BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Authorities in Alabama have released the identity of a man who died after being assaulted during a carjacking and run over by an off-duty officer.

Al.com reports Birmingham police say 40-year-old Jerand Deon Jackson was killed early Wednesday. It's unclear if he died from injuries sustained in the carjacking or when the officer ran him over.

PERDIDO KEY, Fla. (AP) — An overnight fire near the Alabama-Florida state line has destroyed multiple condominiums near the beach at Perdido Key.

News outlets report a blaze broke out early Wednesday at a development within yards of the Flora-Bama bar. People reportedly ran from the nightspot to a Key Harbour condo building to warn people to get out.

The blaze spread to another condominium development and a house, which was still burning around sunrise. Videos show the night sky near Old River turned orange by the flames.

ATHENS, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama man has posted a video denying he fed methamphetamine to a so-called "attack squirrel" that he calls a pet.

Police are searching for Mickey Paulk on drug and other charges after claiming they found a caged squirrel during a search. Authorities tell news outlets the squirrel was given meth so it would be aggressive.

ATHENS, Ala. (AP) — Alabama investigators say a man kept a caged "attack squirrel" in his apartment and fed it methamphetamine to ensure it stayed aggressive.

The News Courier reports authorities are seeking 35-year-old Mickey Paulk on multiple charges including possession of a controlled substance.

Law enforcement was warned of the animal prior to executing a search warrant of the Athens home Monday.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — One prison inmate was stabbed to death by another over the weekend, state officials said Monday in Alabama, where high rates of prison violence have recently been criticized by the U.S. Justice Department.

Alabama Department of Corrections spokesman Bob Horton said in a news release that 29-year-old Jeremy Reshad Bailey was fatally wounded Saturday at Fountain Correctional Facility in Atmore, which is near the Florida line.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A new report shows that the well-being of Alabama's children has failed to keep pace with the rest of the country.

The report released Monday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation ranks Alabama 44th in the nation in the quality of life it provides for its children.

The annual ranking measures states on 16 indicators from 2017 data covering topics like health, education and economic well-being.

Alabama stayed the same or improved in all indicators, but its ranking still dropped because other states improved at a faster pace.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama's Department of Environmental Management isn't messing around when it comes to recycling.

AL.Com reports Alabama recycled more than 25% of its generated trash in 2018, setting a new record.

Alabama will require some sex offenders whose crimes involve children to take chemical castration medication during parole, a requirement that has prompted some legal concerns and appears to be rarely used in some states that allow it. 

The law will require sex offenders whose crimes involved children under 13 to receive the medication that is supposed to lower sex drive. A judge would decide when they could stop.

At least seven other states allow chemical treatments to reduce male testosterone for certain sex offenders, but the procedure appears rarely used.

There have been several reports of alligators in north Alabama in recent weeks, including in the Tennessee River. 

The Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office reported that an alligator was recently spotted by a man walking on a county road.

In Decatur, parks and recreation officials warned residents to be on alert after a gator was spotted near walking trails at Point Mallard State Park.

Reports of sightings in the Tennessee River are not unprecedented.