🌱 Montgomery Lawmakers & Spending Bill + 3 In Hospital After Crash

Good morning, everybody. It's Saturday in Montgomery and I'm back in your inbox to get you caught up on the most important things happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Saturday: A shower and thunderstorm. High: 86 Low: 64.
• Sunday: Humid; an afternoon t-storm. High: 85 Low: 65.

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Here are the top three stories today in Montgomery:

1. On Thursday, May 4, the Alabama Senate approved the proposals for an $8.8 billion state education spending plan and a $2.8 billion supplemental spending bill for fiscal year 2024. Both proposals were "record" and "unprecedented" amounts. But some Montgomery area lawmakers, including Sen. Kirk Hatcher, D-Montgomery, said the River Region was left out of the supplemental spending bill. Hatcher said, "I’m pleading to this body for some help." (Alabama Daily News)
2. On Friday morning, May 5, three people were injured after a two-vehicle crash on Taylor Road near New Harvest Drive and Troy Highway. The Montgomery Police Department reported that all the individuals involved were taken to the hospital; one of the drivers had non-life-threatening injuries while the driver and passenger in the other vehicle suffered from critical injuries. (WSFA 12)
3. The Archdiocese of Mobile decided to close a program that houses low-income and elderly in the City of St. Jude apartments, a Montgomery apartment complex. Now the residents of about 50 units in the complex need a new place to live, including 61-year-old Herbert Lewis who said, "I’m lost, I’m lost like everybody else," after he got the notice that he must move out. According to the Archdiocese, only about half of the 96 apartments at St. Jude are occupied and the church cannot afford to repair the building, which is in significant disrepair. (AL.com)

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Today and tomorrow in Montgomery:

Saturday, May 6

• First Annual Gumptown Car Show At 5050 Narrow Lane Road (12:00 PM)
• Next To Normal At The Cloverdale Playhouse (7:00 PM)

Sunday, May 7

• RNB Blues Picnic 2023 At River Walk Park - Ampitheater (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• This week, State House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen introduced House Bill 379. The proposed bill would ban the Chinese government, Chinese entities, and non-resident citizens of China from buying real estate property in Alabama. (ABC 3340 News)
• An adorable 4-month-old terrier mix named Loki is searching for his forever home! See Loki and more adoptable pets at the Montgomery Humane Society. (Montgomery Humane Society Adoptable Pets via Facebook)
• Congratulations to Brewbaker Technology Magnet High teacher Steve Ballard! He was inducted into the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation STEM Hall of Fame. (Montgomery Alabama Public Schools - Official Site via Facebook)

Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll be back in your inbox soon with another update!

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!