Sunday 12/31/2006 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/116756067436180.xml&coll=2 – Interim chancellor faces tough challenge in cleaning up community college system.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/116756033836180.xml&coll=2 – Chancellor, Board considering changes in community college system structure during next legislative session.

http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/116756059236180.xml&coll=2 – Commentary by Arise’s Jim Carnes on the need for state action to fund public transportation.

http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/116756095736180.xml&coll=2 – Former board member [...]

Saturday 12/30/2006 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1167473898252640.xml&coll=2 – Long-running DOT discrimination suit to come to end this weekend.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1167474081252640.xml&coll=2 – Secretary of State refuses to certify election of Sen. Larry Means (R-Attalla).

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1167473791252660.xml&coll=3 – Suit filed to challenge election of Sen. Vivian Figures (D-Mobile).

http://www.al.com/opinion/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1167473702252660.xml&coll=3Press-Register sees state senate “poised to become functional” if new [...]

Friday 12/29/2006 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1167387994276300.xml&coll=2 – Program designed to increase the number of physicians in rural areas of state reaping rewards.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1167387757276300.xml&coll=2 – Death penalty sentences down in U.S., but increase in Alabama.

http://www.al.com/business/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/business/1167387921276300.xml&coll=2 – Motions seeking new trial filed in Siegelman case.

http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1167387820276300.xml&coll=2The Birmingham News says that Alabama has a long [...]

Thursday 12/28/2006 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/116730137710100.xml&coll=2 – State 4th lowest in percentage of women in legislature.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/116730146910100.xml&coll=2 – Bipartisan group pledges to support Preuitt in race for Senate pro tem.

http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/116730144510100.xml&coll=2The Birmingham News calls for increase in cigarette taxes and more funding for programs to discourage smoking.

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/116730127010110.xml&coll=3 – New alleged juror emails [...]

Wednesday 12/27/2006 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1167215394194340.xml&coll=2 – Schools system impacted by new revenue as a result of passage of Amendment One consider how additional revenue will be utilized.

http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1167214578194340.xml&coll=2The Birmingham News calls for the Public Service Commission to determine why price for natural gas exceeds that of our neighboring states.

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1167214973194350.xml&coll=3 – Bayou la [...]

Tuesday 12/26/2006 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1167128178183300.xml&coll=2 – Portable clinic provides health screenings for over 12,000 children in state.

http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1167128215183300.xml&coll=2 - The Birmingham News comments on the failure of Jefferson and Shelby counties to meet new EPA air quality standards.

http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/opinion/editorials/061226a.shtmlThe Decatur Daily sees momentum building for increase in federal minimum wage.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061226/NEWS/612260329/1007/NEWS02[...]

Joy to You

Away in a Manger

May you and your family enjoy all the joys of the season.

Monday 12/25/2006 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/116704187431640.xml&coll=2The New York Sun’s response to Virginia O’Hanlon’s question of whether there is a Santa Claus.  Merry Christmas!!

http://www.politicalparlor.net/sanders-senate-sketches/senate-sketches-1021/- Sen. Hank Sanders’ weekly column for his constitutents.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/116704190331640.xml&coll=2 – Article profiles efforts of DOT Director Joe McInnes to improve state’s highways.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/116704172231640.xml&coll=2 – Hoover police clerk, himself an [...]

Merry Christmas

Santa and 2 unhappy little ones

I hope you and yours have a wonderful and merry Christmas!

Sunday 12/24/2006 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

http://www.al.com/business/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/business/1166955677184540.xml&coll=2 – Alabama seeing big increase in home foreclosures, trend expected to continue.

http://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/elard.ssf?/base/opinion/1166955784184540.xml&coll=2 – Eddie Lard’s commentary offers a Christmas list of state policy decisions that would improve the lives of low-income Alabamians.

http://www.al.com/news/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/news/1166955740184370.xml&coll=3 – New York’s Innocence Project says that DNA tests have freed 188 prisoners wrongly convicted.

[...]

Saturday 12/23/2006 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/116686895898340.xml&coll=2 – U.S. Rep. Bacchus (R) lands top ranking minority position on House banking committee despite others with more seniority.

http://www.al.com/business/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/business/116686890398340.xml&coll=2 – State’s jobless rate for November ties October record.

http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/061223/worley.shtml – Riley aide criticizes Secretary of State Worley, blames her for delays in certification of November’s election results.

http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdaily/news/061223/pay.shtml [...]

Friday Fun: Christmas Edition

Merry Christmas…

  • I have no doubt that our own cultural traditions are probably odd to other people, but as Christmas traditions go, this may be about as odd as it gets. (If you want the full effect, the accompanying slide show may be worthwhile.) Thanks to a friend and reader.
  • Did the reindeer Donder [...]

Friday 12/22/2006 DAILY NEWS DIGEST

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1166793360185660.xml&coll=2 – Alabamians pay less for electrical service, more for natural gas than neighbors.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/1166793593185660.xml&coll=2 – National Guard delays start of program for at-risk youth to allow directors to attend training.

http://www.politicalparlor.net/sanders-senate-sketches/senate-sketches-1020/ – Sen. Hank Sanders’ weekly column for his constitutents.

http://www.al.com/opinion/mobileregister/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1166782672192950.xml&coll=3Press-Register uses the example of failed [...]

State Cited for Good Public Policy

The Montgomery Advertiser notes that Alabama “was among six states recognized for good public policy” in 2006 by the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy.

The Drum Major Institute for Public Policy highlighted the best and worst in public policy for the year and cited Alabama for its modest move toward tax [...]

Scott Beason Announcement

Confirming the story Political Parlor broke here last night and that the Parlor foresaw last month, Politics in Alabama is reporting that Sen. Scott Beason (R – Gardendale) will not run for state Republican Party chairman.

Stay tuned to Political Parlor for more exclusives and breaking news.

Update: The Associated Press got a [...]

See more Recent Small Town News

 


 

Legislative Dispatch

Change

I wish my friend Hinton Mitchem godspeed and good luck after his retirement from public service. Hinton, on Monday, announced what many had suspected — he will not seek re-election. I remember meeting Hinton for the first time while I was a student at Auburn University. He served the people of his [...]

Ten Minutes in the House, Senate Moves On

Riley and her friend Caroline joined Julie on the campaign trail in Isabella this past weekend.

Here is a quick preview of the upcoming week in Montgomery. This week will be a standard legislative schedule for the House. We will be in session on Tuesday and Thursday with committee meetings scheduled for Wednesday.
The House will take up a ten minute calendar this week. A ten minute calendar is [...]

Purple Dot Connection

MARCH MADNESS

TOP TEN INDICATIONS OF MARCH MADNESS

10.  Eric Massa inviting us to ask the 10,000 Navy men he served with whether he is gay.

9.  Larry Langford hitting the jackpot 33 times in one day and not remembering it.

8.  Ron Sparks being able to make payments on a $500,000 loan with an income of $80,000.

7.  Artur Davis [...]


Back in the Day...

Union Avenue in Ozark in the 1920s

Vintage postcard