Governor Robert Bentley and State Schools Superintendent Dr. Tommy Bice Wednesday talked about Alabama's notable improvement on Advance Placement tests over the last six years. According to a study by the A+Education Partnership Alabama led the nation for percentage growth of students achieving qualifying scores on AP tests in math, science and English. The state's increase was 136 percent compared to the national rate of 49 percent. For the current school year, the AP Initiative is in 118 schools in 54 districts. Dr. Bice says the goal is to have 200 schools in the program by the year 2020.
SPLC Lawsuit
The Southern Poverty Law Center is claiming a victory Wednesday for low-income residents. The Montgomery-based law firm and the Equal Justice Under Law have reached an agreement with the city of Montgomery to identify alternative ways of collecting unpaid fines and fees from residents. David Denielli, Deputy Legal Director of the Southern Poverty Law Center, says the Montgomery court system failed to resolve unpaid fines in a number of areas. The settlement now has to be approved by a federal judge.
Pastor Lawsuit
An Alabama pastor has filed suit claiming a state law that forced him to shut down a church camp for sex offenders violates his constitutional rights. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit in Montgomery Wednesday on behalf of Pastor Ricky Martin. The lawsuit claims Martin believes it's his Christian duty to help people being released from prison, including sex offenders. It says letting the former inmates live behind his church in rural Chilton County was a ministry. The suit claims a law passed this year to shut down the camp violates his religious rights. Chilton County officials say the camp posed a threat to public safety.
U- Go- MGM
Specialized golf carts are coming to downtown Montgomery. The Lighting Route Lunch Line will use the U-Go-MGM carts. It's creator and entrepreneur David Sadler says the street legal carts run on electricity. Sadler hopes to expand the lunch line route to a one mile radius around the downtown area.