State workers will have to dole out more money to pay for health insurance, starting next year. The Alabama Employees Insurance Board voted to increase co-pays for urgent care, emergency room visits and outpatient surgeries. The board said the increases were necessary to address a $36 million dollar deficit. The increase goes into effect January 1st.
Payday Loans
Alabama's Banking Department plans to start a database of payday loans to make sure lenders don't issue more of the loans than state law allows. State law prohibits payday lenders from issuing new loans to customers who have more than $500 dollars in existing payday loan debt. Governor Bentley said there is no uniform, statewide database to ensure compliance. He also said the database will help keep consumers from being trapped by debt. Banking Superintendent John Harrison said the database should be operational by January.
Auction Benefits ASU
Alabama State University stands to benefit from the sale of several highly sought documents that once belonged to the Reverend Martin Luther King Junior. King's former personal secretary, Maude Ballou, is selling the collection of notes and speeches that were written during the early days of the civil rights movement. ASU officials said the university will receive a portion of the proceeds. The money will be used to fund scholarships and the school's library. The MLK collection is scheduled to be sold October 17th at an auction in New York City.
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays will visit Montgomery next March to play an exhibition baseball game against the Montgomery Biscuits. The announcement was made by Biscuits owner Sherrie Myers. She calls the game a must-see sporting event for everyone. The game at Riverwalk Stadium will be played March 29th. Myers said tickets are available with one of the season tickets packages.
Commissioner Discovers Body
Pike County Commissioner, Homer Wright found a body in a pond Wednesday morning. He made the grisly discovery while cutting grass around the pond. Troy Police have yet to identify the remains. Wright believes the body is that of a 44-year-old man who was reported missing earlier this month.