WALA TV

$timulus money: Where's it going?

Bob Grip — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:46:53 GMT

More than $18 billion in stimulus money is coming to Alabama and Florida. In Alabama, about a third will go to education, with the rest divided between Medicaid, transportation and fiscal stabilization.

Local golf course closing temporarily

Bob Grip — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:53:30 GMT

Golfers who use the Spring Hill College Golf Course will have to find a new place to play, starting Monday. The College announced Thursday that the course will be temporarily closed from July 13 through mid-October for renovation and improvement. It couldn't come at a worse time for Alabama's oldest college.

Wind Creek Casino sustains business

April Douglas — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:22:59 GMT

The Wind Creek Casino in Atmore opened in the thick of troubled economy, but operators say despite all that business has been pretty good. Daily, between 4,000 and 5,000 people play there.

Saraland business to hire 600 employees

Cherish Lombard — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 01:22:05 GMT

A Georgia company is doing its part to bring down the unemployment rate. Ryla is a customer contact center that works with leading vendors across the country who have chosen to out-source their call center activities and they want you to be their next employee.

Prichard housing files lawsuit

April Douglas — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:35:20 GMT

The Prichard Housing Authority is filing suit against The Mitchell company for what it calls a breach of contract. Prichard claims the company used Chinese drywall to build homes for it and now those homes are useless. The housing authority believes the Chinese drywall emits harmful gases that corrode air conditioner and refrigerator coils and electrical wires, making the homes its rental homes useless. The housing authority was The Mitchell Company to correct the problem.

Charities use new ways to raise money

Derica Williams — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:32:32 GMT

Generous hearts are trying to lend a helping hand to people who are struggling in this tough economy. In order to do so, some local organizations are trying to find new ways to raise money.

Foley looking for more income from toll

Hubert Tate — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:32:06 GMT

Foley city leaders say Highway 59 is one huge money source for the city. They are trying to make the Foley Beach Express the city's second money corridor.

Mobile trying to move up the ladder

Mike Rockwood — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:36:51 GMT

The city of Mobile is trying to climb the population ladder in Alabama. In 2001, Montgomery passed up the port city, making Mobile the 3rd largest city in the state. But Mobile believes recent annexations and new business changed all that.

Pensacola Beach facing busiest weekend

Christina Leavenworth — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:32:12 GMT

In many areas, this weekend is all about the red, white and blue. On Pensacola Beach, it's also about the green. Pensacola Beach is gearing up for it's busiest weekend all year.

Bender files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Mike Rockwood — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:59:36 GMT

Bender Shipbuilding filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection Wednesday. The decades old Mobile business will be forced to downsize, leaving Bender with roughly 300 employees.

Pensacola working to get new businesses

Christina Leavenworth — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:56:46 GMT

Economic development is the hot topic in Pensacola, with the struggling economy, they're looking for every way possible to get businesses there. The Pensacola Escambia Economic Commission met to figure out what to do next.

July 4th brings in big business

Cherish Lombard — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:44:16 GMT

July 4th is just three days away and that usually means big business at the beach. But as we know, a lot of people are cutting back, in this tough economy. So how is business going at the beach?

Dauphin Island prepares for July 4th

April Douglas — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:24:08 GMT

Dauphin Island is gearing up for the Fourth of July. Realtors have been busy booking last minute rentals. Realtors on Dauphin Island said business is picking up. While it started off behind from last year, they are hopeful that will change.

LNG Torp project on its second round

April Douglas — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:14:42 GMT

Torp is trying for the second time to build a liquefied natural gas terminal, more than 60 miles off the coast of Dauphin Island. This time around it is meeting little resistance from environmental groups.

Residents will face sewage outage

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:15:41 GMT

Some people on the Eastern Shore could have a smelly problem on their hands. Residents who have overdue sewage bills in Daphne will be completely cut off.

Daphne makes Hwy 181 four lanes

Hubert Tate — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:15:01 GMT

Highway 181 is going to become a four-lane roadway. The widening project will extend between Highways 64 and 90. Construction started in June.

Expensive program for 2 high schools

Renee Dials — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:44:19 GMT

School officials say test scores show Williamson and Blount High School students have improved in a number areas over the past year. Now, Mobile County School Board is considering an expensive program for the two high schools.

Mardi Gras might be smaller next year

Christina Leavenworth — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:04:00 GMT

The floats, throws, and the moon pies are a large part of Mardi Gras, but Pensacola's festivities could be a bit smaller next year.

Thousands show up for Nat. Convention

Derica Williams — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:03:22 GMT

It will be a time for education and revival for attendees of The National Baptists of America Convention. Thousands from all across the country have flocked to Mobile for the week long convention. This convention will benefit the participants and the city of Mobile as well.

MAWSS makes an offer to Prichard

Renee Dials — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:29:13 GMT

The Mobile Area Water and Sewer System is working on an offer to manage the Prichard Water System.

Many people will lose their food stamps

Cherish Lombard — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:38:04 GMT

The Food Stamp Program helps low income families buy food necessary for proper health and nutrition, but recently some people have seen a decrease in the amount of food stamps they're receiving.

Alabama cancels compensation plan

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:33:19 GMT

The State Personnel Board is canceling a contract with Nationwide Insurance company to provide a deferred compensation plan for active and retired state workers in Alabama.

Unpaid property auctioned off

Hubert Tate — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:43:34 GMT

More than 3,800 unpaid property taxes went on the auction block Tuesday. Investors are calling it the Baldwin County version of Monopoly.

Unpaid properties head to auction block

Hubert Tate — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:51:21 GMT

Baldwin County authorities are giving property owners until Monday to pay taxes. If they don't pay by Monday, those properties will go on the auction block.

AIG Baker defaults on Daphne property

Hubert Tate — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:01:22 GMT

A Birmingham business has defaulted on a property they own in Daphne. AIG Baker owns the Jubilee Shopping Center and is behind on mortgage payments. Business owners are worried the shopping center could be shut down.

Local hotel housing the homeless

Cary Chow — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:16:21 GMT

A downtown Mobile hotel has a unique offer, rooms for the homeless. There are 131 rooms at the hotel, 30 of them are allocated for the employee program for the homeless. The hotel's General Manager, April Williams, said, "We temporarily house them on a limited basis and show them how to work with people in an actual work setting."

ThyssenKrupp's first employees clock in

April Douglas — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:51:42 GMT

The first ThyssenKrupp carbon steel hourly employed workers clocked-in Monday. ThyssenKrupp is planning to hire about 1,400 more people, over the next year and a half.

Online grocery order and delivery

Derica Williams — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 02:34:45 GMT

In this rough economy more and more folks are using the internet to search for things like travel and clothes. But what about everyday necessities like food? Some local entrepreneurs are trying to make grocery shopping easier.

New hotels opening on Eastern Shore

Hubert Tate — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:25:03 GMT

One area on the Gulf Coast is showing its economic muscle during this down economy. Several new hotels have opened their doors on the Eastern Shore.

Vandals causing heavy financial damage

Mike Rockwood — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 03:22:28 GMT

Mobile County Schools are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to clean up vandalism. Just this past weekend two schools were vandalized, one of them was set on fire. Administrators say with so much emphasis on cost-cutting and saving money, it just takes one vandal to steal thousands from the classroom.