The Alabama Senate remains divided over the issue of taxes. Republican Senate leader Del Marsh of Anniston said there is little support for the governor's proposals to raise taxes to avoid deep cuts in government services. Marsh also said there is no consensus on what to do to address the budget shortfall.But a Senate committee did approval a bill that would do away with marriage licenses in the state and replace them with contracts.
VA Improvement
The director of a Veterans Administration Regional Benefits office says his office has greatly improved the process for veterans who file for disability and injury claims. Cory Hawthorne told local media on Monday the number of backlogged claims cases declined from almost 12,000 in July of 2013 to just below 2,000 in July of this year, an 84 percent improvement. Hawthorne said veterans claims are being processed within an average of 102 days. The Montgomery Office serves all of Alabama's veterans.
Gang Violence
Law enforcement agencies on the state and federal level are vowing to crack down on gang violence in the Selma area. Authorities blame rival neighborhood groups from the Selmont community and the former Craig Air Force base for a recent spike in violent incidents and murders. A video posted on Youtube has surfaced showing individuals with various semiautomatic weapons. The U.S. Marshals Service has begun working with Dallas County sheriff's officials and Selma Police to identify and apprehend individual involved in street gang violence.
Trial Request
Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard is asking a judge in Opelika to postpone his ethics trial, saying his defense needs more time to prepare. Lawyers for the Republican speaker filed a motion seeking a continuance on Sunday. Hubbard faces 23 felony ethics charges accusing him of using public office for personal gain. He says he is innocent of any wrongdoing. Hubbard is scheduled to go on trial October 19th.
New Construction
Montgomery city leaders have broken ground on a new municipal court building. The ceremony was held Monday at a site on Madison Avenue across the street from Cramton Bowl. Municipal Court Judge Les Hayes said the current municipal court has shared space with the Montgomery Police Department since the 1950s. Construction is scheduled to start next week and could be completed in about 12 months.