Alabama onPolitix | WALA TV

Mixed views on session for legislators

Tue, 21 May 2013 14:18:24 GMT

The description of the Legislature's 2013 session depends on a legislator's party label.

Animal cruelty bill passes legislation

Paige Malone — Tue, 21 May 2013 01:10:20 GMT

Monday was a great day for the animals of Alabama. In the final day of the Alabama Legislative Session HB 27 passed and is now headed to Governor Robert Bentley’s desk.

Summary of action in Ala. Legislature

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:14:52 GMT

A summary of action in the Alabama Legislature on Monday, the 30th and final meeting day of the regular session:

House rejects school tax credit delay

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:53:25 GMT

The Alabama House has rejected Gov. Robert Bentley's proposal to delay private school tax credits for two years. The House voted 57-10 Monday to reject the governor's proposal. Now the proposal goes to the Senate on the last meeting day of the legislative session.

Several bills on task for Legislature

Paige Malone — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:19:04 GMT

It’s the final day of the legislative session in Alabama and lawmakers are gearing up for a long day. FOX10 News is watching several bills for you.

Ala. Legislature returns for last day

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:53:51 GMT

Alabama legislators are getting ready for the final day of their 2013 session. The Legislature convened at 9 a.m. Monday.

Democrats Medicaid expansion fail

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:21:13 GMT

Democrats in the Alabama Legislature failed to achieve their top goal for the 2013 session. When the session began in February, Democratic legislators said their No. 1 goal was expanding Alabama's Medicaid program under the federal Affordable Care Act.

Voters to decide House Dist. 97 race

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:21:38 GMT

Some Mobile County voters will head to the polls this week to decide the state House District 97 special election.

Ala. bond issues pending

Mon, 20 May 2013 01:16:39 GMT

The Alabama Legislature could use its last meeting day to authorize the borrowing of $280 million through state bond issues.

Bentley seeks votes on tax delay

Sat, 18 May 2013 21:28:08 GMT

Gov. Robert Bentley is spending the weekend trying to round up legislative support for his proposal to delay Alabama's new private school tax credits for two years.

Alabama's unemployment rate drops

Hal Scheurich — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:09:57 GMT

Governor Robert Bentley announced on Friday, May 17, that Alabama’s preliminary April unemployment rate is 6.9 percent, down from last month’s 7.2 percent and below the 7.4 percent recorded in April of 2012.

Gov. wants 2-year delay on tax credits

Wed, 15 May 2013 21:26:14 GMT

Gov. Robert Bentley wants the Legislature to delay Alabama's private school tax credits for two years.

Gov: Road, bridge improvements coming

Tue, 14 May 2013 00:06:18 GMT

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has announced plans for bridge and road improvement projects across the state.

Questions surround new legislation

Renee Dials — Sun, 12 May 2013 22:53:52 GMT

State Representative Chad Fincher defends amendments the Alabama Accountability Act approved in Montgomery last week. The amendments to the Accountability Act approved in Montgomery are awaiting the governor's signature.

Lawmakers agree on change to gun laws

Fri, 10 May 2013 18:00:48 GMT

Key legislators have agreed on sweeping changes to Alabama gun laws, but the House and Senate still must vote on the measure before it can go to Gov. Robert Bentley for his signature. Under the plan, employees in Alabama would be able to have firearms in their car at work, and businesses couldn't be held liable for any harm resulting from the use of those weapons.

Bentley legalizes home brewing

Fri, 10 May 2013 17:23:35 GMT

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley signed legislation into law Thursday, May 9 to allow people to make beer and wine at home starting immediately, making the state the last to act to legalize the hobby. The American Homebrewers Association estimates there are 1 million home brewers nationwide, with about 5,000 of them in Alabama.

Committee votes for school officers

Michael Brannon — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:40:46 GMT

On Thursday night, May 9 the Alabama House voted 97-3 in favor of a bill allowing school systems in the state to use their own money to hire school resource officers. FOX 10 News is talking to local school systems about the hiring of these officers and whether or not they will be armed on campus.

Accountability Act causes heated debate

Paige Malone — Fri, 10 May 2013 03:33:56 GMT

A heated debate ensued Thursday, May 9 as the Alabama House and Senate passed some changes to the controversial School Accountability Act.

Murphy tornado bill passes Senate

Paige Malone — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:12:22 GMT

A bill that would give Murphy High School funds to repair damage from the Christmas day tornado went before a Senate committee Tuesday, May 7 and passed.

Democratic Conference honors DA

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:54:58 GMT

The Alabama Democratic Conference is planning to honor a district attorney who successfully prosecuted former state trooper James Bonard Fowler for a civil rights-era slaying.

Bill eases voting in Alabama

Sat, 04 May 2013 18:37:04 GMT

A bill awaiting the governor's signature will make it easier for emergency workers to vote when they are called out because of a disaster.

Ala. lawmakers focus on child abuse law

Fri, 03 May 2013 12:56:24 GMT

The Alabama Legislature is expanding the types of occupations that are required to report cases of suspected child abuse.

Gulf Shores State Park resort passed

Fri, 03 May 2013 02:11:14 GMT

The Alabama legislature has paved the way for a new resort to be built on 29 acres of state-owned land at Gulf Shores State Park.

Alabama House passes gun bill

Paige Malone — Thu, 02 May 2013 20:26:17 GMT

The Alabama House of Representatives passed a controversial gun bill that has already been approved by the Alabama State Senate.

Two important bills on Ala Senate floor

Paige Malone — Thu, 02 May 2013 19:06:48 GMT

Two very important bills could come on the Alabama Senate floor Thursday. One would give Murphy High School $15 million toward rebuilding. The second would increase penalties for animal cruelty.

Gamecock breeders oppose cruelty bill

Thu, 02 May 2013 18:16:57 GMT

Cockfighting, the practice of forcing two gamecocks into a space to fight to the death, is illegal under Alabama law, but as Alabama lawmakers push for a bill that would increase penalties for those convicted of animal cruelty, the bill faces opposition from a group seeking to protect the practice.

Animal cruelty bill faces opposition

Paige Malone — Thu, 02 May 2013 03:18:04 GMT

An important piece of animal protection legislation is under attack. FOX10 News has been following HB27, which is now SB393, for more than a year and nearly 5,000 of you have signed our online petition to get the bill passed.

Proposed coastal restoration projects

Wed, 01 May 2013 21:31:09 GMT

Governor Robert Bentley announced that Alabama will receive nearly $100 million in funding for three proposed coastal restoration projects as part of the ongoing early restoration process following the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill.

Death penalty expansion considered

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:24:15 GMT

The Alabama Senate has voted to expand Alabama's death penalty law to include a defendant who kills a person who had a protective order issued against the defendant. The bill got approved by the Senate 29-0 Tuesday.

Snapper proposal gives states control

Cory Pippin — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 23:48:13 GMT

People are reacting to the news that Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley did not sign a letter in support of state management of red snapper. This comes on the heels of a shortening red snapper season that has many charter fishermen fearing the worst.