Alabama's 2014 regular session of the legislature gets underway next week. WVAS News sought the insight of Alabama State University Political Science Professor Dr. Birdie Larkin on the annual event. Republicans will again boast a supermajority in both houses, which Dr. Larkin says will continue until the Democratic Party mobilizes at the grass roots level. It is an election year as well, which Dr. Larkin says will mean constituent-friendly legislation from both parties. The regular session is set to begin January 14th.
Prison Protests
Alabama Department of Corrections officials say inmates who are protesting at state facilities have also been using contraband cellphones to post interviews about prison conditions on the Internet. Corrections spokesman Brian Corbett told AL.com that inmates involved in the videos could face disciplinary action. Inmates have been protesting about facility conditions, overcrowding, parole policies, not being paid for prison jobs and more. Prisoners in state facilities are not allowed to have cellphones.
IRS Videos
The IRS has gotten a jump on the 2014 Tax season by launching several YouTube videos to aid the on-the-go taxpayer. Dan Boone, IRS spokesman for Alabama and Tennessee, says the IRS is getting social in other ways, including a new app for all mobile devices. The official start of the tax season in January 31st.