The Alabama Public Service Commission announced today that AT&T has voluntarily decided to discontinue third-party billing in Alabama by the end of summer.  The Commission is pleased with AT&T’s decision to implement this course of action.

The practice known as “third-party billing” allows merchants to charge for goods or services sold to a customer by including the charges on the customer’s AT&T phone bill.  The merchants who utilize third-party billing are typically small to medium sized, internet based businesses.

President Lucy Baxley stated, “One of the first things I did when I took office four years ago was to end cramming by third party vendors. Today I commend AT&T for taking steps to completely eliminate third party billing. What was once a convenience is now a problem for many consumers.

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA)- The Alabama State Department of Education (ADE) says it will destroy certain special education records dealing with due process hearing requests that were filed between January and December of 2006.

The records destruction is set for May 3, 2012.

Parents of a child (or a student aged 19 or older, or a former student aged 19 or older) involved in a special education due process hearing filed at the ADE during this timeframe can request the hearing records pertaining to their child (or themselves) by sending a signed, written authorization to release the records to:

Kathy Adams
Alabama Department of Education
Special Education Services
P.O. Box 302101
Montgomery, AL 36130-2101 

The letter should include the student's name, current mailing address and telephone number.

If you do not respond by the scheduled date of records destruction, your records will be destroyed.

The 36th Annual Dothan/Houston County Special Olympics will be held on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at Dothan High School beginning at 10:00 a.m.  The games will kick-off with the parade of athletes and shortly following this, the flame will be run onto the field by local law enforcement personnel who tracked 10 miles beginning at Rotary Miracle Playground to signify the Opening of the 36th annual games.  Following Opening Ceremonies, athletes will compete in several track and field events to include 50 M Dash, 100 M Dash, 100 M Race/Walk, Softball Throw, Standing Long Jump, Wheelchair Races, and Motor Activities.  The public is invited to come out and cheer on local Special Olympic athletes as they compete with bravery, skill, and courage in demonstrating the true meaning of sportsmanship and competition. 

Information Source: Dothan Leisure Services