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IRS expands identity theft program to 50 states

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013, 1:59pm
IRS expands identity theft program to 50 states

The Internal Revenue Service today announced a nationwide expansion of the program designed to help law enforcement obtain tax return data vital to their local efforts in investigating and prosecuting specific cases of identity theft.

More than 1,560 waiver requests have been received since the Law Enforcement Assistance Program’s inception from over 100 state and local law enforcement agencies in the nine states participating in the pilot. The expansion covers all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia and will be effective Friday, March 29, 2013.

“The results of the pilot illustrate that this works as an innovative tool for law enforcement to help pursue tough identity theft situations,” said IRS Acting Commissioner Steven T. Miller. “This program is an effective way for law enforcement to work with the IRS to pursue identity thieves and protect taxpayers.

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Ala. Legislature sets stricter abortion standards

Submitted by WSFA 12 News Staff
Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013, 11:42pm
Legislators vote on stricter

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA)- A bill placing stricter regulations on abortion clinics in Alabama is heading to the Governor's desk.  The House of Representatives voted late Tuesday night to pass the bill, following a 22-10 Senate vote to approve the Women's Health and Safety Act.

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State reveals cost of raid on Victoryland casino

Submitted by WSFA 12 News Staff
Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013, 6:39am
File Photo: Alabama State Troopers assist in the raid on Victoryland. The total cost to the Dept. of Public Safety was $14,000.

SHORTER, AL (WSFA)- As the question concerning the legality of electronic bingo in Alabama lingers, without a court date, we now know more about what the raid at Victoryland cost the state of Alabama.

On the day following the raid, WSFA 12 News specifically requested information from the Alabama Department of Public Safety regarding costs for State Troopers to help serve the search warrant and assist with safety measures.

Monday, authorities released the figures saying that the total cost for Troopers alone came to just under $14,000. The Department of Public Safety says the special detail was at the request of Attorney General Luther Strange's office.

The assignment was a total of 40 hours to ensure a sufficient number of Troopers remained on regular patrol. During that 40 hour detail, the AG's office seized more than 1,600 gaming devices and more than $220,000 in cash.

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Groups seek to educate public during National Autism Awareness Month

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Monday, April 1st, 2013, 12:22pm
Groups seek to educate public during National Autism Awareness Month

Governor Robert Bentley has proclaimed April as Autism Awareness Month in Alabama. The Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council and the Autism Society of Alabama are partnering to promote this observance. The month-long awareness campaign held annually in April has been sponsored since the 1970s by the Autism Society of America, and seeks to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism spectrum disorders.

Events will be held statewide celebrating the observance, including a series of Walks for Autism in 15 locations around the state. Proceeds from the walks benefit the Autism Society of Alabama, which also sponsors the walks. In addition, a “Light It Up Blue” campaign will also be going on during April, involving everything from office buildings to people’s front porches.

According to the most recent autism prevalence rate released by the CDC, 1 in 88 children are identified as having an autism spectrum disorder.

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Macon County's unemployment rate for February

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Friday, March 29th, 2013, 10:39am
Macon County's unemployment rate for February

Alabama Department of Labor Commissioner Tom Surtees announced today that Alabama’s preliminary February unemployment rate is 7.2%, up from January’s rate of 6.9%, and equal to February 2012’s adjusted rate. February’s rate represents 154,885 unemployed persons, compared to 148,663 last month, and 155,673 last year.

In Macon County, the unemployment rate for February was 10.0%, up from 10.4% in January, and up from 9.7% a year ago.

“While we did experience a slight uptick in the unemployment rate this month, we also saw an increase in the number of people working, both over the past month and the past year,” said Surtees. “We’ve also seen an increase in the number of people in the labor force.

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Hospitals face blood shortages during spring break

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Thursday, March 28th, 2013, 12:31pm
Hospitals face blood shortages during spring break

As Easter weekend approaches, many are enjoying a spring break. But for our community’s hospitals, it is one of the most difficult times of the year. Schools and colleges close and people prepare for vacations, prompting a dramatic decline in the blood donations that are essential for our local hospitals to function. 

A rise in traffic accidents due to increased travel leads to a higher number of blood transfusions.

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W. Gaines Smith inducted into Alabama 4-H Wall of Fame

Submitted by Donna Wallace-King, Community Web Producer
Tuesday, March 26th, 2013, 2:40pm
W. Gaines Smith inducted into Alabama 4-H Wall of Fame

W. Gaines Smith, retired director of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and 4-H alumnus, was inducted into the Alabama 4-H Wall of Fame March 19 at the Alabama 4-H and Youth Development Center in Columbiana. He was one of 24 inductees honored during special ceremonies at the Alabama 4-H Environmental Science Education Center. Smith was nominated by Alabama 4-H.

The Alabama 4-H Wall of Fame recognizes individuals and organizations that have had a significant effect on the 4-H Youth Development program, its members and leaders. The Alabama 4-H Club Foundation, Inc., and Alabama 4-H honors, remembers and pays tribute to those who influenced the lives of Alabama youth by their commitment "To Make the Best Better."

W. Gaines Smith is the only director of the Extension System or its predecessor, The Alabama Cooperative Extension Service, to have worked at every level of Extension in Alabama.

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