A new report on child welfare suggests that there are more U.S. children living in poverty than before the Great Recession. The latest Kids County Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation say 22 percent of American children were living in poverty in 2013 compared with 18 percent in 2008. In Alabama, 27 percent of children now live in poverty. Voices for Alabama's Children Director of Policy and Research Rhonda Mann say the state actually dropped from 44th in the nation to 45th in terms of overall child well-being. Mann says Alabama did make advances in children's health with less child and teen deaths and fewer babies being born underweight. More information on the data book can be found online at databook.kidscount.org.
Declining Population
Alabama's population is declining and growing older according to new data released by the Census Bureau. Al.com reports that 40 of the state's 67 counties recorded fewer residents in 2014 as compared to 2010. Macon County lost 10 percent of its residents over the four year period. Census estimates show Montgomery's population also shrank, losing more than 3,100 people from 2010 to 2014. Baldwin, Russell, Lee, Shelby and Madison counties are the state's fastest growing counties.
Abortion Request
A federal judge is considering a lawsuit filed by an Alabama inmate who wants out of jail temporarily so she can get an abortion. U.S. District Judge Abdul Kallon scheduled an emergency hearing on the request for Monday afternoon in Huntsville.
More Licenses
Two more Alabama counties say they will issue wedding licenses following the Supreme Court's decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide. Both Houston and Henry counties have refused to issue any licenses because of gay marriage. Conservative groups are asking the Alabama Supreme Court to follow anti-slavery precedents from the 1850s and resist gay marriage.