WVAS Local

Washington – (AP) - The House has voted to provide another 13
weeks of unemployment benefits to workers in those states hardest
hit by the prolonged economic downturn.
The Washington Democrat who sponsored the bill, Rep. Jim
McDermott, says it could help more than 300,000 jobless workers
expected to lose their unemployment compensation by the end of
September.
The legislation, if also approved by the Senate, could also
prevent more than 1 million in danger of exhausting their benefits
by the end of the year.

Montgomery, AL – Listen to more of today's news from this morning's broadcast

Montgomery, AL – (AP) - The death toll has reached 10 from
floodwaters in Georgia and Alabama with the report of a sixth death
in a county west of Atlanta.
Douglas County spokesman Wes Tallon on Wednesday said the latest
victim in the suburban county was a man whose car appeared to have
been washed off the road near a creek Tuesday night.
Portions of Interstate 20 west of Atlanta remained closed to
commuter traffic Wednesday morning, but other major highways that
had been closed Tuesday because of high water had reopened.

Montgomery, AL – Listen to more of today's news from this morning's broadcast.

Montgomery, AL – (AP) - Days of torrential rain have apparently
claimed one life in Alabama and forced about three dozen residents
to flee their homes or be rescued from vehicles on washed out
roads.
Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin said a dive team recovered
the body of 22-year-old James Dale Leigh of the Sand Valley
community from a pond on Monday. Witnesses said he drowned when a
portion of the pond's rain-soaked bank collapsed while he was
walking on it.
Bibb County emergency management director Wayne Hayes also said

Montgomery, AL – (AP) - Gov. Bob Riley says Alabama will offer a
compromise in its ongoing dispute with a federal agency over claims
that the state has been receiving too much federal money for the
program.
Riley made the remark on Monday after meeting with the director
of the federal Center for Medicaid and State Operations.
The federal government argues Alabama was overpaid by up to $300
million during the past four years to finance its Medicaid program.
The dispute centers on how Alabama calculates its share of the cost

Montgomery, AL – Listen to more of today's news from this morning's broadcast.

Montgomery, AL – Listen to more of today's news from this morning's broadcast.

Montgomery, AL – (AP) - More than 25,000 first-time homebuyers
in Alabama have claimed the federal tax credit offered under the
economic stimulus program.
The IRS, which announced the latest figures Thursday, said
Alabama ranked 20th in the number claiming the tax credit.
The program ends Dec. 1. It offers a tax credit of 10 percent of
the purchase price - with a maximum credit of $8,000 - to
homebuyers with qualifying income levels who have never bought a
home or have not owned one in the last three years.

Montgomery, AL – (AP) - Jefferson County employees may have to
continue working just 32 hours a week indefinitely.
County officials said Thursday they are considering extending
the shortened workweek for all employees to help cut spending. Most
county employees were switched from a 40-hour week to a 32-hour
week over the summer to make up for the loss of occupational tax
revenue.
The payroll cut plus unpaid leave for hundreds of workers helped
trim $75 million from the county's budget, but sales tax revenues
remain slow.