Alabama Lawmakers Propose Vote on State Lottery

| January 12, 2016 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2016/01/State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-scaled.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:6:{s:5:"width";i:2560;s:6:"height";i:1920;s:4:"file";s:46:"2016/01/State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-scaled.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:14:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-336x252.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:252;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-771x578.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:578;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-768x576.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:576;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:41:"State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-1536x1152.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1152;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"2048x2048";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:41:"State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-2048x1536.jpg";s:5:"width";i:2048;s:6:"height";i:1536;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:37:"State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-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:39:"State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-353x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:353;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:39:"State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-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:{}}s:14:"original_image";s:31:"State-Senator-Jim-McClendon.jpg";}
        )

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

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

    [_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:2017328;s:14:"optimized_size";i:784974;s:7:"percent";d:61.090000000000003;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:67:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/01/State-Senator-Jim-McClendon.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:1866848;s:14:"optimized_size";i:672995;s:7:"percent";d:63.950000000000003;}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:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:75:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/01/State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-771x578.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:105861;s:14:"optimized_size";i:78703;s:7:"percent";d:25.649999999999999;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:75:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/01/State-Senator-Jim-McClendon-451x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:44619;s:14:"optimized_size";i:33276;s:7:"percent";d:25.420000000000002;}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
        )

)
1654994116 
1452618238

State Senator Jim McClendon, a Republican from Springville, has proposed a bill that would allow Alabamians to vote on whether or not they want a state lottery.  

McClendon said Tuesday he had been spurred to action by people in his district. 

“Everywhere I go, people are saying, ‘We’ve got our tickets’ or ‘We’re on the way,’,” McClendon said in a press conference at the State House in Montgomery. “They are driving to surrounding states. They are leaving our money, and they cannot understand why Alabama does not offer what 44 states in America offer.” 

McClendon says his bill is simple. If passed, it would allow Alabamians to vote — yes or no — on a constitutional amendment that would set up a state lottery. McClendon’s proposal does not mention how or where the money from the lottery would be used. 

House Minority Leader Craig Ford, a Gadsden Democrat, also filed a bill in support of the lottery. His bill would send the proceeds to fund scholarships at state colleges. 

In the past, Alabama voters and lawmakers have rejected attempts to green light a lottery. 

McClendon said he was not prompted to action by Wednesday’s $1.5 billion Powerball jackpot.

 

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