The state of Alabama is suing over a plan it says will harm water quality by holding water in a Georgia lake for recreational use.
Gov. Robert Bentley's administration says the suit asks a judge to block the U.S. Corps of Engineers from implementing a new water control plan for the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa river basin.
The lawsuit claims the plan will keep water in Lake Allatoona northwest of Atlanta to help boaters and other recreational users in the fall.
The lawsuit says the move will reduce water flow on the Coosa River into eastern Alabama and harm water quality. The corps is declining comment on the lawsuit.
A state legislative committee killed a tax reform bill Wednesday. But APR's Alex AuBuchon reports they passed a nearly identical version just a day later.
The House Ways and Means Education Trust Fund Committee has now approved a bill that will change the way motor oil is taxed in Alabama. It will replace the flat six cent excise tax on motor oil that exists now with the state’s standard four percent sales tax.
Lawmakers estimate this change will bring in around $10 million in additional revenue for the state. It’s one part of House Republicans’ $150 million tax proposal.
That’s a far cry from the nearly $550 million in new revenue Governor Robert Bentley wants to raise. He recently praised Republican lawmakers for realizing the need for new taxes, but says their current proposal just won’t raise enough money to avoid the need for deep cuts to state agencies.
Some future engineers may be able to say their careers started with popsicle sticks. Birmingham students got to show off model bridges they built as part of the ACE Mentor Program. The group pairs up high school students with professional engineers.
This year’s project is building model bridges out of popsicle sticks. The program works to give students a hands-on experience to prepare for future careers.
Lee Ann Macknally is President of the Executive Board of the ACE Program. She says one of their main goals is to see students go into these fields.
“Our focus is on providing opportunities for students to pursue professional degrees in architecture, construction, and engineering fields and we have, we’ve seen these professions, um, they’re integral to every facet of our everyday lives.”
The program will be holding its tenth annual banquet next Thursday at the Alabama Power Headquarters Auditorium. Macknally says hardworking, dedicated students can get scholarships.