Small town political gazette – 1/31/10

Cullman Times - Probate judge, Leah Patterson-Lust, recovering after fall at Court House

Enterprise Ledger - Mayor gives state of the city address

Baldwin County NowManufacturing growing in Baldwin County

Andalusia Star-NewsReform bill gives us hope

The Selma Times-Journal - District judge, Bob Armstrong, seeks second term

Enterprise Ledger[...]

Daily Headlines, Sunday, 1/31/2010

Coffee cup

Montgomery AdvertiserSenate prepares to continue debate on road, bridge bill

Montgomery AdvertiserMobile man police stopped with stun gun dies

Montgomery AdvertiserFinance reports can offer political perspective

Montgomery AdvertiserGame wardens use night flights to help nab illegal hunters

Montgomery AdvertiserAN [...]

St. Joseph Street in Mobile, 1911

St. Joseph Street in Mobile, 1911

St. Joseph Street in Mobile, 1911

A postcard of St. Joseph Street in Mobile from 1911. A horse drawn carriage is in the right corner, and a boy stands in the street.

Click the image to see it larger.

Friday Pre-Dawn Pix from Victoryland

Troopers arriving at entrance greeted by Atty Fred Gray

The struggle over the gambling issue is a remarkable one, a struggle of titans in the state. I haven’t said much about it because it’s so fascinating on its own without commentary. What meager words could be added here that would be worthwhile additions to what we are already reading in the daily [...]

Small town political gazette – 1/30/10

Troy Messenger - Road fund debate ending?

The Northwest AlabamianProration nibbling away at school funds

Eufaula TribuneDA seeks identity of commenter at Tribune’s site

Clanton Advertiser - No quick fix for Chilton County roads

Prattville ProgressFire tax districts ‘not going to happen’

Madison RecordMadison tax measure [...]

Daily Headlines, Saturday, 1/30/2010

Montgomery AdvertiserRiley, King trade words over bingo raids

Montgomery AdvertiserEx-wife of Nelson Mandela agrees to attend Bridge Crossing Jubilee

Montgomery AdvertiserSupreme Court blocks bingo in Ashville

Montgomery AdvertiserAlabama school board’s Bell casts eye toward Bright’s seat

Montgomery Advertiser908th back [...]

Small town political gazette - 1/29/10

Dothan EagleAttempted raid under way at Country Crossing

The North Jefferson News - Blount County judge delays Warrior police tax

The Selma Times-Journal - Bush Hog, neighbors still at impasse

The Moulton AdvertiserWet/dry votes possible in Moulton and Town Creek

The Sand Mountain ReporterCould Bigfoot be on Sand [...]

Daily Headlines, Friday, 1/29/2010

Montgomery AdvertiserAlabama lawmakers want Obama to focus on national security

Montgomery AdvertiserBill in state teacher testing suit exceeds $9M

Montgomery AdvertiserAlabama likely won’t challenge stay of execution

Montgomery AdvertiserAlabama gets federal funding for rail study

Montgomery AdvertiserSlagle’s Montgomery County [...]

Farm-PAC Endorses for the Primaries

ALFA Farmers Logo

Farm-PAC (the PAC for the Alabama Farmers Federation, also known not quite correctly as ALFA) released its endorsements today for the June primaries.

They endorsed:

  • U.S. Senator: Richard Shelby
  • U.S. Representative, District 1: Jo Bonner
  • U.S. Representative, District 2: Bobby Bright
  • U.S. Representative, District 3: Mike Rogers
  • U.S. Representative, District 4: Robert Aderholt
  • U.S. Representative, District 6: Spencer Bachus
  • U.S. Representative, District [...]

Small town political gazette

The Blount Countian Legislative offensive on Warrior ordinance launched – 1/28/10

Times-Journal - Sylvania councilmen square off

The St. Clair TimesMoody fire chief resigns, council vote in dispute

Randolph LeaderLocal aid agencies are out of money

Andalusia Star-NewsFlorala moving ahead with bingo

Dothan EagleLocal anti-gambling [...]

Daily Headlines, Thursday, 1/28/2010

Montgomery AdvertiserJailed Alabama educator no longer receiving salary, benefits

Montgomery AdvertiserSanders decides to run for 8th term in Alabama Senate

Montgomery AdvertiserAlabama teacher testing case dismissed

Montgomery AdvertiserTyson: Ship casinos in Mobile Bay ‘not a [...]

Sprinting Through the Process

During each my last eight years in the House I have a routine where I like to move all of my bills early in the session. My reasoning for this is that somewhere around midway through the session the process gets snagged on some issue like gambling, sales tax on groceries or some proposed tax [...]

Debate on Road Bill ties up Senate

Thursday, the Senate will begin its 4th day of debate on a road construction bill that proposes to spend $100 million a year for 10 years in addition to the regular road program and any federal stimulus plans.  The billion dollars for this extra road program would come from the state’s savings account which is [...]

Stephanie Bell Considers AL-02 Race

Alabama with the 2nd Congressional District highlighted

Contrary to a circulating rumor, Stephanie Bell tells the Political Parlor that she is not considering a primary challenge to Republican incumbent Beth Chapman for the office of Secretary of State – and that she has never talked to anyone about running for the office.

Bell, in her fifth term on the State Board of Education, [...]

Small town political gazette - 1/27/10

Andalusia Star-NewsFlorala moving ahead with bingo

Dothan EagleCity manager contract tied to Motorola contract

Enterpise LedgerCoffee County Sheriff seeks reimbursement after suit dismissed

Shelby County ReporterVincent residents speak out on quarry

Clanton Advertiser - Voting rights are priceless

Daily HomeCities offer chance to speak [...]

See more Recent Small Town News

 


 

Back in the Day...

Bessemer Post Office, 1938

Vintage postcard
 

Legislative Dispatch

Regardless of Political Stripes Vote Tomorrow

As an elected official, I am tuned into voting habits and practices. Call me a political junkie, but I am fascinated by the whole electoral process—what age group votes most often, what issues motivate them and what media outlet is the most effective. While all of my interest in the political world is a hobby [...]

My Time is Up

I write this blog with some mixed emotion. Over the last eight years I have served in the House of Representatives, and this Thursday will most likely be my last day in session as a House member. Of course, my term goes until November, and there could always be a special session at [...]

Purple Dot Connection

TRYIN’ TO CATCH UP

I’ve been in Venice on a little vacation and just returned last night.  I’ve been trying to catch up and see that there have been few dramatic events in the last 10 days.  I thought the www.fivethirtyeight.com piece was especially good, though the comments reflected the anti-Alabama knee-jerk reactions of those who live outside the [...]