Blount County mother indicted after 5-year-old daughter's death in crash

OUT WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE IN ONEONTA WOMAN NOW FACES CHARGES FOR A CRASH EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT CLAIMED THE LIFE OF HER YOUNG DAUGHTER. A GRAND JURY HAS FORMALLY CHARGED KARLE EDWARDS WITH CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE IN THE APRIL CRASH. EDWARDS IS FIVE YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN A TRUCK WITH HER ON HIGHWAY 79, IN THE TRAFFORD AREA WHEN IT CRASHED AND LANDED INTO A CREEK. NEITHER EDWARDS OR HER DAUGHTER WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. EDWARDS WAS ARRESTED AND INDICTED FOR HER DAUGHTER’S DEATH. THIS MONTH. HER ARRAIGNMENT IS SET FOR NEXT FEBRUARY. THE SEARCH FOR A MISSING MAN CONTINUES IN SYLACAUGA. THIS IS JOSEPH MEREDITH. POLICE SAY THE 53 YEAR OLD WAS LAST SEEN SATURDAY MORNING, JUST AFTER 730 ON DOUGLAS AVENUE. HE WAS WEARING A WORK VEST, A LONG SLEEVE HERITAGE PLASTIC WORK SHIRT, TAN PANTS AND BOOTS. MEREDITH IS KNOWN TO HAVE A HEALTH CONDITION. WELL, THE PURPOSE CHURCH CONCLUDED THEIR HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY THIS WEEKEND WITH A SPECIAL SERVICE. THIS MORNING, CELEBRATION SUNDAY COMMEMORATED THE CHURCH SERVING THE COMMUNITY ACROSS BIRMINGHAM OVER THE WEEKEND. DURING THE SERVICE, THE CHURCH RECOGNIZED THE PARTNERS WHO HELPED WITH THE GIVEAWAY BY GIVING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BACK TO THEM. MEMBERS LIKE APRIL SPRITE EXPRESSED WHAT THIS YEAR’S GIVEAWAY WAS ALL ABOUT. THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN BLESSED. ONE THING WE KNOW, LIKE PASTOR SAID YESTERDAY, THEY DEFINITELY FELT OUR PRESENCE FROM PIGGLY WIGGLY HELPING THE PEOPLE IN THE AREA FROM THE GAS STATIONS. LIKE WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WE JUST WERE ABLE TO FILL TANKS UP FOR. AND THEN AGAIN AT THE DUGGAN FACILITY, THE SENIORS WERE TREMENDOUSLY BLESSED. THEY WERE GIVING AWAY MONEY FOR POWER BILLS AND GAS. SO REALLY, STUFF THAT IS NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR PEOPLE WHO DON’T HAVE MUCH. THE HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY IS EXPECTED TO GO AHEAD NEXT YEAR AS WELL. WELL, WE HERE AT WVTM 13 WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO SHARE A PHOTO OF YOUR DECORATED HOME FOR A CELEBRATION OF HOLIDAY LIGHTS. JUST HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE AND CLICK THIS ICON ON OUR HOME PAGE, OR SCAN THE QR CODE ON YOUR SCREEN. UPLOAD YOUR PICTURE TO BE FEATURED IN OUR ONLINE PHOTO GALLERY, AND WE WILL GO LIVE FROM ONE OF THE LOCATIONS SUBMITTED EACH FRIDAY THROUGH JANUARY 3RD. A BILL EXPANDING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR MILLIONS OF RETIREES IS NOW HEADED TO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S DESK. I’M JACKIE DEFUSCO IN WASHINGTON WITH WHAT THAT COULD MEAN FOR RETIREES. THIS IS WHAT BRINGS ME JOY IS TO SEE THEIR FACES. I’M KATE. I REALLY LIKE ALL THE LIGHTS. WELL, A SPECIAL TRANSFORMATION FOR NEW YORK HOSPITAL BASEMENT. JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. WE’LL HEAR FROM STAFF. VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP MAKE THE VISUAL SPECIAL FOR PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. AND AS WE HEAD TO BREAK, HERE’S ANOTHER VIEW FROM OUR WVTM 13 SKYCAM, THIS TIME OF DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM. A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT HERE IN THE MAGIC CITY. WE’RE GOING TO HAVE METEOROLOGIST JORDAN WEST IN IN JUST A FEW MOMENTS WITH A LOOK AT YOUR FULL FORECAST. STAY WITH US. I’VE LIVED MY WHOLE LIFE WITH PEOPLE MAKING FUN OF MY TEETH. THE ONLY OPTION WAS LOSING ALL OF MY TEETH. MY TEETH HAVE BEEN TORTURE FOR ME. I REALLY FELT LIKE MAYBE THIS NIGHTMARE IS NEVER GOING TO BE OVER. AT FIXED, OUR TEAM HAS THE MINDSET THAT ANY PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED AND IT’S FUN TO DO IT TOGETHER. OH MY GOD. OUR CLIENTS REALLY ARE PART OF OUR FAMILY. YOU KNOW THE TOOTH FAIRY? SHE’S CHEAP. WE CAN MAKE MIRACLES HAPPEN FOR YOU GUYS. DO? THAT’S WHAT WE DO. HERE’S THE MOMENT. OH MY GOD. YOU’RE WELCOME. OH, WOW. THEY MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE. IT’S SO REWARDING TO WATCH SOMEONE FEEL WHOLE AGAIN. WE MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE IN DENTISTRY. OH, DON’T CRY. WE WANT TO SEND YOU HOME. WITH THE SMILE THAT YOU’VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF. FIXED. A NEW ORIGINAL SERIES STREAMING FREE ONLY ON VERY LOCAL. A BILL EXPANDING SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS IS NOW HEADED TO PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S DESK. IT PASSED WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE SENATE THIS WEEKEND. WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT JACKIE DEFUSCO HAS MORE ON WHAT THIS MEANS FOR RETIREES. WELL, THIS BILL IS A BIG WIN FOR PUBLIC SECTOR RETIREES. BUT CRITICS SAY IT’S ALSO ADDING MORE UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL SECURITY. FOR DECADES, FEDERAL POLICIES HAVE LIMITED SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS FOR MANY PUBLIC SECTOR WORKERS, WHO ALSO RECEIVE PENSIONS. YOU’RE PENALIZING PUBLIC SERVANTS, POLICEMEN, FIREFIGHTERS AND EDUCATORS. RETIRED TEACHER MARTHA KARLOVITS HAS BEEN FIGHTING TO REPEAL THOSE POLICIES SINCE 2001. ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU THINK THAT YOU HAVE LOST UNDER THE CURRENT SYSTEM SINCE YOUR RETIREMENT? IT’S ESTIMATED THAT I’VE LOST ABOUT $110,000. NOW, A BIPARTISAN BILL THAT WOULD BOOST SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR NEARLY 3 MILLION AMERICANS HAS WON FINAL APPROVAL IN CONGRESS. TONIGHT, THE SENATE FINALLY CORRECTS A 50 YEAR MISTAKE. BUT THAT CORRECTION COMES WITH A BIG PRICE TAG. NEARLY $200 BILLION, FURTHER STRAINING THE SOCIAL SECURITY TRUST FUND. IT ACCELERATES THE INSOLVENCY OF SOCIAL SECURITY BY SIX MONTHS, AND THAT COULD IMPACT EVERYONE WHO RELIES ON THE PROGRAM. ALREADY, LAWMAKERS SAY THAT SOCIAL SECURITY WILL BE UNABLE TO PAY FULL RETIREMENT BENEFITS COME 2033 WITHOUT FURTHER ACTION TO STABILIZE THE SYSTEM. WE NEED TO MAKE SURE RETIREES ARE RECEIVING THEIR FAIR SHARE, AND WE CANNOT DO IT AT THE EXPENSE OF ALL BENEFICIARIES AND FUTURE GENERATIONS. BUT THE BILL’S PASSAGE IS A RELIEF FOR POLICE OFFICER JOSEPH WOLOZIN, WHO’S READYING FOR RETIREMENT IN JUST A FEW YEARS. WELL, ANYBODY’S ASKING IS JUST THAT WE GET A FAIR AMOUNT FROM WHAT WE PUT IN. WE’RE NOT ASKING FOR ANYTHING MORE, BUT CERTAINLY NOT ANYTHING LESS. NOW, AS FOR WHEN ALL OF THIS COULD POTENTIALLY TAKE EFFECT, ONE LAWMAKER’S OFFICE TELLS ME THAT IT IS EXPECTED TO COVER THIS TAX YEAR, BUT THAT ALSO DEPENDS ON WHEN THE BILL IS ACTUALLY SIGNED AND ON THE ADMINISTRATION’S IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE. REPORTING IN WASHINGTON I’M JACKIE DEFUSCO. JACKIE. THANK YOU. WELL, PRESIDENT ELECT DONALD TRUMP WAS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT TURNING POINT USAS AMERICAFEST CONVENTION IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA. THIS MORNING, HE SPOKE TO A LARGE CROWD OF CONSERVATIVE SUPPORTERS ON A WIDE RANGE OF ISSUES THAT HE AIMS TO ADDRESS ON DAY ONE OF HIS PRESIDENCY. WITH THE STROKE OF MY PEN ON DAY ONE, WE ARE GOING TO STOP THE TRANSGENDER LUNACY. AND I WAS SIGNED EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO END CHILD SEXUAL MUTILATION, GET TRANSGENDER OUT OF THE MILITARY AND OUT OF OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS. THIS WAS TRUMP’S FIRST RALLY STYLE EVENT SINCE WINNING THE ELECTION LAST MONTH. TWO AMERICAN NAVY PILOTS SAFELY EJECTED OVER THE RED SEA AFTER A FIGHTER JET THEY WERE IN THIS MORNING WAS SHOT DOWN. U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND SAYS IT APPEARED TO BE A CASE OF FRIENDLY FIRE. THEY ALSO SAY A GUIDED MISSILE CRUISER MISTAKENLY HIT THE JET DURING A MISSION. ONE PILOT HAD MINOR INJURIES AFTER THE INCIDENT, BUT IS EXPECTED TO BE OKAY. THE SUSPECT, WHO DROVE HIS PICKUP TRUCK INTO A KILLEEN, TEXAS, MALL SATURDAY HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY POLICE. POLICE SAY JOHN SCHULTZ PLOWED INTO THE FRONT OF A JCPENNEY STORE, SHATTERING THE GLASS DOORS, AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE TRUCK. NEARLY 100 YARDS INTO THE STORE, HITTING MULTIPLE PEOPLE. SCHULTZ WAS LATER SHOT AND KILLED BY OFFICERS. A TOTAL OF FOUR PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES. WELL, NO SURPRISE HERE. TODAY IS EXPECTED TO BE ANOTHER BUSY DAY AT AIRPORTS NATIONWIDE AS PEOPLE ARE HEADING TO THEIR HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS AS MATT FORTIN REPORTS. TSA IS EXPECTING TO SCREEN AROUND 40 MILLION PASSENGERS. LOGAN AIRPORT HAS BEEN BUZZING THIS WEEKEND AS PEOPLE TAKE OFF TO THEIR HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS. IT’S MY FIRST CRUISE, I GUESS. YEAH. WHY HAVE WE DECIDED TO DO A CRUISE THIS YEAR? FAMILY VACATION. SO THE WHOLE FAMILY, ALL OF US ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS ON A CRUISE IN THE BAHAMAS. WARM DESTINATIONS SEEM TO BE A POPULAR CHOICE, AND IT COULDN’T BE BETTER TIMING TO ESCAPE THE FRIGID AIR OVER NEW ENGLAND. IT’S FREEZING COLD, SO I’M NOT SAD TO BE SOMEWHERE WHERE IT’S REALLY HOT AND WARM. KIERNAN PORTER IS A FRESHMAN AT UMASS BOSTON, AND SHE’S HEADED BACK TO OHIO SUNDAY TO BE WITH FAMILY. AFTER HER FLIGHT ON FRIDAY GOT CANCELED, GOT CANCELED BECAUSE OF ALL THE SNOW. SO THIS IS A RESCHEDULE. AND I ACTUALLY JUST GOT LIKE THE FIRST FLIGHT BACK HOME IN THE MORNING. THAT’S WHY I’M HERE SO EARLY. CANCELLATIONS AT LOGAN TOTALED NINE SUNDAY MORNING, A FAR CRY FROM FRIDAY’S TRAVEL HEADACHE. AND IF YOU’RE FLYING OUT THIS WEEKEND, HERE ARE A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND. PLAN TO ARRIVE WITH PLENTY OF TIME TO SPARE. TWO HOURS EARLY FOR DOMESTIC FLIGHTS. TSA RECOMMENDS USING GIFT BAGS OR BOXES INSTEAD OF WRAPPING PAPER. AND DON’T FORGET TO PUT ANY LIQUID OR SPREADABLE FOODS IN A CHECKED BAG. SOLID FOODS ARE OKAY IN YOUR CARRY ON. TSA EXPECTS TO SCREEN JUST UNDER 50,000 PASSENGERS HERE AT LOGAN AIRPORT SUNDAY. BUSY, BUT NOT RECORD BREAKING NATIONWIDE. TRIPLE A EXPECTS RECORD NUMBERS OF TRAVELERS AS MORE PEOPLE MAKE THE EFFORT TO ENJOY EXPERIENCES AND TIME WITH LOVED ONES. MY FAMILY 100%. THEY THEY’RE MY ROCK. SO I’M LIKE, SUPER EXCITED TO GO BACK AND GET TO SPEND ALL THIS TIME WITH THEM BECAUSE I HAVEN’T SEEN THEM IN SO LONG BECAUSE OF SCHOOL AND EVERYTHING. SO I’M REALLY EXCITED. MATT. THANK YOU. WELL, THIS IS A HEARTWARMING STORY. VOLUNTEERS ARE HOPING TO GIVE PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS AT MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER IN NEW YORK CITY A BRIGHTER HOLIDAY. THE BASEMENT OF THE HOSPITAL, RENOVATED INTO A HOLIDAY HALLWAY AT THE HANDS OF THE FACILITY STAFF. IT IS THE TRUE DEFINITION OF DECKING THE HALLS, AND IT JUST KEEPS GOING WITH NEARLY THREE BLOCKS OF CHRISTMAS MAGIC. VOLUNTEERS WHO HELP SAY THE PROJECT WAS INTENDED TO PUT SMILES ON CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES DURING SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME. EVERYBODY WORKS TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND WE DO OUR BEST AND THIS IS THE RESULTS. THIS IS WHAT YOU GET HERE. I DO IT FOR THE KIDS. I DO IT FOR THE FAMILIES. I DO IT FOR THE STAFF. SUCH A WONDERFUL EFFORT FOR THOSE KIDS. GLAD TO SEE THEY’RE SPREADING SOME HOLIDAY CHEER THIS TIME OF YEAR. EXCLUSIVE LIVE RADAR TRACKING STORMS SO YOU’LL KNOW. FIRST, THIS IS WVTM 13 WEATHER. WELL, WE STARTED OUT COLD THIS MORNING. TEMPERATURES DROPPED TO 23 DEGREES IN BIRMINGHAM GADSDEN ALREADY AT 38. SINCE THE SUN HAS STARTED TO SET. BEAUTIFUL NIGHT THERE AS THE COOSA RIVER IS NICE AND CALM. THE NEXT 12 HOURS TEMPERATURES WILL STILL DROP. WE JUST WON’T BE AS COLD AS WE WERE EARLIER THIS MORNING FROM 38 BY 7 P.M. TO 36 BY 11 P.M. I THINK MANY SPOTS WILL BE NEAR FREEZING BY THE TIME WE WAKE UP EARLY TOMORROW MORNING, BUT NOT EVERYONE WILL BE BELOW FREEZING. FOR EXAMPLE, 33, IN BIRMINGHAM, A 29 THOUGH IN PELL CITY, 27. IN GADSDEN, 31 IN ALEXANDER CITY, 32 IN CALERA, 34 IN BRENT. STILL GOING TO BE COLD. BUT LIKE I SAID BEFORE, NOT EVERYBODY IS GOING TO BE BELOW FREEZING. WE WILL WARM UP THROUGHOUT THE DAY TOMORROW. IF YOU HAVE ANY LAST MINUTE SHOPPING BY 8 A.M. WILL BE IN THE UPPER 30S. MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES BY 1 P.M., THE MID 50S. WARMER THAN WHAT WE GOT TO TODAY, AND THEN THE UPPER 40S. ONCE THAT SUN SETS. BUT LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WON’T BE AS COLD MONDAY NIGHT AS WE DID EARLIER THIS MORNING AND ESPECIALLY LAST NIGHT. NOW, WE DO HAVE SOME HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE OHIO VALLEY, AND THAT’S WHAT’S BEEN KEEPING THE RAIN AWAY. THAT’S ALSO WHAT’S BEEN BRINGING IN SOME COOLER AND DRIER AIR INTO ALABAMA THE PAST COUPLE OF DAYS. IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AS WELL. BUT IT’S ALSO TAKING SOME WARM, MOIST AIR FROM THE GULF OF MEXICO, BRINGING IT INTO LOUISIANA, TEXAS. THIS IS 12:00 PM TUESDAY, AND COMBINED WITH JUST ENOUGH LIFT FROM A FRONT, IT STARTS TO BRING SOME SHOWERS CHRISTMAS EVE TO TEXAS. PARTS OF ARKANSAS. THE REASON I’M SHOWING YOU THIS IS BECAUSE THAT RAIN IS HEADED OUR WAY, AND THAT COOLER AND DRIER AIR IS STILL COMING IN FROM THE EAST. AND WHERE THAT BOUNDARY BETWEEN THAT MOIST AIR AND THAT DRY AIR SETS UP, WE’LL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE TIMING AND INTENSITY OF THE RAIN THAT WE COULD SEE ON CHRISTMAS DAY. SO THIS IS SORT OF THE WORST CASE SCENARIO. WE COULD SEE SOME RAIN AS EARLY AS 7 A.M. CHRISTMAS DAY, CHRISTMAS MORNING. NOTHING SEVERE ABOUT THIS THROUGHOUT THE DAY, JUST SHOWERS. JUST RAIN AND THEN IT STARTS TO SPREAD MORE INTO ALABAMA BY 2 P.M. WEDNESDAY. NOW THAT DRIER AIR IS A LOT MORE STRONGER THAN SOME MODELS ARE DEPICTING, WE COULD GO THE ENTIRE MORNING OF CHRISTMAS DAY WITHOUT ANY RAIN, BUT THE CHANCES OF RAIN INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE DAY REGARDLESS, WITH DOWNPOURS POTENTIALLY AS FAR JUST SOUTH OF BIRMINGHAM. THEN BY 8 P.M. WEDNESDAY, THE RAIN STARTS TO CLEAR OUT, MORE SPOTTY IN NATURE. WE’LL SEE SOME LINGERING SHOWERS EARLY THURSDAY MORNING AND THEN THAT CHANCE FOR RAIN CONTINUES BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY BEFORE SOME STORMS ROLL IN ON SUNDAY. BUT TO RECAP, WE’RE GOING TO BE WARMING UP AT LEAST TO START THE WORKWEEK. 55 THE HIGH TOMORROW COOLER, WHERE IT’S MORE DRIER AND THAT COOLER AIR IS COMING IN FROM THAT HIGH PRESSURE TO THE NORTH AND WARMER, WHERE THAT WARM, MOIST AIR IS COMING IN FROM THE SOUTH. BUT NOTICE THOSE TEMPERATURES WARMING THROUGHOUT THE WORKWEEK. AND THAT’S GOING TO ADD THE FUEL FOR THOSE STORMS POTENTIALLY ON SUNDAY. A NEW ERA HERE AT JACKSONVILLE STATE I TALK ONE ON ONE WITH THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR OF J&K STATE, GREG SITES. COMING UP NEXT IN SPORTS.NOW, W