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Morgan Thacker/ Associate Photo Editor

Toomer's Ten Welcome Downtown

Most people who have ventured downtown at night realize that parking spots are scarce.And many people have probably succumbed to the temptation of parking somewhere where they could be towed when they can't find any other spot.However, with the institution of Toomer's Ten, resorting to parking in tow-away zones may be a thing of the past."The amount of parking relieved from the downtown area has been dramatic," said Thomas Stone, manager of SkyBar CafeToomer's Ten was originally designed to provide students a safe way of getting to and from downtown Auburn at night.However, these ten buses may be helping more people than just students.And despite the loss of several parking spaces in front of the bar, Stone said he thinks that the buses have created five to six times more parking spaces.

The State Press

FEMA Demands Money From Baldwin County

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has questioned whether funds allocated to Baldwin County were used properly for post-hurricane cleanup.According to the December 2008 Office of Inspector general report, Baldwin County received a total of $41.3 million for 2004 Hurricane Ivan and 2005 hurricanes Dennis and Katrina.The money came in amounts of $36 million, $800,000 and $4.5 million for the three respective hurricanes.Government auditors recommend in the OIG report that FEMA reclaim $10.5 million because the auditors suspected the county claimed $7.7 million in tipping fees from landfill disposal, $1.64 million on stump removal labor, even though most stumps were removed by homeowners, $1.06 million in interest earned from tipping fees, $28,569 in duplicate fees and $10,302 covered by insurance costs.Baldwin County claimed it gave money to contractors who were supposed to accomplish these tasks, but the report claims the money was eventually funneled back into the county's pocket.However, financial data contained in the county's audited financial statements for the 2005 fiscal year indicates that the county's solid waste fund, which includes the costs of maintaining the county's landfills, benefited from tipping fees related to the hurricanes.Federal regulations (44 CPR l3.22(a)(2)), prohibit the use of federal grant funds to accrue a profit."(Revenues in the Baldwin County Solid Waste) fund increased 3.25 times, from $4.7 million in 2004 to over $15.2 million in 2005, while expenses increased only 1.29 times, from $3.9 million to $5.0 million for the same period," according to the OIG report.Baldwin County disagrees with the OIG's allegation that it accrued interest on the money it received from FEMA, according to the OIG report.After reviewing claims by Baldwin County and the OIG, FEMA sided with the OIG on all issues except tipping fees and interest earned on the fees.FEMA will pursue a total of $5.8 million in reimbursements, $3.47 million from excessive tipping fees and $656,000 from interest, according to an Aug.

The Auburn Plainsman

Auburn Celebrates College Colors Day

By Patrick Dever / Assistant Sports Editor | September 3

Gov. Bob Riley has declared tomorrow is College Colors Day in Alabama.College Colors Day is a national movement of students wearing their college or university's school colors to help kick off the college football season.The movement encourages Auburn fans to wear orange and blue throughout the day.The University has announced that tomorrow will be an All Auburn, All Orange day.Kelley White, a sophomore, said she definitely thinks encouraging students to wear Auburn blue and orange before athletic events gets people pumped.White said she thinks it says good things about Auburn when people see the photos and everyone looks like they support the school."I think it's great, it gets everyone involved, everyone's excited," said Kenny Quinlan, a sophomore in finance, about organizations that are independent of universities getting involved in college athletics.

The Auburn Plainsman

New Carmike Cinemas in the works for Opelika

By Max Newfield / Staff Writer | August 28

Cinema buffs in Opelika now have another opening day to mark in their calendars.Last week, Carmike Cinemas Inc. announced their plans to build a new movie theater in Opelika at the intersection of Exit 58 of Interstate 85 and Highway 280 across the interstate from Tiger Town."We expect it to be another jewel in the crown that is Opelika," said Al Cook, director of Economic Development in Opelika.The future site of the cinema is in the Capps Landing development, which currently holds a Hampton Inn and a Holiday Inn Express.

The Auburn Plainsman

Developer to Build 'Convenient' Parking Deck

By Brittany Cosby/Campus Editor | August 27

The main complaint of students with the beginning of each school year continues to be parking on campus. As Auburn's campus progresses with the new dorms and new coliseum, parking decreases.The University does provide some parking and operates on a successful transit system, but one group of investors wants to simplify it further.The businessmen of Donald H. Allen Development Inc. have decided to provide another option for students and faculty to fix this growing problem.

Rod Guajardo/Photo Editor

New Beers Debut in Auburn Restaurants

By Aubrie Davis/Staff Writer | August 27

The Gourmet Beer Bill that passed in May 2009 raised the alcohol by volume restriction from 6 percent to 13.9 percent so high gravity beers can be sold in convenience stores, liquor stores and bars.However, Free the Hops, the organization that was so instrumental in getting the bill passed, is now looking to tackle Alabama's restrictions on container size, brewery location and beer distribution.Free The Hops: Alabamians For Specialty Beer is a non-profit organization aimed at bringing quality beers to Alabama.FTH began in 2004 by Alabamians not involved in the alcohol industry.

The Auburn Plainsman

Special Olympics Pushes Its Campaign to End the "R-Word"

By Michael Hansberry/Staff Writer | August 27

"That's retarded."It's such a commonly-used phrase that most people don't even notice how often they use it.But, what some people may not realize is those words can adversely affect others.This past March, the Special Olympics began an international "Spread the word to end the word" campaign to raise awareness "of the impact of the thoughtless, hurtful use of the word 'retard,'" said the campaign's Web site."The campaign's goal is to help change attitudes across the nation about special Olympians, and also those with special needs," said Allison Hall, director of the Lee County Special Olympics program.

The Auburn Plainsman

Health Care Changes for Students

By Kendra Kelley/Assistant News Editor | August 27

Some college students are likely to be impacted by President Barack Obama's new health care plan.Full-time students who are 26 years old and younger will be covered under the new health care insurance policy.According to CNN's Truth Squad, young adults in low-income families lose Medicaid when they turn 19.In the House and Senate proposals, people in their 20s could also receive Medicaid.The Affordable Health Choices Act, passed by the Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee allows coverage for students under their parents' private insurance policies up to age 26.The Obama administration's health care overhaul, consists of proposals that would provide coverage for full-time students who, under current laws, would be dropped from their parents' insurance plans at 25."A benefit of Obama's proposed health care plan is that it provides regular checkups, up-to-date vaccinations and diabetes regulation," said Dr. Frederick Kam, director of the Auburn University Medical Clinic."I have been in business for a while, and I sell health care insurance to maybe four or five students a month," said Jerry Powell, an independent insurance agent.

The Auburn Plainsman

More Women Being Arrested for Driving While Drunk

By Helen Northcutt / INTRIGUE EDITOR | August 27

For years women have been criticized and stereotyped for their alleged poor driving skills.Now in response to a Labor Day law enforcement campaign, a new study shows the number of DUIs given to women have increased by 30 percent over the past decade.According to the campaign "Over the Limit, Under Arrest," driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is one of the most common, and deadliest, offenses.CNN reports that, even though men still out-number women 4-to-1 when it comes to arrests for driving while under the influence, the increase in women's DUI arrests has skyrocketed over the past decade by 30 percent.The Alabama DUI laws consider someone driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or more as breaking the law.

The Auburn Plainsman

230 mpg: GM's Volt Shockingly Fuel Efficient

By Sam Solomon / Associate News Editor | August 27

Two hundred thirty miles per gallon. No, that is not a typo.Hybrid technology may be coming out as a strong alternative to cars powered solely by gas, but some are looking in a new direction.General Motors has been working on a extended-range electric vehicle named 'Volt,' which will appear as part of the Chevrolet line.What makes the Volt unusual is its electric motor which directly propels the vehicle, and the secondary gas engine which serves as a generator to charge the battery.This allows the Volt to succeed where previous electric cars have failed, as the gas generator will allow the car to travel far beyond the battery's range.According to the Volt's Web site, under the Environmental Protection Agency's current hybrid fuel efficiency ratings the Volt will get an estimated 230 miles per gallon.

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