These briefs from around the state

OPELIKA, Ala. (AP) &8212; An East Alabama man accused of killing an Auburn University freshman in March has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect to three capital murder charges and a robbery charge.

23-year-old Courtney Lockhart of Smiths Station was in an Opelika, Ala., courtroom Wednesday afternoon for an arraignment.

The student, 18-year-old Lauren Burk of Marietta, Ga., was slain March 4th. Authorities allege that Lockhart abducted Burk from the Auburn campus, then robbed and shot her.

LOXLEY, Ala. (AP) &8212; Five Girl Scouts were injured in a traffic accident on a South Alabama interstate. State trooper Corporal Joe Pigott, a spokesman, said the girls were passengers in a van that hit a guardrail on Interstate 10 near Loxley.

The crash occurred Wednesday evening at about 6:30 p.m.

All were transported to the University of South Alabama Medical Center, including two by helicopter. According to the Press-Register, a nursing supervisor said two girls were listed in serious condition. No information was immediately available on the conditions of three other girls.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) &8212; Baseball legend Hank Aaron will be back in his home state later this month to do two fundraisers for Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Vivian Davis Figures.

Figures said the former Atlanta Braves slugger will do fundraising receptions June 26 in Huntsville and June 27 in Birmingham.

Figures said she became friends with the Mobile native when she served on the Mobile City Council and got it to name Mobile’s Double A baseball stadium in honor of the hometown hero.