WVAS Local News

Police say at least 17 people were wounded when a gunman opened fire at a bar in Tuscaloosa.  Tuscaloosa police said "multiple people were shot" at the Copper Top bar around 12:30 this morning.  Four of the victims were critically injured.   Authorities say no arrests had been made, but police have surveillance video of a suspect in the shootings. 

Sentencing Hearing

A federal judge listened to hours of testimony Monday at a sentencing hearing for three men who pleaded guilty in an Alabama State House bribery scheme.  U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson sentenced bingo developer, Ronnie Gilley to nearly seven years, former lobbyist Jarrod Massey to more than five years and former State Representative Terry Spicer of Elba to almost five years.  The three men will begin serving their sentences on August 27th. 

U.S. Drought

A new report shows the drought gripping the United States is the widest since 1956.  Federal forecasters at the National Climatic Data Center says 55 percent of the continental U.S. is in a moderate to extreme drought, that's the most since 1956.  The nation's corm and soybean crop has been especially hard hit. 

Troy Accident

A one-vehicle wreck in Troy overnight sent two men to the hospital with serious injuries.  Troy Police said the driver of a pick-up truck crashed into a utility pole.  Authorities said one man was thrown through the wall of a mobile home.  The crash happened around 8 p.m. Monday night at the Forest Acres Mobile Home Park. 

Water Trails

Water trails in Alabama, Georgia and Missouri are among three designated yesterday by Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar to be National Water Trails.  Purpose of the designations is to encourage state, local and federal governments to work together to increase water-based outdoor recreation, to promote tourism and help local economies.  The new national water trails include the Alabama Scenic River Trail which runs along much of the Coosa and Alabama Rivers in Alabama.