Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
March is Women's History Month!

WVAS Local News

Weather Forecasters say parts of Alabama will remain soggy at least through Wednesday night.  Rainfall totals since Sunday have been impressive, ranging anywhere from four to eight inches in eastern and western counties.  The non-stop precipitation is prompting worries about flooding.  Meteorologists say some localized flash floods are possible.  Some minor flooding is possible along portions of the Alabama, Tombigbee and Black Warrior river systems.  Any river flooding that does occur could persist through the end of the work week and perhaps into the weekend. 

Alabama Losing Millions

Financial experts say the fiscal cliff agreement in Washington will cut funding for Alabama's public schools and colleges by at least $ 70 million dollars annually.  The fiscal cliff settlement affects Alabama differently than most other states.  That's because Alabama is one of the few states that provides its citizens with a state income tax deduction for the federal taxes paid.  The federal settlement allowed a temporary reduction in payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare to expire.  It also raised the tax rates on the wealthiest one percent of Americans.  The director of the Legislative Fiscal Office, Norris Green, says the two changes should reduce Alabama's income tax collections by $ 70 to $ 75 million dollars annually. 

Ledbetter's Movie

An Alabama woman has struck a deal with a Hollywood filmmaker to make a movie about her long battle for women to receive equal pay as men.  Lilly Ledbetter's long struggle to receive equal pay for the time she worked as a supervisor at the Goodyear Tire plant in Gadsden led to the first bill President Obama signed into law as president.  Ledbetter's attorney said details about the cast or where the move will be made have not been finalized. 

Mardi Gras

Plastic beads and moon pies will be flying all day on the Alabama coast.  Despite the wet weather, parades began this morning and are scheduled to go into the night in Mobile and Baldwin counties for Fat Tuesday.  Organizers say the celebration will continue unless the weather turns severe.  Six parades are scheduled in Mobile, home of the nation's oldest Mardi Gras festivities.  The beach cities of Gulf Shores and orange Beach also have parades.  Fat Tuesday marks the end of the Mardi Gras season and the beginning of the Christian season of Lent, which leads to Easter.