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Loans available to help rebuild from December storms, floods, Wilder defends title in New York

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley says loans administered through the federal Small Business Administration are available to help victims of late December storms repair damage to their property.

Bentley says low-interest loan assistance has been approved for more than 20 counties -- including Jefferson, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa -- based on damage assessments after storms and floods.

Bentley says renters and homeowners can borrow up to $40,000 to replace property or up to $200,000 to replace or repair their home.

Business owners, churches and nonprofits and businesses in the disaster area can borrow up to $2 million to replace property.  

About 50 concerned citizens attended a town hall meeting in the city of Marion about the outbreak of Tuberculosis in the small Perry County town.    Officials say 26 people have been diagnosed with tuberculosis within the last year, 20 of which are from Marion. The illness has resulted in three deaths.

Bennie Royster attended the meeting at Francis-Marion High School auditorium.  She has not been tested for TB but came to the meeting to get a better understanding about the disease…

“Listening at them tonight, I’m less afraid.  And if I were to come down with TB, because I asked this question about the privacy act like they said because we’ve had so many people that have already died in Perry County, I wish I knew the person.  Because if I knew the person, then I know to go and be tested.”

Officials offered $20 to anyone that comes in to be tested for the respiratory illness.

World heavyweight boxing champion Deontay Wilder will defend his title in Brooklyn tomorrow.

The Tuscaloosa native will face challenger Artur Szpilka** in what Wilder hopes will be a return of knock outs for him. The champ broke his right hand in the fight to take the title last January. He admits his right hook was only at eighty five percent of its normal power during last year’s two title defense bouts.

Wilder says he’s looking forward to knocking Szpilka out early in the match…

“Artur Szpilka. He’s a wild fighter. You know, he’s the type of fighter who wants to make a fight look ugly. And, I’m looking forward to him. He does a lot of talking, but doesn’t believe what he say.”

The fight against Szpilka will be Wilder’s third title defense since winning the WBC championship belt. The fight will be tomorrow night at 9 p.m. on Showtime.

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