The News Courier in Athens, Alabama

Local News

May 19, 2012

Local morning update for May 19, 2012

— Good Saturday morning to you. Here’s your morning update of what’s happening in Limestone County and beyond.

WEATHER

Today, a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 10a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph. Tonight, 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

AROUND THE COUNTY

• Rodeo: Don't miss the 30th annual Limestone County Sheriff's Rodeo today.

TOP FIVE HEADLINES

Governor signs immigration law changes

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Gov. Robert Bentley signed legislation Friday that revises Alabama's immigration law and dropped his effort to get the Legislature to make more revisions in its special session.

Bentley said he liked most but not all of the bill the Legislature passed Wednesday evening in the final hours of its regular session, and he had hoped to change two of its features in the special session that he called Thursday.

"However, as we worked with legislators during the special session, it became clear that the Legislature did not have the appetite for addressing further revisions at this time," Bentley said Friday.

Facebook stock closes nearly flat in debut

NEW YORK (AP) — It was barely a "like" and definitely not a "love" from Facebook investors as the online social network's stock failed to live up to the hype in its trading debut Friday.

One of the most anticipated IPOs in Wall Street history ended on a flat note, with Facebook's stock closing at $38.23, up 23 cents from Thursday night's pricing.

That meant the company founded in 2004 in a Harvard dorm room has a market value of about $105 billion, more than Amazon.com, McDonald's and Silicon Valley icons Hewlett-Packard and Cisco.

|It also gave 28-year-old CEO Mark Zuckerberg a stake worth $19,252,698,725.50.

Bush to return to White House for portrait event

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President George W. Bush plans to return to the White House for the unveiling of his official portrait later this month, marking a rare visit by the two-term president who has largely shunned the spotlight since leaving office.

The White House and Bush's office said Bush and former first lady Laura Bush will return to the White House on May 31 for the release of their portraits.

Bush has avoided politics since he left office in January 2009. The portrait ceremony will be his first visit to the White House in more than two years.

Clemens key accuser: 'I misspoke' about evidence

WASHINGTON (AP) — Roger Clemens' lawyer jabbed his left index finger and hammered away, relentlessly attacking Brian McNamee over his personal life and accusing the government's chief witness of "making up this stuff on the fly." The attorney finally sprung his trap and pointed out what appeared to be a flaw in McNamee's story about the collection of evidence that turned up in a beer can.

McNamee's explanations: "I misspoke; I'm sorry" and "It's never been asked that way to me."

Clemens' longtime strength coach endured a fifth day Friday of questioning — he's now spent some 24 hours in the swivel chair between jury and judge in the perjury trial of the 11-time All-Star pitcher.

State of Alabama outlines cuts to Medicaid

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama state officials have outlined cuts to Medicaid that have comes as a result of lower than expected state revenue.

The cuts include a 10 percent reduction to payments for certain providers, including doctors, dentists, x-rays, medical equipment and maternity primary contractors.

While state officials say benefits to children won't change, some adult benefits will. Medicaid will only cover routine eye exams once every three years instead of once every two, and the state is ending coverage of eyeglasses as a benefit.

The cuts also mean Medicaid will only cover one brand-name drug per month. Generic drugs and over-the-counter medicines will still be covered.

WATER COOLER

Man wears briefs on head during Idaho burglary

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Police in southwest Idaho say a man chose briefs over boxers to wear on his head as he held up a coffee shop and stole a safe.

Coffee shop owner Jason Wilson tells the Idaho Statesman says he believes the man was likely not prepared when he entered Big Star Coffee in Fruitland with an accomplice on Tuesday morning.

Wilson asked: "Who robs something with underwear on their head?"

Investigators say the two burglars made off with about $500 in cash that was inside the safe. Their actions were captured on surveillance cameras inside and outside the shop.

VIRAL VIDEO OF THE DAY

A look back at an event from last year's Limestone County Sheriff's Rodeo.

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