http://www.annistonstar.com/news/as-news.htm News headlines from The Anniston Star. StarScraper 1.46 Copyright (c)2009 Consolidated Publishing. All rights reserved. http://www.annistonstar.com/rss/images/as-logo_news.gif 14450 http://www.annistonstar.com/news/as-news.htm News en-us 20 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-dwhisenhunt-9a07v2015.htm OXFORD — Renovating Oxford's Civic Center was considered by Oxford's last City Council. But some new council members said Tuesday they could not predict when the new council would get started with plans to update the 34-year-old building. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-dwhisenhunt-9a07v2015.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-0-9a07v1803.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-0-9a07v1803.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-dwhisenhunt-9a07x5840.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-dwhisenhunt-9a07x5840.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-mfaulk-9a07x5657.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-mfaulk-9a07x5657.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-ncenegy-9a07x5910.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-ncenegy-9a07x5910.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-mbell-9a07v1904.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-mbell-9a07v1904.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-mnichols-9a07x0400.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-mnichols-9a07x0400.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-mnichols-9a08a0101.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-mnichols-9a08a0101.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-mnichols-9a07x0441.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-mnichols-9a07x0441.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-mshafer-9a08a0150.htm A 31-year old Anniston man was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver Wednesday night on Alabama 202 near Wellborn. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-mshafer-9a08a0150.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-ncenegy-9a07v1723.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-local-0108-ncenegy-9a07v1723.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-state-0108-0-9a07v1627.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-state-0108-0-9a07v1627.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-state-0108-0-9a07v2157.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-state-0108-0-9a07v2157.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-state-0108-0-9a07x0528.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-state-0108-0-9a07x0528.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-nation-0108-0-9a08a0010.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-nation-0108-0-9a08a0010.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-nation-0108-0-9a07w0839.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-nation-0108-0-9a07w0839.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-nation-0108-0-9a07w0745.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-nation-0108-0-9a07w0745.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-nation-0108-0-9a07w0659.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-nation-0108-0-9a07w0659.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-nation-0108-0-9a07v1525.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-nation-0108-0-9a07v1525.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-nation-0108-0-9a07v1331.htm WASHINGTON — House Democrats plan to give President-elect Barack Obama an early victory on health care, specifically children's health care, next week. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-nation-0108-0-9a07v1331.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-nation-0108-0-9a07v1451.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-nation-0108-0-9a07v1451.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-nation-0108-0-9a08a0222.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-nation-0108-0-9a08a0222.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-world-0108-0-9a07x4043.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-world-0108-0-9a07x4043.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-world-0108-0-9a07x3956.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-world-0108-0-9a07x3956.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-world-0108-0-9a07x3922.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-world-0108-0-9a07x3922.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-world-0108-0-9a07w0942.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-world-0108-0-9a07w0942.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-world-0108-0-9a07v1400.htm 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. http://www.annistonstar.com/news/2009/as-world-0108-0-9a07v1400.htm Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:17:33 CST