Florida became the latest state to legalize same sex marriage this week. APR student reporter Kristen Feyt says supporters are speaking out in favor of the decision…
Florida has now become the thirty-sixth state to legalize same sex marriage. The Democratic Women’s Club of Florida is the latest to support the change. Florida’s previous ban on gay marriage was officially lifted at 12:01 am Tuesday morning. Dr. Maureen McKenna is the president of The Democratic Women’s Club of Florida. She says that the state’s new laws are a part of the social justice movement that gives equality to same sex couples…
“We have to overcome any discrimination that’s evident in the work place and in the community. I believe that this legislation and adherence to this law will continue to make sure that equality for all is achieved in this land of liberty.”
Alabama remains one of ten states that still ban same sex marriage. The Florida based Publix supermarket chain now allows company benefits for same sex couples. The company operates fifty eight stores in Alabama.
Health consumers with insurance under the affordable care act may be facing an extra hit on their income taxes. Federal subsidies to help pay for coverage could be taxed like extra income. Tax preparer H & R Block is holding a daylong series of free one-on-one counseling sessions here in Alabama and around the nation today. Americans who don’t have coverage face a penalty of ninety five dollars per person or one percent of their income. Patricia Jackson works for the H & R Block office in Fultondale. She says there’s one obvious solution to this problem…
“The first thing is to get insurance, get health insurance. You can go through the marketplace. There’s open enrollment through February fifteenth. And, they can see if they qualify for a tax premium which will help pay for their insurance.”
Jackson says even if you sign up for coverage now that may not erase any penalties on your 2014 tax bill. Sixty five thousand Alabamians signed up for coverage under the Affordable Health Care Act during the latest sign-up period starting last October.
The Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force is planning an event to raise awareness of human trafficking and to educate the public on how to identify potential victims.
Organizers say the task force is asking the mayors of Huntsville, Madison, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Birmingham, and Mobile to sign proclamations on Friday in observance of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.