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Percy Sledge Remembered, Group Backs Tax Plan and Senate Passes Education Budget

Kimble Forrister
Kimble Forrister, Executive Director of Alabama Arise

The singer who became famous for the song "When a Man Loves a Woman" died yesterday. Percy Sledge had a massive impact on what became known as the "Muscle Shoals sound".

Sledge walked into a recording studio in Alabama's Muscle Shoals region in 1966. In a few weeks, his signature song "When a Man Loves a Woman" would become the first of his five gold records.

Dick Cooper is the Curator of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. He says Sledge's legacy was defined when he was just 25 years old.

"'When a Man Loves a Woman' is without question one of the greatest love songs of all time. I think the fact that he was able to deliver that song with such intense passion and sincerity, in itself, is a great example of his talent."

Sledge was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.

A state advocacy group for low-income families is on board with Gov. Robert Bentley's proposed tax plan.

Alabama Arise echoed Bentley's call for higher taxes on cigarettes and automobile sales at a press conference yesterday. Bentley has been touring the state to try and drum up support for the tax proposal, which so far has seen a cool reception in the legislature.

The Republican governor has proposed $541 million in tax increases to help patch a shortfall in the state's General Fund budget.

A draft budget distributed through the legislature shows steep agency cuts if new taxes aren't passed.

Alabama Arise Executive Director Kimble Forrister says cuts to Alabama's Department of Human Resources would end child care services for 17,000 children. He says that could force thousands of working parents to quit their jobs.

Legislators say they will address cuts before addressing new taxes.

The Alabama Senate approved a nearly $6 billion education budget yesterday.

Senators unanimously approved the budget, which includes more money for prekindergarten programs and additional middle school teachers. That bill now heads to the state House of Representatives.

The budget does not include raises for Alabama's teachers. Lawmakers say they are trying to build up reserves so benefits and other programs can be sustained.

The education spending plan also does not include any sort of help for the state's deeply ailing General Fund. Some wanted to offer a fiscal lifeline to the state's other budget to help shore up the shortfall. The lack of aid could cause even deeper state agency cuts.

Today is the last day for a new national campaign aimed at keeping Alabamians from texting while they drive.

The effort is called You Drive, You Text, You Pay. It's sponsored through Alabama State Troopers and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency. The goal is to crack down on motorists who text behind the wheel.

Dr. David Brown is a Research Affiliate for the Center for Advanced Public Safety. He thinks the campaign is a good start to stop the issue.

"They are trying to do their best to curb this and get people to realize that giving the citations is not going to be the total answer, but it does help to raise awareness and get people thinking about this."

Dr. Brown points out the rest of the month of April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

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