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March is Women's History Month!

WVAS Local News

Tuesday was a long day for state legislators, the Alabama Senate was in session until 3 o'clock this morning debating bills.  One piece of legislation that won't be considered this year is a measure that would have repealed Common Core Education Standards for public schools. 

House Approved Budget

The Alabama House approved a 1.7 billion dollar General Fund Budget late last night.  The House vote sends the budget back to the Senate, which approved a different version.  The budget for the fiscal year starting October 1st would require most state agencies to get by on about the same amount they are getting this year.  The House also approved legislation to change the state's Medicaid program to a Managed Care System.  The Medicaid bill needs to be approved the state Senate before it can become law. 

Barron Indictment

Former Democratic state Senator Lowell Barron of Fyffe and one of his former campaign aides have been indicted.  Attorney General Luther Strange announced that Barron turned himself in Tuesday in Fort Payne and former campaign aide Rhonda Jill Johnson was arrested on ethics law and campaign contribution law violations.  They are accused of diverting money from Barron's campaign account to Johnson's person use and to non-campaign uses.  They are also accused of transferring a 2007 Toyota Camry from campaign property to Johnson for non-campaign purposes.  Barron was released on $10,000 dollar bond. 

MPS Consolidation

The Montgomery County School Board has approved consolidation plans submitted by Superintendent Barbara Thompson.  The plan combines five MPS Central Office sites.  The plan would also allow Thompson to move two magnet schools to Lanier High School and move students at Lanier to Carver High School.  But that proposal would still need to be approved by the school board.  In other action, the County Board of Education also passed a new zoning plan for the New Park Crossing High School.