WVAS Local News

Governor Robert Bentley is heading to Europe this weekend to sell Alabama to business executives overseas. Specifically, the governor will fly to Paris, France, Friday. He and a delegation will attend the annual Paris Air Show. Bentley said he will focus on recruiting suppliers for the new Airbus manufacturing plant in Mobile. The governor is scheduled to return to the state next Wednesday. List Delayed The Alabama Board of Education has delayed releasing a list of schools that are failing under language included in the Alabama Accountability Act. School board officials said the announcement by schools Superintendent Tommy Bice had been scheduled for today and is now rescheduled for next Tuesday at the Gordon Persons Building. Education officials said the release is being delayed due to legal issues related to the Accountability Act. Parents are eligible for tax credits if they transfer students out of schools that are considered as failing under the legislation. Truck Driver Killed State Troopers say a truck driver from Georgia was killed and three others were injured Wednesday morning in a four-vehicle crash on Interstate 85 in Macon County. Troopers said 31-year-old Steven Fox of Madison, Georgia died when the tractor trailer he was driving struck another 18-wheeler. Two other vehicles also were hit in the chain-reaction crash. The southbound lanes of I-85 near the Shorter Exit were shut down for several hours Wednesday and traffic was rerouted onto U.S. 80. Tax Fraud Indictment A federal grand jury in Montgomery has returned another indictment involving stolen identities and tax fraud. The U.S. Attorney's office said 24-year-old Christopher Cordelle Davis of Montgomery is charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, five counts of aggravated identity theft. The indictment alleges that Davis stole more than 600 names from a medical facility in Alabama and prepaid debit cards in Gwinnett County, Georgia. The feds said the names were provided to Jerome Blackmon. He was convicted and is currently serving 51 months in prison. No trial date was announced for Davis. Benjamin Resigning U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin says she plans to step down next month after four years as "America's doctor." In an email to staff, the Alabama native said she will remain involved in public health. Benjamin is widely respected for founding a rural health clinic in southwest Alabama, which she kept going although it was wiped out three times by fire and hurricanes.