Alabama’s Prison Reform Task Force Readies Bill For 2015 Legislative Session
Alabama’s overcrowded prison system has been under close scrutiny since the Justice Department started investigating it last year. That came after a report detailed cases of sexual abuse of inmates at the Julia Tutwiler prison for women. Since then, the system’s faced additional lawsuits.
If big changes aren’t made during the upcoming legislative session, the state risks a federal takeover. Alabama’s Prison Reform Task Force is working to draft legislation to improve the prison system. State Senator Cam Ward of Alabaster is the task force’s chairman.
As we head into the 2015 session, Ward sat down with WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley to talk about the proposed legislation, and who has been involved in the process.
USDA says demand for sensitive food stamp data from states is on hold
The federal government told states to turn over names, birthdates, Social Security numbers and other sensitive data about food assistance recipients. Amid a legal challenge, the agency says the request is on hold.
The White House unveils the new official portrait of President Trump
Trump appears expressionless in the new presidential portrait, depicted against a dark, blank background.
Trump asks Congress to wipe out funding for public broadcasting
President Trump is asking lawmakers to claw back the $1.1 billion in federal subsidies for public broadcasting that Congress approved earlier this year. His request also includes cuts to foreign aid.
In a break with Trump, Elon Musk calls the GOP megabill a ‘disgusting abomination’
Musk joined with GOP critics who say the multi-trillion dollar plan to enact the president's domestic priorities doesn't go far enough to cut federal spending.
Trump asks Congress to wipe out funding for public broadcasting
President Trump is asking lawmakers to claw back the $1.1 billion in federal subsidies for public broadcasting that Congress approved earlier this year. His request also includes cuts to foreign aid.
UAB opens new engineering school building
After two years of construction, the University of Alabama at Birmingham has a new home for its engineering school. Staff cut the ribbon for the Frances and Miller Gorrie Hall Tuesday morning.
