Federal government paying state trooper salaries; 38 troopers laid off, immediately re-hired

By The Associated Press

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — The federal government is now paying the salary for almost 40 Alabama state troopers.
The Department of Public Safety says it laid off 38 troopers on Thursday. But they were immediately rehired using federal grant money. The agency says motorists won't see any change on state highways, and no patrols are being curtailed.
The department is facing a $6 million budget shortfall, and the grant will cover almost half of that.