Bentley Says State Parks, Mental Health Cuts Possible If Taxes Aren’t Raised

| April 8, 2015 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/04/5724765989_061008bdcf_oak-mountain-state-park.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:500;s:6:"height";i:375;s:4:"file";s:57:"2015/04/5724765989_061008bdcf_oak-mountain-state-park.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:6:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:57:"5724765989_061008bdcf_oak-mountain-state-park-336x252.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:252;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:57:"5724765989_061008bdcf_oak-mountain-state-park-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:55:"5724765989_061008bdcf_oak-mountain-state-park-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:57:"5724765989_061008bdcf_oak-mountain-state-park-415x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:415;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:57:"5724765989_061008bdcf_oak-mountain-state-park-353x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:353;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:57:"5724765989_061008bdcf_oak-mountain-state-park-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => digitizedchaos 
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => Flickr
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:167977;s:14:"optimized_size";i:91837;s:7:"percent";d:45.329999999999998;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:85:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/04/5724765989_061008bdcf_oak-mountain-state-park.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:167977;s:14:"optimized_size";i:91837;s:7:"percent";d:45.329999999999998;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1663094482 
1428486048

Photo by digitizedchaos 

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley says Alabama will face severe cuts in state services if legislators refuse to raise taxes.

The governor described the potential budget cuts during a speech on Wednesday. Bentley says Alabama could see the closure of state parks, reductions in mental health services, longer courthouse lines, a possible release of state inmates and other consequences.

Bentley says politicians need to look at “what is best for this state.”

He said it is easy for politicians to dig their heels in and say no.

So far, lawmakers have shown little enthusiasm for Bentley’s proposed $541 million tax package.

The governor said he is willing to bring lawmakers back into session multiple times until they approve a reasonable General Fund budget.

 

 

Ivey, Ledbetter go to court to try and allow voucher students to participate in athletics

Gov. Kay Ivey and House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter filed the complaint in Montgomery Circuit Court against the Alabama High School Athletic Association. They are asking a judge to block the association's ruling on eligibility and pave the way for the students to participate in athletics this year.

Alabama looks to solve two problems at once by helping formerly incarcerated people enter the workforce

The state incarcerates more of its people than most others, and when they’re released, those with criminal records struggle to find jobs – increasing the likelihood they’ll reoffend. Meanwhile, many businesses can’t find enough skilled workers.

Trump announces Space Command is moving from Colorado to Alabama

The long-expected decision from Trump caps a four-year tug of war between two states and opposing administrations about where to locate U.S. Space Command.

Alabama town’s first Black mayor, who had been locked out of office, wins election

Incumbent Mayor Patrick Braxton was elected as the mayor of Newbern, winning 66 votes to his opponent’s 26, according to results posted by the town. His victory puts a punctuation mark in the dispute over control of the town government that drew national attention.

Woodfin wins third term as Birmingham mayor

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin cruised to victory Tuesday, dominating a field of 9 candidates to claim a third term.

Here are the results of Tuesday’s elections in Birmingham

Birmingham voters made their picks in races for mayor, city council and school board.

More Government Coverage