Spotlight on Jefferson County

Jefferson County in central Alabama is the state’s economic and cultural center. It is the largest county by population and home to the largest city — Birmingham — as well as the sixth-largest city, Hoover.

Friday, February 27, 2015

Tax plan spat halts road projects in North Alabama

After State Sen. Bill Holtzclaw hired a billboard to express his opposition to Gov. Bentley’s proposed tax hike, ALDOT has halted road projects in Holtzclaw’s Limestone County district. ALDOT’s John Cooper told news blogger Yellowhammer that “If Sen. Holtzclaw feels that strongly about taxes, we felt certain he would not like a lot of tax money being spent in his District.” — Yellowhammer

Brooks among Republicans saying DHS shutdown wouldn’t matter much

A temporary shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security wouldn’t be such a big deal, says U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, a Republican representing North Alabama. Funding for the agency is tangled in wrangling over President Obama’s immigration policy, which Brooks opposes. "There was hardly any effect whatsoever on the Department of Homeland Security from the last shutdown, and I would anticipate a similar effect this time," Brooks said.— AP/AL.com

DHS training site keeps going despite budget threat

As Republican Congressmen fight immigration actions in a measure that could cut off funding to the Department of Homeland Security, the agency’s training facility in Anniston continues to prepare for new trainees who are expected to arrive next week, though agency funding could stop Saturday. — Anniston Star

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