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March is Women's History Month!

WVAS Local News

Alabama's Secretary of State want to ensure that all registered voters have the proper identification for next year's elections.  Jim Bennett issued his final rules Tuesday for implementing the photo ID law in 2014.  Bennett says his office will make free ID cards available through mobile vans, county board of registrars' offices and the state Department of Senior Services.  Those are expected to be available by January.  The new law requires that voters show a photo ID, such as a driver's license, passport or student ID from a university. 

Food Stamps

The more than 914,000 Alabamians who receive food stamps will see a reduction in their benefits in November.  The Alabama Department of Human Resources says the reduction will be felt nationwide because extra benefits that were part of the federal stimulus program in 2009 are ending.  DHR officials say the maximum monthly benefit for a family of four will drop $36 dollars.  The maximum monthly benefit for an individual will go down $11 dollars. 

Separation Agreement

A separation agreement between the Pike Road School System and Montgomery Public Schools was finalized Tuesday evening.  The MPS School Board voted 6 to nothing to approve the terms. 

Vacant Judgeship

Alabama Democratic Congresswoman Terri Sewell tells the Montgomery Advertiser that her office has received inquires from 21 people who are interested in the vacant federal judgeship in Montgomery.  Longtime Federal Judge Myron Thompson moved to senior status in August.  Sewell declined to identify the 21 applicants and said a screening committee of ex-judges and lawyers have begun interviewing the candidates. 

Gaming Ruling

Macon County casino owner Milton McGregor is criticizing Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange for comments he made after a judge in southeast Alabama ruled in favor of the state in a gambling case.  McGregor said the ruling has no bearing on gambling in Macon County.  The Houston County judge recently ordered hundreds of electronic bingo machines to be destroyed.  The machines were seized at Center Stage in Dothan.  McGregor contends the VictoryLand complex is a legal operation because Macon County citizens approved electronic bingo in 2003.