| 2013-06-12 -- Privacy concerns are news with the NSA and PRISM stories, Alabama makes news with roadblocks to gain samples from drivers. And good news about Birmingham? We talk with Kyle Whitmire, political reporter with AL.com and The Birmingham News.

| 2013-05-29 -- A proposal to increase by more than $43,000 the office budget for Commissioner George Bowman has some county commissioners concerned. That proposal comes two weeks after Bowman provided a tie breaking vote for Carol Sue Nelson, the new county attorney. We talk politics with Kyle Whitmire, political reporter with AL.com and The Birmingham News.

| 2013-05-22 -- The Alabama legislative session that wrapped up Monday saw heated debate on issues such as education and guns. But something we didn't hear much about this year is Jefferson County. The last few sessions Jefferson County issues made waves in the legislature. But this year most local bills quietly died. We talk a look with AL.com and The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.

| 2013-05-15 -- Gov. Robert Bentley wants a two-year delay before implementing the Alabama Accountability Act, and the Alabama Democratic Party is broke. We talk politics with Kyle Whitmire, political reporter with AL.com and The Birmingham News.

| 2013-05-08 -- There remain many questions about what caused a flight information display at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport to tip over earlier this spring, killing a 10-year-old boy. But we are getting a clearer picture of the design of the display. Also, Bessemer police shut down a popular blues juke joint. We talk about it with AL.com and The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.

| 2013-05-01 -- Jefferson County has put the "Help Wanted" sign up again for the top legal job in the county. The Water Works Board is wrestling with the future. We talk about those topics and more with The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.

| 2013-04-03 -- It's been almost two weeks since a flight information display at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport tipped over killing a 10-year-old boy and injuring his mother and two of his brothers. There's still key information about the incident which hasn't been released. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire explains what we know and what we don't know.

| 2013-03-27 -- There are many questions for airport officials, contractors and city officials following the death of a 10-year-old boy at the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport. A flight information display weighing at least 300 pounds fell over Friday, killing the boy and injuring his mother and two of his brothers. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire talks about why the display wasn't inspected and who is to blame.

| 2013-03-20 -- For those living in urban areas, it's sometimes possible to become callous or indifferent to the steady drip of crime. While murders in Birmingham are low by historic standards, a shooting this past Sunday in Railroad Park left a 15-year-old boy dead. That's bringing new attention to the issue. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire talk about the community response.

| 2013-03-13 -- Alabama Republicans, Democrats and the education community are still in an uproar over the Alabama Accountability Act, almost two weeks after it was rushed through the state legislature. The bill would offer tax credits to parents for transferring their kids from a failing school to a non-failing public or private school. But now there are questions about differing versions of the bill. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire has details.

| 2013-03-06 -- A Montgomery judge is extending a temporary restraining order blocking Alabama's governor from signing a controversial school bill into law. But Republican leaders vow to appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court. We hear about the political fallout from The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.

| 2013-02-27 -- Conservative justices on the U.S. Supreme Court asked tough questions Wednesday about the need for portions of the Voting Rights Act. The court is hearing a challenge to the law filed by Shelby County, Alabama. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire talks about the case.

| 2013-02-20 -- Alabama's on-again, off-again battle over gambling is definitely on-again this week as Attorney General Luther Strange took action to try and stop four casinos in the state. One is a familiar target -- VictoryLand. The other is newer -- The Poarch Band of Creek Indians. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire has more.

| 2013-02-13 -- Jefferson County commissioners say they have a deal to lower interest rates on a portion of the county's debt. It's a sign a plan to exit municipal bankruptcy could be on the way. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire explains.

| 2013-02-06 -- No relief for Birmingham shoppers as the Birmingham City Council, reauthorizes a one percent sales tax for five years. We hear more from The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire

| 2013-01-30 -- This week is an important one for Jefferson County's efforts to exit bankruptcy. Two county commissioners spent time in New York meeting with hedge fund managers. On Wednesday a trail gets underway on creditors' request to lift a stay preventing legal action against the county. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire explains the situation.

| 2013-01-23 -- Two Jefferson County Commissioner deny a report they're split over a proposed redistricting plan. But there's no denying that which district Legion Field ends up in has major political implications. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire explains.

| 2013-01-16 -- A big question this year is whether Jefferson County will exit municipal bankruptcy. County commissioners spent a good deal of time this week working toward that effort in closed door meetings. We talk about it with The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.

| 2013-01-09 -- There's a battle playing out in Montgomery between the leaders of the Retirement Systems of Alabama and the Alabama Education Association. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire explains the talk of a board "power play."

| 2013-01-02 -- With the new year comes a new set up for Cooper Green Mercy Hospital. The Jefferson County-owned facility turned its emergency room into an urgent care center on January 1st. The hospital also closed inpatient care and laid off more than 200 people. We talk about it with The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-12-19 -- Alabama's attorney general has subpoenaed financial records from the State Republican Party, ones that show a company co-owned by House Speaker Mike Hubbard benefited from party spending. We talk about that with the Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-12-12 -- Apply for a job at Jefferson County, and you, too, could be a winner. Federal Judge Lynwood Smith proposed an interim solution for Jefferson County's personnel problems. Until the court, the plaintiffs and the county could establish a fair and unbiased system for hiring and firing county employees, the county could do so with a lottery. We talk about that and other politics now as we do most Wednesdays with The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-12-05 -- It's not every day a city leader is in a roadside shootout. But that happened to Birmingham Mayor William Bell on Friday. And while the mayor is okay, The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire says police aren't being forthcoming with details.

| 2012-11-28 -- There are three open seats on the BJCC Board. The problem is four people have been appointed. It's a dispute that's embroiled the Jefferson County legislative delegation and is now spurring legal action. The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire has details.

| 2012-11-21 -- A new report shows some of Alabama's largest municipalities have very low financial reserves. Local governments rely a lot on sales taxes and revenues have been lower since the recession. The report from the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama finds that the City of Montgomery had a negative fund balance for 2010, though the city's finance director disputes that. Kyle Whitmire says many other communities may be in the black, but they're still dangerously vulnerable.

| 2012-11-14 -- A change in leadership on the Birmingham Board of Education, racially charged comments from a Birmingham City Councilman and talk of secession -- we hear more from the Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-11-07 -- Alabama Republicans now hold all statewide offices after Tuesday's election. But Democrats swept Jefferson County. We talk about the results with the Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-10-31 -- An undocumented journalist in the middle of debate over illegal immigration speaks in Birmingham and Jefferson County nears a plan to pay back some of its debt under bankruptcy. We hear details from the Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-10-24 -- State auditors have found Jefferson County lawmakers aren't keeping proper records for a legislative fund, Jefferson County's lead attorney wants a raise and Rev. Al Sharpton plans a visit to the Magic City. We have details from the Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-10-03 -- Birmingham gears up for a bond referendum, Governor Bentley weighs in on the dispute over Cooper Green Mercy Hospital's future and not just government services, but government power is being privatized. We talk about it The Birmingham News' Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-07-25 -- The state took firm control of the Birmingham City Schools this week, after the system's superintendent was abruptly fired and then reinstated by a judge. We talk about it Weld for Birmingham's Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-07-18 -- Control of the Birmingham City Schools is up in the air after the Birmingham Board of Education fires Superintendent Craig Witherspoon. But with the school system under a state takeover, the state overturned the action minutes later. We talk about it with Weld for Birmingham's Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-07-11 -- The Birmingham City Council rejects the mayor's new budget and the Birmingham Board of Education holds a meeting with nothing on the agenda. We talk about it with Weld for Birmingham's Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-06-27 -- The state of Alabama has officially taken over the Birmingham City Schools. We'll talk about what happens from here with Weld for Birmingham's Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-06-20 -- Birmingham Mayor William Bell wants to build a bridge downtown and loose lips throw a twist into the Updyke trial in Auburn. We talk about it with Weld for Birmingham's Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-06-13 -- The Birmingham News begins announcing major job cuts this week. We hear what that means for the future of the paper from Weld for Birmingham's Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-06-06 -- The state could take over the Birmingham City Schools after the board of education rejects a state-backed cost cutting plan. We talk about it with Weld for Birmingham's Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-05-30 -- Alabama's media landscape will change when the Birmingham News starts publishing just three times a week this fall. We talk about the unknown questions with Weld for Birmingham's Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-05-23 -- Jefferson County is looking to cut staff, but that's difficult to do. We look at why with Weld for Birmingham's Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-05-16 -- The bill to authorize a new occupational tax for Jefferson County is dead. We hear more from Weld for Birmingham's Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-05-09 -- Jefferson County officials are still looking to state lawmakers to authorize that illusive occupational tax. We update the situation with Weld for Birmingham's Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-05-02 -- Time is running out for a new Jefferson County occupational tax and the City of Birmingham looks to end the fiscal year with a deficit. We talk about that with Weld for Birmingham's Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-04-18 -- The Birmingham City Council passes a new smoking ban. We talk about that and other local government matters with Weld for Birmingham's Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-04-11 -- The Birmingham Board of Education tries, but fails to fire Superintendent Craig Witherspoon. We talk about the meeting with Weld for Birmingham's Kyle Whitmire.

| 2012-04-04 -- Cooper Green Mercy Hospital offers a cost savings plan as it struggles to pay overdue bills. We talk about that and other political matters with Kyle Whitmire. He’s senior writer and new media editor at Weld for Birmingham.

| 2012-03-28 -- Jefferson County defaults on more than $15 million in general obligation bonds and more information trickles out about Cooper Green Mercy Hospital's financial hole

| 2012-03-21 -- Cooper Green Mercy Hospital is behind on the bills, Jefferson County looks to reopen a satellite courthouse and Graysville's mayor under fire

| 2012-03-14 -- Post election analysis regarding U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus and Roy Moore as well as what's behind Milton McGregor's full-page ad in last Sunday's Birmingham News

| 2012-03-07 -- The future of gambling in Alabama in the wake of the acquittal of Milton McGregor and five others in Alabama's gambling corruption trial, and and independent report is highly critical of Jefferson County's finances

| 2012-02-29 -- Treason from within from Jefferson County Commission President David Carrington and another shakeup in the Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority

| 2012-02-22 -- Lack of transparency in the Jefferson County budget, and how Jefferson County ended up deciding to lay off tax collectors to save money, but lost money in the process

| 2012-02-15 -- Polling in Alabama's 6th Congressional District Republican Primary and a proposed smoking ban in Birmingham

| 2012-02-08 -- Arguements over Jefferson County's sewer revenues, a bill to change buying car tags in Jefferson County and a candidate drops out of the Republican primary race for the 6th Congressional District

| 2012-02-01 -- A defendant in Alabama's gambling corruption trial is found dead, former Governor Don Siegelman appeals his corruption conviction and Congressman Spencer Bachus releases ads

| 2012-01-25 -- January's tornado's impact on Jefferson County's finances, the legislative fight over a Jefferson County occupational tax and Richard Scrushy is resentenced

| 2012-01-18 -- Jefferson County Commissioners call on legislators or reinstate an occupational tax and Stan Pate enters the race for Alabama's 6th Congressional District

| 2012-01-11 -- Budget hearings in Jefferson County, Jefferson County's sewer receiver loses control of the sewer system and State Senator Scott Beason calls a press conference

| 2012-01-04 -- The latest Jefferson County bankruptcy hearing and State Senator Scott Beason considers a run for congress