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March is Women's History Month!

WVAS Local News

Accusations of sexual misconduct in Selma City Schools has prompted the Alabama Department of Education to launch an investigation.  State Education Superintendent Tommy Bice said he received numerous reports and requests for assistance regarding improper activities occurring in Selma City Schools.  Bice has appointed Assistant Superintendent Craig Pouncy and two investigators to conduct the inquiry.  Dr. Bice outlined his concerns in a letter dated June 13th to Selma City School Superintendent Gerald Shirley. 

Montgomery Groundbreaking

A South Korean company has broken ground for a plant that will employ about 400 people in Montgomery.  Executives from DAS North America and various elected leaders were on hand for a ceremony held Thursday at the Montgomery Industrial Park.  The company makes seats for Kia and Hyundai vehicles.  It's building a 300,000 square-foot plant in the capital city.  The project is to be complete next year. 

Wright Brothers

Montgomery officials hop the heroics of American aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright will help boost the city's image.  The famous brothers spent less than a year in Montgomery in 1910 running the nation's first civilian flight school.  A full-scale replica of the Wright brothers plane can be seen over Interstate 65.  Mayor Todd Strange said its part of an effort to create gateways into the capital city.  City officials plan to dedicate a park on Maxwell Boulevard July 2nd to memorialize the Wright brothers. 

Limiting Transfers

School officials in several higher performing Alabama districts say they doubt they will take many students looking to transfer form schools that have been listed as failing by state officials.  Elmore County Schools Superintendent Jeff Langham says his fast-growing system will not be taking new students from surrounding counties.  Langham says the school board has a policy in place which requires all student to be residents of Elmore County.  In fast-growing Shelby County near Birmingham, a spokeswoman, Cindy Warner, said the system could not accommodate many, if any, new students form outside the county. 

Farm Bill

The U.S. House's broad rejection of a massive farm bill could signal a change in the way Congress views agriculture policy.  The five-year, half -trillion dollar measure would have expanded some subsidies while saving more than $4 billion dollars annually overall.  It included a 3 percent cut in the $80 billion dollar a year food stamp program.  Alabama's House delegation was split, the state's six Republican's, including Martha Roby of Montgomery, voted in favor of the bill.  Democrat Terri Sewell opposed the farm bill.