Alabama State Rep. Louise Alexander’s son arrested on two counts of unlawful distribution
Bessemer-Democrat and Alabama State Rep. Louise Alexander‘s son was arrested in a drug raid in the early morning hours on Thursday. At 4:30 a.m., police carried out a search warrant on the family’s shared home in Bessemer. Her son, Anthony Terry Jr. was taken by the police, and charged with two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Bessemer Police Chief Mike Roper told the Associated Press that “the raid followed a three-month investigation that is ongoing.” But Alexander tells a different story; claiming that the raid is part of a “political witch hunt.” “They’re trying to discredit me and my family,” she told AL.com. “It was a set up. This is political sabotage.” Last week, Alexander’s daughter who is running for a seat on the Bessemer City Council received threats through Alexander’s storefront, Unity Flowers & Gifts. According to WIAT, a disturbing note was left at the store telling Kimberly, Alexander’s daughter, to drop out of the race and cancel all of her appointments. “This is just a race. My daughter was running just in order to make things better, not only in the district but also in the city,” she told WIAT. “And when I ran my race, that’s the same thing I was running on.” Alexander herself has not been immune of controversy in the past. In 2010 she was indicted on charges of soliciting funds, and using her office for personal gain. She was later found not guilty of these charges. And in 2012, she sued the city of Bessemer and Bessemer Utilities accusing them of wrongfully turning off her power during a 2010 “political dispute” according to AL.com.
Bessemer City Council and Jefferson County Commission to vote on incentives to land Amazon
Amazon is in talks to build a warehouse near Birmingham that could create up to 3,000 jobs. Public notices show Amazon plans an 855,000 square-foot (7,900 sq. meter) fulfillment center in Bessemer. The Jefferson County Commission will vote next week on spending up to $3.3 million to fund road work and pay incentives to Amazon. The Bessemer City Council will consider giving part of the city’s occupational tax collected from Amazon employees to the company. Bessemer would cap permit fees at $200,000 and cap its annual business license tax at $5,000. Jefferson County Commissioner Jimmie Stephens tells news outlets the state will also offer undisclosed incentives. Commissioner David Carrington says the facility could open in fall 2019. The warehouse is targeted for 133 acres (54 hectares) owned by U.S. Steel. Republished with permission from the Associated Press
