An African-American attorney and former state Senator has sparked a debate by removing Confederate battle flags from the graves of Civil War veterans. Myron Penn said he and his family removed the flags and brought them to the city in Union Springs. Penn said the stars and bars battle flag is a divisive symbol that represents oppression. Since removing the flags, some have called for Penn to be arrested and disbarred. The cemetery is owned and maintained by the Union Springs city government. Mayor Saint Thomas Jr. said a non-governmental group illegally placed the flags without government permission.
Legislative Countdown
There are only eight days left in the legislative session and lawmakers are scrambling for solutions to the projected shortfall in the General Fund budget. On Tuesday, the Alabama House is expected to vote on a stripped down $1.6 billion spending plan that cuts roughly $200 million from state agencies. State Representative John Knight of Montgomery's said House members should not have backed down after senators said they would not consider any proposed tax hikes. Governor Robert Bentley has lashed out at the spending plan, saying the cuts will hurt people.
Tire Theft
Montgomery Police and Central Alabama CrimeStoppers say three people are each facing multiple counts of theft for stealing property from a tire store on the Northern Boulevard. Authorities say Carl Chadwick, Twila Wallace and Terry Martin each face charges for stealing tires and tools from the business on three separate occasions between April 29th and May 12th. CrimeStoppers Director Tony Garrett said the arrests marked the third case solved this week by the anti-crime program. Chadwick, Wallace and Martin are being held in the Montgomery County Jail.
Creamery Layoffs
A production shutdown at Blue Bell Creameries, because of a series of listeria illnesses is forcing Blue Bell to lay more than a third of its workforce at facilities in Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma. At Blue Bell's plant in Sylacauga, Alabama, about 40 full-time employees will be laid-off and another 182 workers will be furloughed. The Sylacauga creamery was closed April 24th for cleaning and sanitizing.