MADISON COUNTY, AL (WAFF)- For the first time in more than half a decade, Alabama teachers will see a salary increase.

Lawmakers
approved a plan giving them a two percent raise. Governor Bentley is
expected to sign that bill into law soon.

However, other state employees are not as fortunate. Budgets passed Thursday don't have any raises built-in for them.

Lawmakers say things still look bleak financially.

The Madison County District Attorney's Office is feeling the effects and has been for quite some time.

District Attorney Robert Broussard said funding for his office has steadily declined since 2008. He said what they are getting this year is about half of what they received five years ago.

State budget cuts continue to have an impact on the D.A.'s office and its operations. Broussard said less money means more limitations.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WAFF)- Immigration reform was the topic on Thursday in Washington, and one Alabama senator played a prominent role.

Jeff Sessions has been an outspoken advocate against the so-called "gang of 8" bill. Sessions added more than 45 amendments to it earlier this week in hopes of derailing the legislation.

Thursday morning, he outlined his issues with the proposals.

"It is not going to be helpful for American workers when these 11-million are legalized," Sessions remarked. "They'll then be able to take virtually any job in the marketplace because they're illegal and didn't come here lawfully. We've got millions of Americans unemployed."

One of Sessions' amendments calls for 700 miles of double layer fencing along the border - at a cost of $6-billion.  He quoted a famous poem saying, "good fences make good neighbors."

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HUNTSVILLE, AL (WAFF)- A text messaging scam is working its way through the Tennessee Valley.

Lately, customers with Verizon Wireless have been receiving a text from local Cadence or BBVA banks asking the recipient to contact them regarding their account number. Officials with the Better Business Bureau say: Do not hand your information over.  

"Right when I saw the text message, I thought my bank account had been frozen based on my recent activity," said Lauren Downey.  She received two text messages Tuesday and one on Wednesday. 

Downey figured the text was bogus, but she called the number the text asks you to call just to be sure.

"I knew right then that my bank would call me and they would not make me put anything into an automated system," she said.   

Michele Mason with the Better Business Bureau said they've been getting notified about the text messages for weeks.