Alabama lawmakers have approved an $85 million increase for the state’s prison system as they try to comply with a federal court order to improve mental health care for inmates. The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved $30 million for the Department of Corrections before September and a $55 million boost in next year’s general fund budget. U.S. District Judge…
The Alabama House of Representatives has approved a revision of the state’s “Stand Your Ground” law to specify that deadly force can be used to defend someone in a church. The Houses of Representatives approved the bill Thursday on a 40-16 vote. It now moves to the Alabama Senate. Republican Rep. Lynn Greer of Rogersville cited deadly church shootings in…
Montgomery, Ala – Members of the Alabama House Democratic Caucus called for an effort to ensure access to affordable healthcare for all Alabamians during a press conference this afternoon. They also announced a resolution calling on Governor Kay Ivey to expand Medicaid. “We have seen -and continue to see- the enormous negative impact not expanding Medicaid has already had on…
Leaders of “Faith in Action Alabama” are calling on change. Chris Napier, a former prisoner is calling on people to stand behind him when it comes to making the process easier for formerly jailed people to get jobs. “Twice the Mobile County personnel board denied me of a job due to my criminal conviction and I received a pardon in…
The Greenville Police Department is offering extra security for those taking a vacation this summer through the House Watch Program. The program is nothing new to Greenville. Chief Justin Lovvorn says it’s been going on for as long as he can remember. “It just lets us know for sure that we need to check on this house in particular because…
Alabama lawmakers have passed the state education budget. The House of Representatives unanimously approved the $6.4 billion budget proposal Wednesday. Tuscaloosa Republican Rep. Bill Poole says the budget will keep state schools mostly funded at the same levels as last year but provides some increases for K-12 schools. It sets aside money to hire 152 more teachers in fourth through…
According to District Fire Chief Craig Flynn, “at 12:59 pm today 5 units were dispatched to a structure fire at 428 Finley Ave. At 1:03 the units arrive to find the fire showing from the second story of the structure. The units were able to make a rapid extinguish to the fire without any injuries to civilian or fire personnel….
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Muhammad Ali’s home in Kentucky has been placed on the market with an asking price of $2.2 million. For that, a buyer can live in the same home as the former heavyweight boxing champion. The buyer also gets a 9,304 square-foot home with five bedrooms, eight baths, an in-ground pool and a four-car attached garage on…
The Latest on lottery legislation and a special session of the Alabama Legislature (all times local): ___ 1 p.m. Gov. Robert Bentley’s lottery bill hit a major stumbling block over the issue of electronic gaming. Several Democrats, who previously voted for the bill, said Friday they wanted to allow, or at least keep the door open, to electronic gambling machines…
The Alabama Senate has approved Gov. Robert Bentley’s proposal to start a state lottery. Senators on Friday voted 21-12 for the bill, hitting the required number of votes needed for approval. The legislative victory for the governor keeps the bill alive in the special session on Medicaid funding. It now goes to the House of Representatives. Bentley is seeking to…
