning, friends! It's me, Rose Mendez, your host of the Patch newsletter. Keep reading to find out the most important things happening around town.

But first, your local weather:

• Thursday: Sunny, pleasant and warmer. High: 86 Low: 58.
• Friday: Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 83 Low: 59.

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Here are the top three stories in Montgomery today:

1. On May 23, Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed announced the City of Montgomery will spend about $6.5 million to expand the M Transit system. There are already five new 26-passenger buses, two 20-passenger buses, and three new microtransit executive-style shuttles in the new fleet. Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed said, "We believe public transportation is important because it serves as the biggest economic inhibitor of those who are trying to get from one level economically to the next." (Montgomery Advertiser)
2. The Montgomery Police Department's Special Operations Division arrested 27-year-old Travontaye Rudolph of Montgomery in connection to a July 2022 homicide. Rudolph allegedly fatally shot 19-year-old David Werking, of Montgomery, on Jul. 12, 2022, near the intersection of Perry Hill Road and Atlanta Highway. The suspect faces charges of capital murder and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm. (WSFA)
3. On May 23, Governor Kay Ivey and other officials dedicated Montgomery’s newest parking deck to Kelly Butler, the state finance director in 2018. Kelly retired in 2021 after being diagnosed with ALS and now works to help others defeat Lou Gehrig’s disease. The Kelly Butler Parking Deck is located behind the Folsom Administration Building at the corner of Ripley Street and Monroe Street. (WSFA)

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Today and tomorrow in Montgomery:

Thursday, May 25

• Anime/Manga Club Finale At Juliette Hampton Morgan Library (2:30 PM)
• Karaoke Thursdays At GTSouth Geek & Gaming Tavern (7:00 PM)

Friday, May 26

• Red Bluff Music & Arts Festival Pre-Party With All Star Jam At Red Bluff Bar at the Silos (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• On Friday, May 19, Mary Louise Smith and her family were honored for their legacy of activism with a new plaque in Montgomery. As a teenager, Smith refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus, just weeks before Rosa Parks' arrest. (Southern Poverty Law Center via Twitter)
• Montgomery community leaders celebrated the first major upgrade to Montgomery's transit system in over a decade! View the link to see the brand-new fleet of buses and shuttles. (City of Montgomery via Twitter)
• The Montgomery Police Department Recruiting Bureau is hosting a virtual lunch and learn on Friday, May 26 at 12:00 p.m. Learn about the hiring process, job requirements, civilian opportunities, and more. (Montgomery Police Department via Twitter)

That's it for today. See you all soon for another update!

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!