Legislators are showing signs of frustration as they struggle to find answers to a budget shortfall in the General Fund. Tuesday, Governor Robert Bentley criticized a House Committee for approving a $156 million cut to the Medicaid program. In the Alabama Senate, a committee voted 6-2 for a proposal to establish a state lottery and casinos. Before the vote, Joe Godfrey with Alabama Citizens for Action urged senators to reject gambling as a solution. However, former Auburn Football Coach Pat Dye, is backing the gambling proposal. The gambling bill was sent to the full Senate where it faces an uncertain outcome.
Trial Delay
Montgomery Circuit Judge William Shashy is delaying a decision on whether to return more than 1,600 gambling machines seized in a raid at the VictoryLand casino in 2013. The judge told lawyers during a hearing Tuesday he want to see what happens in other cases and the legislature before deciding the request by VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor who said he wants to reopen the casino as soon as possible.
Voting Rights Conference
Two one-time aides to the late Reverend Martin Luther King will participate in a conference today at Alabama State University. ASU History professor Dr. Dorothy Autrey says the two-day event dubbed " Give Us The Ballot" coincides with the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act. Reverend C.T. Vivian and Reverend Bernard LaFayette will lead panel discussion at ASU's John L. Buskey Health Science Building auditorium.
Free Health Screenings
The Delta Regional Authority is again partnering with the military to offer free medical, dental and eye screenings in Alabama's Black Belt counties. Physicians, dentists and nurses with the U.S. Army Reserve will offer the medical services on a first come first serve basis to residents in Dallas, Marengo and Wilcox counties. The health care program started Tuesday and runs through August 13th in Camden, Demopolis and in Selma. Navy reservists also provided free medical check-ups in June in Tuskegee, Eufaula and Clayton.