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March is Women's History Month!

WVAS Local News

Alabama's Secretary of State expects a low turnout  in the polls for Tuesday's vote on a constitutional amendment.

Voters must decide whether to take $437 million dollars out of the state Oil and Gas Trust Fund to prevent steep cutbacks in state services.   Democratic State Representative Joe Hubbard of Montgomery is urging voters to reject the amendment because he said his fellow legislators have evaded making tough decisions.  Governor Robert Bentley said the amendment is supported by a broad assortment of associations and they have worked hard to get a good turnout by people who are directly affected by the issue. 

LPGA Classic

The best female golfers on the planet will begin arriving in Prattville this week for the Navistar LPGA Classic.  The tournament will feature 144 golfers who will compete on the Senator course at Capitol Hill.  A Pro-Am event begins Wednesday and first-round tournament action starts Thursday and runs through Sunday.  Teenage golfing sensation, 16-year-old Lexi Thompson, won last year's tournament. 

BP Settlement

Alabama leaders have started discussing how the state should use an estimated $1 billion dollars it will receive as a result of the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  BP is expected to pay anywhere from $5 billion to $21 billion dollars in penalties for the spill that sent oil flowing onto the state's shoreline.   Alabama will likely get a minimum of $1 billion dollars.

Home Invasion

A Montgomery man is facing five criminal charges in connection with a home invasion robbery that took place Friday morning at a residence on Monticello Drive.  Montgomery Police officials said detectives have charged 31-year-old Elton Walton with three counts of first-degree robbery, a single count each of first-degree burglary and first-degree assault.  Authorities said they have been looking for a second suspect who was involved in the robbery. 

Prison Sentence

A Prattville man has received a lengthy prison term for multiple child sex convictions.  Autauga County Circuit Judge Sibley Reynolds sentenced 67-year-old Oscar Wingo to serve 50 years for each of the three child sex charges.  The sentences will run concurrently.  A jury convicted Wingo of three counts of sodomy in June of this year.

Alabama Prisons

Alabama prisons officials are headed to the Montgomery federal court building today to defend a long-standing policy that segregates inmates who have tested positive for HIV.  The American Civil Liberties Union says in a lawsuit filed by HIV-positive inmates the policy is unconstitutional and makes it difficult for some prisoners to participate in prison programs.

Bishop Invention

The former professor who admitted shooting six coworkers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville could receive royalties from the university for an invention that's expected to start generating revenue soon.  Amy Bishop and her husband, Jim Anderson, invented a cell incubator that has been developed for sale.  UAH owns the patent, but Bishop and Anderson are in line for part of the royalties.