Alabama lawmakers are heading back to the hill after the Labor Day weekend. APR’s Stan Ingold has more.
Governor Robert Bentley is calling a special session next week to try once again to pass a state budget.
The governor announced that he is bringing lawmakers back to Montgomery on September 8th.
The second special session is needed after the regular session and a first special session ended in a stalemate over proposed solutions to a projected general fund budget shortfall.
Bentley has proposed raising $300 million in new taxes to resolve the budget issue rather than make cuts to state agencies, but many lawmakers have voiced opposition to the idea.
Lawmakers have to pass a budget before the upcoming fiscal year beginning October 1, or the state government could be in danger of shutting down.
Opening statements could be heard today in the trial of a former Madison police officer accused of injuring an Indian grandfather.
U.S. District Judge Madeline Haikala told 50 potential jurors to return to court this morning in Huntsville for final jury selection. Opening statements from both sides could begin soon after.
Former police officer Eric Parker is charged with violating the civil rights of 58-year-old Sureshbhai Patel. Parker says he's innocent.
Patel was walking in his son's suburban neighborhood when police received a call about a supposed "skinny black guy" in the area.
A police video shows an officer struggling to communicate with Patel because of language differences. Patel is then thrown to the ground and partially paralyzed.
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley has apologized to India’s federal government for Patel's treatment.
Registration for Alabama’s 15th annual youth dove hunt is underway.
The hunts will start up later this month across Alabama including Mobile, Baldwin, Limestone, Lowndes and Bibb counties.
Bill Gray is an Alabama wildlife biologist. He says safety precautions like protective goggles and ear plugs will be used during the hunts.
“Before each hunt, we give a safety briefing and talk about the 'do's and the 'don’t's. Many of the hunts, we have an opportunity for them to shoot skeet, clay targets, and we are able to work with them then on their marksmanship and gun safety.”
Participants must be 15 or younger and accompanied by an adult who's at least 25 years of age. The adult has to have a valid state hunting license and Harvest Information Program stamp. More information can be found at the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries website.
Authorities in Tuscaloosa have made an arrest in relation to the sexual assault of a University of Alabama student last weekend.
29-year-old Joseph Christopher Spota turned himself in to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office yesterday afternoon. He was charged with first-degree rape and first-degree kidnapping.
The charges relate to a university student that was sexually assaulted early Sunday morning. The student told investigators she was walking in the Strip when a man in a white SUV approached her, saying he was part of a church organization giving sober rides.
The student accepted the ride and when they arrived at her destination, the driver wouldn’t let her out of the SUV. Reports indicate he sexually assaulted her before she managed to flee the vehicle.
Spota is being held on $600,000 bond. Authorities announced yesterday there may be a second victim in the case.