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March is Women's History Month!

Casino Hearing Brings Supporters and Opponents

Gambling foes and proponents squared off at a public hearing in the Alabama Senate Tourism and Marketing Committee Tuesday.  Eighteen people expressed their opinion on a bill to authorize a state lottery and casinos at four dog tracks.  Houston County resident Stanley Davis says the state needs more attractions.  The Vice Chairman of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians Robert McGhee told the committee the state should reach a gaming compact with his tribe instead of what he called a "rushed approach."  Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, who is sponsoring the bill, says gambling is an alternative to raising taxes to relieve the state budget crisis.  Marsh delayed a vote, saying he wants to make changes to the bill.  

Cellphone Settlement

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange says Verizon Wireless has agreed to pay $90 million and Sprint 68 million to settle charges that the mobile phone providers allowed phony charges to their customers' monthly bills.  The practice is known as cramming.  Strange said the two companies had partnered with a third party vendor that sells text messaging services.  But customers who hadn't signed up for the services were being bill anyway, about $9.99 a month.  Alabama is receiving more than $306,000 in the Sprint and Verizon settlements. 

Regulations Eased

The top Republican on the Senate Banking Committee has unveiled legislation that would ease regulatory requirements on mid-size banks.  It would also give lenders the option for greater freedom from mortgage lending rules.  The legislation by Alabama Senator Richard Shelby would be the most ambitious rewrite of rules governing the financial services sector since Congress passed the groundbreaking Dodd-Frank law in 2010.