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Head of AEA resigns, Hubbard's defense wants case dismissed and Baldwin County education tax vote

Henry Mabry
AEA Executive Secretary Henry Mabry

Henry Mabry has officially stepped down as the head of the Alabama Education Association.

His resignation comes after the AEA board voted back in February to terminate Mabry after an audit raised concerns about his financial management of the organization.

Mabry replaced longtime AEA head Paul Hubbert in 2011. It was Hubbert who built the education organization into a massive political powerhouse. Hubbert expressed some grave concerns about the AEA's fiscal health before he passed away last year.

An AEA spokeswoman says Mabry's resignation will be effective at the close of business today and that he resigned to pursue other opportunities. An interim replacement has not yet been named.

Lawyers for indicted Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard are asking a judge to dismiss the case on claims of prosecutorial misconduct.

Defense lawyers have filed a motion to dismiss the indictment against Hubbard. In the court filing, defense lawyers accused Deputy Attorney General Matt Hart of making threats to ruin Hubbard's political career. Defense lawyers also accused Hart of leaking information to the media.

Hubbard lawyer Mark White called prosecutors' behavior "shocking" and inappropriate. The Attorney General's office declined to comment. Prosecutors have previously accused Hubbard's defense of manufacturing a "bogus" narrative of misconduct and leaks.

The Auburn Republican faces 23 felony ethics charges accusing him of using his political offices for personal financial gain. He is expected to go to trial in October.

It’s decision time for voters in Baldwin County.

An election is being held today on a plan to increase property taxes, with the money going to the local school system. Residents are being asked to say yes or no on two main ballot items. One would renew current education property taxes of seven mills and the second item would add an extra eight mills on top of that.

Terry Burkle is the Executive Director of the Baldwin County Education Coalition. She says the Baldwin County area is growing so fast that students have to use one hundred portable classrooms just to fit everyone in.

“And if we are not successful in getting the additional property tax, then we would be looking at five years down the road, three hundred and fifty portables, and eight or nine years, four hundred and fifty portables."

One mill of property taxes means a dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed property value. A local tea party group supports renewing the old tax, but opposes the extra taxes.

An Alabama couple has been charged with conspiring to steal packages of prescription drugs intended for military veterans.

Kevin Cochrane, a former U.S. Postal Service contractor, and his wife Carmen, both of Verbena, Alabama, were indicted yesterday on charges including conspiracy to possess stolen mail and theft of VA mail packages.

The U.S. Attorney's office in Memphis says the thefts occurred at a U.S. Postal Service loading facility in Memphis in November 2013. The stolen packages contained hydrocodone and other prescription medications intended for veterans.

If convicted, the Cochranes could face up to ten years in prison.

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