Capitol Journal Update
| Montgomery –The 2013 Alabama legislative session is underway. Legislators are tossing around many issues from gun violence and school security to Medicaid and budgets. Republicans are targeting President Obama’s policies while Democrats will try to get their voices heard as the minority party.
WBHM’s Andrew Yeager speaks with Don Dailey, host of Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal every Friday on Morning Edition and All Things Considered as we discuss the big legislative action of the week.
| 2013-05-10 — Click to listen about changes to the Alabama Accountability Act, the education budget receives final passage, changes to Alabama’s Medicaid system and a victory for homebrewers.
| 2013-05-03 — Click to listen about Democrats’ complaint of steamrolled again on the Alabama Accountability Act, and both the General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets must be passed as time slips away.
| 2013-04-12 — Click to listen about the education budget passing the house, a bill to curb welfare fraud and Governor Robert Bentley announces he’s running for reelection.
| 2013-04-05 — Click to listen about a contentious gun bill, final passage of abortion regulation legislation, the governor signs the “Airbus bill” and homebrewers celebrate an initial victory.
| 2013-03-29 — Click to listen for a mid-session review of what lawmakers have accomplished so far and what to expect in the second half.
| 2013-03-22 — Click to listen about the governor signing a pair of government consolidation bills, a roll call snafu in the Senate, a Ten Commandments display bill and the newest shot fired over the school tax credit law.
| 2013-03-15 — Click to listen about the governor signing a controversial school tax credit bill, a bill repealing Common Core standards dies and a law enforcement consolidation bill gains final passage.
| 2013-03-08 — Click to listen about the climate of the legislature after last week’s blow up over a school bill, the governor vetoes a school safety bill and the general fund budget passes out of committee.
| 2013-03-01 — Click to listen about last-minute, drastic changes to a school flexibility bill, a challenge to Common Core standards in Alabama and a bill to protect Airbus from lawsuits.
| 2013-02-22 — Click to listen about a bill placing more regulations on clinics that perform abortions, the first bill signed this session, a bill to arm some educators is put on hold and the prospects for legalizing homebrewing.
| 2013-02-15 — Click to listen about the House passing a school flexibility bill, proposals to consolidate state government and Senate Democrats’ agenda for the legislative session.
| 2013-02-08 — Click to listen about Governor Robert Bentley’s State of the State Address, his budget proposals, a school flexibility bill and the first bill to die in this year’s legislative session.
| 2013-02-01 — Click to listen to a preview of the 2013 Alabama legislative session.
Workers at Alabama’s Mercedes plants vote against joining a union
The workers voted 56% against the union, according to tallies released by the National Labor Relations Board, which ran the election.
Taylor Hunnicutt is championing her home state with debut album ‘Alabama Sound’
Alabama offers a diverse symphony of swampy rock, swaggering blues, murky country, and bone-rattling soul. It’s a sound singer-songwriter Taylor Hunnicutt recently reimagined on her debut album, Alabama Sound, which is out now.
UAB building among Alabama’s first to feature ‘bird safe’ glass
Advocates hope the new glass will prevent window collisions, a leading causes of bird mortality.
Researchers look into community health impact of wood pellet production in rural Mississippi
Brown University and Tougaloo College students are testing for potential air and noise pollution near the Drax wood pellet plant in Gloster, Mississippi.
Alabama coal company sued for a home explosion is delinquent on dozens of penalties
Crimson Oak Grove Resources has been cited for 204 safety violations since the March 8 blast, many involving “significant and substantial” safety violations.
The United Auto Workers faces a key test in the South with upcoming vote at Alabama Mercedes plant
The United Auto Workers is aiming for a key victory at Mercedes-Benz in Alabama. More than 5,000 workers at the facility in Vance and nearby battery plant will vote this week on whether to join the UAW.
