STATE HEADLINES:

SCRUSCHY TRIAL: The corporate fraud trial of fired Healthsouth CEO Richard Scrushy finally began yesterday in a Birmingham Courtroom. In opening statements, the prosecution told jurors that Scrushy was the driving force behind a conspiracy to overstate earnings at the company by $2.7-billion dollars. The defense has conceded that fraud did occur, but say Scrushy wasn`t part of the scheme. The 52-year old Scrushy was named in a 58-count indictment accusing him of fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, perjury, money laundering, and false corporate reporting. Prosecutors are seeking 278-million dollars in personal assets, including waterfront homes, luxury cars and a yacht, as well as a prison sentence that could amount to life, if convicted. GAMBLING MACHINES AT DOG TRACKS: After further inspection, Alabama`s Attorney General says gambling machines at Alabama`s two dog tracks are legal. Spokesman Chris Bence, in the office of Attorney General Troy King, says staff investigators recently went to both Greene Track and Victoryland, to re-inspect Bingo machines at both facilities. Bence said the machines, which originally were declared illegal, had been put into compliance and are now legal under Alabama Law. Just back in December, King announced his findings in an unprescedented review of gambling here in Alabama. HOT AIR BALOON GOES DOWN IN i-65: An unusual sight to see alongside Alabama Interstate 65. A hot air baloon landed on the median of the busy stretch of interstate near Birmingham earlier this week. The pilot reportedly told police he was forced to make an emergency landing on the interstate after high winds steered him off course. Traffic slowed as the site of the large baloon caught the attention of motorists. Officials say the baloon landed safely with no injuries to anyone on board or on the ground.