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March is Women's History Month!

Tutwiler Prison

Federal officials declared the conditions at Tutwiler Prison for Women as unconstitutional in a report released last week.  Members of the Alabama Legislature are in talks with the Council of State Governments on conducting a study of the entire state prison system.  Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh of Anniston said the charges within the Justice Department report are very concerning.  Marsh said he expects the study to be complete by the end of the regular session.  He hopes recommendations will be made regarding Tutwiler specifically and the overcrowding issue in Alabama's prisons at large. 

Crowd Funding Bill

The Alabama Senate is trying to give people a new way to raise money to start small businesses.  The Senate voted 31-0 Thursday for a "crowd funding" bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Arthur Orr of Decatur.  The legislation is backed by the Alabama Securities Commission.  It would allow someone trying to start a small business in Alabama to use social media and advertising to find small investors who live in the state. 

ASU Roundtable

Birmingham businessman and attorney Donald Watkins was among ten panelists at Wednesday's President's Roundtable discussion at Alabama State University.  The topic was Knight V. Alabama, the pivotal case declaring racial discrimination in the state's higher education system.  Watkins said ASU and other public universities in the state were greatly impacted by the case.