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The Green Spot ribbon cutting November 15th

The Green Spot ribbon cutting November 15th

Better Business Bureau warns against out of state letter

Better Business Bureau warns against out of state letter

By Elizabeth Gentle 

The Better Business Bureau is issuing a warning about a company that sells insurance for plumbing.

They've been slammed with calls from customers and utility companies receiving out-of-state letters from a company.

The Better Business Bureau said they have been getting calls from the public wanting to know if Homeserve USA,which sells insurance coverage for burst pipes, broken boilers and drains is a legal business.

"What we are concerned about there has been several letters to our area, this is the 3rd round this year, notifying consumers to purchase an insurance policy/warranty on water line that goes from the outside of the house," said Michele Mason with the BBB.

Mason said

Superintendent in top 3 for Mobile job

Superintendent in top 3 for Mobile job

The city of Madison could have to give up their superintendent to a South Alabama school system.

Madison schools superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler is one of three finalists for the superintendent job in Mobile.

Tax deadline approaching

Tax deadline approaching

The deadline for people and small businesses to file tax forms is Monday.  That's if they requested a six month extension back in April.

The IRS said its E-file and free filing options are only available through the deadline on Monday.

More than 1.7 million Alabamians have already used IRS E-file this year.

Copyright 2011 WAFF. All rights reserved.

Tornado recovery lifts hurting Ala. builders

ANNISTON, Ala. (AP) - The rebuilding effort after this spring's deadly tornadoes has helped lift Alabama's struggling construction industry.

A report from the Center for Business at the University of Alabama finds that state residents will spend somewhere between $2.6 billion and $4.2 billion on rebuilding efforts. Researchers expected about $1 billion will be spent this year, with the remainder following next year.

Calhoun County builder David Kelly, who installs drywall, told The Anniston Star (http://bit.ly/n1wXT1 ) that before the tornadoes struck, he was struggling to get by week-by-week. He says business has now started to pick up.

Homebuilder Tony Porco also says the recovery efforts after the storms stimulated the demand for construction work.

US House passes bill targeting Boeing labor case

US House passes bill targeting Boeing labor case
By SAM HANANEL
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Republican-dominated House approved a bill Thursday that would undercut the government's labor dispute with Boeing Co., wading into a case that has angered business groups and become a major political issue in the Republican presidential primary.

The measure, approved on a 238 to 186 vote, would ban the National Labor Relations Board from ordering any employer to shut down plants or relocate work, even if a company violates labor laws.

While the bill is not expected to get a vote in the Democratic-run Senate, Republicans are trying to keep up pressure on the agency over a move they claim interferes with legitimate business decisions.

Republicans and their allies in the business community have gone after the NLRB for more than a year, as the agency has issued a spate of decisions and rules

Alabama business should be disaster ready

Alabama business should be disaster ready

President Barack Obama has declared September National Preparedness Month and business owners are encouraged to have a plan in place to protect their property, investment and employees.

According to Ready.gov, America's businesses form the backbone of the nation's economy; small businesses alone account for more than 99 percent of all companies with employees, employ 50 percent of all private sector workers and provide nearly 45 percent of the nation's payroll. If businesses are ready to survive and recover from natural and man-made disasters, the nation and our economy are more secure.

Business owners in Alabama are urged to be informed of the types of emergencies that could affect them both internally and externally. Ready.gov provides a state-by-state analysis of weather-related risks.