Weekly News Review

This week's top news stories:

According to Tuscaloosa Police, 30-year-old Antonion Lashawn Williams was reported as missing. Williams, who is about 6’3″ and 250 lbs, was last seen on July 17, wearing a white t-shirt, green Nike shorts, and blue Nike shoes. He was last seen driving a gray 1995 Ford Crown Victoria. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Tuscaloosa Police, Crimestoppers, or the Criminal Investigations Division.

Thursday night, 29-year-old Andrew Lackey became the first Alabama inmate to be executed since 2011. Lackey was convicted of beating and killing an elderly man on Halloween night in 2005.

The Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in Washington was vandalized with green paint being splattered on the statue and the floor.

September 6 and 7, area residents and businesses can recycle old or unused electronics in the back parking lot of University Mall. Unfortunately, this includes almost everything but televisions.

Governor Bentley announced another $372 million in road and bridge projects for 45 Alabama counties, bringing his Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program to nearly $1 billion in projects.

Prince William and Kate’s had a son, named George Alexander Louis.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman took  issue with A-Rod for seeking a second opinion on his injured quad from a doctor who has been linked to steroids.

Belle Foods, LLC, agreed to sell 44 stores because it believes the sale of the stores presents the best opportunity to maximize value for the benefit of its creditors. As of now, Tuscaloosa-area Food Worlds and Belle Foods will remain open through the restructuring process.

The Hoover city school board voted to eliminate bus routes for everyone but special education students beginning in August 2014 as part of a plan to save $2.5 million annually.

The Tuscaloosa City Council approved a new and revised funding agreement between City Hall and the Tuscaloosa County Commission for a series of PARA facility upgrades. The plan now goes back to the County Commission for consideration.

Democratic Senator Hank Sanders and Representative Alvin Holmes say they will introduce bills in the Legislature next year, seeking to repeal our "stand your ground" law.

The House is considering an amendment to a defense spending bill that would tighten the leash on government surveillance, which has brought dire warnings from supporters that restrictions would put the nation at risk for another terrorist attack.

Dwayne Wade is said to have finally reached a financial settlement with his ex-wife Siovaughn Funches, ending their divorce saga.

The five unopposed qualifiers for municipal elections were certified as the winners of their respective races.

All four of the state’s public schools that teach only special needs students are now labeled as failing because of the Accountability Act, and some parents are complaining.

Arlington, Florida day-care teacher Michelle Hammack has been fired for putting out a fire in the facility’s oven. Officials say she shouldn’t have left her classroom unattended.

Country singer Corey Smith is set to play the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on September 27. Tickets went on sale Friday.

Alabama’s current four early commitments for the class of 2015 places the Tide in a strong position. This time last year, there were no commitments for the class of 2014 and only one for 2013 this time two years ago.

Montgomery police are trying to locate the cremated remains of a newborn baby, which were inside a purse that was snatched from his mother by a robber.

Gadsden State Community College President Ray Staats was placed on paid administrative leave. William Blow has been named acting president.

Major League Baseball has suspended Ryan Braun for the rest of the season for performance enhancement drug use.

The Adopt-A-School program is looking for new partners for the upcoming school year. The program works to build relationships between the people in businesses and organizations and the schools. Interested parties should contact the Chamber of Commerce.

Governor Bentley held a signing ceremony for a bill that allows qualified emergency workers to vote by absentee ballot if they are called away from their homes to respond to an emergency immediately before an election.

U.S. researchers are about to start an experiment with some cancer patients as they undergo chemotherapy, which involves using cold to try to keep the patients from losing eith hair. The process is used widely in Europe and Canada.

The launch of an initiative aimed at addressing childhood obesity in Alabama has slowed an increase of overweight children compared to other states but hasn’t improved Alabama’s childhood obesity rate.

The latest survey of business economists by the National Association for Business Economics has found that companies are increasingly confident the economy will grow at a modest pace over the next year and are adding jobs.