Doc's Political Parlor

Langford Indictment Unsealed

Danny — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:09:06 +0000

The 101 count federal indictment of Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford, William Blount, and lobbyist Albert LaPierre includes charges of “conspiracy, bribery, fraud, money laundering, and filing false tax returns in connection with a long-running bribery scheme related to bond and other financial transactions of Jefferson County, Alabama,” according to U.S. Attorney Alice Martin in a press conference just now.

The indictment was unsealed this morning, and you may read it here.

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Larry Langford Arrested

Larry Langford Arrested

Danny — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:42:26 +0000

The big story out of Birmingham this morning is the arrest of Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford on federal charges. The rumor mill has wondered when something like this would happen, and Langford has been said to be “lawyered up” for some time now. A Birmingham wag wants to know if they arrested him at his home in Fairfield. (Birmingham Weekly’s site is reporting that he was arrested at Birmingham Budweiser, “where he has served as a public relations executive in the past.”)

A Birmingham politico tells the Parlor that Langford may continue as mayor until/unless he is convicted. If that happened, City Council President Carole Smitherman would become mayor for three months or until the next scheduled election, whichever comes first.

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Larry Langford at Home (and On the Air)

Daily Headlines, Monday, 12/1/2008

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:35:01 +0000

Birmingham News - Alabama earmarks more of its taxes than other states

Birmingham News - Rep. Bachus’ online gambling ban gets last-minute assist from Bush administration

Birmingham News - Relics from Birmingham steel history gather dust in Bessemer

Birmingham News - 2,500 meals given to Birmingham homeless over 4 days

Birmingham News - No loss of income here: Colonial Promenade Fultondale bringing more tax dollars into city at a time when other areas are seeing less

Birmingham News - Number of autistic children in Alabama’s public schools growing rapidly; teachers lack training to deal with autism

Birmingham News - As a judge weighs the fate of Jefferson County’s occupational tax, keep in mind who the culprits are.

Press-Register - Outlook is dark in rural areas

Press-Register - Mobile to mark World AIDS Day

Press-Register - The Political Skinny: Northrop ad annoys official at Pentagon

Press-Register - Meeting in Mobile today to update highway plan

Press-Register - In tough economy, at least shop near home

Huntsville Times - Serious allegations

Montgomery Advertiser - Goodwill stores see sales boost

Montgomery Advertiser - Joining the jobless ranks

Montgomery Advertiser - Federal bench short on diversity

Tuscaloosa News - Northport needs new system for determining rates

Anniston Star - A statement about McClellan

Anniston Star - Treading water

Opelika-Auburn News - City’s 5-mil projects up for council discussion

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Small Town Political Gazette 12/01/08

waltm — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 11:34:50 +0000

Dothan Eagle - A look at travel expenses from recent city council trip to DC

Troy Messenger - Pike County Legislators state they are in favor of grocery tax repeal.

Times Daily - National Alabama railcar production delayed.

Baldwin County Now - Profile of the Alabama Coastal Foundation.

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Daily Headlines, Sunday, 11/30/2008

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 11:25:02 +0000

Birmingham News - Number of autistic children in Alabama’s public schools growing rapidly; teachers lack training to deal with autism

Birmingham News - Alabama courts issue new child support guidelines

Birmingham News - Entrepreneurs hope to sew up success with Gee’s Bend water

Birmingham News - Alabama has spent $2.4 million inspecting 11 bridges with designs similar to collapsed Minnesota bridge

Birmingham News - Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama holds sixth annual tamale sale

Birmingham News - Outside Looking In - Alabama-Auburn Iron Bowl watched even in Ireland

Birmingham News - Seniors can apply for food stamps by mail

Birmingham News - Reversal of fortune?

Birmingham News - State Bloomberg Index surges as U.S. pursues economic repair

Birmingham News - Jefferson County and other governments continue to throw away money on hired guns to lobby government.

Birmingham News - Opinion - Let new civil right of education begin in Birmingham

Birmingham News - Light pollution robs sky

Birmingham News - Take time to enjoy the beauty that surrounds you

Press-Register - Cheeseburger in paradise: A sizzling experiment that could help save Alabama’s small farms (And it tastes good)

Press-Register - Mobile mayor wants to develop waterfront

Press-Register - A sorry tradition of the feds intervening

Press-Register - CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

Huntsville Times - Change for the better

Huntsville Times - Why a new constitution?

Montgomery Advertiser - Riley to join governors in asking Obama for aid

Montgomery Advertiser - Senator supports Waggoner for pro tem spot

Montgomery Advertiser - City, county don’t have authority over payday lenders

Montgomery Advertiser - State high in repeat drunk drivers

Tuscaloosa News - Case could rip lid off Department of Justice

Florence Times Daily - Ala. program helps kids of parents in prison

Anniston Star - Lessons of Dr. Seuss for the faith community

Decatur Daily - Let’?s get children out of pickup beds

Decatur Daily - Public has stake in Dec. 9 hearing

Associated Press - Attorney: letter accuses guards of beating death

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Candidate Ron Sparks in 2010

Danny — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:57:56 +0000

Democratic Agricultural Commissioner Ron Sparks will apparently be a candidate in 2010, according to the website Sparks2010.com that launched today. The site does not specify what office he would seek, though an Anniston Star piece reprinted on the site mentions that Sparks “is sounding more and more like a [gubernatorial] candidate every day.”

Congressman Artur Davis and Lt. Governor Jim Folsom have been mentioned as likely Democratic gubernatorial candidates.

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Daily Headlines, Saturday, 11/29/2008

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:30:02 +0000

Birmingham News - Argo debt keeps use of new municipal building off limits

Birmingham News - Alabama Ethics Commission to hear complaint against secretary of state next week

Birmingham News - Councilwoman wants more alcohol restrictions

Birmingham News - National cemetery construction begins

Birmingham News - Hard times are hitting hospitals across the state, but then, Birmingham already knew that.

Birmingham News - Thrifty budgeting and a close eye on spending help Birmingham city schools weather financial storm - so far.

Press-Register - Baldwin sending out tax notices

Press-Register - Obama can’t avoid international strife

Huntsville Times - Madison doctor distraught over India

Huntsville Times - Jupiter, Venus team up for duet

Huntsville Times - A timely selection

Montgomery Advertiser - Tuscaloosa native helps wounded soldiers

Montgomery Advertiser - Commissioners divided on debt

Montgomery Advertiser - Charitable groups struggling to meet increase in need

Montgomery Advertiser - Connection between then, now important, activist speaker says

Montgomery Advertiser - RANTS AND RAVES: Keep public records open to public

Montgomery Advertiser - Hardwick rules for double-dippers

Anniston Star - The Detroit effect: Bailout would be felt here

Opelika-Auburn News - Violence in India hits close to home for some local residents

Associated Press - Montgomery man gets gift of mobility

Associated Press - Whitney eligible for fed bank plan help

Associated Press - Program extends jobless benefits for some in Ala.

Associated Press - Monitor: Parched conditions expand across Ala.

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Small Town Political Gazette 11/29/08

waltm — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 11:29:06 +0000

The Sand Mountain Reporter - Albertville may extend its moratorium on check cashing?? businesses and others.

The Times Journal - Beer tax revenue has its price

Tuscaloosa News - The years have taken their toll on once-thriving community.

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Talbot on Bonner & More

Danny — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:45:39 +0000

Perhaps you have seen this already, but on Wednesday Press-Register political editor George Talbot considered what a Jo Bonner gubernatorial bid could do to the political landscape in 2010.

An excerpt:

Bonner, 49, is viewed as the sort of diplomatic deal-maker who could bring order to a jumbled field of GOP hopefuls, enabling the party to spread its top talent among a series of key races in 2010.

Read it all here.

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Freedom’s Watch Winding Down?

Danny — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:33:01 +0000

Freedom’s Watch is “pretty much kaput,” according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal this week. Freedom’s Watch was active in the AL-02 and AL-05 Congressional races on behalf of Republicans Jay Love and Wayne Parker respectively.

There is more reading on this here.

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