MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - The Alabama Senate has passed a .Senate Bill 10, called the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, passed 23-4 Tuesday afternoon. It now goes to the House.The bill makes it a felony for doctors to treat transgender minors with hormonal therapy, puberty blockers or surgery to help their transition.Supporters of the bill said minors are not ready to make decisions like these at a young age.“The primary concern here is the health and well-being of Alabama’s children,” said the bill’s sponsor, Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville. “We must protect vulnerable minors who...…MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - The Alabama Senate has passed a .Senate Bill 10, called the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, passed 23-4 Tuesday afternoon. It now goes to the House.The bill makes it a felony for doctors to treat transgender minors with hormonal therapy, puberty blockers or surgery to help their transition.Supporters of the bill said minors are not ready to make decisions like these at a young age.“The primary concern here is the health and well-being of Alabama’s children,” said the bill’s sponsor, Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville. “We must protect vulnerable minors who...WW…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Officials can open absentee ballots several hours earlier on election day after Gov. Kay Ivey issued a supplemental state of emergency.This comes as Secretary of State John Merrill expects the number successful returned absentee ballots to skyrocket around 150,000 to 200,000 this year. Alabama’s record stands around 89,000.Officials can open absentee ballots beginning at 7 a.m. for tabulation election day. Previously the earliest they could be opened was noon.“We just want to make sure that we’ve given them ample time to do what they need to do,” Merrill said.Gov....…MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Officials can open absentee ballots several hours earlier on election day after Gov. Kay Ivey issued a supplemental state of emergency.This comes as Secretary of State John Merrill expects the number successful returned absentee ballots to skyrocket around 150,000 to 200,000 this year. Alabama’s record stands around 89,000.Officials can open absentee ballots beginning at 7 a.m. for tabulation election day. Previously the earliest they could be opened was noon.“We just want to make sure that we’ve given them ample time to do what they need to do,” Merrill said.Gov....WW…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - With 42 days out from the November election, about 16,000 absentee ballots have been returned in Alabama.“More than 74,000 people have submitted absentee ballot applications in the last 18 days,” Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said.The record for processed and approved absentee ballots in Alabama is about 88,000.Sept. 22 serves as National Voter Registration Day and groups are making sure Alabamians can have their voices heard come election day. In Alabama, the Secretary of State said 94% of all eligible Alabamians are registered to vote.Landon Nichols...…MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - With 42 days out from the November election, about 16,000 absentee ballots have been returned in Alabama.“More than 74,000 people have submitted absentee ballot applications in the last 18 days,” Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said.The record for processed and approved absentee ballots in Alabama is about 88,000.Sept. 22 serves as National Voter Registration Day and groups are making sure Alabamians can have their voices heard come election day. In Alabama, the Secretary of State said 94% of all eligible Alabamians are registered to vote.Landon Nichols...WW…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Alabama’s tax revenues grew by nearly 6 percent in the first half of 2020 compared to the previous year, according to the Alabama Retail Association, even with the economic downturn during the pandemic. This number includes revenue from the state sales tax and the Simplified Sellers Use Tax (SSUT).The Simplified Sellers Use Tax is the 8 percent tax businesses collect online even though they do not have a physical location in the state. That tax is split between the state general fund and local governments in the state.House General Fund Chairman Rep. Steve Clouse,...…MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Alabama’s tax revenues grew by nearly 6 percent in the first half of 2020 compared to the previous year, according to the Alabama Retail Association, even with the economic downturn during the pandemic. This number includes revenue from the state sales tax and the Simplified Sellers Use Tax (SSUT).The Simplified Sellers Use Tax is the 8 percent tax businesses collect online even though they do not have a physical location in the state. That tax is split between the state general fund and local governments in the state.House General Fund Chairman Rep. Steve Clouse,...WW…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Hundreds of people from across the state camped out in the early morning hours in Montgomery Friday to get help with their COVID-19 related unemployment claims.For weeks, the Alabama Department of Labor has been helping people in-person at the Alabama State University Dunn-Oliver Acadome.But it’s first come, first served because ADOL staff can only fit in about 300 to 350 people per day for the in-person services that run M-F from 8-5p.m.Some people began lining up at 10 o’clock Thursday night to get a spot Friday, according to people on the scene. Others lined up...…MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Hundreds of people from across the state camped out in the early morning hours in Montgomery Friday to get help with their COVID-19 related unemployment claims.For weeks, the Alabama Department of Labor has been helping people in-person at the Alabama State University Dunn-Oliver Acadome.But it’s first come, first served because ADOL staff can only fit in about 300 to 350 people per day for the in-person services that run M-F from 8-5p.m.Some people began lining up at 10 o’clock Thursday night to get a spot Friday, according to people on the scene. Others lined up...WW…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Alabama Department of Labor preliminary numbers show about 98,000 unemployment claims were filed between March 29 to April 4.This is an increase from the about 74,000 claims filed March 22-28.ADOL has said the system is overwhelmed, leaving some people to wait days before they can file a claim. The labor department says they are making IT improvements and using staff from other divisions to help people file. They are also looking at using an outside call center to help handle the influx of people.For Rainbow City resident Jennifer Lancaster it took her husband...…MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Alabama Department of Labor preliminary numbers show about 98,000 unemployment claims were filed between March 29 to April 4.This is an increase from the about 74,000 claims filed March 22-28.ADOL has said the system is overwhelmed, leaving some people to wait days before they can file a claim. The labor department says they are making IT improvements and using staff from other divisions to help people file. They are also looking at using an outside call center to help handle the influx of people.For Rainbow City resident Jennifer Lancaster it took her husband...WW…