In another effort of that mundane (and possibly insane) effort of bi-partisanship to get healthcare reform passed, President Obama is holding a summit on how best to go about passing comprehensive, cost contained, competitive and sensible healthcare reform bill. The President, last week, released his own draft of such a measure. The Republican leadership (with the rest of the party on Capitol Hill in tow) declared the bill dead on arrival. What? This is the party who swears up and down they are NOT the party of "No?"

Let me be clear about something, the healthcare reform bill that came out of the Senate, I am not happy about. Sure, it's healthcare reform--but on the shadiest side. It literally hands 30 million new customers to the insurance and big Pharmaceutical industries. Yes, it does away with the most stupid, arcane (if not insane) pre-existing condition restriction for coverage. But it does not offer competition for consumer choice. I'm a type 2 diabetic, if I wanted to go to another healthcare plan and leave the healthcare plan I have at work, I couldn't. Why? Because I have a pre-existing condition and would have to wait one year before my diabetes care could be covered under a policy. They would gladly take my money, but anything associated with my diabetes would not be covered.

I am blessed to have coverage at all. I am able to carry my wife and step children on my plan. There are some things I would change dramatically of course, but as they say--"it is, what it is." But what about the millions of others who don't have health insurance? What about the

Uninsured persons who have to go to the emergency room for healthcare? People who have to file bankruptcy because of healthcare bills? We all end up paying for that one way or another. Small businesses layoff workers because of healthcare premiums; parents take their kids off their work insurance plans and place them on government insurance (S-CHIP, All Kids) because they can't afford the family coverage at work. This is ridiculous. Why can't Americans have the same access to healthcare as the members of Congress enjoy--and we elect them and they're paid from our tax dollars? Pay very close attention to what's being said--and not being said; during this summit today.

A pretty good line up is developing for this week's edition of Talkback. Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper, Catrena Carter ( will talk about the upcoming Bridge Crossing Jubilee in Selma and the 45th Anniversary of Bloody Sunday), and we're hoping to talk with a couple of national authors' on some very timely topics. We'll take a look back at the week at the Alabama Legislature and Birmingham City Council member Kim Rafferty is also tentatively scheduled for an appearance on Talkback.

Here's where I put you to work. Send your questions for Chief Roper and Councillor Rafferty. I want to make these type of interviews as interactive as possible. Questions need to be submitted by noon Thursday.

Well, 2010 is here, and what a first week we have on our hands! Jack Frost has determined that he will not allow the South to miss out on any of the frigid temperatures that's gripping the mid west and he's serious about it. Much of Alabama will endure a hard freeze this week, with overnight temperatures forecasted in the Birmingham area to be as low at 10 degrees by late Wednesday or Thursday.

Speaking of Thursday, the same day that The Alabama Crimson Tide is to play for the National Championship game against Texas in Pasadena, snow is expected here in the Birmingham area. Although, it's a few days out, forecasters are not taking the possibility lightly, but just in case, be at least prepared for very, very, very cold tempartures.

Back to the BCS National Champrionship game, Cox Radio has partnered with the CBS 42 Sports Team to bring you updates/reports from Pasadena all this week from Brad Radice. Stay with us for complete coverage on 98.7 Kiss Fm and CBS42 as 'Bama goes for its 13th National College Football Championship. If it happens, how long do you think it will be before a statue of Nick Saban goes up in the Circle of Champions on campus in Tuscaloosa?

Ok, so here it is. I've tried for the longest while now to be as objective as I possibly could about the whole Larry Langford indictment, trial, conviction, boot from Birmingham's mayor's office and guesstimation on sentencing. I have listened to reaction from our listener's both on the air and out in the streets. I just want to state for the record, once and for all---(clearing my throat)---LARRY LANGFORD WAS NOT SET UP!!!!!

I believe Langford to be a good man. I believe Langford is a man of Faith. I believe Larry Langford is an effective and proactive civic leader. But, more importantly, I believe Larry Langford made some very poor choices--in friends and actions. On the witness stand during Langford's trial, Al LaPierre testified that his friend of some 30 years broke the law when Langford accepted $50,000 from him to pay off a loan at Colonial Bank.

Throughout the trial, Langford's zeal for fine clothing, jewelry, gambling, cash and credit was exposed, raising questions about his character. His private life was made VERY public, and one couldn't help but to wonder how embarrassing that was for his family. No one--- I don't care who you are--wants to see another person's family dragged into the mud. Over a number of years, according to court testimony, Langford accepted, money, gifts, clothes, etc., from investment banker William Blount, through/and/or from Al LaPierre. Here's what Alabama law says about said activity (Alabama Ethics Commission):

Section 36-25-5(c) states:

"No public official or public employee shall use or cause to be used equipment, facilities,

time, materials, human labor, or other public property under his or her discretion or

control for the private benefit or business benefit of the public official, public employee,

any other person, or principal campaign committee as defined in Section 17-22A-2,

which would materially affect his or her financial interest, except as otherwise provided

by law or as provided pursuant to a lawful employment agreement regulated by agency

policy."

Section 36-25-7(a) states:

"No person shall offer or give to a public official or public employee or a member of the

household of a public employee or a member of the household of the public official and

none of the aforementioned shall solicit or receive a thing of value for the purpose of

influencing official action."

Section 36-25-7(b) states:

"No public official or public employee shall solicit or receive a thing of value for himself

or herself or for a family member of the public employee or family member of the public

official for the purpose of influencing official action."

Friends, that's just state law. Both LaPierre and Blount testified that indeed, they had bribed Langford to "keep him happy, for the purpose of getting county bond finance business. " After his conviction on all 60 counts of government corruption, Langford blamed the media and racism for his downfall.

Granted, the speed of which the jury rendered a verdict is more than questionable. But, Langford says the jury didn't look at the evidence---that prosecutors didn't prove their case that he ever asked Blount or LaPierre for anything, he never asked for a cut of the millions of dollars Blount made from Jefferson County. However, LaPierre testified ( and the judge allowed) Langford came to him saying that he needed money bad, to pay his taxes. Wham! A $30, 000 check was stroked for Langford's IRS troubles. At three high end clothing stores, Langford racked up $50,000 worth of debt ---AT EACH STORE! You know about the $12,000 used watch, you heard about the $25,000 credit card Langford received from a bank and ran that up to $63,000. Yes, Langford gave his coat which had cash in the pockets to a homeless man in New York City. But, as prosecutors said in court, how long was it before he got another coat and money back into his pockets courtesy of Bill Blount?

The picture that was broadly painted in court was that Langford was a shopaholic , had gambling habits, didn't handle money well, had a big heart, and was a giving person-- which made him a target. A target opportunists and the federal government.

But, in my opinion, he WAS NOT set up. Langford's argument that he never asked for anything from Blount or LaPierre, but nowhere in court testimony did he ever refuse items of value or money. Nowhere. Larry Langford's trouble is--as painful as it may be to stomach---HE ACCEPTED EVERYTHING THAT WAS OFFERED AND/OR GIVEN TO HIM!

Does that make him a bad person? No, it makes him human. Just like you and me, who make bad decisions or poor choices every day. But, maybe not as costly.

Ok, so here it is. I've tried for the longest while now to be as objective as I possibly could about the whole Larry Langford indictment, trial, conviction, boot from Birmingham's mayor's office and guesstimation on sentencing. I have listened to reaction from our listener's both on the air and out in the streets. I just want to state for the record, once and for all---(clearing my throat)---LARRY LANGFORD WAS NOT SET UP!!!!!

I believe Langford to be a good man. I believe Langford is a man of Faith. I believe Larry Langford is an effective and proactive civic leader. But, more importantly, I believe Larry Langford made some very poor choices--in friends and actions. On the witness stand during Langford's trial, Al LaPierre testified that his friend of some 30 years broke the law when Langford accepted $50,000 from him to pay off a loan at Colonial Bank.

Throughout the trial, Langford's zeal for fine clothing, jewelry, gambling, cash and credit was exposed, raising questions about his character. His private life was made VERY public, and one couldn't help but to wonder how embarrassing that was for his family. No one--- I don't care who you are--wants to see another person's family dragged into the mud. Over a number of years, according to court testimony, Langford accepted, money, gifts, clothes, etc., from investment banker William Blount, through/and/or from Al LaPierre. Here's what Alabama law says about said activity (Alabama Ethics Commission):

Section 36-25-5(c) states:

"No public official or public employee shall use or cause to be used equipment, facilities,

time, materials, human labor, or other public property under his or her discretion or

control for the private benefit or business benefit of the public official, public employee,

any other person, or principal campaign committee as defined in Section 17-22A-2,

which would materially affect his or her financial interest, except as otherwise provided

by law or as provided pursuant to a lawful employment agreement regulated by agency

policy."

Section 36-25-7(a) states:

"No person shall offer or give to a public official or public employee or a member of the

household of a public employee or a member of the household of the public official and

none of the aforementioned shall solicit or receive a thing of value for the purpose of

influencing official action."

Section 36-25-7(b) states:

"No public official or public employee shall solicit or receive a thing of value for himself

or herself or for a family member of the public employee or family member of the public

official for the purpose of influencing official action."

Friends, that's just state law. Both LaPierre and Blount testified that indeed, they had bribed Langford to "keep him happy, for the purpose of getting county bond finance business. " After his conviction on all 60 counts of government corruption, Langford blamed the media and racism for his downfall.

Granted, the speed of which the jury rendered a verdict is more than questionable. But, Langford says the jury didn't look at the evidence---that prosecutors didn't prove their case that he ever asked Blount or LaPierre for anything, he never asked for a cut of the millions of dollars Blount made from Jefferson County. However, LaPierre testified ( and the judge allowed) Langford came to him saying that he needed money bad, to pay his taxes. Wham! A $30, 000 check was stroked for Langford's IRS troubles. At three high end clothing stores, Langford racked up $50,000 worth of debt ---AT EACH STORE! You know about the $12,000 used watch, you heard about the $25,000 credit card Langford received from a bank and ran that up to $63,000. Yes, Langford gave his coat which had cash in the pockets to a homeless man in New York City. But, as prosecutors said in court, how long was it before he got another coat and money back into his pockets courtesy of Bill Blount?

The picture that was broadly painted in court was that Langford was a shopaholic , had gambling habits, didn't handle money well, had a big heart, and was a giving person-- which made him a target. A target opportunists and the federal government.

But, in my opinion, he WAS NOT set up. Langford's argument that he never asked for anything from Blount or LaPierre, but nowhere in court testimony did he ever refuse items of value or money. Nowhere. Larry Langford's trouble is--as painful as it may be to stomach---HE ACCEPTED EVERYTHING THAT WAS OFFERED AND/OR GIVEN TO HIM!

Does that make him a bad person? No, it makes him human. Just like you and me, who make bad decisions or poor choices every day. But, maybe not as costly.

Birmingham Police are on the scene investigating an apparent drive by shooting this morning. according to police scanner traffic around 11:03 a.m., a Birmingham patrol officer was flagged down by at least two people at the intersection of Avenue S and Ensley Avenue, and led him to man who was in the back seat of a car suffering from a gunshot wound in the chest. The witnesses told police it happened near in th 2800 block of Avenue K , near Ensley High School and Ensley Park. A city worker told police he heard shots ring out closer to Avenue J. Again, Again, accoring to police scanner traffic, the witnesses told police that someone driving a black Toyota Camry drove up, started shooting and sped off. no description of the shooter nor victim.

In the discussion between police dispatch the patrol officer injury to the male victim is "definitely life threatening."

Meanwhile, it's unclear whether they're related, but more shootings occurred in ensley within 30 minutes after the first shooting was reported. Police were called to 225 Dugan Avenue at GasWorld, and the third shooting reported a house located on Avenue W at 6th Street.

No word on the condition of the Avenue W shooting victim, but the victim at the GasWorld location is said to have life threatening injuries. All three victims have been transported to UAB Hospital. More information on these stories as they develop.

Birmingham Police are on the scene investigating an apparent drive by shooting this morning. according to police scanner traffic around 11:03 a.m., a Birmingham patrol officer was flagged down by at least two people at the intersection of Avenue S and Ensley Avenue, and led him to man who was in the back seat of a car suffering from a gunshot wound in the chest. The witnesses told police it happened near in th 2800 block of Avenue K , near Ensley High School and Ensley Park. A city worker told police he heard shots ring out closer to Avenue J. Again, Again, accoring to police scanner traffic, the witnesses told police that someone driving a black Toyota Camry drove up, started shooting and sped off. no description of the shooter nor victim.

In the discussion between police dispatch the patrol officer injury to the male victim is "definitely life threatening."

Meanwhile, it's unclear whether they're related, but more shootings occurred in ensley within 30 minutes after the first shooting was reported. Police were called to 225 Dugan Avenue at GasWorld, and the third shooting reported a house located on Avenue W at 6th Street.

No word on the condition of the Avenue W shooting victim, but the victim at the GasWorld location is said to have life threatening injuries. All three victims have been transported to UAB Hospital. More information on these stories as they develop.

U.S. Marshals have arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of Brighton man. Jefferson County Sheriff's spokesman, Sgt. Randy Christian, says 27-year old Eric Law has been charged with capital murder and is being held without bond in the county jail.

Law is accused in the September 7^th fatal shooting of 21-year old LaDarious Gaitor. Police say Gaitor was shot several times while he was sitting in his car. Authorities believe Gaitor's murder was retaliation for a murder that happened in Roosevelt City on August 4^th. It was that same night that Gaitor's 48-year old mother Della Banks, was killed in her home while she was asleep, as her home was sprayed with bullets. Police believe Gaitor was the intended victim on the night of his mother's death.