News

Deadly respiratory illness in AL stumps CDC

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 5:01pm

HOUSTON COUNTY, AL (WAFF)- There is a mystery brewing in south Alabama. An illness has hospitalized several people, killing two of them.

It is something that leaves the patient struggling to breathe.

The Alabama Department of Public Health is putting everyone on notice about a mystery illness. Epidemiologists are conferring with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about a cluster of respiratory illnesses.

The origin of the illness is unknown, but it is striking people in the Houston County area. So far, seven people have been hospitalized with fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Two of those patients have died.

Lab specimens have been collected and are being studied. For now, both the Public Health Department and the CDC are recommending hospitals use respiratory protocol when dealing someone with such an illness, meaning masks and gloves.

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Crews recover fisherman's body in Courtland

Submitted by WAFF Web Staff

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 6:11pm

LAWRENCE COUNTY, AL (WAFF)- Emergency crews recovered the body of a fisherman who disappeared in Spring Creek.

Witnesses say Simeon Gray fell in the water trying to cross from above.

He was fishing at Spring Creek near County Road 400 in Courtland.

Crews recovered his body around 4 p.m. Friday afternoon.

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Lil' Susie Fund in Bobby's Bama

Submitted by WAFF Web Staff

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 5:41pm

When we arrive at the Johnson home we see a large dog, romping and parking. She seems happy to be alive. This is Patches - according to her owner, Crystal Johnson, a rambunctious, curious, protective American Pit Bull puppy.

"Patches is my sweetheart. She is my protector," Johnson said.

And Patches recently had a problem with her growing belly.

"I thought she was pregnant at first," admits Johnson.

But the spreading midsection on this puppy wasn't due to early motherhood but her eating habits.

Johnson said you wouldn't believe what the vet found inside of her.

"In her was all kinds of foam, things like that, but it felt like a chain in there, too," she said. "Rocks was in there."

Patches needed surgery, and it was expensive.

In the middle of all the expense and concern for Patches, there was an organization that came to the rescue when it came to paying for vet bills.

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Father charged in 2011 death of infant

Submitted by WAFF Web Staff

Thursday, May 16th, 2013, 10:27pm

FRANKLIN COUNTY, AL (WAFF)- Franklin County investigators arrested a Lawrence County man and charged him in the death of his son.

Pablo Diego Larios, 23, was charged with capital murder in the 2011 death of his 3-month-old son.

Franklin County Sheriff Shannon Oliver said they just received the autopsy results on the baby this week.

Until they got those reports, he said they were at a standstill.

Investigators say emergency crews responded to a call back in July of 2011 at the Town and Country Trailer Park.

They say the 3-month-old child was not breathing and crews rushed him to a local hospital where he later died.

Oliver said the baby died from being violently shaken.

He said he is glad his department can provide closure for the family but expresses his concern for the delay from forensics.

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Crews resume recovery search for missing fisherman

Submitted by WAFF Web Staff

Thursday, May 16th, 2013, 5:26pm

Crews began the recovery search for a missing fisherman.

LAWRENCE COUNTY, AL (WAFF)-

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AL lawmakers may vote on 3 welfare bills

Submitted by WAFF Web Staff

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 7:19pm

DECATUR, AL (WAFF)- On the final day of the Alabama legislative session, lawmakers will likely take up three bills involving welfare benefits. All of the bills have passed through the Senate and await votes from the Alabama House of Representatives.

Senator Arthur Orr sponsored two of the bills. One would limit what people could buy with public assistance money. EBT cards would not be able to be used to buy liquor or cigarettes. Recipients would also not be able to use them in casinos, tattoo parlors, and adult entertainment businesses.

The bill would also prevent people from using the cards to pay for psychic services. The first time someone was caught using the card for any of those items, they would lose eligibility for EBT and state cash benefits for a month. The second time, they would lose eligibility for three months. The third time could mean they would ineligible for state public assistance in Alabama permanently.

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Military warns workers: Furloughs are coming

Submitted by WAFF Web Staff

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013, 5:18pm

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF)- The U.S. military is warning its workers furloughs are coming as the Pentagon deals with budget cuts.

Tuesday afternoon, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel sent out a memo to the Defense Department's civilian employees.

It will be considerably less painful than they have warned, but it will still be a tough blow, essentially a pay cut for hundreds of thousands of workers.

Hagel said the Defense Department will furlough most of its civilian workers by up to 11 days between now and the end of the current fiscal year this fall.

This is part of the automatic budget cuts known as sequestration, which are coming into effect because congressional negotiators could not make a deal to trim the federal budget deficit.

Huntsville defense contractors who have been struggling to deal with, and plan for, sequester cuts say they are a dangerous and irresponsible way to work the country's books.

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