This year's tax filing season has a new twist, the Affordable Care Act requirement of accounting for qualifying health insurance on your tax return. Those that purchased insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace will have to reconcile advance payments they received with the amount of premium tax credits they were entitled to based on their actual income. The majority of taxpayers that hold private insurance will simply check a box on their return showing that each member of their family had qualifying health coverage for the year.
Thousands Sign-Up
Thousands of additional Alabama residents are signing up for health insurance through the online exchange created by the federal Affordable Care Act. Al.com reports close to 138,000 people across the state have signed up for health insurance since the latest enrollment period opened in November. That's a nearly 41 percent increase from last year. The latest open enrollment period closes February 15th.
Jackson at ASU
Students at Alabama State University say they were inspired by civil rights icon, the Reverend Jesse Jackson Friday. Jackson spoke to a standing room only crowd at ASU, challenging the students to live beyond the bridge by using their voting rights. The event was called, "A Conversation with Rev. Jesse L. Jackson."
Bloody Sunday
The Reverend Jesse Jackson also joined State Senator Hank Sanders and more than a dozen other African-American leaders at a press conference Friday. The issue of Bloody Sunday and which day to re-enact the bridge crossing in Selma was revisited. State Representative Juandalynn Givan says the original marchers made their sacrifice on a Sunday. President Barack Obama is scheduled to be in Selma on Saturday, March 7th. For his part Reverend Jesse Jackson stands behind those that want the march on Sunday, but he says he would cross it on any day.