Tuskegee election lawsuit dismissed

Wednesday, June 19th, 2013, 12:30am

TUSKEGEE, AL (WSFA)- A judge has dismissed a lawsuit Tuesday contesting city council election results in Tuskegee, finding the plaintiffs did not prove their case.

The plaintiffs had allege fraud and irregularities in the August 2012 municipal election

"When you see things that aren't right, you have to say something or they will continue to happen," said Brooke Moore-White, a former candidate for City Council.

Moore-White and Voter Leon E. Frazier are plaintiffs in the suit, and argued they could prove people who live outside the city voted in the August election.

The allegations are significant because Ala Whitehead won the District Two race by only three votes. The plaintiffs alleged the combination of votes that were illegal and legal votes that were not counted would change the outcome of the race.

The judge disagreed, and Whitehead sounded relieved after the trial was over.

View Comments | Post a Comment

AL divided up into 5 new Medicaid recipient regions

Submitted by WSFA 12 News Staff

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013, 7:17am

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA)- Alabama's Public Health Officer unveiled the new map for Medicaid recipients in the state.

The state will be divided into five regions. Each region has a different cost per Medicaid recipient, and no two regions are the same size.

"This isn't a perfect map" Dr. Don Williamson, Alabama's Public Health Officer said. "I hope that everyone is equally unhappy."

Each region, currently referred to as A, B, C, D and E, will have at least one Regional Care Organization, or RCO operating within it. The Medicaid reform law that the Alabama Legislature passed last month allows for more than one RCO to operate in a given region.

[DOCUMENT: The 5 Regions (.pdf)]

View Comments | Post a Comment

Heavy delays on I-85 NB just inside Macon Co. due to overturned vehicle

Submitted by WSFA 12 News Staff

Friday, June 14th, 2013, 7:30pm

MACON CO., AL (WSFA)- Alabama State Troopers are on the scene of three different crashes along Interstate 85 at this hour just over the Macon County line.

Troopers say the primary wreck is on I-85 in the northbound lanes at mile marker 19 between Waugh and Shorter and involves an overturned vehicle. Details on this crash are limited.

There are two additional minor crashes on U.S. Hwy. 80 at the mile marker 16 exit that are delaying motorists from being able to detour around the primary wreck to get off the interstate.

Commuters should expect delays or seek an alternate route at this time.

No additional information is currently available.

WSFA 12 News will share more details as they become available.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Interstate 85 reopened after fatal, 4-vehicle crash; GA man killed in collision

Submitted by WSFA 12 News Staff

Wednesday, June 12th, 2013, 5:11pm

SHORTER, AL (WSFA)- Authorities say Interstate 85 has reopened nearly 8 hours after a fatal crash involving three commercial vehicles and a passenger vehicle that occurred early Wednesday morning.

Traffic remained heavily delayed for most of the day with some commuters reporting wait times in the hours. Traffic was rerouted at the Shorter exit, Exit 22 to U.S. 80. until the roadway was cleared.

The collision happened in a construction zone in the southbound lanes of Interstate 85 near Shorter in Macon County (mile marker 19) at approximately 9:25 a.m.

Involved vehicles include an 18-wheeler carrying bricks and another transporting milk. The third commercial vehicle's contents were not known. The passenger vehicle was a 2012 Toyota Sienna.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Alabama releases 2011-2012 graduation rates for Macon County schools

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer

Tuesday, June 11th, 2013, 12:24pm

Alabama releases 2011-2012 graduation rates for Macon County schools

The Alabama Department of Education has released graduation rates for the 2011-2012 school year. The state of Alabama had a graduation rate of 75%. Macon County's total graduation rate was 83% The graduation rate for individual schools in the county is as follows:

Booker T Washington High - 82%
Notasulga High School - 86%

Source: Alabama Department of Education

View Comments | Post a Comment

Tuskegee man files patent infringement suit against Redbox

Submitted by WSFA 12 News Staff

Tuesday, June 11th, 2013, 11:19am

TUSKEGEE, AL (WSFA)- A court hearing is set next month in a federal civil case involving a Tuskegee man and a major video rental company. James Satchell, Jr. claims Redbox infringed on a patent he secured more than a decade ago.

"Any vending machine that dispenses physical items and transactions using swipe cards, over the Internet are basically infringing on the patent," said James Satchell, whose father, James Satchell, Jr., filed the patent.

Satchell first received the patent in 1998, and it was reissued just last year.

"The way my dad came up with the idea he was a musician or as my dad says a failed musician and he was trying to get his music out there," James Satchell said.

Later, he discovered a company - Redbox - had taken his idea to market.

View Comments | Post a Comment