Citizens in many parts of Alabama are cleaning up after more than two feet of rain fell in a two-day span. The storms also brought violent winds and possible tornadoes to some areas. The rain torrent led to disastrous flooding along the Gulf Coast.
Sales Boost
Strong demand for pickup trucks and SUVs is helping the auto industry rebound from a rough winter. Hyundai said its April sales climbed 4.4 percent. The automaker said it sold more than 66,000 vehicles last month. The company's top sellers were the Sonata, Santa Fe and hybrid vehicles. Chrysler, GM and Ford also report an increase in sales in April.
Separate Indictments
Two medical professionals are the subjects of separate indictments announced by U.S. Attorney George Beck. A 38-year-old physican in Opelika has been charged with health care fraud. The six-count indictment alleges that Dr. Yashica Robinson White submitted false claims to Medicaid and billed the agency for more than $60,000 for birth control devices known as IUDs. Authorities contend the IUDs were manufactured outside the U.S. and were considered misbranded drugs and a violation of federal law.
In an unrelated case, a federal grand jury in Montgomery has indicted a 35-year-old nurse for tampering with a vial of morphine while she worked at a Prattville Baptist Hospital. The indictment names Susie Strength of Clanton. Strength is charged with tampering with a consumer product.