The Sunrise News Sampler

Tuscaloosa police are searching for a man who abducted a woman early yesterday morning.  As the victim got into her vehicle, the man was waiting in the back seat, pulled a pistol, and told her to drive to an ATM to withdraw money. The woman had no account from which she could withdraw. She was eventually forced into the trunk of her car and was able to get out when the vehicle was stopped. The vehicle was found abandoned, but the suspect is still at large.

Local authorities are working to identify human remains that were found in a burning van in Brookwood yesterday.  The van was discovered early in the day, but it wasn't until the fire was extinguished that the body was found.

Gov. Bentley is challenging legislators to be leaders as they address the state's budget crisis next year.  Bentley says he wants to make significant changes instead of putting a Band-Aid on the state's budget for another year.

New standardized tests show that half of Alabama eighth-graders aren't meeting reading and math standards.  The Department of Education announced the results yesterday of the ACT Aspire assessments that students took in the spring.

The U.S. Senate is expected to follow the House and approve a $1.1 trillion spending bill to keep the government running through next September without a shutdown threat.  There are parts that greatly upset conservatives and liberals, but Senate leadership is on board with the bill.

Oil prices continue to drop.  Benchmark U.S. crude settled just below $60 a berrel yesterday, and it's fallen further in overseas trading today. The International Energy Agency says several years of record high prices have "Induced the root cause" of the plunge in oil prices.

Actress Beverly Johnson, who was  top model in the 70s, has added herself to the list of women who have come forward with allegations of being drugged and sexually assaulted by Bill Cosby.