Indicted House Speaker Mike Hubbard is back in court for another hearing ahead of his fall trial on felony ethics charges.
Lee County Circuit Judge Jacob Walker heard arguments and testimony today on various motions in the case.
Hubbard's defense team wants to dismiss the case. They argue there was prosecutorial misconduct. They also believe Attorney General Luther Strange did not have the authority to select an acting attorney general when he stepped aside from the case.
Prosecutors say Hubbard has no evidence to support his claims. They accuse the defense of trying to conduct a wide-ranging fishing expedition as well as issuing subpoenas to members of the attorney general's office.
Hubbard faces 23 felony ethics charges accusing him of using his political offices for personal gain.
Alabama’s Senate approved a six billion dollar education budget last night. APR’s Alex AuBuchon reports the new budget won’t do much to help Alabama’s lack of revenue.
Alabama’s Education budget for 2016 breezed through the Senate last night on a unanimous vote after only an hour and a half of discussion.
The six billion dollar budget increases spending over last year by around 1%. That extra money will go toward funding pre-kindergarten programs and hiring additional middle school teachers.
But Senators did not follow Gov. Robert Bentley’s recommendation to shift money from the education budget to the cash-strapped General Fund. That could mean even steeper cuts for various state agencies.
Alabama’s teachers won’t be getting raises next year either. Lawmakers say they’re trying to build up reserves to maintain existing benefit programs.
Today is the last day for a new national campaign aimed to keeping Alabamians from texting while they drive. The effort is called “You Drive, You Text, You Pay.”
It’s sponsored through Alabama State Troopers with 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 start to stop the issue…
“They are trying to do their best to curve this and to 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.