Senate Passes Prison Reform Bill,Draft General Fund Budget “Bleak”
Prison reform and the General Fund budget were at the top of the agenda for Alabama legislators this week. Thursday, the Alabama senate passed a comprehensive bill aimed at relieving Alabama’s overcrowded prison system. Earlier this week, state lawmakers got a sneak peek at what the budget could look like next fiscal year if the state pulls in no new revenue.
Here to recap the week is Don Dailey. He’s the host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public Television, and he joins WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley each Friday with the latest from Montgomery.
RFK Jr. says U.S. will stop funding global vaccine group over ‘vaccine safety’ issues
The secretary of health and human services said that funding will be curtailed until Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, takes into account the science of vaccine safety in its campaigns.
Senators question Trump plan to kill federal funds for PBS, NPR and some foreign aid
Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee pushed back against the Trump administration's bid to rescind federal funding for public broadcasting and international aid programs.
Judge orders Trump administration to resume distributing money for EV chargers
Congress designated money for building new EV chargers, but the Trump administration put a freeze on those funds. A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction ordering the program to resume.
Judge sees no reason to keep holding Abrego Garcia pending criminal trial
Despite the court order, if released from prison, Kilmar Abrego Garcia is likely to be immediately taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Expert panel picked by RFK Jr. will scrutinize the vaccine schedule for kids
The advisory committee makes recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the nation's vaccine schedule. Any changes could affect vaccinations for millions of children.
Trump’s signature policy bill is facing trouble on multiple fronts in the Senate
While Senate leaders have made several significant changes to the bill in recent days, the issue of funding for rural hospitals has emerged as a major roadblock.