Alabama troopers set special holiday patrols

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama’s state troopers will be conducting special enforcement operations during the busy Fourth of July weekend.

State Public Safety Director Chris Murphy says that includes checkpoints and speeding details.

The 78-hour holiday weekend runs from 6 p.m. Thursday to midnight Sunday. Murphy says 16 people lost their lives during the same holiday weekend a year ago. At least three of those deaths were alcohol-related, and 11 victims were not using seat belts.