First News this Morning

Chef Boyce's Panko Crusted Tilapia

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 06:13:49 -0500

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAAY) - Award-winning Huntsville chef and restaurateur James Boyce prepared Panko Crusted Tilapia from his restaurant Café Alana Shay in the DoubleTree Suites Hotel.

Here's Chef Boyce's recipe featured on WAAY 31 FirstNews Morning:

Panko Crusted Tilapia
by Chef James Boyce
Cotton Row Restaurant

Serves 6

6 tilapia fillets, rinsed & patted dry
1/2 cup melted margarine
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup unseasoned panko
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
lemon wedge

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375%. Spray a baking pan lightly with cooking oil.
2. In a shallow dish, combine melted margarine, garlic powder, and lemon juice. In a separate shallow dish, combine panko and Old Bay seasoning.
3. Dip each filet in butter mixture, then roll well in the panko mixture. Place filets in a single layer onto prepared pan.
4. Press any remaining panko mixture onto tops of filets.
5. Bake 12-14 minutes, until flaky. Serve with lemon wedges.

Award-winning Huntsville Chef and restaurateur James Boyce has five restaurants in Huntsville: Cotton Row, James Steakhouse, Commerce Kitchen, Pane e Vino and Café Alana Shay in the DoubleTree Suites Hotel.

Future beauticians treat survivors to a day of paradise

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 00:14:59 -0500

Florence, AL (WAAY TV) - Breast cancer awareness month is wrapping up but several local girls are still working for the cause. The cosmetology students at Central High School teamed up with those at Allen Thornton Career Technical Center to give breast cancer survivors a “Day of Paradise.”

The beauticians in training welcomed any and all who survived the disease to a day of pampering. Haircuts, manicures, pedicures, even waxing were offered and it was all free of charge.

CHS Cosmetology instructor Kandi Cooper says one of her students came up with the idea years ago and Survivor’s Paradise has been an annual event ever since.

“We have just continued the tradition because it is so great, the girls love it,” said Cooper. “The community gets really involved. I think it’s just great just to be able to see the survivors come in and see how much enjoyment they get out of it.”

One customer in particular is special to the girls, long-time teacher, Tonitia Butler. Originally diagnosed in 1998, Butler is now cancer free. The beloved educator is passionate about breast cancer awareness and visited the salon Wednesday morning to check out the event.

“These girls not only want to be aware themselves but they want to encourage those of us who have walked that path of cancer. Mrs.Cooper has done a wonderful job of that with this group because they really do show compassion for others and make you just feel very special when you come in.”

Over at Allen Thornton the students served 13 survivors Wednesday. While shampooing, cutting, and curling the girls also served refreshments and passed out goodie bags. Cosmetology Instructor Beth Wallace takes pride in not only her students’ skill with hair and nails, but also their enthusiasm for the cause.

“This is a wonderful way to show students how their skills can be used not only to help those that are in need, but also to honor those whom we respect,” said Wallace. “The students take great pride in their efforts and enjoy seeing the smiles on the ladies faces.”

Survivor’s Paradise continues Thursday at both schools.

Victim's families devastated by loss and seeking answers

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 22:10:28 -0500

Huntsville, AL (WAAY TV) - Mayia Minor, a senior at Central High School in Florence, had been home only a few hours Monday afternoon when she got the news that changed her world forever; her cousin, Amber McCaulley, was dead.

“I just stopped what I was doing and I just ran to my room it was unexpected and very devastating,” she recalled. “I sat there for a few minutes and I had to you know, think things over. I came out and I just knew I had to go check on her grandmother.”

The Minor family is, according to Mayia, extremely close and they are also, unfortunately, familiar with loss.

“This is the fourth one in two years,” she said, the fourth family member to pass away in the young girl’s life. But Mayia says this loss was particularly difficult. Amber was more than a relative, she was a friend.

“She was very family oriented and she loved being around us. We had good laughs and good talks. We were very close….we grew up together.”

The loss she says has devastated her close knit family, many of whom live in the Shoals area. Monday afternoon her family gathered, the experience she says, is something she will not soon forget.

“It was a scene. You don’t want to be in that type of environment, you don’t like to see no one down. It was very…. it was a lot of people crying, we were all just devastated, shocked basically.”

“I think as long as the world exists we are going to have things of that nature that happens, are we prepared for it no,” said William Ragland, the great uncle of the 18 month old baby who was also found dead Monday. He says despite his long life, you never get used to loss like this.

“Evil has happened in the world long before I made it here and it’s probably going to continue to exist as long as I live. Being mentally prepared for it, no, you’re never prepared for evil”

All of the family members say that the way their loved ones were taken makes the loss even more difficult.

“It affects you in terrible ways. I mean, she was very young and to know what happened you are just like shocked,” said Minor. You honestly don’t think it could happen to your family, you don’t. But when it does happen its like, you know, this is real it really happens.”

Minor says her family is now mourning, and praying for answers.

“It’s a lot of unanswered questions and that’s really what’s bothering us the most. We just want to come to a closing and an understanding as to why this happened.”

10 Things to Know for Today

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 06:30:56 -0500

1. CANDIDATES DEMONSTRATING URGENCY OF CAMPAIGN'S FINAL STRETCH

President Obama will cover 5,300 miles; Romney casts the race as moving his way.

2. HIGH STAKES FOR MICROSOFT AS IT UNVEILS WINDOWS 8

The dramatic overhaul of the operating system may prove that the largest software maker can still compete or reinforce perceptions that it is falling behind.

3. JORDANIAN MONARCH SEEKS TO STEER NATION THROUGH TURBULENCE

King Abdullah has managed to fend off domestic challenges for 22 months, but growing opposition and a foiled al-Qaida plot mean things are heating up.

4. IT'S OPENING DAY FOR NATION'S FASTEST ROAD

Final stretch of Texas Highway 130 will allow motorists to drive at 85 mph.

5. JAMAICA BRACES FOR A NASTY STORM

Tropical Storm Sandy is expected to be a hurricane when it hits the island nation Wednesday.

6. COMPARING THE IPAD MINI WITH ITS RIVALS

The device, with many of the same features as a regular iPad, has a bigger screen but costs more than a Nook or a Kindle Fire.

7. GOOGLE IS GETTING EVEN CLOSER WITH TREKKER

The backpack-sized device will outdo Street View and Trike to sneak into smaller places such as the hidden spots of the Grand Canyon.

8. WHY OBAMA WANTS WALL STREET TO ALTER PAY INCENTIVES

The President says financial regulation overhaul doesn't provide enough means to hold risk takers accountable.

9. WHAT NORTH KOREANS FIND IN "GONE WITH THE WIND"

The American cultural touchstone has something for everyone in this totalitarian bastion: tortured love, civil war, ruin and starvation.

10. WORLD SERIES GETS UNDERWAY TONIGHT

It's the power-packed Tigers against the never-say-die Giants.

Jack Daniel’s 24th world championship BBQ this weekend

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 05:37:15 -0500

Lynchburg, Tenn. (WAAY) - Nearly 70 championship barbecue teams from across the U.S. and 19 teams from around the world will compete for the title of Grand Champion at the 24th Annual Jack Daniel’s World Championship Invitational Barbecue this Saturday.

Recognized as the most prestigious barbeque contest around the world, "The Jack", unites the best of the best to compete for the ultimate prize: braggin’ rights as Jack Daniel’s Grand Champion and their share of more than $30,000 in cash and prizes.

Every drop of Jack Daniel's whiskey is made in Lynchburg, ironically located in a dry county.

However, for one weekend out of the year, it is the smell of pit smoke, not sour mash, that fills the air as 25,000 visitors swarm Wiseman Park for the ultimate barbecue competition.

Domestic teams who have competed and won a state championship with 25 teams or a competition of 50 teams or earlier in the barbecue season earned a chance to compete in seven categories: Pork Ribs, Pork Shoulder/Butts, Beef Brisket, Chicken, Dessert, Cook’s Choice and Jack Daniel’s Sauce.

The 2011 Jack Daniel’s world grand champion and the current season’s Memphis in May, American Royal Open and Houston World’s Championship Bar-B-Que received automatic invitations.

This year’s international line-up boasts teams from Australia, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Canada, England, Estonia, Norway, Puerto Rico, Poland, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

UNA’s online MBA ranked 9th in nation

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 05:12:11 -0500

FLORENCE, Ala. – The University of North Alabama’s online Master of Business Administration degree program has been ranked ninth in the nation on the 2012 list of Best Online MBA Programs, published by GetEducated.com, a national consumer guide to online colleges.

GetEducated.com surveyed the tuition costs of 107 regionally accredited business schools offering 201 online MBA degrees. The MBA program at UNA was named a Best Buy for its quality and affordability. The cost of the MBA degree at UNA is $11,952. That's less than half the national average of $23,918, according to the website.

“We are proud of the fact that we offer such a high quality program that is so competitive in price,” said Dr. Kerry Gatlin, dean of the UNA College of Business. “We have been in the top 10 for several years, and we have set a goal to be in the top five.”

According to Gatlin, several schools that ranked higher than UNA charge more for out-of-state students, while UNA’s in- and out-of state tuitions for the online MBA are the same. Were that a factor in the data, he said, UNA would be in the top five.

UNA currently offers an executive MBA concentration as well as eight traditional degree concentrations: accounting, finance, healthcare management, information systems, international business, project management, enterprise resource planning systems using SAP, and a more general professional concentration.

For more information, contact the UNA College of Business at 256-765-4261, or visit www.una.edu/business.

Community uneasy after multiple murders

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 19:31:34 -0500

Lincoln County, TN (WAAY) - Garret McDaniel lives on Huntsville Highway, minutes away from the home where Chabreya Campbell, her 18-month old son, Rico Ragland, and Amber McCaulley were found dead Monday morning. A longtime Lincoln County resident, he says the murders have left him in shock.

“It’s been peaceful, we have never had a crime around here,” said McDaniel. “It really makes you think about how safe you really are at your own home.”

The triple homicide was quickly followed by the discovery of another. A few hours later Jessica Brown was found dead not far away, in a home on Fox Wood drive in Fayetville. The murders have sent the community reeling with fear and confusion.

“I’ve heard a bunch of different stories like how and what happened,” said Blade Rodriguez, who lives just three houses away from the first crime scene. “You know, it’s devastating to hear it and its nerve wracking in all honesty because, you know, this is such a small town, its out in the country and you wouldn’t expect to hear things like this.”

But people who live in and around this small community say the news has left them not only shocked and horrified but also scared in their own homes.

I don't feel safe here not for my family or for me,” confessed McDaniel. He says he and his family members have all started taking extra precautions to make sure their home is safe. Rodriguez is doing the same, he says, because the killers are still on the loose.

“Since we found out about it we have just been making sure our windows and our doors are chained and locked, you know, making sure the house is secure.”

The original person of interest, Warren Vincent Crutcher, was found dead early Tuesday morning in Hazel Green. Police say he is connected to the other victims but they are not saying what the connection is. The Madison County Sheriff’s department is assisting in the case, and Chief Deputy Chris Stephens says they are now looking for multiple suspects.

Stephens says they have not established a motive and do not know exactly how many people may be involved but investigators are working the case around the clock. People in the community, like McDaniel, say they hope they find the people responsible very soon.

“It’s just devastating. I mean we are horrified to know that there is still somebody out there on the loose.”

10 Things to Know for Today

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 05:44:20 -0500

1. AMID CLASH, CANDIDATES FIND COMMON GROUND

In final debate, Obama and Romney both stress support for Israel, and both oppose sending U.S. forces to topple Assad.

2. YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?

Romney flubbed Middle East geography. Obama got Romney's record as Massachusetts governor wrong.

3. HOW THE SPA SHOOTING SUSPECT GOT HIS GUN - DESPITE PRIOR VIOLENCE

Police say Radcliffe Haughton didn't have to wait for a background check, because he bought his weapon from a private individual.

4. WHAT APPLE HASN'T TOLD US ABOUT ITS NEW MINI IPAD

With the public getting its first look at the device Tuesday, many details are already known - except what it will cost.

5. ACCUSED USS COLE BOMBER SEEKS TO HALT GUANTANAMO TRIAL

Lawyers for Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri say that since the U.S. wasn't at war at the time of the bombing in Yemen, the 47-year-old shouldn't be tried at the U.S. base.

6. LANCE ARMSTRONG: HEROICS THAT NEVER HAPPENED

The Texan is no longer a seven-time Tour de France winner. His name has been erased from the record books.

7. WHY GREEN BUILDINGS ARE ON THE RISE IN PERSIAN GULF STATES

Oil-rich countries are realizing their fossil fuel supplies will someday run out and they should chart a more sustainable path.

8. SYRIAN REGIME AND REBELS CONSTANTLY ADAPT THEIR ARSENALS

As the civil war heats up, the opposition is getting more advanced gear while government troops resort to low-tech weapons for urban warfare.

9. AN AWARD TO GET ELLEN DEGENERES DANCING

She receives the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, joining the ranks of Bill Cosby and Tina Fey.

10. GIANTS RETURN TO WORLD SERIES AFTER COMBACK AGAINST CARDINALS

San Francisco won its record-tying sixth elimination game of the postseason, beating St. Louis 9-0 in Game 7 of the NLCS.

Dancing With The Stars: All-Stars teams compete

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 05:14:30 -0500

LOS ANGELES (WAAY) - Melissa Rycroft says she was on "a lot of medication" during last night's "Dancing With the Stars: All-Stars."

Rycroft fell during rehearsal for the group freestyle and hurt her neck.

The docs cleared her to perform, after she was diagnosed with a herniated disc.

Video of the rehearsal showed the EMT's taking Rycroft away on a stretcher, with her neck in a brace.

The judges praised her performance and the rest of team dancing to "Call Me Maybe." They got a 29.5 out of a possible 30.

Meanwhile, Carrie Ann Inaba ended up on the floor during last night's show.

She got so excited praising Gilles Marini's rumba, she fell off her chair. But Carrie Ann's OK.

Marini was just a-half point off getting a perfect 30 from the judges.

Emmitt Smith makes the difficult look easy.

That's what judge Bruno Tonioli told the Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer after his samba last night. Smith got his best scores of the season, including a 10 for a 29 out of 30.

But Kelly Monaco had an off night, with a samba. Len Goodman said it was a little too raunchy for him.

Tonight, the performances continue, including a "Gangnam Style" guilty pleasure team dance.

No one will get the boot this week.

You can watch tonight, beginning at 7:00 on WAAY 31.

Final debate: Challenging each other face to face

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 04:56:54 -0500

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) - President Barack Obama has sharply challenged Mitt Romney on foreign policy in their final campaign debate Monday night in Boca Raton, Fla.

Romney went on the offensive, too. When Obama said the U.S. and its allies have imposed crippling sanctions on Iran to halt nuclear weapons development, the Republican challenger responded that the U.S. should have done more. He said repeatedly, "We're four years closer to a nuclear Iran."

Romney also said the U.S. Navy has fewer ships than it did in 1916. Obama responded that there also are "fewer horses and bayonets" and that the Navy now has "things called aircraft carriers where planes land on them."

The two men found accord on more than one occasion when it came to foreign policy. Romney applauded the killing of Osama bin Laden. Each stressed unequivocal support for Israel when asked about a U.S. response if the Jewish state were attacked by Iran. Both also said they oppose direct U.S. military involvement in the efforts to topple Syrian President Bashir Assad.

And while the focus of the final faceoff was to have been primarily on foreign policy, both candidates took the liberty of shifting questions to talk about domestic policy.