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President Barack Obama says the terror probe into suspicious packages believed to be linked to a plot by Yemen's al-Qaida branch is a "credible terrorist threat." The president spoke at the White House about the discovery of two packages headed for the United States -- one in England and one in Dubai. Both originated in Yemen, and Obama says both appeared to contain explosives. ...Read more

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Gov. Bob Riley has declared all 67 Alabama counties to be under a drought.  Riley said 23 of those are under "drought warning," which is one step below the most several drought level.  Those counties are: Barbour, Calhoun, Chambers, Chilton, Choctaw, Clarke, Clay, Cleburne, Coffee, Coosa, Dale, Dallas, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Marengo, Monroe, Pike, Randolph, Talladega, Tallapoosa, Washington, and Wilcox. The remaining counties are under a drought watch.  Riley said the state is reeling from a very little rain since the spring. ...Read more

The former Alabama two-year college chancellor admitted in testimony that he knew he acted illegally in letting a contractor pay for construction costs on a house he was building in Opelika.  The Birmingham News reports that Roy Johnson testified Thursday in the federal bribery trial of Tuscaloosa contractor Roger Taylor.  Taylor is on trial on charges he bribed Johnson by paying about $92,000 in construction costs on Johnson's home in exchange for favorable treatment on bids to do work on more than a dozen community college projects from 2003-2005.  Johnson pleaded guilty in ...Read more

It's been a little more than two weeks since a fire tore through the Turning Point shelter. Officials say the home is being gutted and undergoing renovations. Board President John Mize said it will take tens of thousands of dollars to make repairs.  And that's where the public can help. All you have to do is pick up the phone and call (205) 758-0808.  To learn more about Turning Point, which helps victims of domestic violence, click on our numbers and links page.
     
Janie Wallace, WVUA News
October 28, 2010
5:45 ...Read more

There were some scary moments Thursday when a child was hit by a truck in Tuscaloosa County. According to the Tuscaloosa County School System, it happened on Covered Bridge Road, near Highway 11. County Schools spokesman John Merrill said the eighth grader at Brookwood Middle School was waiting on the bus near her home, when her dog ran into the road. She followed the dog, trying to catch it and didn't see an oncoming pick-up truck. Merrill said the driver of the truck couldn't avoid her and hit her. ...Read more

A Tuscaloosa county man is accused of shooting his child with a B.B. gun. Lewis Terrence Brown is charged with torture and willful abuse of a child.  According to Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ted Sexton, an 8-year-old boy told a school official his father had punished him by shooting at him with a B.B. ...Read more

Tuscaloosa Police are searching for two men wanted in connection with a robbery. ...Read more

Agents with the West Alabama Narcotics Task Force are still looking for 17 suspects from a recent narcotics roundup. The suspects listed below are still wanted on various drug charges, and agents are looking for any information on their locations. ...Read more

Democratic Nominee for Alabama Governor Ron Sparks stumped for votes in Tuscaloosa Wednesday. Sparks stopped by the Tuscaloosa County Democratic headquarters.  WVUA asked him about his plans leading up to Tuesday's election. He said over the next few days, he will be spreading the message about how important it is to cast your vote.  "Our plan is to get out the vote, you know, tell the people the message and energize our voters and get them out to the polls," Sparks said. "And tell 'em how critical it is to go to the polls. ...Read more

Authorities have identified the suspect wanted in connection with the murder of a Tuscaloosa woman. Tuscaloosa Metro Homicide Captain Loyd Baker says investigators are searching for 30-year-old Elllis Lamont Patton of Tuscaloosa.  Baker said Patton is wanted in connection with the death of Angela Quick Lavender. Her body was found inside her apartment at University Manor complex Tuesday morning. Baker said Lavender was assaulted and then killed. A friend who was staying with Lavender was sexually assaulted.  "We actually found a surveillance vide ...Read more