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March is Women's History Month!

WVAS Local News

Alabama's unemployment rate has risen for the fourth consecutive month to 8.5 percent for August. 

The figure announced today by the State Department of Industrial Relations represents more 183,000 unemployed people.  Alabama's unemployment rate has been going up since measuring 7.2 percent in April. 

Retirement Incentives

Governor Robert Bentley revealed this week that he is looking at proposing retirement incentives for state  employees as a means to reduce government expenses.  The governor estimates that if 1,500 state employees took advantage of the incentives, the state would cut its expenses by $82 million dollars.  He said he may follow that action with retirement incentives for public school employees. 

Montgomery Homicide

An arrest has been made in connection with Montgomery's 21st homicide of the year.  Montgomery Police said 21-year-old Michael Cottrell is charged with murder for killing 44-year-old Claude Brassell and the attempted murder of a second male.  The injured victim is listed in stable condition.  Cottrell was placed in the Montgomery County Jail under bonds totaling 120,000 dollars.

Prison Sentence

A judge in Montgomery has sentenced a man to five years in prison for an assault that cost his niece both of her legs and part of an arm.  Crumpton was accused of causing a pot of boiling water to splash on his niece Jessie Crumpton West in December of last year. The victim suffered severe burns and eventually needed both legs and part of her right arm amputated.   Judge Johnny Hardwick sentenced Brian Crumpton on Thursday. 

Death Sentence

A judge in Opelika sentenced a Georgia man to death in the killing of a Lee County sheriff's deputy who was struck by a vehicle three years ago.   Lee County Circuit Judge Jacob Walker imposed the sentence Thursday on Gregory Lance Henderson of Columbus, Georgia.  Henderson was convicted of capital murder nearly a year ago in connection with September 2009 hit-and -run death of Lee County Deputy James Anderson. 

Preparedness Fair

The public is invited to attend Elmore County's 4th Annual Preparedness Fair and Safety Saturday at the Lowe's store in Wetumpka. The event is sponsored by the Elmore County Management Agency and Homeland Security Office. The Preparedness Fair and Safety gets underway at 10 a.m. and concludes at 2 p.m.