The National Weather Service says it is sending survey teams to Troy today. The Pike County city was hit by a possible tornado late last night. The twister caused significant damage to a Wal-Mart store and a Hibbetts Sporting Goods outlet at a shopping center off U.S. Highway 231. Troy Mayor Jason Reeves said several people sustained minor injuries. Powerful winds were blamed for overturning a tractor-trailer. The weather service issued the tornado warning for Pike County just before 11 p.m. Survey teams also will investigate storm damage in Russell County where wind damage is reported from last night's severe weather.
Inmate Fatally Stabbed
Alabama prison official say an inmate is dead following an altercation with another inmate at the Bullock County Prison in Union Springs. The Department of Corrections says 37-year-old Clemente Curry was fatally stabbed inside a prison housing unit just after 5 a.m. Thursday. DOC said 35-year-old Lathaderick Perkins, an inmate from Montgomery has been charged with murder. Perkins is serving a 35-year-old prison sentence for a 2011 robbery-murder conviction in Montgomery County.
Sales Tax Holiday
Alabama's annual sales tax holiday begins today and continues through Sunday. Dozens of goods ranging from school supplies, clothing, computers and technology equipment will be tax-exempt. The Alabama Department of Revenue says the state's four percent sales tax will be waived in all counties, sales taxes in more than 300 cities and counties also are waived. The state's sales tax holiday is now more than a decade old. The state Retailers Association says Alabamians will spend close to $4.6 billion in August.
Hyundai Impact
Hyundai is a major contributor to the River Region's economy and the entire state, that's according to an economic impact study conducted by Dr. Keivan Deravi, an Economics professor at Auburn-Montgomery. The study finds that Hyundai and its suppliers generated more than $4.8 billion to the state's economy, that's about 2 percent of Alabama's gross domestic product. The study was conducted in 2010.