Gerald Dial to Run as Republican for Old Seat

Gerald Dial

Sen. Jabo Waggoner (R – Birmingham) announced to a crowd at a Tuscaloosa fundraiser earlier this month that former state Senator Gerald Dial will run as a Republican for the Senate District 13 seat that he held six terms as a Democrat.

Dial as a Democrat became too rebellious for the likes of Democratic Sen. Lowell [...]

Hilliard's CBC Endorsement

Earl Hilliard Jr.

Did you see that Earl Hilliard Jr. picked up the endorsement of the Congressional Black Caucus PAC in his quest to succeed Artur Davis as the Congressman for AL-07? Dad’s ties from his own Congressional days surely didn’t hurt. The real value for Hilliard here is to whatever extent the endorsement will [...]

What Did We Miss?

Smell

We’ve had more than the usual number of distractions around the Parlor lately, including the holidays and working to get the Parlor back into shape after our ‘net storm. I’ll be sifting through some email and notes to find post topics that didn’t get posted, seeing what still passes the sniff test for freshness [...]

Landmark Hotel Talisi Burns

Hotel Talisi

Tallassee’s landmark Hotel Talisi was destroyed in a fire this morning. Opened in 1928, the buffet in the hotel’s restaurant was promoted in an Alabama Tourism campaign, “100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die(pdf).

StClairCountyAL.com has a fond write-up (”It’s my favorite eating place in all of Alabama.”) [...]

New Look

Sandpaper on a block

There are still some rough edges to be sanded down, and the tweaking will no doubt be an ongoing effort, but we have a new look for the site that brings us closer to completing the transition from the old look (that we trashed rather unexpectedly) to the new. Some may love this, [...]

Daily Headlines, Monday, 11/30/2009

Birmingham NewsJefferson County sheriff wants Collins overruled

Birmingham NewsTrain-hopping raises concern: 24 trespassers killed in Alabama since 2006

Birmingham NewsEncyclopedia of Alabama paints state story

Birmingham NewsVoters in other counties deciding fate of occupational taxes

Birmingham NewsApathy, hope voiced [...]

Daily Headlines, Sunday, 11/29/2009

Birmingham NewsArchibald: Ranking the mayors of the past

Birmingham NewsNation’s Black Friday shopping up only modestly, early data suggests

Birmingham NewsBirmingham community group conducts Avondale area clean-up

Birmingham NewsCity in debt: Mobile’s liability worries officials

Birmingham NewsU.S. probes Alabama’s [...]

Small town political gazette

The Daily Home – A different tool to reduce drop out rates

The Selma Times-Journal – Group targets AIDS education

The News Courier – Limestone County Commission to show thanks for grants

Who Gets the Iron Bowl Tickets?

Alabama and Auburn football helmets

A reader writes:

Is it possible to get a list of ALL public officials (elected, appointed, etc.) who were given free AU/AL Game tickets? Who paid for the tickets and what is the actual value of each ticket? Did spouses also receive free tickets? Did taxpayers pay for a special reception, etc?

I [...]

Daily Headlines, Saturday, 11/28/2009

Birmingham NewsBirmingham-area women firefighters to sell Brave Beauties calendar for special needs charity

Birmingham NewsJefferson County hopeful homicides halved in 2009

Press-RegisterMobile’s debt liability raises some concerns

Press-RegisterTropical Storm Ida took toll on Baldwin beaches

Press-RegisterStates plan for warming [...]

Small town political gazette

The Sand Mountain Reporter – Group suspends holiday fund raising and related editorial

The Tuskegee News – Racing Commission could receive 45 per cent raise

Southeastern Sun – Community mourns loss of Wallace Miller

Site Note

painter_and_ladder_120x160

I expect that next week you will see a new look for the Parlor. The painters are putting on the second coats, and movers will position the big pieces once the dropcloths are removed. Tweaking the smaller pieces and other design elements will be a longer process.

We will have some news bits to [...]

Do or not do. There is no try

Seems to be motto of 13 year old, Marina McKinley, of Saraland.  She has gone from seeing people beg for left overs to providing a meal for them.  She does have a website where donations can be made.

As the saying goes better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

Daily Headlines, Friday, 11/27/2009

Coffee cup

Birmingham NewsArchibald: Some savor this whacky, whacky world

Birmingham NewsWho’s got free tickets? Every state legislator

Birmingham NewsBirmingham Baptist Association ‘Food for Friends’ gives away food and clothing on Thanksgiving morning

Birmingham NewsBirmingham City Council’s pro tem vote for Steven Hoyt may [...]

Small town political gazette

Journal-Record - Grants raise interest in Bedford program

The News-CourierThree years of excess revenue helps Athens pay bills

The Blount Countian - Law center takes on ADEM over Rosa Mines permit

Dothan EagleRoyer enjoys Thanksgiving with family, friends

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