Tuskegee University will begin construction in July, 2013 on a new Small Animal and Large Animal Hospital to replace existing facilities.

The new complex will encompass almost 120,000 square feet of clinical, faculty office, and teaching space.

The planning concept is a "back to back" scheme which allows the Small Animal Hospital to back up to the Large Animal Hospital via shared facilities to include surgery, central sterile, radiology, central stores, and anesthesia.

The proposed project is three levels with the clinic located on the main level and faculty offices and a teaching center on the upper levels.

Information Source: Tuskegee University

TUSKEGEE, AL (WSFA)- Victoryland Casino owner Milton McGregor continues his fight to bring electronic bingo machines back to his Macon County facility, but before his case will move forward, the judge had to rule on a motion that would decide if he would recuse himself from the proceedings.

Macon County Judge Tom Young opted not to recuse himself, saying that Attorney General Luther Strange's office claim of personal and judicial prejudice was unfounded. The judge says he's only been asked to recuse himself from approximately five cases out of the more than thousand he's presided over during his career.

No new evidence was presented in Tuesday's hearing, but the defense accused the Attorney General's office of judge-shopping, or seeking a judge that would rule favorably on their motions. The defense cited three cases in which it says the AG's office went out of its way to find judges who would sign requested search warrants.  

Governor Robert Bentley on Monday announced Alabama’s preliminary unemployment rate for January 2013 is 6.9 percent, marking the second month the state’s unemployment rate is below 7% when factoring in revised figures from December.

January’s rate represents 148,724 unemployed persons, compared to 145,613 in December and 158,040 in January 2012.

In Macon County, the unemployment rate for January was 10.3%, up from 8.6% in December and slightly up from 10.2% a year ago.

“The long-term trend in Alabama’s unemployment rate is encouraging news,” Governor Bentley said.  “We have seen a steady decline in unemployment over time.  Dozens of industries are choosing to build and expand in Alabama, and the result is more people are going back to work.  There is still much work left to be done, however, until Alabama reaches full employment, and our efforts to recruit more jobs will continue.”

The rate is up slightly from December