Claudia Peppenhorst
Reporter
Huntsville, AL
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Claudia Peppenhorst is an Alabama native and joined the WAFF News team as an MMJ/Reporter in January 2023. She attended Troy University where she was the student news director at TROY TrojanVision News. She is excited to serve the Tennesee Valley, bringing you the latest stories.
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A new wheelchair-accessible playground will be ready for students this fall at Russellville Elementary School, thanks to a large, anonymous donation.
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New data from the CDC shows 47% of 800 foodborne illnesses from 2017 to 2019 were linked to norovirus.
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The elderly now have another tool to protect them from the deadly respiratory syncytial virus. May 31, the Food and Drug Administration approved a second vaccine that protects adults ages 60 and older from RSV.
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Andrew Gilliam’s family is now offering a $26,000 reward for information about what happened the night of his murder.
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The 53,000-square foot facility will house 16 pickleball courts, four full size gymnasiums, plus a fitness center.
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Canine parvovirus cases are on the rise this spring, but a new medication is on it’s way and it could save your pet’s life.
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The Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) will soon offer reimbursements to victims of SNAP scams and fraud.
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House Bill 473 could soon bring Safe Haven Baby boxes to Alabama and give parents another choice to surrender their babies.
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50 years ago America’s first space station, Skylab, lifted off into space. To celebrate the anniversary, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center is hosting a series of free events this summer for the public to learn more about why Skylab was monumental in learning to live off of earth.
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Lawyers across the state are helping fight food insecurity by providing more than 350,000 meals to families through its Food Frenzy fundraiser.
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Students may be gearing up for summer break but for the Huntsville City Schools Board of Education, the work is just beginning.
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While students have summer break on their minds, school districts are worried about filling open positions for next year.
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The U.S. Space and Rocket Center, home to Space Camp, unveiled it’s new Space Camp Operations Center.
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Under current Alabama law, those charged with a DUI, and in a pretrial diversion program, are mandated to have an ignition interlock device installed in their car.
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A new asphalt plant in a recently de-annexed portion of Athens is stirring up a lot of controversy with the people forced to live right by it.
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The Saturn 1B, an icon of North Alabama, may still have some hope to stay right where it is on I-65 in Ardmore.
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A recent report from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama shows ACT scores for the class of 2022 were the lowest since 2016 at 17.7.
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Former US Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Jay Town provided some perspective on van der Sloot being extradited to the U.S.
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Thursday will mark the end of the Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration.
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The building will serve Huntsville’s homeless community with necessities, critical services and support to get them back on their feet.
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Five years ago it was announced that a Margaritaville hotel and restaurant would be making its way to North Alabama in the newly developed Town Madison. Now it seems like the project may be lost.
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A bill that would replace or replicate the Saturn 1B rocket on I-65 in Ardmore has been tabled due to language included about Alabama monuments.
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With Vicky White’s assistance, Casey White escaped from the Lauderdale County Jail on April 29, 2022.
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With spring in the air and summer just around the corner, you may be wanting to get outside and enjoy the natural beauty of Huntsville. If so, you’re in luck as the Land Trust of North Alabama just accepted a recent donation of 144 acres of the great outdoors for people to enjoy.
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There are 32 new teachers heading into Alabama classrooms as a result of some temporary changes to the Praxis exam scoring system.
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Alabama lawmakers passed House Bill 3, which will prohibit smoking and vaping in a car with a child that is 14 years old or younger.
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The Saturn 1B rocket is an icon that welcomes you into North Alabama and has stood tall for decades, but now faces an uncertain future.
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In these scams, experts say Artificial Intelligence replicates the voice of your loved ones with the intention to steal your money
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An Alabama corporation is playing a big role in Governor Kay Ivey’s 3rd play in the ‘The Game Plan’.
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Martin Evenes was convicted on two charges in connection to the death of three-year-old Livia Robinson.
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Huntsville Hospital’s Fever and Flu Clinic on Governor’s Drive is closing this week as hospitalizations are down dramatically and the national public health emergency expires next month.
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Two Alabama lawmakers want to make summer vacation a little bit shorter for students.
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A new Alabama law will require health care facilities across the state to allow in-person visitations, even during a pandemic.
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Select businesses in Alabama are now one step closer to potentially receiving a medical cannabis business license.
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Some Alabama lawmakers want to make sure that your catch of the day is safe to eat before you prepare your meals.
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Stacy Black lives next door to the home in New Market where two people were shot and killed Thursday afternoon.
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The sheriff’s office confirmed the suspect was related to all victims in the shooting.
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Livestock farmers soon will not be able to make a trip to their local feed store to get antibiotics for their animals.
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Summer travel plans outside of the county are coming up for many but for those who are needing a passport and have not applied for one yet, those plans may not happen.
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President Biden is expressing his concerns over Artificial Intelligence, and how it may pose a threat to individual and national security.
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The program is a partnership where students at either Wallace State or Athens State Community College can work in early education programs in a 15 county service area and get paid.
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The businesses selected all have a focus on breakthrough technology that could help solve global issues
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With several North Alabama families dealing with damage to their homes amid the recent storms, the Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board is warning those looking to hire construction workers of potential scams.
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Huntsville is home to a few Tik Tok creators who have gained thousands of followers posting on the app and are now speaking out on the potential ban.
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The father of an 8-year-old boy who police say, was stabbed to death by his mother is speaking out.
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Juan Laws was arrested and charged with two counts of second degree assault in 2022 after he shot two people near the Goodyear in downtown Huntsville. The case has been bound to a grand jury.
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A proposed Alabama bill promises to give parents of special needs children an extra sense of security when they’re at school. If passed, the bill would require public schools to install security cameras in special needs classrooms.
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The Alabama Department of Public Health is now screening newborns for two additional genetic disorders: X-ALD and ADA-SCID.
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William Darby was found guilty in May 2021 and sentenced to 25 years in prison in August 2021.
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Alabama lawmakers received Governor Ivey’s state spending plans this week, which included a 2% raise for state educators.
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