Here’s a look at your world this Thursday afternoon, January 26…

Immigration law is working, claims sponsor. State Sen. Scott Beason (R-Gardendale), who sponsored Alabama’s new immigration law in the upper chamber, claims that the law is the reason the state’s unemployment rate has dropped significantly. In a press release, Beason says, “Since the anti-illegal immigration law went into effect, Alabama has seen a tremendous drop in unemployment. A drop that far outpaces the other states in the region.” Beason, who’s running for Congress against incumbent Spencer Bachus, Blount County Probate Judge David Standridge and developer Stan Pate, has come under political attack from many corners for his sponsorship of the controversial law.

Bachus says no bailout for Euros. Speaking of Congressmen, Bachus – chairman of the House Financial Services Committee – and seven fellow GOP subcommitte chairmen want President Obama to commit to a no-bailout policy for several troubled European countries. “The European Union includes four of the ten wealthiest countries in the world.  European countries have the ability to implement austerity measures to reduce their countries’ debt over the long term and they also have the means to restore confidence to markets,” Bachus said in a press release.

Was that an ark you just saw? Metro Birmingham has been bypassed by severe storms and a handful of tornadoes that hit the south central part ort of the state, but has been deluged by rain that prompted the National Weather Service to issue an urban and small stream flood advisory today. The rain has moved out of the area, but there are still pockets of standing water on roads, and many streams are flowing heavily. Temperatures will cool down considerably as the day goes on, with lows in the 40s tonight and Friday high temps in the 50s.

Last dance in Florida. It’s the final Republican presidential debate tonight (7 p.m., CNN) before the Florida primary on Tuesday, and the battle between former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the two front-runners. GOP stalwarts such as Sen. Bob Dole, conservative firebrand Ann Coulter and former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay have all come out against Gingrich for various reasons, while Gingrich himself has returned fire, saying, “This is the desperate last stand of the old order throwing the kitchen sink, hoping something sticks.”

Sports tonight: In high school basketball, Carver plays at Gardendale, while Hayden’s boys and girls both play in the Blount County Tournament at J.B. Pennington in Blountsville. In wresting, Mortimer Jordan hosts Oak Mountain and Pinson Valley in a tri-match, Fultondale goes to St. Clair County for a quad-match, and Hayden has a tri-match at Hueytown.