Author: WAKA Action 8 News

Lawmakers Approve Change to Jail Food Funds

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Alabama lawmakers have voted to end a practice that allowed some sheriffs to pocket leftover jail food funds. The Alabama Senate gave final approval Thursday to a bill that changes the flow of jail food funds. The bill now goes to Gov. Kay Ivey. An old state law allowed sheriffs to retain any leftover jail food funds. The practice led…

Senate Approves Largest Education Budget in Alabama’s History, 4% Pay Raise for Educators

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Today, by a 28-2 vote, the Alabama Senate approved a $7.1 billion Education Trust Fund for Fiscal Year 2020, which starts October 1st, and a 4% pay raise for Alabama’s teachers and education support personnel, which follows a 2.5% pay raise last year. It is the largest education budget in Alabama’s history.   “This education budget, the largest in Alabama’s…

Alabama Senate Approves $25 Million Pre-K Expansion

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The Alabama State Senate today approved a $25 million expansion of the state’s high-quality, voluntary pre-kindergarten program for four-year-olds in the FY 2020 Education Trust Fund Budget. Senators approved the measure by a vote of 28 to 2.   The increased funding for Alabama’s First Class Pre-K program, which still must be approved by the Alabama State House of Representatives, would allow…

Case of Measles Confirmed in Alabama

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Alabama health officials say there is a confirmed case of measles in the state. State Health Officer Scott Harris says a case of measles was confirmed Thursday in an infant.  The infant 5-months old and was not old enough to have been immunized. The Alabama case is in St. Clair County. It is the first confirmed case in Alabama after…

Update: Former State. Rep. Ed Henry Sentenced in Health Care Fraud Case

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A federal judge has sentenced a former Alabama lawmaker to two years of probation for his role in a health care fraud case. U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins on Thursday sentenced former state Rep. Ed Henry following a plea agreement. The Hartselle Republican is best known for leading the 2017 impeachment push against then-Gov. Robert Bentley. Prosecutors said doctors improperly…

Shelby Proposes U.S. Constitutional Amendment Requiring Balanced Federal Budget

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U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby  has re-introduced legislation proposing a constitutional amendment to require Congress to have a balanced budget in an effort to reduce our nation’s increasing debt, which has surpassed $22 trillion, according to a statement from Shelby’s office. Sen. Shelby has introduced similar legislation each Congress since joining the Senate. “While our national debt continues to climb, it…

Former State Rep. Ed Henry Facing Federal Sentence

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A former Alabama lawmaker who led the 2017 impeachment push against then-Gov. Robert Bentley is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty in a health care fraud case. Former state Rep. Ed Henry is scheduled to be sentenced today after pleading guilty to theft of government property. The case involved co-payments that doctors improperly waived for Medicare…

Montgomery Regional Airport Names New Director

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The Montgomery Airport Authority has announced that Marshall Taggart, Jr. will be the new director of the Montgomery Regional Airport, effective May 15. Taggart has nearly two decades of experience in the aviation industry.  He arrives to Montgomery after serving as deputy airport director of DeKalb Peachtree Airport, which is the second busiest airport in Georgia. Taggart has experience as the National Director…

Former Lawmaker to be Sentenced in Health Care Fraud Case

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A former Alabama lawmaker who led the 2017 impeachment push against then-Gov. Robert Bentley is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty in a health care fraud case. Former state Rep. Ed Henry is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday morning after pleading guilty to theft of government property. The case involved co-payments that doctors improperly waived for…

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