Black Belt praises, will attack Riley in same week: Leaders from Alabama’s Black Belt region gathered at Alabama State University Monday to honor Alabama Gov. Bob Riley for his work in the impov

Alabama Theatre advocate Cecil Whitmire dies: Birmingham lost one of its greatest advocates last week. Cecil Whitmire, whose work made the restoration and reopening of the beautiful Alabama Theatre possible, died Sunday at 74 after a brief illness in his hometown of Corryton, Tennessee. He was a constant presence at the Alabama, often greeting people on the sidewalk outside the box office, and will be remembered as gentle, affable man who was beloved by many of the people whose lives he touched.

ROLLIN’ FOR THE RIVER: We’re not talking about Creedence Clearwater Revival’s story of man who left a good job in the city in which he was working for the man every night and day (possibly as a dishwasher in Memphis or pumping propane in New...

In something of a break with custom, U.S. Rep. Artur Davis has said he will not endorse or campaign for his primary opponent, state Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks, who beat Davis in June to become the Democratic nominee for governor of Alabama.

Alabama executes Michael Land: The state of Alabama used its highest power last Thursday to put a man to death. Michael Land, 41, spent 17 years on death row after being convicted of the 1992 murder of Candace Brown. He is the 47th person executed in Alabama. Land shot Brown, a 30-year-old mother of a toddler, after kidnapping her from her house during a robbery.

AN AMPLE PREAMBLE: On one weekend every year for almost the past decade, dozens of artists have installed their visual art in the galleries and shops of Birmingham’s loft district for a free walkable, beautiful art festival of sorts. In past years, more than 10,000 folks have perused that gathering of art, music and vendors, which is called Artwalk.

VictoryLand shuts up shop: Milton McGregor’s VictoryLand “bingo” casino in Macon County closed Monday, ostensibly to avoid a raid by Gov. Bob Riley’s anti-gambling task force, the Birmingham News reported.

Madison, Your piece on Cap and Fade was not bad. I wish, however, you would write about how it would damage our economy by increasing energy costs. The EPA will be just as lethal to business. Does this make sense? Look at both sides. Not just your side.

WE SHOULD BAN THE WORD INDIE: Seriously. For me, the word carries the same lack of meaning as words/phrases like “responsible drinking,” or “healthy eating,” “livable wage,” or “Tea Party,” or perhaps “9/11” during Rudy Guiliani’s failed campaign for president.

Since late last year, the Grants Mill Road bridge over Lake Purdy has been closed because the city could not enforce vehicle weight restrictions on the bridge. This has created quite a problem for Birmingham, Jefferson County and Shelby County residents who used the bridge—they currently have to take a six-mile detour to get to their destinations.