Members of the Alabama House of Representatives are returning to Montgomery today for what the speaker's office is calling a "legislative workday," despite the legislative session having ended and lawmakers being unable to take any official action.
Representatives plan to convene this morning at 10 a.m. The budget committee and several budget-related task forces plan to meet in the afternoon.
The 2015 legislative session ended last week. The Alabama Senate adjourned the session a day ahead of schedule after passing a General Fund budget that was later vetoed by Gov. Robert Bentley.
House Speaker Mike Hubbard says lawmakers owe taxpayers another day of work.
However, House Minority Leader Craig Ford says it is a waste of taxpayer dollars to pay lawmakers to travel to Montgomery after the session has ended.
Lawmakers are expected to reconvene for a special session to pass a General Fund budget later this summer, likely in August.
Alabama’s ties to the Southeastern Conference will soon include politics.
Governor Robert Bentley is signing a bill to move the state’s primary date to March 1st, 2016. Alabama is joining Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia to vote the first Tuesday in March. Mississippi could also join what some are calling the “SEC Primaries.”
State lawmakers say it will help draw more presidential candidates to Alabama along with the economic bump that comes with them.
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle worked together on the issue deciding it was a win-win for the Yellowhammer State.
Alabamians over the age of fifty can get training today on how to re-enter the workforce.
AARP’s Back to Work 50+ program is working with Bevill State Community College in Walker County to offer classes. Residents interested in the program will attend the orientation meeting today to learn more about enrolling in job training classes.
Rick Watson is the coordinator of the program. He says the program not only provides training courses, but also resume, interview, and online job application help.
“Those are the things that this program offers. It offers support. It offers the coaching and access to these tools that help them locate these hot jobs, the jobs that are available in their area.”
Watson says classes include nursing assistant certification, truck driver training, and computer familiarization. The meetings will be held at the Walker County Career Center in Jasper.
A coastal Alabama shipbuilding company is planning a christening ceremony for a Navy ship named after former U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords.
Austal officials say the USS Gabrielle Giffords will be christened at noon Saturday at the company's shipyard in Mobile.
Officials say the aluminum vessel is 419 feet long. It’s one of seven new Littoral Combat Ships that are currently under construction at Austal's shipyard.
Austal officials say Giffords as well as her husband Mark Kelly — a retired Navy captain and former astronaut – Second Lady Jill Biden and others are expected to speak during the event.