Our network

Military warns workers: Furloughs are coming

Tuesday afternoon, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel sent out a memo to the Defense Department's civilian employees.

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF)- The U.S. military is warning its workers furloughs are coming as the Pentagon deals with budget cuts.

Tuesday afternoon, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel sent out a memo to the Defense Department's civilian employees.

It will be considerably less painful than they have warned, but it will still be a tough blow, essentially a pay cut for hundreds of thousands of workers.

Hagel said the Defense Department will furlough most of its civilian workers by up to 11 days between now and the end of the current fiscal year this fall.

This is part of the automatic budget cuts known as sequestration, which are coming into effect because congressional negotiators could not make a deal to trim the federal budget deficit.

Huntsville defense contractors who have been struggling to deal with, and plan for, sequester cuts say they are a dangerous and irresponsible way to work the country's books.

Community Sponsors

Breast cancer gene testing options

HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF)- Angelina Jolie recently announced her decision to undergo a preventative double mastectomy after learning that she carries BRCA1, which is a gene that studies have shown increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

WAFF looked into this type of testing and found that there are test sites across Alabama. There is one in Mobile, two in Birmingham, and one in Huntsville at the Clearview Cancer Institute.

Doctors draw blood and then send it off to a lab in Utah. The test costs thousands of dollars and not all insurance providers are willing to pay for it.

Over 1-million people have had the testing done since it first became available in 1996, but the Susan G. Komen Foundation warns the test is not for everyone.

Stream it: 'Sports Night'

Stream it: 'Sports Night'

"Sports Night" is the show that got me interested in working at a TV station. I can guarantee you that I was the only eighth-grader in my little Texas middle school that was tuning into this show as religiously as I was. Come to think of it, I was probably the only person in the area watching it; "Sports Night" lasted two seasons before being unceremoniously canceled in 2000.

This is a shame because the concept had legs. Set behind the scenes of a nightly sports news show, "Sports Night" was the television debut for creator and head writer Aaron Sorkin, who would set up similar fly-on-the-wall shows "West Wing," "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," and "The Newsroom."

Boaz may soon construct new aquatic center

Mayor Tim Walker said a vote to construct the aquatics center could come in the next few weeks.

BOAZ, AL (WAFF)- The city of Boaz's plans for a new aquatic center are one step closer to reality.

The city council is expected to vote to purchase a half acre of land adjoining the old outlet malls.

If approved, that will complete the purchase of the 23.5 acre tract being considered for the sports complex.

Mayor Tim Walker said a vote to construct the aquatics center could come in the next few weeks.

Copyright 2013 WAFF. All rights reserved.

Community Sponsors

Emergency medical cat care at your fingertips

Emergency medical cat care at your fingertips

 

By Dr. Jessica Vogelsang
From The Daily Cat

We've all been there: It's midnight, and your cat is acting strange. Then it vomits. You watch your pet, wondering if you need to bundle it into the carrier and incur a $100 emergency vet bill to be told your cat is probably fine, or that you should wait until the morning and take your chances on not giving your pet immediate attention.

Another year of no pay raises for state employees

Budgets passed Thursday don't have any raises built-in for state employees.

MADISON COUNTY, AL (WAFF)- For the first time in more than half a decade, Alabama teachers will see a salary increase.

Lawmakers
approved a plan giving them a two percent raise. Governor Bentley is
expected to sign that bill into law soon.

However, other state employees are not as fortunate. Budgets passed Thursday don't have any raises built-in for them.

Lawmakers say things still look bleak financially.

The Madison County District Attorney's Office is feeling the effects and has been for quite some time.

District Attorney Robert Broussard said funding for his office has steadily declined since 2008. He said what they are getting this year is about half of what they received five years ago.

State budget cuts continue to have an impact on the D.A.'s office and its operations. Broussard said less money means more limitations.

WEATHER BLOG: Saturday afternoon rain chances dropping

WEATHER BLOG: Saturday afternoon rain chances dropping

By Brad Travis

Partly cloudy and dry tonight with a south wind and lows around 62 degrees.  Showers and thunderstorms will begin to move into NW Alabama around sunrise.  

The line will be capable of strong gusty winds and heavy rain.  The line will be weakening as it tracks from west to east and might not make it completely across the Valley before falling apart before the Noon hour.