State Lawmaker, Former State GOP Head Charged in Corruption Scheme

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2018/04/JackWilliams_Resized.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1000;s:6:"height";i:1000;s:4:"file";s:32:"2018/04/JackWilliams_Resized.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:12:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"JackWilliams_Resized-336x336.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:336;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"JackWilliams_Resized-771x771.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:771;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"JackWilliams_Resized-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:32:"JackWilliams_Resized-768x768.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:768;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"JackWilliams_Resized-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:32:"JackWilliams_Resized-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:32:"JackWilliams_Resized-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:32:"JackWilliams_Resized-311x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:311;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"JackWilliams_Resized-265x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:265;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:32:"JackWilliams_Resized-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:32:"JackWilliams_Resized-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:32:"JackWilliams_Resized-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:{}}}
        )

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

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:100359;s:14:"optimized_size";i:73511;s:7:"percent";d:26.75;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:5889;s:14:"optimized_size";i:5545;s:7:"percent";d:5.8399999999999999;}s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:20585;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19808;s:7:"percent";d:3.77;}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:65217;s:14:"optimized_size";i:63149;s:7:"percent";d:3.1699999999999999;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:2697;s:14:"optimized_size";i:2475;s:7:"percent";d:8.2300000000000004;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:26482;s:14:"optimized_size";i:25657;s:7:"percent";d:3.1200000000000001;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:17668;s:14:"optimized_size";i:16986;s:7:"percent";d:3.8599999999999999;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:18673;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17902;s:7:"percent";d:4.1299999999999999;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:14820;s:14:"optimized_size";i:14169;s:7:"percent";d:4.3899999999999997;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:13:"original_size";i:4980;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4657;s:7:"percent";d:6.4900000000000002;}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:277370;s:14:"optimized_size";i:243859;s:7:"percent";d:12.08;}}
        )

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

)
1616946408 
1522677641

An Alabama state lawmaker and the former head of the state Republican party have each been arrested in connection with a public corruption scheme. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the charges Monday against state Representative Jack Williams, a Republican from Vestavia Hills, and Marty Connors, a lobbyist and former chairman of the Alabama Republican party.

US Attorney Louis Franklin in Montgomery charged a third person– health care executive G. Ford Gilbert, of Carmichael, California. Gilbert owns Trina Health, which operates diabetes treatment centers around the world. He opened three clinics in Alabama in 2014 and 2015. But according to the indictment, the state’s largest health insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, soon after refused to cover treatments at Trina Health. So Gilbert allegedly worked with Williams, the state lawmaker and Connors, the lobbyist, to force a bill through the legislature to make Blue Cross change its position.

Gilbert paid former state House Majority Leader Micky Hammon to back the bill, according to the indictment. And he hired Connors as a lobbyist. The indictment says Williams was recruited to hold a public hearing on the bill.
Charges for all three defendants include conspiracy to commit bribery related to federal programs and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. The indictment doesn’t include charges against Hammon, who has already been convicted on federal corruption charges in 2017.

If convicted, the three men could face a maximum of 20 years in prison and financial penalties.

 

IVF could help her start the family she wants. Will Alabama’s personhood law derail it?

Despite a law meant to protect IVF in Alabama, patients and advocates worry the protections won’t hold — and warn of future attacks on reproductive rights.

Struggling Birmingham-Southern College says it will close at end of May

The College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to close the longtime institution, officials announced in a news release. The announcement came after legislation, aimed at securing a taxpayer-backed loan for the 168-year-old private college, had recently stalled in the Alabama Statehouse.

What happens when a rural hospital shuts its doors? Look to Pickens County

Residents in the west Alabama county warn that the lack of emergency care can have deadly consequences. It's a fate that could befall a growing number of rural communities.

Q&A: A bad deal made Jackson’s water problems worse. It wasn’t the only Mississippi city harmed

Reporter Sarah Fowler talks about her investigation that found at least eight Mississippi cities were harmed by deals over faulty smart water meters.

What issues are driving you to the polls this year?

What issues are top of mind as you head to the polls this year? What do you want the candidates to be talking about?

Anti-DEI bill becomes law as lawmakers return for the second half of the session

Alabama lawmakers returned from spring break this week to take on several priorities for the Republican majority. Chief among them was a bill that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion programs in schools, universities and government offices.

More Front Page Coverage