Learning through play: Jacksonville students going to 'Kid's College'

JACKSONVILLE — Jacksonville's schools are getting a software upgrade thanks to a grant from the Alabama Department of Education, The Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools and the software manufacturer, Learning Through Sports.

Jim Walter Homes shuts down; Oxford office to close

Home-building company Jim Walter Homes, a subsidiary of Florida-based Walter Industries, announced Tuesday it is shuttering all of its sales offices nationwide, including its Oxford branch.

National Weather Service report: Calhoun County damage not caused by tornado; no one was injured

National Weather Service officials said Tuesday's storms caused straight-line winds estimated at 85 mph that destroyed one mobile home and damaged dozens of roofs on buildings near the intersection of U.S. 78 and U.S. 431. The report affirms the damage in Calhoun County was not caused by a tornado, and that no one was injured in the storm.

Ledbetter invited on Obama Whistle Stop Tour

Jacksonville resident Lilly Ledbetter is among a group of 'everyday Americans' who have been invited to join President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden on their Whistle Stop Tour to the nation's capital the Saturday before Inauguration Day.

A new education environment: Oxford High's new Freshman Academy opens

OXFORD — Amanda Parker's eyes widened the moment she stepped into Oxford High's Freshman Academy on Wednesday. Not because of the state-of-the-art computer and science labs, the Mozart emanating from the speakers or the ample space to stroll the hallways without feeling smooshed.

Smithsonian Institute gives $10,000 grant to pair of Anniston museums

Anniston museums received a $10,000 grant from the Smithsonian Institute, Rep. Mike Rogers said Wednesday. The funding will help the Anniston Museum of Natural History and the Berman Museum host two new traveling exhibits this spring and offer Anniston students free admission, said Rogers, R-Saks.

McClellan development authority: Group gets updates on unclear issues

The McClellan Development Authority got updates Wednesday on several murky issues, including one that calls into question who owns property purchased at the former fort. One problem is whether owners have clear titles to their property, MDA members discussed at their second meeting.

Intersection at Sixth, Noble streets to be closed for months for repairs

The intersection at Sixth and Noble streets will be closed for up to three months, Anniston officials said. City Engineer Jonathan Byrd said the closure is the result of construction to repair a culvert that collapsed several years ago.

Anniston man killed in hit-and-run on Alabama 202

A 31-year old Anniston man was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver Wednesday night on Alabama 202 near Wellborn.

Some recent robbery suspects have notable criminal histories

At least three of the four suspects named in prominent robberies in recent months had significant criminal histories, at least two involving prior robberies, according to court records.

Deaths on state's rural roads drop 17 percent

MONTGOMERY — Traffic deaths on Alabama's rural roads dropped to their lowest level in 23 years in 2008 due to stricter enforcement, new safety features on roads and soaring gas prices that led to less driving, state officials said Wednesday.

Federal judge arrests state sheriff over jail food

DECATUR — A federal judge has ordered the arrest of an Alabama sheriff who was held in contempt of court for failing to adequately feed jail inmates while profiting from the skimpy meals.

Decatur officer accused of taking $70,000 in scam

DECATUR — A north Alabama police officer accused of faking his abduction and flying to Las Vegas took about $70,000 from a safe containing confiscated drug money, according to an affidavit.

Job losses to persist as economy plunges

WASHINGTON — Americans probably suffered a net loss of 2.4 million jobs last year, with the pain likely to stretch well into 2009 and possibly beyond, underscoring the recession's toll on employers and workers and the difficulty President-elect Barack Obama will face in reviving the economy.

Is Chrysler a lost cause?

DETROIT — Even by the standards of battered automakers, Chrysler is in dire shape. Its sales in December were down a stunning 53 percent, far worse than Ford or General Motors, and analysts say it probably won't survive the year as an independent company — despite $4 billion in government loans and the possibility of more.

Obama selects spending watchdog, eyes Social Security

WASHINGTON — President-elect Barack Obama pledged Wednesday to tackle out-of-control Social Security and Medicare spending and named a special watchdog to clamp down on other federal programs — even as he campaigned anew to spend the largest pile of taxpayer money in history to revive the sinking economy.

Senate Democrats retreat on Burris; Obama steps in

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats beat a hasty retreat Wednesday from their rejection of Roland Burris as President-elect Barack Obama's successor, yielding to pressure from Obama himself and from senators irked that the standoff was draining attention and putting them in a bad light.

Obama hails 'extraordinary' moment with presidents

WASHINGTON — Confronting a grim economy and a Middle East on fire, Barack Obama turned Wednesday to perhaps the only people on the planet who understand what he's in for: the four living members of the U.S. presidents' club.

House Dems to vote on Obama-favored health plan for children

WASHINGTON — House Democrats plan to give President-elect Barack Obama an early victory on health care, specifically children's health care, next week.

Joe the Plumber to become war correspondent

TOLEDO, Ohio — Joe the Plumber is putting down his wrenches and picking up a reporter's notebook. The Ohio man who became a household name during the presidential campaign says he is heading to Israel as a war correspondent for the conservative Web site pjtv.com.

Study: C-sections before delivery date causes complications in newborns

RALEIGH, N.C. — Delivering babies by Caesarean section just a few days too early increases the risk of respiratory problems and other complications in newborns, doctors at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and other centers report today.

Gaza fighting rages despite cease-fire proposal

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israel resumed its Gaza offensive Wednesday, bombing heavily around suspected smuggling tunnels near the border with Egypt after a three-hour lull to allow in humanitarian aid. Hamas responded with a rocket barrage.

Gaza reporter finds hometown in rubble

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — I live alone in my office. My wife and two young children moved in with her father after our apartment was shattered. The neighborhood mosque, where I have prayed since I was a child, had its roof blown off. All the government buildings on my beat have been obliterated.

Iraqi cleric urges attacks on U.S. troops over Gaza

BAGHDAD — Anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Wednesday urged reprisals against American forces in Iraq to protest Israel's Gaza offensive, as Arab anger grows over civilian deaths in the Palestinian territory.

Balkans freeze as Russia cuts gas supply

SOFIA, Bulgaria — Russia's decision to cut gas supplies to Europe through Ukraine on Wednesday hit the Balkans hard as a deep freeze descended on much of the region.

German polar bear Flocke gets Russian companion

NUREMBERG, Germany — Nuremberg's celebrity polar bear cub, Flocke, has a new friend: a Russian bear. The city's zoo says it introduced the male polar bear Wednesday to 1-year-old Flocke, who was raised by zookeepers after her mother rejected her.