The Associated Press
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama Department of Homeland Security hopes every county will have use of its Virtual Alabama computer system by the end of this year, revealing images of the state's infrastructure.

The system has a multitude of uses for emergency response planning, roadbuilding, firefighting and other situations that require government response.

Forty-one of the state's 67 counties already have Virtual Alabama, including Mobile County's Emergency Management Agency. It has helped EMA map high-risk areas, but has not yet been used in an operation, such as hurricane response.

Most of us know about biotechnology, the combination of biology and technology.

Now Calhoun Community College is offering a 2-year degree in Biotechnology.

This is the only program like it in the state.

Researching the human genome and DNA has always been left up to post graduate and upper division schools, until now.

Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville is partnering with Calhoun Community College.

Huntsville, AL (PRWEB) July 12, 2007 -- Tim Knox joins WHNT-TV (CBS-Huntsville, AL) as small business expert on "NewsChannel 19 This Morning".

The Knox Entertainment Group (Huntsville, Alabama) has announced that nationally-known entrepreneur, author, syndicated business columnist and talk radio host Tim Knox will become a regular contributor to WHNT-TV (CBS-Huntsville, AL) as the station's small business expert.

Knox will appear on-set every Wednesday morning to answer viewer questions and discuss various small business topics. The segment, entitled "Mind Your Own Business with Tim Knox," will become a weekly feature of the "NewsChannel 19 This Morning" program.

Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center has announced that the international smash hit “Menopause The Musical ® - The Hilarious Celebration of Women and the Change ®” will be presented at Huntsville’s Merrimack Hall for a six-week engagement.

The Invited Dress Rehearsal Show will be held on September 6, 2007, with Opening Night on September 7, 2007. Show times are Wednesdays at 2:00, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00, Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00, and Sundays at 5:00. Tickets will be available on-line beginning July 9, 2007, at www.merrimackhall.com or by phone at 256-534-6455 (534-MILL). more info: http://huntsville.about.com/b/a/258330.htm

Your good Times magazine and the Huntsville Museum of Art are presenting the third annual BBQ and Bluegrass Art Party tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. on the north patio of the museum overlooking Big Spring International Park.

Live music will be provided by the bluegrass group Piney Creek. Almost 800 attended the family event last year.

BBQ plates must be reserved in advance at $10 each. Call 535-4350, ext. 208 or e-mail artkrewersvp@hsvmuseum.org to reserve your plate. Spectators can tour the museum for free and also bring their lawn chairs to listen to free music.

HUNTSVILLE (AP) — A former student at Alabama A&M University is seeking financial damages against the school, the city of Huntsville and Madison County for injuries she sustained during a fire two years ago at a women's dormitory.

Renada Lee, 20, of St. Louis says in her lawsuit that she was severely injured during the fire at Terry Hall, which started in the hallway. She contends the city failed to maintain the building's fire alarm system and was negligent in enforcing fire codes.

The university has said the fire alarm did sound, and the city has denied the allegations. A hearing on the city's motion to dismiss is now set for Aug. 1.

Lee said she and her roommate, Ronnisha S. Jones, were forced to jump from the fourth floor to escape flames in her room. Her back was broken and her right ankle was fractured, the suit said.

CHALLEN STEPHENSTimes Staff Writer
Blossomwood renovation could be a catalyst

A rebuilt Blossomwood Elementary School could lead to the shuttering of the second oldest elementary school in Huntsville.

East Clinton Elementary, built in 1938 and located in the Old Town Historic District, finished the school year with 182 students in a building with space for 480. Low enrollment has long made the school a target for consolidation.

Doug Martinson Jr., president of the city school board, said he and Superintendent Ann Roy Moore have talked recently about closing East Clinton. Moore was out of town this week and could not be reached for comment

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — North Alabama health officials said Tuesday that contaminated lettuce was likely the source of an E. coli outbreak that has caused 18 people in north Alabama to fall ill.

Dr. Debra Williams, assistant director of the Huntsville-Madison County Health Department, said statistical analyses and interviews with victims indicate that shredded lettuce served at Little Rosie's Taqueria was likely the cause of the illness.

Williams said 14 of the 15 people who tested positive for E. coli O157:H7 poisoning ate at the popular restaurant on June 28 or 29, The Huntsville Times reported on its Web site Tuesday.

The Associated Press
A Huntsville man who pleaded guilty to felony charges of repeatedly sexually abusing three of his adopted children won't go to jail.

Circuit Judge Karen Hall sentenced Jerry Wayne Love, 51, to 15 years on each of three first-degree sodomy charges Monday. But she followed the prosecutors' recommendation, ordering Love to spend five years on probation and undergo treatment in a sex offender program.

Huntsville scored the five runs in their first three innings at the plate off Smokies Starter Donnie Veal (5-6). Steve Moss cracked his seventh homerun of the year in the second and Adam Heether and Brendan Katin added third inning back-to-back RBI doubles.
Sam Narron (4-6) had more then enough run support pitching seven strong innings in the start. He yielded only one run on six hits without a walk but struck out seven.

The lone Smokies run scored on a Tyler Colvin solo homerun in the seventh. It was his second as a member of the Smokies.

Tennessee will be back at Smokies Park for a five game series with the Mobile Baybears starting on July 11th. Tickets can be purchased by calling 286-2300 or online a smokiesbaseball.com.