Still not enough: Despite rain, area counties still under drought conditions

You know it's been dry when falling into the 'severe' drought category is an improvement. The latest drought indicator map from the National Drought Mitigation Center shows only 13 counties still under extreme conditions, six fewer than fell into the extreme category two weeks ago.

Anniston BOE sued over superintendent choice

A Birmingham nonprofit filed a lawsuit against the Anniston Board of Education Thursday, claiming it violated the Alabama Open Meetings Act when it hired Joan Frazier as permanent superintendent.

Star's report on shooting arrest corrected

The man arrested by police Tuesday for allegedly shooting a 24-year-old Anniston resident Sunday on the 1500 block of Hillyer Robinson Parkway was not the son of owners or operators of AJ's Sunset Bar and Grill as reported by The Anniston Star on Thursday.

Internet makes fundraising easier for nonprofits

Tammy Stone said she's always been a giver. The 44-year-old Munford resident said she tries helping people in different ways, by donating small sums, directing people to charities or buying stickers and birthday cards for children whose parents can't always afford the simple pleasures.

Oxford officer honored in Washington

Seeing Dexter Holcomb's name etched in stone in Washington, D.C., won't bring back a husband and father. It won't give Oxford police officers their partner, colleague or supervisor. But seeing the fallen lieutenant's name as part of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., might be an important step for those who still struggle with the loss of a friend.

Roanoke to delay naming new mayor

ROANOKE — The Roanoke City Council decided it might be best to wait a few weeks before naming a successor for Henry 'Spec' Bonner. At a special called meeting Thursday the council voted unanimously to accept the mayor's resignation, delaying the decision on Bonner's replacement until June 9.

Glen Addie fun day scheduled for Saturday

The coordinators of the recent Stop the Violence meetings plan to host a fun day at Glen Addie homes on from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Families in the area are invited to come enjoy food, T-shirts, music, and collect information about social services that are available to them.

George Smith: Vets remain big part of our economy

George Smith's column for Friday, May 16, 2008.

Sylacauga man gets pair of life sentences

TALLADEGA — A circuit judge has sentenced a Sylacauga man to two consecutive life sentences plus 99 years in prison for sodomy, rape and sex abuse of a child.

Several injured in Leeds factory roof collapse

LEEDS — Several workers were injured and others needed help getting out of the rubble when a roof collapsed Thursday at a clothes hanger factory, company officials said.

Talladega mayor hurt in altercation

TALLADEGA — An altercation at the Talladega Municipal Sports Complex left at least three people, including Mayor Brian York, with minor injuries. Captain Ronny Jones says police responded and the crowd dispersed without further incident Tuesday night.

Sen. Marsh grows into leader, mulls fourth term

MONTGOMERY — If compromises are being brokered in the state Senate, chances are Sen. Del Marsh, D-Anniston, is in the thick of it.

Possible tornado hits Covington County

RED LEVEL — Authorities say a possible tornado left damage scattered across a south Alabama county. Covington County emergency management director Kristi Stamnes says a storm hit the Red Level community around noon Thursday, severely damaging three homes and an old fire station.

Tuscaloosa man guilty of accomplice's murder

TUSCALOOSA — In an unusual legal twist, the alleged ringleader in a convenience store robbery was convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison for the death of his accomplice — who was killed by the store clerk.

State expands health screenings in schools

MONTGOMERY — Gov. Bob Riley announced a plan Thursday to expand free health screenings to more schools across the state in hopes that healthy students will be better learners.

PAC-to-PAC transfer bill stalls in conference committee

MONTGOMERY — The sponsor of a campaign finance reform bill that would make it harder for candidates to hide the source of their money said Thursday the measure appears to have little chance of passing going into the final day of the 2008 regular session of the Legislature.

Court declares gay marriage legal in California

SAN FRANCISCO — The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that same-sex couples should be permitted to marry, rejecting state marriage laws as discriminatory.

Senate passes farm bill with veto-proof margins

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the Senate, by a comfortably veto-proof 81-15 margin, approved a farm bill that now faces a resistant White House. President Bush says he'll veto the five-year package, much as Eisenhower nixed a big farm bill in April 1956.

Edwards' endorsement pays off for Obama

WASHINGTON — Barack Obama collected the support of five of John Edwards' Democratic convention delegates on Thursday, then gained the backing of four superdelegates and a large labor union as he marched steadily toward the party's presidential nomination.

McCain sees troops out of Iraq by 2013

WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain looked into the future Thursday and predicted that American troops would return home in victory by the end of his first term as president in 2013.

House rejects bill funding Iraq, Afghanistan wars

WASHINGTON — President Bush's Iraq war funding request collapsed in the House Thursday as anti-war Democrats and Republicans unhappy about added domestic funding combined to kill — for now — $163 billion to support U.S. troops overseas.

Polar bears decision greeted with angst, anger in Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaska industry and political leaders reacted with disappointment, even vehemence, to the decision Wednesday to protect the polar bear as 'threatened,' despite assurances from the Bush administration that the listing would mean no new regulation in Alaska.

Radar images reveal 7 layers of dust, ice on Mars' north pole

Mars' north pole, like a French parfait, comes in layers. Scientists analyzing radar images from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft have found up to seven distinct layers of ice and dust beneath the north pole.

Study: Vitamin D may help curb breast cancer

Breast cancer patients with low levels of vitamin D were much more likely to die of the disease or have it spread than patients getting enough of the nutrient, a study found — adding to evidence the 'sunshine vitamin' has anti-cancer benefits.

NAACP to pick new leader

BALTIMORE — Fourteen months since the abrupt resignation of its national president and CEO, the NAACP is expected to select a new leader during board meetings at its Baltimore headquarters today and Saturday.

Bush to seek Saudi help on oil prices

WASHINGTON — In April 1986, Vice President George H.W. Bush traveled to Saudi Arabia with a stern warning. Record low oil prices of $10 a barrel threatened the U.S. oil industry and U.S. national security. If prices don't rise, he warned, perhaps a U.S. tariff on imported oil would do the job.

IRS says up to 350,000 didn't receive child credit

WASHINGTON — As many as 350,000 households are not getting the $300 per child refund owed as part of economic stimulus rebate payments, the Internal Revenue Service said Thursday.

Senate short of agreement on housing rescue

WASHINGTON — Senate negotiators broke off talks Thursday night without striking a deal to rescue hundreds of thousands of homeowners at risk of foreclosure, but they said they were close to an agreement.

China death toll could reach 50,000

MIANYANG, China — Thousands of stunned peasants streamed out of devastated mountain villages in search of food and shelter Thursday, transformed into homeless refugees by the violent earthquake that ravaged central China on Monday.