ALABAMA NEWS

• Ala. publishes booklet for veterans' stress 11/20/2008, 5:39 p.m. CST
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan will now get a booklet to help them deal with post-war stress and readjusting to family life.

• House Dems' goal: abolish Ala. grocery sales tax 11/20/2008, 5:17 p.m. CST
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The Democratic Caucus in the Alabama House said Thursday its top priority in the new year will be eliminating the state's 4 percent sales tax on groceries.

• Lisman man convicted in fiery assault on deputy 11/20/2008, 4:38 p.m. CST
BUTLER, Ala. (AP) — A Choctaw County jury has convicted 55-year-old Sherry Rodgers of attempted murder for dousing a sheriff's deputy with gasoline and setting him on fire. He faces life in prison at sentencing Dec. 12.

• Georgia's hopes for reversing water ruling fading 11/20/2008, 4:30 p.m. CST
WASHINGTON (AP) — Georgia is running into more resistance in its bid to convince the Supreme Court to overturn a critical court ruling that undermined the state's water rights in its feud with Florida and Alabama.

• Alabama governor defends state from UAW criticism 11/20/2008, 4:01 p.m. CST
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Gov. Bob Riley fired back Thursday at the United Auto Workers, which cited Alabama's huge incentives to foreign automakers as an example of why the federal government should approve loans for troubled U.S. car companies.

• No longer 'The Man,' Alexander returns to Seattle 11/20/2008, 3:29 p.m. CST
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Shaun Alexander's recent career trajectory has resembled a bungee jump: Straight down.

• Alabama board seeks to avoid school budget cuts 11/20/2008, 3:19 p.m. CST
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The board that oversees Alabama's largest savings account, the Alabama Trust Fund, took steps Thursday that will help keep the state education budget from being sharply cut.

• State Forestry Commission K-9 to track arsonists 11/20/2008, 2:51 p.m. CST
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama Forestry Commission has welcomed a new member to its law enforcement team — a 12-week-old bloodhound puppy that will be trained to help wildfire arson investigators.

• Special house for Gadsden senior nearly ready 11/20/2008, 2:43 p.m. CST
GADSDEN, Ala. (AP) — Something that once was just an idea now stands as a reality of what can happen when people come together for the same cause. After months of construction, the house for Gaston School senior Josh Alldredge is almost complete.

• Honda to cut production by another 18,000 units 11/20/2008, 2:17 p.m. CST
NEW YORK (AP) — Honda says it is cutting its North American production by an additional 18,000 vehicles.

• South's water supplies to become more uncertain 11/20/2008, 1:41 p.m. CST
ATLANTA (AP) — Southeastern states should diversify their water sources and boost efficiency measures to prepare for an uncertain supply that may become even more unpredictable amid climate change, a new report released by a national conservation group concludes.

• Tennessee lottery numbers 11/20/2008, 1:04 p.m. CST
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Here are the winning numbers selected Thursday in the Tennessee state lottery:

• Memorial for slain Daphne woman draws many 11/20/2008, 12:46 p.m. CST
DAPHNE, Ala. (AP) — About 1,000 people filled a Celebration of Life service honoring the life of 21-year-old homicide victim Brianna Parish.

• Guntersville doctor gets house arrest in death 11/20/2008, 12:34 p.m. CST
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — A doctor charged with murdering her boyfriend's 82-year-old mother pleaded guilty to a reduced charge and will spend nine months under house arrest rather than going to prison.

• Anniston Star to trim workforce 10 percent 11/20/2008, 12:23 p.m. CST
ANNISTON, Ala. (AP) — The Anniston star announced that it is cutting its workforce by 10 percent due to worsening financial conditions.

• State of Alabama joins lawsuit over ASEI deal 11/20/2008, 11:58 a.m. CST
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The State Personnel Board has voted to join a lawsuit by two state workers against Nationwide Life Insurance Co. and the Alabama State Employees Association.

• Chairman: Compass to stay in Birmingham 11/20/2008, 11:44 a.m. CST
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A top Compass Bank executive says the headquarters and its 3,000 employees will remain based in Alabama's largest city for the forseeable future.

• AAA: Regular fuel tumbles below $2 mark 11/20/2008, 11:05 a.m. CST
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Gasoline prices across Alabama have fallen below the $2 mark.

• Center Point fire leaves 6 families homeless 11/20/2008, 11:04 a.m. CST
CENTER POINT, Ala. (AP) — A morning fire that ripped through several units of a Center Point condominium building has left six families homeless.

• Birmingham man fatally stabbed over cigarette 11/20/2008, 10:48 a.m. CST
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Birmingham Police say an argument over a cigarette led one man to fatally stab another.

• Judge wants special master in Jeffco debt case 11/20/2008, 10:35 a.m. CST
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge wants to appoint an assistant to consider ways to raise money for Jefferson County's troubled sewer system, a move that could help the county avoid filing for bankruptcy.

• Board refuses to let old Siegelman home be razed 11/20/2008, 10:33 a.m. CST
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Montgomery's Architectural Review Board has refused to allow the old home of former Gov. Don Siegelman to be demolished, even though a contractor says it has fallen into disrepair.

• Likely AG Holder has ties to Alabama 11/20/2008, 9:49 a.m. CST
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — President-elect Barack Obama's apparent choice for U.S. attorney general has ties to Alabama.

• Window blinds and shades recalled after child strangled 11/20/2008, 9:24 a.m. CST
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal safety officials are announcing a recall of window blinds and shades after the strangling death of a young child and a close call for a second.

• Wal-Mart gives credit to boost MLK Memorial effort 11/20/2008, 9:22 a.m. CST
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Wal-Mart Foundation has announced a $12.5 million letter of credit for the planned Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial to help expedite construction of the project in Washington.

• Poultry producer Pilgrim's Pride to cut 335 jobs 11/20/2008, 8:52 a.m. CST
PITTSBURG, Texas (AP) — East Texas-based Pilgrim's Pride is cutting about 335 jobs by the end of the month.

• Miss. casino rebound in October 11/20/2008, 8:07 a.m. CST
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi's casino revenues rebounded in October, showing a $9 million increase over September.

• Miss. casino rebound in October 11/20/2008, 8:06 a.m. CST
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi's casino revenues rebounded in October, showing a $9 million increase over September.

• Shelby Co. inmate rearrested after release 11/20/2008, 7:45 a.m. CST
COLUMBIANA, Ala. (AP) — Shelby County sheriff's officials say an inmate who was mistakenly released Tuesday afternoon is back in custody.

• State highway officials call US 98 meeting 11/20/2008, 7:44 a.m. CST
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Alabama transportation officials will discuss the next step in a construction project on the new U.S. Highway 98 corridor in Mobile County.