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March is Women's History Month!

Unemployment Rate Drops to 5.8 Percent in Alabama

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley has promised not to accept a paycheck until the state's unemployment rate drops to 5.2 percent.  Governor Bentley is getting closer to collecting a salary, but he's not there yet.  The state announced Friday that the unemployment rate dropped to 5.8 percent in February.  

Utilities Tax

Part of Alabama Governor Robert Bentley's 700 million dollar tax and revenue package is a public utilities license tax expected to generate 47 million dollars.  The 36 municipal utilities affected by the proposal have previously been exempt from the state's 2.2 percent business license tax.  Executive Director of the Electric Cities of Alabama John Hand says that was for good reason. He says the municipal utilities are owned by the cities they serve and do not make a profit, therefore the taxes will be passed on to the consumers.  The bill, sponsored by Democratic Representative Chris England of Tuscaloosa, is set for a public hearing in April.  

Soccer Program

A group of Nigerian students from Alabama State University will be volunteering with a new soccer program on Montgomery's westside.  Friday the Kershaw Family YMCA announced it will be hosting a six-week soccer season beginning in April.  ASU President Dr. Gwendolyn Boyd says she is excited about the partnership between ASU and the Kershaw Family YMCA.  The soccer clinic will be lead by YMCA Greater Montgomery Director of Soccer Manny Sanchez.  Registration information can be found online at ymcamontgomery.org. 

No Guilty Plea

The mother of a missing teenager says she won't plead guilty to being part of a family sex ring in south Alabama.  Chessie Wood of Mobile say innocent people don't make plea deals.  Wood is the mother of 19-year-old Brittney Wood, who hasn't been seen since 2012 and is presumed dead.