Here’s what’s happening this Wednesday, February 22…

County gets occupational-tax exemption. A bill making its way through the Alabama Senate would let voters amend the constitution and ban new city and county occupational taxes, but Jefferson County would be exempt from such a ban. That exemption came through an effort by Senate Majority Leader Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, and would let the county impose a new tax if the state legislature allows it. The lack of such a tax, which was in place for many years before being overturned on constitutional grounds, has put the county in a huge financial hole. The bill and the exemption was approved by the Finance and Taxation-General Fund Committee and will go on the full Senate.

Federal highway administrator checks out Corridor X. Victor Mendez, the head of the Federal Highway Administration, visited the under-construction interchange that would link Interstate 65 with Corridor X just south of Fultondale. When completed in fall of 2014, the interchange will allow motorists to skip the U.S. 78 segment through Pratt City and Adamsville as they go to Jasper or Memphis, and the new road would then be designated as I-22.

Sports: Mortimer Jordan bounced from playoffs. It was the first time in 24 years that the Blue Devils boys basketball team had made it as far as the round of 16, but that’s as far as this year’s team went, as they were beaten 74-48 by Athens in the first round of the Northwest Regional at Wallace State-Hanceville. Tyler Pelkey scored 14 points and Mark Louis added 12, as both played their final high school games Wednesday morning. Jordan finishes with an 18-13 record.

Weather: Looking rough. We could be in for not one, but two rounds of severe storms over the next 48 hours. One batch may develop this afternoon and evening, though hail and straight-line winds are the only problems expected. Thursday night may be worse, though, with a possibility of isolated tornadoes. Highs will be in the 70s Thursday with nighttime lows in the 50s. Temps will cool off to the 50s on Friday.