The proposed pay raise for Alabama's K-12 school employees keeps shrinking the longer the Legislature stays in session. Gov. Robert Bentley proposed a 2.5 percent raise in February, the House reduced it to 2 percent and now a Senate committee is recommending an absolute raise of 1 percent. The $5.8 billion dollar education budget awaits consideration by the state Senate.
Senate Approved Legislation
The Alabama Senate approved legislation providing for drug testing of welfare recipients suspected of using illegal drugs. The Republican leader of the Senate, Del Marsha, moved to pass the bill while all Democrats were out of the Senate chamber Tuesday afternoon. He also asked to have it passed using the roll call from a previously passed bill. No one objected, and the bill automatically passed 22-10. The legislation now goes to the Alabama House for consideration.
Two Men Rescued
A federal agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, said it will investigate Wednesday's cave-in at a construction site in Hope Hull that sent two workers to the hospital. Rescue crews were successful in pulling two men to safety after they became trapped under a wall of dirt at the site. The workers were installing concrete fillings at a future cell phone tower when the hole they were digging collapsed around them. A Montgomery assistant fire chief said the workers' injuries were not life threatening.
Four Girls Posthumous Award
Legislation to honor the four girls killed in a deadly Birmingham church bombing almost 50 years ago has cleared the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill sponsored by Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell was approved Wednesday by a 420 to nothing vote. It would posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Denise MacNair, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Addie Mae Collins. The four girls were slain when a bomb exploded at the 16th Street Baptist Church on September 15th, 1963. The measure awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate.