http://www.annistonstar.com/news/as-news.htm News headlines from The Anniston Star. StarScraper 1.45 Copyright (c)2008 Consolidated Publishing. All rights reserved. http://www.annistonstar.com/rss/images/as-logo_news.gif 14450 http://www.annistonstar.com/news/as-news.htm News en-us 20 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-dwhisenhunt-8e14v1708.htm Anniston High School is working to clear up violations that could threaten the school's accreditation, Superintendent Joan Frazier says. Frazier said the high school turned over documents to a consultant from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools last week. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-dwhisenhunt-8e14v1708.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-csmith-8e15j1027.htm Nearly 100 children have called Kathy's Home Day Care their second home over the years. It's where they learned the alphabet and numbers and how to spell their names. The home, on Tumblin Mill Road in Heflin, was once surrounded by playground equipment, a pool and flowers. It was the dream home Kathy and James Burgess shared with the community. It will have to be torn down. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-csmith-8e15j1027.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-ajohns-8e14q3456.htm A passing storm system could dump as much as an inch of rain on Anniston today. The National Weather Service in Birmingham gives Anniston an 80- to 90-percent chance of rains throughout the day, with some showers lingering until Friday morning. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-ajohns-8e14q3456.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-ajohns-8e14v1519.htm School officials know that next year's education budget will be tight. To find out how tight, they can only wait to see if the Legislature passes the governor's budget Monday. In the meantime, administrators, teachers and students are preparing for the possibility of having less money to run schools than in years past. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-ajohns-8e14v1519.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-dwhisenhunt-8e14v1638.htm A judge has ordered former Anniston Superintendent Sammy Lee Felton and the Anniston Board of Education to settle their differences outside of court. But another lawsuit against the board is going back to court after efforts to settle it through mediation failed. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-dwhisenhunt-8e14v1638.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-ncenegy-8e14x2101.htm The question voiced by many residents Wednesday night at a community meeting meant to address concerns over a sexual predator in the area was 'What should we do?' It took a variety of forms among the estimated 150 concerned residents who filled the pews at Refuge Full Gospel Methodist Church on East 22nd Street. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-ncenegy-8e14x2101.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-tsouth-8e14w2209.htm JACKSONVILLE -- Football fans in Jacksonville have some local buzz to talk about -- Ryan Perrilloux, former Louisiana State University quarterback, will join the Gamecocks for the 2008 season. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-tsouth-8e14w2209.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-ajohns-8e14v1921.htm This weekend's boat show in Wedowee will focus on transportation in the water, but visitors will have a chance to try out travel in the sky. The Chimney Cove Boat Show will feature helicopter and hot air balloon rides as well as boats, a clown, live music, vendors and an engine giveaway. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-ajohns-8e14v1921.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-mnichols-8e14x2025.htm Anniston city councilmen had differing thoughts Wednesday concerning City Manager George Monk's announcement Tuesday night that while he was open to a one-year extension of his contract, he would resign immediately if his position was opened to other applicants. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-local-0515-mnichols-8e14x2025.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-state-0515-0-8e14w5528.htm AUBURN — The suspect in the slaying of an Auburn University student was indicted Wednesday on charges of capital murder and his attorney has filed documents to prepare an insanity defense. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-state-0515-0-8e14w5528.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-state-0515-0-8e14v1823.htm MONTGOMERY — Republican Secretary of State Beth Chapman works with a state-supported charitable organization that pays her consulting firm nearly $50,000 a year, raising claims that she is no different than legislators with state jobs now under fire as double dippers. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-state-0515-0-8e14v1823.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-state-0515-0-8e14v2003.htm MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature has approved a bill that would allow retiring U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer to qualify for state pension benefits exceeding $111,000 annually when he reaches age 70. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-state-0515-0-8e14v2003.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-tsouth-8e14v1844.htm Smoke filled a portion of the liquid incinerator at about 7 a.m. Wednesday at the Umatilla Chemical Depot in Hermiston, Ore., halting operations at the facility. The incinerator is similar to the Anniston chemical weapons incinerator. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-tsouth-8e14v1844.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14v1554.htm WASHINGTON — Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday rejected Karl Rove's latest offer to provide written responses to questions about the federal prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14v1554.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14t5405.htm WASHINGTON — Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced Wednesday that the agency will list the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, a decision that could cast the bears as the enduring symbol of the effects of global warming. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14t5405.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14t5427.htm WASHINGTON — Rising global grain prices helped spark the largest increase in monthly food costs in nearly 20 years, as consumers paid more in April for cereals, baked goods, and the dairy, meat and other animal products that rely on feedstocks, the government reported Wednesday. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14t5427.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14v1057.htm GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Democrat John Edwards endorsed former rival Barack Obama on Wednesday, a move designed to help solidify support for the party's likely presidential nominee even as Hillary Rodham Clinton refuses to give up her long-shot candidacy. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14v1057.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14v1214.htm WASHINGTON — Stunned House Republicans vowed campaign changes Wednesday and debated the wisdom of attacking Democratic presidential front-runner Barack Obama in congressional races after their third straight election defeat in once-friendly territory. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14v1214.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14v1253.htm MIAMI — Florida Democratic leaders are expecting some mercy from the national party on May 31 when it reconsiders the state's delegates to the nominating convention. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14v1253.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14v1336.htm WASHINGTON — The House on Wednesday passed a final version of a new five-year farm bill by a vote of 318 to 106, a margin large enough to override President Bush's promised veto of the nearly $300 billion measure. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14v1336.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14v1444.htm PICHER, Okla. — State and federal officials toured this tornado-ravaged town and essentially hammered the final nail into its coffin. Any financial aid sent to the 800-person community, they said, will only help people relocate, not rebuild in the same area where a government buyout of homes is already under way. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14v1444.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14v1800.htm Donald Fleckenstein lives comfortably in retirement, but higher food and energy costs still prompted him to trade down from a big American car to a small Honda, to cancel plans for a European vacation and to worry more about how the next generations of his family will fare. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14v1800.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14v2023.htm NEW ORLEANS — As former President Jimmy Carter nailed down the front porch of a home under construction in the Upper 9th Ward Wednesday, singer Harry Connick Jr. gave an update on the progress being made in a neighborhood that has been slow to recover from Hurricane Katrina. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-nation-0515-0-8e14v2023.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-world-0515-0-8e14p2331.htm MIANYANG, China — The survivors surged into every available space: on top of flattened ping-pong tables, inside an abandoned boxing ring, between treadmills — any place they could find in a sports stadium that has become a settlement for the displaced in one of Sichuan's hardest-hit cities. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2008/as-world-0515-0-8e14p2331.htm Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:35 CDT