Author: WAKA Action 8 News

Forty-five Lawmakers Work to Stop Toxic Lending in AL

You don’t have to go very far to see payday lending shops in Alabama. “The states around us have done things, so that has pushed a lot of payday lenders into Alabama. So per capita, we have the highest number of the payday loan shops in the state,” said Christopher Nanni, President and CEO of The Community Foundation of Greater…

Golden Apple: Katy Elliott

Our Golden Apple Award Winner this week comes from the Crenshaw County School System. As the 6th grade science and social studies teacher at Highland Home School, Katy Elliott says a lot has changed in her 24 years of years teaching, and offers these words of advice to anyone interested in becoming an educator. “Anyone that is thinking about becoming…

Storms Late Today, Active Pattern Ahead

A deep surface low will be tracking from the Dakotas into southern Canada. A trailing cold front will swing through the Southeast and is causing showers and storms to move through and these will move into Alabama later today. A few strong storms are certainly possible late this afternoon and evening, with gusty winds, but it still does not look…

Cloudy and Warm Today, Rain/Storms Late Tuesday

TODAY: It will be warmer and though it will be mainly cloudy, it should remain dry for most of us. We are going to see warmer conditions due to our winds shifting out of the south, and we should see highs in lower to mid 70s. RAIN RETURNS: A deep surface low will be tracking from the Dakotas into southern…

Renascence Halfway House Turns 10 years old

It was a night to gather together to celebrate a decade of helping local incarcerated men get back on their feet. “These gentlemen come to us on parole or probation. Many of our people who leave incarceration have no place to go. They don’t have a viable program to step into. They are ill equipped. They aren’t any physically available…

Cooler Days, Colder Nights Ahead

TODAY/TOMORROW: These two days will be highlighted by the new, more seasonal air mass that arrived behind the cold front. Both days will be dry, with ample sunshine, cool days, and chilly nights. The highs will in the mid 60s, lows will be back down into the 30s and many places will see some patchy frost Friday morning. THE FIRST…

Local Teen with Heart Condition gets Make-A-Wish Trip

Samuel Portis was adopted from China at 3 years old with a serious heart condition. The Make-A-Wish Foundation granted him a wish Wednesday night that definitely put a smile on his face. “We are sending you and your family to Costa Rica on March the 18th. In a week or so you will be heading for Costa Rica!” announced Scott…

Strong Storms Possible Late Today

As we head through our Wednesday, a cold front will move into a moist, unstable airmass over Alabama, setting the stage for some strong to severe thunderstorms to impact the state. The main concern area will be across North Alabama in the Enhanced risk area. The Slight risk area extends as far south as the U.S. 80 corridor, and then…

AGAPE of Central AL holds 3rd Annual Connecting Hearts Event

It was a night to come out and show support for the many children in need of forever homes. “There are about 5 thousand children in foster care in Alabama and we’re a small agency trying to help reduce that big number. Sometimes it’s trying to help children get home to their families, sometimes its our foster families adopting those…