Alabama lawmakers are entering the final stretch of current legislative session, and their biggest challenge is still unsolved: a $200 million shortfall in the General Fund budget.
Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Chairman Arthur Orr said yesterday he believes most legislators have resigned themselves to a special session.
Legislators have been unable to agree on tax increases or shifting money from the education budget to avoid cuts to state agencies.
There are four regular meeting days remaining in the current session that will decide the fate of bills on abortion, payday loan regulation and other bills.
Bills to authorize a state lottery, casinos, medicinal marijuana, and privatizing state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board stores are already dead for the session.
The session is expected to conclude next week, but by law it must end by June 15.
Baldwin County has surpassed the 200,000 population mark for the first time in its history.
U.S. Census Data released last March suggests towns like Daphne, Fairhope, Foley and others make up the 12th fastest growing community in the country.
Baldwin County Probate Judge Tim Russell says people who visit the area like it so much, they decide to put roots down.
“And I hear the story all the time. They come down for two or three years to the condos, waters, bays, rivers. They fall in love. They say, I want to get down there and be part of it. So our greatest growth is in the retiree population.”
The influx of people is not expected to slow down anytime soon. A new study from the University of Alabama's Center for Business and Economic Research forecasts another 100,000 people could soon move to Baldwin County.
You can find a full report on Baldwin County's rapid growth by APR's MacKenzie Bates here.
UAB football is coming back, but with a challenge.
UAB President Ray Watts says he decided to reverse the original decision to eliminate the program after meeting with university supporters. Donors have pledged to make up the estimated $17.2 million deficit over the next five years if the football program is restored.
Watts says outside supporters will have to come up with the money to keep the Blazers on the field.
"We will work with everyone involved to set a reasonable timetable that provides every chance for success. Let there be no doubt: Our vision for UAB and what we can accomplish will be bolder than ever."
Watts says UAB will spend no more than it does now to support athletics. The football, rifle, and bowling teams were cut in December after UAB commissioned a report saying all three programs were too expensive to keep.
Alabama officials say this year's Gulf shrimp season will officially open tomorrow.
Officials from the Alabama Marine Resources Division announced yesterday that the shrimp season will open at 6 AM tomorrow.
The season opening comes after shrimp sampling confirmed that the average size of shrimp in Alabama Gulf waters was larger than the benchmark of 68 shrimp per pound. State biologists will continue to monitor the shrimp population and could alter the shrimp season based on changes in average shrimp size.
State officials remind commercial fishermen they have to provide their boat registration, the boat owner's driver's license and social security number or tax identification number when buying a commercial shrimping license.