| 2013-06-06 -- The latest chapter in the saga of Jefferson County's troubled finances appears to be on the way to a resolution. County commissioners approved a tentative deal Tuesday to end the county's $4.2 billion dollar bankruptcy, with an official plan to be filed by the end of the month. We talk about the agreement with The Birmingham News and AL.com's John Archibald.

| 2013-05-30 -- An "I'll rub your back, you rub mine" attitude may be the grease that sometimes keeps the political process going, but it can create more squeaks. The hint of such a deal between Jefferson County Commission President David Carrington and Commissioner George Bowman is raising eyebrows. We talk about the situation with AL.com and The Birmingham News columnist John Archibald.

| 2013-05-23 -- In his column this week, the Birmingham News' John Archibald writes that the just concluded legislative session was a bit like high school. Also, we discuss the new intermodal transit hub for downtown building, to be constructed on the site of one built just 14 years ago.

| 2013-05-09 -- In his column this week, John Archibald of the Birmingham News and AL.COM writes that the Jefferson County Courthouse has more drama than CSI, but that the best drama is not in the courtroom but in County Commission Chambers.

| 2013-05-02 -- There's a lot of unrest in the Jefferson County Commission these days. The commission forced out its top attorney, then convinced a state Supreme Court justice to take the job. But then, he promptly withdraws.

| 2013-04-11 -- Jefferson County spends many millions of dollars a year on legal fees. From the $4.2 billion bankruptcy case to challenges to the county’s occupational tax, Jeffco pays a lot for the lawyers is employs. But this week it put the top in-house attorney on paid leave.

| 2013-04-04 -- It's been almost two weeks since a flight information display tipped over at Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport, killing a boy and injuring his family members. There are still many unanswered questions about the incident and new questions about possible NCAA violations in Auburn University's football program.

| 2013-03-28 -- It's been nearly a week since a large airport sign fell on a Kansas family traveling through Birmingham, killing a ten year old boy and injuring his mother and brothers. Since the accident there have been a lot of questions about why it happened, who is responsible and how authorities are responding.

| 2013-03-21 -- It's been a bloody week in the Birmingham metro area with five violent deaths yesterday and the fatal shooting of a teenager at a popular downtown park.

| 2013-03-14 -- Education was a leading topic in the courtroom and the statehouse. The Common Core seems to still be the curriculum path of choice in Alabama, despite a major effort to overturn it. Meanwhile, the Alabama Supreme Court has lifted a temporary restraining order that now paves the way for a controversial school choice bill to be signed into law by Governor Robert Bentley. John Archibald and Scott Hanley discuss how leaders came to make changes and also choose to not make a change. Is there room for reason, diplomacy, detail and unwavering decency?

| 2013-03-07 -- Republican legislators dropped a bomb last week with passage of a heavily revised School Accountability Act. Democrats pushed back with a legal challenge, and now the case may go to the State Supreme Court.

| 2013-02-28 -- If the questions that came from U.S. Supreme Court justices yesterday are any indication, there’s a good chance Shelby County could prevail in its effort to challenge the 1965 Voting Rights Act. That’s just one of the stories grabbing local headlines this week.

| 2013-02-21 -- Birmingham News columnist outraged some readers with his list of Alabama's Best and Worst Cities. He's making amends by visiting some of the underdogs.

| 2013-02-14 -- Gun violence and school safety are taking center stage in Alabama this month. First, the fatal shooting of a school bus driver in Midland City; now, charges against a man accused of holding several Chelsea Middle School girls at gunpoint in a school locker room. And that's just the beginning...

| 2013-02-07 -- With the Alabama Legislature back in session, issues range from cost of living raises for teachers to no fewer than five separate bills dealing with guns. Birmingham News columnist John Archibald says Alabama has hard, weighty problems, that require thoughtful, creative minds. But fixing those problems is something the Alabama Legislature does NOT do well.

| 2013-01-31 -- What do you like about where you live? Maybe it’s your neighbors or the schools. A favorite restaurant or shop. Birmingham News columnist John Archibald has been crunching the numbers and his list of Top Ten Places to Live in Alabama.

| 2013-01-24 -- UAB is close to naming a new president. Sources tell the Birmingham News that UAB Medical School Dean Ray Watts will get the job.

| 2013-01-17 -- Jefferson County is trying desperately to exit municipal bankruptcy. Earlier this week commissioners met in closed-door sessions with their attorneys to presumably work on another plan to present to creditors. Meanwhile, sewer rates are skyrocketing in another nearby county.

| 2013-01-10 -- State officials say making schools safer is a top priority for the upcoming legislative session. More than a hundred people packed a school safety hearing Wednesday. But some communities aren't waiting for the state to take action. They're making moves of their own.

| 2013-01-03 -- We've closed out one year and are starting another. Seems like a good time to reflect on the big regional news of 2012 and look ahead to 2013. John Archibald says there's one story that could rock the core of the state GOP.

| 2012-12-20 -- In the aftermath of last week's school shooting, President Obama says it will take a national effort to address gun violence. In a press conference yesterday he mentioned several recent shootings, including the one last weekend at Birmingham's St. Vincent's Hospital.

| 2012-12-06 -- Birmingham Mayor William Bell has had a relatively low key tenure compared to his predecessor. But not last weekend. The mayor and his security detail were involved in a downtown shootout that could have been ripped from a Hollywood movie. There are still a lot of questions about the incident.

| 2012-11-29 -- Criminal defendants in Jefferson County who can't afford to hire a lawyer will have a new advocate in their corner. Birmingham Attorney Kira Fonteneau will lead the newly created Public Defender Office.

| 2012-11-15 -- After months of infighting that resulted in a state takeover, there appears to be a power shift on the Birmingham Board of Education. New board member Carole Clarke was sworn in this week and minutes after taking the oath the board elected a new president and vice president. Who they elected and how is pretty telling.

| 2012-10-25 -- The Rev. Al Sharpton will be in Birmingham Friday to attend a forum and rally against the downsizing of Cooper Green Mercy Hospital. But will Sharpton's appearance pressure Jefferson County Commissioners into changing their minds? John Archibald and Tanya Ott discuss that, plus a city councilwoman's criticism of a lesbian photo exhibit, the resignation of the school board president, and demands by the county attorney for a pay raise.

| 2012-10-04 -- The Birmingham News shifted to three day a week print editions this week and public reaction has been mixed, though largely negative, on social media sites. John Archibald discusses what the change means for news reporters and consumers and addresses other thorny issues like the status of Cooper Green Mercy Hospital.

| 2012-09-27 -- Jefferson County has passed a $160M balanced budget, but not without questions concerning Cooper Green Mercy Hospital.

| 2012-09-20 -- It's official. By a 2-to-1 margin, Alabama voters have approved a constitutional amendment to transfer $437 million from the Alabama Trust Fund to the General Fund Budget. The money will help pay for basic services like Medicaid, prisons and child protective services. But John Archibald says it may just be kicking the can down the road.

| 2012-09-13 -- Next week, Alabama residents go to the polls to vote on a referendum state leaders say is vital to the financial health of the state. The vote would authorize moving $437 million from the Alabama Trust Fund to shore up the state’s general fund budget. Supporters say without the transfer critical state services will be hurt, but opponents argue the state should live within its means. John Archibald tackles that and other regional news in this week's interview.

| 2012-08-30 -- The Jefferson County Commission votes to discontinue in-patient care at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital. John Archibald offers his thoughts that situation as well as the latest from the Birmingham Board of Education, and Artur Davis' political switch.

| 2012-08-23 -- The University of Alabama at Birmingham has a new interim President. Earlier this week, University of Alabama System Chancellor Robert Witt announced that longtime UAB administrator Richard Marchase would take over for outgoing president Carol Garrison. The university will now start a national search for a permanent replacement. John Archibald offers his observations on the leadership change at UAB, as well as leadership on the Jefferson County Commission.

| 2012-08-16 -- The Birmingham school board finally gets down to business; and emotions run high as county commissioners look to close inpatient care at Cooper Green Mercy Hospital.

| 2012-08-02 -- Attorney alleges Birmingham school board president doesn't live in Birmingham; Former Governor Don Siegelman is likely headed back to prison; and UA gets approval for $9 million athletic facility, but what does UAB get?

| 2012-07-26 -- Details are emerging in the massive budget cuts at Birmingham City Schools. On Tuesday, the school board deadlocked over approving the state's $12 million cost cutting plan, but the state stepping in and imposed the plan anyway, firing 61 employees and cutting the salaries of many high-level administrators.

| 2012-07-19 -- The chicken fight between the Birmingham board of education and the state amped up several notches this week. The board was supposed to vote Tuesday night on a $12 million cost cutting proposal, but instead surprised everyone by voting to fire school superintendent. Now, the courts are involved.

| 2012-07-12 -- There's been lots of upheaval recently in local schools. Monday, the Trussville Board of Education terminated the contract of superintendent Suzanne Freeman. Not to be outdone, the Birmingham Board of Education is staring down a meeting on Tuesday to consider the state's financial plan for the district.

| 2012-07-05 -- Alabama Governor Robert Bentley is in Europe this week trying to drum up business for Alabama. The move comes after Airbus announced it will build its first ever U.S. manufacturing facilities in Mobile. John says Alabama is attractive to foreign businesses for a number of reasons, all of which may not be good for Alabamians.

| 2012-06-28 -- With the state of Alabama now in control of Birmingham's school system, we talk about the details and delve into the political motivations of the school board.

| 2012-06-21 -- The Birmingham Board of Education has until tomorrow to submit its list of people it's going to lay off as part of the $12 million cost cutting plan and more Alabama Educational Television Foundation members quit to protest changes at Alabama Public Television.

| 2012-06-14 -- It's been a tumultuous week for journalism in Alabama. On Tuesday, Advance Publications fired 400 people at the Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, Mobile Press-Register and their affiliate website al.com. And yesterday, news broke that Alabama Public Television fired two top executives possibly because they refused to air controversial religious programs.

| 2012-06-07 -- This week, members of the Birmingham Board of Education voted against the nearly $12 million in cost-cutting measures suggested by state investigators. The board now faces a possible takeover by the state. In his latest column, the Birmingham News' John Arcibald argues Birmingham's school system doesn't have a "money problem", but rather, a "problem with money."

| 2012-05-31 -- The face of journalism is changing in Alabama. Starting this Fall, The Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, and Mobile Press-Register will publish print copies just three days a week.

| 2012-05-17 -- The 2012 regular session of the Alabama legislature is over. Lawmakers worked late into the night – right up to midnight, actually – to hammer out a general fund budget and pass tweaks to the immigration law. They also killed many other bills, including a proposal for a Jefferson County occupational tax.

| 2012-05-10 -- When a judge ruled Jefferson County's occupational tax illegal it was clear the bankrupt county would have to find some way to replace that money. County commissioners appealed to the local legislative delegation, which responded by proposing a new tax. But with just two days left in the legislative session, the future of that bill is unclear.

| 2012-05-03 -- Time is running out for state lawmakers to address Jefferson County's financial mess. The county needs new revenues to stabilize the budget and bring it out of bankruptcy. Many have pinned their hopes on a new occupational tax, but that has to be authorized by the legislature and there are just days left in this legislative session.

| 2012-04-05 -- Jefferson County's bankruptcy talks about the unlikely possibility of dissolving the county government and down in Shelby County the sheriff's battle over jail food funding points out problems with a state law. (AUDIO NOT AVAILABLE)

| 2012-03-29 -- Birmingham City Council's sends a public message about Trayvon Martin's death and John says the case points to serious problems in Birmingham.

| 2012-03-22 -- John discusses Cooper-Green Mercy Hospital's financial troubles, the opening of a satellite court house in Center Point, and small town politics in Graysville.

| 2012-03-15 -- John dissects this week's primary election and what it might mean for the future of the Democratic party in Alabama.

| 2012-03-08 -- John explains why, despite yesterday's acquittals, the gambling corruption case may not be over. Also, hist takes on the Birmingham Water Works board members for spending $70,000 on travel last year.

| 2012-03-01 -- John explains why Jefferson County Commission president David Carrington has called for some county employees to undergo lie detectors tests after someon leaked an embarrassing internal memo to the Birmingham News.

| 2012-02-23 -- Analysis of how proposed 25% state budget cuts would affect local health care and law enforcement and how Jefferson County ended up deciding to lay off tax collectors to save money, but lost money in the process.

| 2012-02-16 -- Details on an emergency bankruptcy hearing, looming Jefferson County layoffs, a proposal to term limit the Birmingham mayor and a packed room at a public hearing on a smoking ban.

| 2012-02-09 -- John's take on the first week of the 2012 legislative session. There's already a standoff over the budget and charter schools.

| 2012-02-02 -- John previews the 2012 legislative session and controversial comments by one lawmaker who says teachers shouldn't get a pay raise, but legislators definitely needed one to keep them free from corruption.

| 2012-01-19 -- John Archibald thinks Shelby County residents share the blame for a long-time teacher who's admitted molesting young girls and why Birmingham is the kick-off of a federal campaign against pay day loan operations.

| 2012-01-12 -- Birmingham Mayor William Bell uses consent agenda to get $500M in funding for a McDonald Restaurant and Nick Saban schedules a press conference and doesn't say what it's about.

| 2012-01-05 -- Birmingham News columnist John Archibald reviews the top local news stories from 2011 and looks forward to 2012.