 BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT | Staff writer Before the abuse, before the threats, before he committed "suicide by cops," Randall Craig Bass was a loving father and husband of almost three decades, his ex-wife said. But then he got addicted to methamphetamines, she said, and it changed him entirely. The tragic story of Bass — and the family he left behind — opens a window into the devastating toll of domestic violence and drug addiction, both of which have risen sharply in recent years.
Jay Bramblet grew up in Tuscaloosa, surrounded by Alabama fans. One of his brothers pitched for the Crimson Tide in baseball, and another worked for the football team in college. On Saturday, he'll take the field for LSU in a hugely anticipated game against Alabama. Here's the journey the punter took to get to Baton Rouge, and how he's gearing up for "the game that I came here for."
'Cruel and unusual punishment' and 'mental torture.' That's how a federal judge described a Louisiana prison's treatment of inmates with mental illness. The judge ruled that the prison's lockdown conditions violated constitutional rights. Here's an explanation of her ruling. | 
