5 things to know about the special legislative sessionMONTGOMERY — The Alabama Legislature will convene today for the beginning of a special legislative session addressing the state budget crisis. Bentley is bringing lawmakers into special session after the regular session ended in a political stalemate… Jul 13 15July 13, 2015Article at The Associated Press
Confederate items not removed from Capitol gift shopAssociated Press Gov. Robert Bentley's spokeswoman said Tuesday that state auditor Jim Zeigler owes the governor an apology after making what she calls false statements about Confederate items being removed from the Capitol gift shop. Customers… Jul 08 15July 08, 2015Article at The Associated Press
Bentley: BP money won’t solve woesMONTGOMERY — Alabama lawmakers spent the majority of the 2015 legislative session turning over every legislative cushion in the House in hopes of finding an elusive sum of money to solve a looming budget gap for the next fiscal year. Lawmakers… Jul 04 15July 04, 2015Article at The Associated Press
Federal judge: Alabama counties must allow gay marriageBIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — With a handful of Alabama counties still refusing to grant gay marriages even as they issued licenses for straight weddings, a federal judge ruled Wednesday that all must abide by court decisions allowing same-sex unions.… Jul 02 15July 02, 2015Article at The Associated Press
Some Ala. counties give gay marriage licenses, others refuseMONTGOMERY — Nearly one-third of Alabama counties on Monday were not issuing marriage licenses to gay couples, or had shut down marriage license operations altogether, despite Friday's landmark U.S Supreme Court ruling that same-sex couples have a… Jun 30 15June 30, 2015Article at The Associated Press
Nearly half of Alabama counties issuing same-sex marriage licensesMONTGOMERY — Nearly one-third of Alabama counties on Monday were not issuing marriage licenses to gay couples, or had shut down marriage license operations altogether, despite Friday’s landmark U.S Supreme Court ruling that same-sex couples have a… Jun 29 15June 29, 2015Article at The Associated Press
Confederate Flag: Rainbow City woman says it's about heritageMONTGOMERY — Confederate flags returned to the cradle of the Confederacy on Saturday as hundreds of flag supporters arrived at Alabama’s Capitol to protest the removal of four rebel flags from a Confederate monument next to the building where the… Jun 28 15June 28, 2015Article at The Associated Press
New UA president seeks strategic growth at campusesTUSCALOOSA — The incoming president of the University of Alabama is looking at how to grow the state's flagship school while managing the momentum of what's already been a decade of rapid growth. Stuart Bell, who was approved Thursday as president by… Jun 20 15June 20, 2015Article at The Associated Press
SPLC, Clanton reach settlement in private probation lawsuitMONTGOMERY— The Southern Poverty Law Center said this week it has reached a settlement in a lawsuit against the City of Clanton over a contract with a private, for-profit probation company. The suit filed earlier this year in federal court alleged… Jun 18 15June 18, 2015Article at The Associated Press
Alabama Right to Try Act: Family looks beyond drug billGabe Griffin lobbied his first bill at the age of 9. It became law when he turned 10. He'll be in a wheelchair when he turns 12. Without the right drugs, his parents say, he'll be dead in a decade. But Gabe doesn't know he's dying. In fact, he… Jun 09 15June 09, 2015Article at The Associated Press
House unanimously approves $6B education budgetMONTGOMERY — Alabama’s nearly $6 billion education budget cleared a series of hurdles Thursday and is now nearing final approval. The budget received broad bipartisan support, passing unanimously in the House in the morning and later in the Senate… May 22 15May 22, 2015Article at The Associated Press
Bill would cut Alabama BOE from charter school planState BOE refused to confirm nominees for charter school commissionMembers say they didn%27t have enough time to properly vet list of nomineesBill to remove BOE from appeals process up for committee vote Tuesday The Alabama State Board of Education,… May 16 15May 16, 2015Article at The Associated Press
Bill Cosby to advocate for education in rural AlabamaMONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Embattled actor and comedian Bill Cosby will visit Alabama on Thursday and Friday for events aimed at highlighting schools in one of the poorest areas of the state. Cosby, whose record of educational philanthropy has been… May 14 15May 14, 2015Article at The Associated Press
Senate committee approves lottery, casino billMONTGOMERY — A lottery and casino bill cleared its first hurdle Thursday in the Alabama Legislature as some lawmakers bet on gambling as a solution to the state’s budget woes. The Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee, by a 5-3 vote, advanced the… May 14 15May 14, 2015Article at The Associated Press
Mental health organizations rally to fight agency cutsBIRMINGHAM — Mental-health service workers and recipients rallied across Alabama on Monday, asking lawmakers not to cut millions in funding for the Alabama Department of Mental Health. The department is at risk of losing $35.2 million in state funds… May 12 15May 12, 2015Article at The Associated Press
House committee approves oil tax changeA legislative committee on Thursday resurrected part of House Republicans' plan to solve the Alabama budget crisis a day after it was killed by GOP lawmakers. The House Ways and Means Education Trust Fund Committee passed a bill that would raise an… May 08 15May 08, 2015Article at The Associated Press
House Committee advances bills restricting abortionsThe House Health Committee on Wednesday advanced a series of restrictions that opponents say would ban most abortions in the state. The committee passed three separate pieces of legislation, including one that would prohibit providers from performing… May 06 15May 06, 2015Article at The Associated Press
Bentley says gambling isn't the answer to budget woesDOTHAN — Gov. Robert Bentley on Monday said gambling is not the solution to the state's budget woes and will not provide enough money to prevent deep cuts to law enforcement and other state agencies. Bentley told the Associated Press that draft… May 05 15May 05, 2015Article at The Associated Press
Ala. Senate committee delays vote on flat income taxAn Alabama Senate budget committee on Wednesday delayed a vote pushing for a flat state income tax. The Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee held a public hearing for a bill that would propose a constitutional amendment creating a flat… Apr 30 15April 30, 2015Article at The Associated Press
Spokesman: Alabama woman left to join Islamic State groupBIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A spokesman for a Muslim couple in Alabama on Monday said their 20-year-old daughter fled a Birmingham suburb to join Islamic State militants in Syria after being recruited via the Internet. Hassan Shibly spoke at the mosque… Apr 21 15April 21, 2015Article at The Associated Press
