The Alabama Department of Revenue is steadily working to expedite as many tax refunds as possible before the July 15th deadline. At that point, the state has to pay interest on any timely-filed refund claims not already issued. Public Information Specialist for the Department Carolyn Blackstock says they are closing in on handling a million returns. Blackstock says there may be a delay in some refunds being issued due to errors on the return or information on the return that has raised questions. Taxpayers can check the progress of their refund by going to the state revenue department website and clicking on the "Where's My Refund?" tab.
Drug Sting
A drug sting in east Alabama landed 33 people in jail on drug-related charges. In a recent posting on its Facebook page, the Chambers County Drug Task Force said officers conducted multiple drug raids during the first three months of this year and seized methamphetamine, marijuana and prescription drugs. The 33 individuals are accused of buying and or trafficking illegal drug. The defendants face a total of 86 criminal charges.
Prison System Reshaping
An Alabama senator involved in reshaping the state prison system will be in Washington D.C. on July 15th to speak to a congressional subcommittee about making sweeping reforms in prisons. Senator Cam Ward of Shelby County chairs the Prison Reform Task Force. The U.S. House Judiciary Committee's crime subcommittee invited him to speak at a hearing on prison reform and Ward accepted. The Prison Reform Task Force is looking at ways to change a corrections system that is at nearly twice its designed capacity.
DNC Seeks Site
Birmingham is among six cities that Democrats are planning to visit this summer. The cities are in the running to hold the 2016 Democratic National Convention. The site visits will help the Democratic National Committee decide how each city might accommodate the tens of thousands of party leaders and activists who will flock to the convention in two years. The DNC says it will visit Birmingham on July 21st and July 22nd. Republicans have two finalist for its convention: Dallas and Cleveland.