Despite BP Settlement, Alabama’s General Fund is Still Ailing

| July 9, 2015 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:337;s:4:"file";s:57:"2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:6:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:57:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:57:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-140x140.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:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-80x80.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:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-554x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:554;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:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:57:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-125x125.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:{}}}
        )

    [_edit_lock] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1432242511:1
        )

    [_wp_attachment_backup_sizes] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:9:{s:9:"full-orig";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:4:"file";s:34:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget.jpg";}s:18:"full-1432242792249";a:3:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:4:"file";s:49:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242768315.jpg";}s:14:"thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:11:"medium-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-253x169.jpg";s:5:"width";i:253;s:6:"height";i:169;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:10:"large-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-507x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:507;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-507x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:507;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:23:"wbhm-featured-home-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-466x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:466;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:27:"wbhm-featured-carousel-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-397x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:397;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:19:"post-thumbnail-orig";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:42:"7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}
        )

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

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => StockMonkeys.com
        )

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

    [_wp_attachment_is_custom_background] => Array
        (
            [0] => wbhm
        )

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

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:175789;s:14:"optimized_size";i:123514;s:7:"percent";d:29.739999999999998;}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/2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:39350;s:14:"optimized_size";i:27604;s:7:"percent";d:29.850000000000001;}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:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:93:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-336x189.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:14045;s:14:"optimized_size";i:10182;s:7:"percent";d:27.5;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:91:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3144;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3063;s:7:"percent";d:2.5800000000000001;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:93:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-600x337.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:39366;s:14:"optimized_size";i:27620;s:7:"percent";d:29.84;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:93:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:24482;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17765;s:7:"percent";d:27.440000000000001;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:93:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-554x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:31237;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19964;s:7:"percent";d:36.090000000000003;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:93:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/05/7932571974_aebaea40d8_b_budget-e1432242792249-470x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:24165;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17316;s:7:"percent";d:28.34;}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
        )

)
1654992267 
1436431672

Alabama will receive 2.3 billion dollars over 18 years through a settlement with BP over the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  One billion dollars of that settlement is to cover economic losses.  Even though that money will go into the state’s general fund, Governor Bentley made it clear that there will still be special legislative session and there are still long-term problems with the state’s general fund. WBHM’s Michael Krall talks about the state of Alabama’s budget shortfall with Kyle Whitmire. He’s the state political columnist for The Birmingham News and AL dot com.

 

In Miami, deportations are raising concerns among Cuban-Americans

South Florida's Cuban-American community supports President Trump, but some members are uneasy with his immigration policies. "I'm not for deporting people without criminal records."

Performers and video game companies reach deal that ends nearly year-long strike

Performers who do stunt and voice work for video games went on strike in July after reaching a stalemate in negotiations over how companies can use A.I. in game development.

Trump’s EPA plans to repeal climate pollution limits on fossil fuel power plants

The Trump administration plans to get rid of all limits on climate-warming pollution from the nation's fossil fuel power plants. Fossil fuel interests hailed the proposal, which likely faces legal challenges from environmental groups.

Trump’s DOJ makes its most sweeping demand for election data yet

Voting officials say they've never seen a demand like the one the Justice Department sent to Colorado last month.

Rep. McIver is indicted on federal charges related to tussle at immigration facility

The indictment was announced by interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba. Rep. McIver says the proceedings against her are "a brazen attempt at political intimidation."

Senators grill Trump’s FAA nominee over past effort to alter pilot certification rule

Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford was tapped in March to helm the agency. It's critical time for U.S. air travel, following a deadly January collision and ongoing air traffic control system problems.

More Front Page Coverage