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Homebrewing legalized in Alabama

Homebrewing legalized in Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Homebrewing is now legal in Alabama. The Alabama Homebrewing Association estimates there are 5,000 homebrewers in Alabama. One is Jeff Benedict who just moved to Alabama.

"I'm from Maryland. When I moved here I was kind of disappointed homebrewing was illegal. I brought most of my equipment with me but I've yet to brew here," Jeff Benedict said.

At the Hop City Wine and Beer company their phone has been constantly ringing. The company earlier offered homebrewing products and equipment until the Alabama Alcohol and Beverage Control agents seized them. The general manager said that will change starting next Tuesday.

"It's retailing verses the big brown truck dropping it off at your house. There are retail sales that gain taxes, there is benefits to that as well," Chris Reid said.

Week in Review: May 10

Week in Review: May 10

(RNN) - Authorities were shocked to discover that three missing Cleveland women were being held captive in the same house for almost a decade. Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were found alive after Berry escaped from the house with her 6-year-old daughter, who police believe was born in captivity. The suspect, Ariel Castro, is being held on $8 million bond.

Jurors convicted Jodi Arias of first-degree murder in Phoenix. Arias is accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend, Travis Alexander, in a jealous rage. Her sentencing, which could include the death penalty, is set for next week.

James Holmes, the suspect in the July 2012 Colorado theater shooting that killed 12 people, pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.

Tuscaloosa Co. remembers its fallen officers

The annual law enforcement memorial service was held in front of the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse. Source: WBRC video

TUSCALOOSA COUNTY, AL (WBRC)- People in Tuscaloosa County remembered the lives of those lost in the line of duty during a ceremony held Thursday.

The annual law enforcement memorial service was this morning in front of the Tuscaloosa County courthouse.

The mother of a state trooper killed in 1984 laid the wreath in front of the courthouse. The names of those who had been killed previously in the line of duty were read aloud.

So far, no officers have been lost in the line of duty this year in Tuscaloosa County.

Copyright 2013 WBRC. All rights reserved.

 

5K to raise funds for dog park in Will May's honor

Will May was killed in a hunting accident earlier this year. People in Tuscaloosa are planning to name a dog park in his honor since he was an animal lover.

TUSCALOOSA, AL (WBRC)- Plans are in the works for Tuscaloosa to get is first dog park, and those plans also call for it to be named in memory of Will May, a young boy killed earlier this year in a hunting accident. This weekend, there's a chance to help those plans become a reality.

Will May was an eighth grader at Rock Quarry Middle School in Tuscaloosa when he was killed in January. Will was known as an animal lover, which is why people behind the plans for the park decided it would be named in his memory.

The plans still have to be approved by the Tuscaloosa City Council, but it would be located at Sokol Park in Tuscaloosa. Will's mother says an outpouring of community support and their family's faith has helped her family through these last few months.

Study suggests good hygiene is one cause of allergies

Study suggests good hygiene is one cause of allergies

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- A new study suggests a link between good hygiene might actually cause some children to develop allergies.

The JAMA Pediatrics study suggests that children's immune systems aren't being trained to recognize and fight off certain irritants in the air. The study says American-born children are 14 percent more likely to develop allergies than those born outside the U.S. It says several factors may be to blame, including being too clean.

"Having clean drinking water, not having to deal with some of the things that third world countries have to deal with is a good thing. Whether or not we're becoming too extreme may be some to increase in allergic incidents in the children of our country and even adults," Dr. Maxcie Sikora of the Alabama Allergy and Asthma Center said.

Comparison of procedure costs at various Ala. hospitals

Comparison of procedure costs at various Ala. hospitals

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Today we got our first-ever comprehensive look at what hospitals around the country charge for different procedures, and the newly-released data shows some big gaps in what different hospitals in our area charge for the same procedure.

Hospitals protect this cost information like KFC protects its recipe, but as part of the healthcare overhaul, the government today released thousands of pages of documents showing what hospitals charge Medicare and Medicaid for different procedures.

Before we show you the data, there are a couple of important things to remember.

These costs are what the hospitals charge the government, not what they charge healthcare insurance companies who often negotiate deep discounts as part of their contracts.

And as you'll see, there is a big difference between what a hospital charges and what the government ends up actually paying.

Tuscaloosa Co. homicide unit makes an arrest in cold case

Tuscaloosa County Homicide Unit officers arrested Alvin Travis on capital murder and assault charges stemming from a Jan. 2010 shooting. Source: WBRC video

TUSCALOOSA, AL (WBRC)- Tuscaloosa County authorities have arrested a man in a murder case that's more than three years old.

On Wednesday, officers with the Tuscaloosa County Homicide Unit charged Alvin Travis with capital murder and two counts of assault.

Police say Travis shot Eddie Williams, Jr. at a residence in the 2900 block of 21st Street around 4 a.m. January 16, 2010. Williams was shot multiple times and later died at DCH Regional Medical Center. Police say Travis also shot two other people during the incident.

The homicide unit and West Alabama Narcotics Task force took Travis into around 1:15 p.m. today. He is being held in the Tuscaloosa County Jail on no bond.

Copyright 2013 WBRC. All rights reserved.