A delegation of Democratic members of Congress is set to visit Alabama to hold a hearing on the state's tough new law targeting illegal immigration.

The group of 11 lawmakers plans to hold an ad hoc committee hearing Monday afternoon at Birmingham City Hall.

Mayor William Bell, Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale and Birmingham school superintendent Craig Witherspoon are among the officials set to address the congressional delegation. Immigrant rights advocates and illegal immigrants are also set to speak.

U.S. Rep.

By Melissa Johnson

MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - The Alabama Department of Education will interview candidates Wednesday afternoon for the next State Schools Superintendent.

Out of the four candidates selected, only three will be interviewed; one is out of the country. The person who gets the job will succeed Dr. Joe Morton, who stepped down this summer.

Board members say this could be one of the most important decisions they've ever made. The next Superintendent, who comes after an 11 year term from Dr. Morton, will be faced with huge funding and budget obstacles and the pressure of doing more with less.

The candidates that will be interviewed are Dr. Thomas Bice, Dr. Craig Pouncey, and Mark Bounds.

The Moulton City Council is scheduled to meet in a special session Monday evening for a personnel hearing involving a firefighter accused of abusing a child.

The case involving Richard Brennan is the only item on the agenda.

Brennan is accused of torturing his girlfriend's young son.

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Department arrested him last week on two counts of torture/willful abuse of a child.

Deputies also arrested Brennan's girlfriend on a reckless endangerment charge.

City officials said the council will go into executive session at the 5:00 meeting to talk about the case against Brennan.

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• Moulton couple arrested in connection with abusing 3-year-old child