FLORENCE, AL - Alex Lindley and Matt Wilson of the University of North Alabama won the top news reporting awards on a national level for a series of stories they wrote.

Lindley and Wilson wrote the stories to follow an alleged rape reported on the UNA campus last semester. The series won the first place award in the Region 3 Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) competition before advancing on to the national level. Lindley and Wilson were responsible for all interviews and research done prior to writing the stories.

Lindley attributed his success to the collective efforts of The Flor-Ala staff. “We worked really well together all year, so when something big happened, we were able to get the news out quickly in a responsible, informative way,” Lindley said. Lindley said he sees the awards received as confirmation that The Flor-Ala is the best source for UNA news.

DECATUR, AL (WAFF)- A New Jersey lawmaker has introduced legislation that would give police the right to take cell phones at the scene of crash sites. The officer would have access to the drivers call log to see if the phone played a part in the wreck. But lawmakers in the Tennessee Valley said they don't see a bill like that passing here.

"The short answer is it's probably something that would be very difficult to pass in Alabama," said Senator Arthur Orr (R., Decatur - District 3)

 Orr said a bill like that could be a violation of the Constitution.

"I think there is a problem with the 4th amendment, the searches and seizures law allowing a law enforcement officer just to take someone's cell phone after a traffic accident."

FLORENCE, AL (WAFF)-

High school students
looking to get a head start will soon have to pay to take college level classes
at the University of North Alabama.

The school will charge
students a $100 dual enrollment fee to earn college credit.

School officials said the program has grown
more than they anticipated leading to a need for the fee.

Other Alabama universities
also charge dual enrollment fees. At the University of Alabama, a three-credit hour course would cost more than $700. At Auburn, it'd be nearly $1,000.

Copyright 2013 WAFF. All rights reserved.