Local News

Click here for a slideshow of photos from the local July 4 celebrations.

House fire under investigation

By restructuring some administrative positions in the central office for Lee County Schools, Superintendent Dr. Stephen Nowlin has reduced annual costs and added three new assistant superintendents.
Nowlin said he saw an opportunity to save some money after a number of vacancies occurred in the office. By reorganizing administrative responsibilities, he said he eliminated 6.5 positions, added three new ones, and saved the school system $220,000 annually.

GULF SHORES, Ala. (AP) — One of the Alabama’s attractions that was destroyed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 is finally getting back in business. State Conservation Commissioner Barnett Lawley say the new fishing pier at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores will open July 23. Gov. Bob Riley is scheduled to cut the ribbon at 9 a.m.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Police Chief A.C. Roper says two Birmingham police supervisors have been suspended in connection with the 2008 police beating of an already-unconscious suspect that was captured on videotape.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A Montgomery Zoo veterinarian says the final necropsy reports show the deaths of a 23-year-old African elephant and her 1-month-old calf were not related to breeding elephants in zoos, a conclusion that critics dispute.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — HealthSouth Corp. is accusing fired chief executive Richard Scrushy of hiding money in offshore bank accounts and transferring assets out of his name to avoid paying court judgments.

Chewacla State Park was busy Friday with a steady stream of visitors taking advantage of the long Fourth of July weekend to commune with nature. A number of locals and out-of-state folks gathered at the park’s campsites and picnic tables. Some were reading books while sitting in the sun, and others were hanging out with friends and family, including their canine pals.

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Huntsville is growing faster than Alabama’s three other major cities. New Census estimates released Thursday show Huntsville’s population has jumped to an estimated 176,645 people. That’s a growth of more than 18,000 residents since 2000.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Squeezed by a tight budget, the University of Alabama is ending an alliance with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival that has produced actors, stage managers and designers for Broadway and Hollywood. This weekend, the class of 2009 will become the final group to complete the University of Alabama-ASF Professional Actor Training/Master of Fine Arts program.

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Corey Carter could hear snippets of music in his head — a calm and subtle melody that hadn’t found its shape. The 19-year-old college student simply needed a hero to visualize before he could finish his composition for wind ensemble. He found inspiration in an unexpected place. And instead of a hero, he found a heroine.

CROPWELL, Ala. (AP) — Jerry and Carolyn Wallace are living the American dream. Retired, they have a place on Lake Logan Martin where they don’t cut grass or work in the yard. Their home is a popular gathering place for their two children and five grandchildren. It’s just like the couple always dreamed.

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. (AP) — Jacksonville State is finding out that there are unexpected costs in aiming for big-time college football. The university faces about $5.25 million in unexpected construction costs related to a major expansion of its football stadium, and some students fear they’ll be paying for it with tuition increases.

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — A South Korean company says Alabama is one of five states it is considering for an electric vehicle manufacturing plant that will create 2,600 jobs over the next five years.

BILOXI, Miss. (AP) — Marine biologists are studying how artificial reefs may help restore red snapper numbers. The study is being conducted by Mississippi State University’s Forest and Wildlife Research Center and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — State Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks fashioned a campaign platform for governor that calls for taxes on the gambling industry and the creation of a state lottery to provide tax cuts for Alabama families and college scholarships for their children. At a news conference Thursday, the Democratic candidate said Alabama politicians must quit ignoring the expanding gambling industry in the state and start taxing the games.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama’s maximum weekly unemployment benefit is going up $10 for people who file new claims starting Sunday. State Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees said the maximum benefit will go from $255 a week to $265 a week. The increase is the second of two that the Legislature approved last year.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — An Anniston architect pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of aiding and abetting the obstruction of justice in the two-year colleges corruption case and will spend six months in home confinement.

The two candidates contending to be the next police chief in Valley plan to use their experiences and leadership skills to improve the morale of the police department and repair its tarnished relationship with the community.

More jobs will be coming to Briggs & Stratton’s Auburn location as part of a consolidation of the company’s home power products group, according to a company spokeswoman.