BIRMINGHAM NEWS - Alabama Legislature 2012: Full final day of regular session.

BIRMINGHAM NEWS - Alabama Legislature approves increase in court fees.

BIRMINGHAM NEWS - Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley calls special session to start today.

BIRMINGHAM NEWS - Alabama legislators adopt operating budget.

AL.COM - And the Shroud Award goes to ... Jim Barton for a bill to divert money to park improvements.

AL.COM - Legislature gives final approval to Alabama education budget.

(MOBILE) PRESS-REGISTER - Fifth insurance bill passes Legislature.

AL.COM - Alabama Legislature combines Labor, Industrial Relations departments.

BIRMINGHAM NEWS - House gives final passage to immigration changes.

BIRMINGHAM NEWS - Bice, others added to Alabama Economic Development Alliance board.

BIRMINGHAM NEWS - Alabama Gov. Bentley signs bigger beer container bill into law.

(MOBILE) PRESS-REGISTER - United Nations Agenda 21 bill passes Legislature.

BIRMINGHAM NEWS - Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley signs into law plan to increase power of sentencing commission.

BIRMINGHAM NEWS - Editor Joey Kennedy:  Senators snub noses at House immigration revision; adopt Scott Beason's substitute.

(MOBILE) PRESS-REGISTER - The Press-Register: Insurance work is far from over.

(FLORENCE) TIMES DAILY - Redistricting fight may be heating up.

TUSCALOOSA NEWS - The Tuscaloosa News: Time to slice the legislative pie fairly.

GADSDEN TIMES - Summary of action in Alabama Legislature.

ANNISTON STAR – The Anniston Star: A change, we hope: How far Republicans have to go in changing Montgomery’s culture.

WASHINGTON POST - Census: Minority babies are now majority in United States.

WASHINGTON POST - Insurgents vs. insurgents to push GOP rightward.

WASHINGTON POST - Obama warns Republicans against debt-ceiling fight.

WASHINGTON POST - House approves GOP bill to renew Violence Against Women Act; Democrats say it’s too narrow.

WASHINGTON POST - Columnist Dana Milbank:  Rand Paul’s cynical budget.

WASHINGTON POST - The Washington Post: Mr. Boehner’s lamentable desire to repeat bad history.

NEW YORK TIMES – Contributors David Blight and Allison Scharfstein:  King’s Forgotten Manifesto

Alabamians often are surprised to learn that Medicaid is a major engine for the state's economy. Medicaid creates thousands of jobs, supports rural hospitals and the state's only children's hospital, pays for medical equipment that all patients use, boosts tax revenue in local communities and enhances our quality of life. Medicaid touches the lives of average Alabamians who never need the agency's services themselves.

Alabama Medicaid is in the bull's-eye for cuts as the Legislature looks to balance the FY 2013 General Fund budget in the face of a revenue shortfall. This fact sheet examines what's at stake in the Medicaid budget challenge.

Read fact sheet here.

A House committee Wednesday approved a bill that would allow individuals and businesses to compare and [purchase] insurance plans. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Greg Wren, R-Montgomery, would create a board charged with creating a state health insurance exchange, a hub where those shopping for health insurance could compare prices and options among different plans.

Read article here.

If you care for a glimpse of Alabama's future, I have some advice. Come to my house. During school hours. Bring chalk.

Anniston Star commentary editor Philip Tutor sees future Alabama leaders -- including the next Kimble Forrister -- in today's schoolchildren at play on his sidewalk.

Read column here.

Alabamians would face drastic service reductions in Medicaid, public health and other human services next year under a $1.4 billion General Fund budget proposal that the House's General Fund budget committee approved Wednesday. The full House could consider the budget for the state's non-education services as soon as Tuesday.

Read budget update here.