These are some stories from the 9/11/12 version of Tennessee Valley news update (633, 733, 833am, 304, 404, 504, 604pm) …
HUNTSVILLE, AL - Today is the 11th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and Huntsville Fire & Rescue will hold a memorial flag service. On-duty personnel at all stations will raise flags at 7 a.m. At 7:46 a.m., the time of when the first plane hit the World Trade Center, all trucks will turn on lights, sirens and air horns for 30 seconds and the U.S. flag will be lowered to half-staff.
MONTGOMERY, AL (AP) – The Alabama Public Service Commission is meeting to consider extending special electric rates it approved last year to help stimulate Alabama’s economy. One of the special rates provides a one-year rate discount for a business that opens in a building that has been vacant for at least six months. The incentive applies to a new business or to a business that opens an additional location. The discount amounts to 10.5 percent to 12.5 percent of the total bill, depending on the type of business and the total usage. The discount had been used by 46 businesses through the end of July. It will expire at the end of the year unless the PSC extends it.
FLORENCE, AL (Times Daily) - A Japanese company is expected to announce plans to open a manufacturing facility in Alabama. The Florence TimesDaily reports that TASUS Corp. produces plastic automotive parts and has clients that include most major North American automobile manufacturers. Gov. Robert Bentley's office confirmed TASUS will have about 135 jobs at the Florence plant and will make a $19.1 million investment. The project is expected to include construction of a new plant.
MADISON, AL – A Madison County school has been recognized nationally for its achievements in science. Legacy Elementary on Monday was named one of five winners of the 2012 Intel Schools of Distinction Awards, according to the awards program’s website. A total of 18 schools were finalists in the competition, which honors schools that have achieved excellence in math and science. Legacy will receive $10,000 in cash and about $100,000 in prizes, said Geraldine Tibbs, a spokeswoman for the district. Tibbs said Legacy won the award for its “Project Pond,” a program that encourages student achievement in sciences and engineering, “while simultaneously helping them to become knowledgeable consumers of news and data in order to be active and informed citizens.”
HUNTSVILLE, AL – Amy Bishop pleaded guilty this afternoon to capital murder charges in Madison County Circuit Court in an agreement that will send her to prison for the rest of her life. Bishop, 47, will not be eligible for the death penalty under the terms of the agreement. She stood before Judge Alan Mann and entered one guilty plea to capital murder and three pleas of attempted murder. Bishop is accused of killing three fellow biology department faculty members in an on-campus shooting rampage on Feb. 12, 2010 and wounding three others.
MADISON, AL (WAFF) – The state of Alabama now joins 43 other states requesting waivers and flexibility from No Child Left Behind. The Obama Administration is granting states waivers from the rigid requirements of No Child Left Behind. The program has been in place since 2002, and states are now joining together to say this does not work for educating students. WAFF reports No Child Left Behind was based on making every child proficient in math and reading by the year 2014, but many educators argue that it didn’t factor in that all children learn differently. Alabama is one of many states hoping to implement its own education reform and waive out of No Child Left Behind. The state superintendent is pushing to implement a plan for Alabama called the 2020 plan.
HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF) – A report from the Better Business Bureau found young adults entering college are among the most vulnerable to identity theft. The BBB said students entering college have not been affected by identity theft in their lives so they tend to be more trustful. More than 56,000 consumers between the ages of 20 and 29 fell victim to identity theft in 2011, according to the Consumer Sentinel Network database. The BBB said this accounts for 23 percent of the total number of identity theft complaints reported last year. The BBB said students face new responsibilities at school, work, and social lives and may be less careful of their personal information in this environment.
HUNTSVILLE, AL. (WLRH) - Lanes in each direction of U.S. 431 at Dug Hill Road will be temporarily closed until Nov. 5 for work on the intersection, according to a city Engineering Department news release. Southbound lanes on U.S. 431closed yesterday morning and will remain closed through Oct. 28. Northbound lanes will be closed beginning Saturday and will reopen Nov. 5.