5 smart ways to use your tax return

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Sunday, April 21st, 2:00 pm

By Amy Fontinelle | Content provided by Investopedia

Even when we expect our tax returns to bring a refund, we all dread preparing for the tax deadline. The arcane tax forms, instructions few can decipher and our increasingly complex financial situations make each year's return seem more painstaking than the last. Many personal finance experts recommend adjusting your withholding so that you don't get a refund check in the spring (arguing that this amounts to giving Uncle Sam an interest-free loan for several months) when you could be putting that money to immediate use. However, for some people, having the government hold their money for them is the easiest way to accomplish their savings goals.

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UAB experts: How to get your kids moving this summer

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Saturday, April 20th, 9:00 am

From UAB:

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - For many kids, summer means sleeping late, pigging out and sitting in front of the TV. Adding physical activity to kids’ summer routines helps battle obesity and improves their concentration, memory and behavior, according to University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) experts.

Sandra Sims, Ph.D., and Donna Hester, Ph.D., physical education experts and associate professors in the Department of Human Studies teamed up to share tips to help parents encourage children and adolescents to achieve the 60 minutes or more of daily physical activity recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

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Brad Paisley to play at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater

Submitted by Melynda Sides, Digital Content Producer

Friday, April 19th, 2013, 4:28pm

Brad Paisley to play at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater

Country star Brad Paisley will be performing at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater this summer as part of his Beat the Summer tour. Paisley will be joined by special guests Chris Young and Lee Brice.

The concert will be on Friday, June 14 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Tickets are on sale and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com, the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater Box Office, or charge by phone 800.745.3000.

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Your guide to Alabama, Auburn 2013 A-day games

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Friday, April 19th, 2:52 pm

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- The Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers are each holding their A-Day games this Saturday, April 20.

Alabama's A-Day game kicks off at 2 p.m. and Auburn's starts at 1:05 p.m. This year, Auburn's celebration also includes a block party in honor of Toomer's Oaks and a final rolling of the trees before they are removed April 23.

The University of Alabama has released a list of prohibited items and says in a press release that the rules will be strictly enforced.

"As a result of the tragic events in Boston this week, we are being even more proactive about the safety and security of our fans, which is one our our highest priorities," Deborah Lane, Associate Vice President for University Relations, said.

The prohibited items are:

-Any purse or bag bigger than an 8.5" by 11" piece of paper

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Cybercrooks use interest in Texas plant explosion to attack computers

Submitted by Alan Collins, Fox 6 News Reporter

Friday, April 19th, 2013, 11:04am

Cybercrooks use interest in Texas plant explosion to attack computers

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Another round of cyber attacks to beware of on your personal computer.

FOX6 told you Wednesday that cyber criminals were sending out emails with malware in video of the Boston Marathon bombings. The latest cyber attack has expanded to include the explosion at a west Texas fertilizer plant late Wednesday night.

"The spammers diversified the message of just focusing on the Boston explosion. Now they have added a line referring to the Texas explosion," Gary Warner, UAB's Director of Research in Computer Research, said.

Warner has been working with authorities tracking the spammers in efforts to shut them down. The crooks' goal is to download a hidden program to personal computers which in turn could cause the computer to be controlled to send out future spam. There is also another group which seeks to add a financial crime program to your computer.

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Weather blog: Possible severe weather Friday morning

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Wednesday, April 17th, 5:26 pm

As of Wednesday, the weather team believes this is the timeline for Friday's storms. Source: WBRC

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- The FOX6 StormWarn team has been monitoring a weather system that could result in severe weather Friday morning.

Based on current forecast models, the storm line could enter west Alabama around 2 a.m. and arrive at the I-65 corridor around 5 a.m.

The biggest threats with this system could be damaging winds and the team hasn't ruled out the possibility of "quick spin up tornadoes." The line will move into east Alabama later in the morning and more rain could develop after the main line of storms.

Meteorologist Wes Wyatt explains more in his latest weather blog:

In addition to warmer weather, another big headline for our area will be a severe weather threat for early Friday. We're already seeing the threat for severe storms ramping up across parts of the nation. A tornado watch has been in place for Missouri today, with severe thunderstorm watches extending north to Chicago.

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Police, coroner deny assault as cause of teen's death

Submitted by MyFoxAL Web Staff on Tuesday, April 16th, 10:41 pm

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Authorities in Chilton County are releasing limited details on the death of a 12-year-old boy. Jemison police confirm the boy was admitted to an area hospital Saturday and died Monday.

Chilton County Coroner Randall Yeargan says Christopher Rico died of natural causes at Children's Hospital. He adds that rumors of a beating are untrue.

Many FOX6 viewers have left us messages, concerned he died from a bullying attack. Police say his death was not consistent with an assault.

"We conducted a thorough Death Investigation," Jemison Police Chief Shane Fulmer writes in a press release. "Based on the facts we have found no evidence that any type of physical altercation occurred that would have been a contributing factor to [Rico's] death."

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