Langford takes over

| November 12, 2007 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2007/11/Larry_Langford.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1920;s:6:"height";i:1440;s:4:"file";s:26:"2007/11/Larry_Langford.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:13:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Larry_Langford-336x252.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:252;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Larry_Langford-771x578.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:578;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Larry_Langford-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Larry_Langford-768x576.jpg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:576;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"Larry_Langford-1536x1152.jpg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1152;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:24:"Larry_Langford-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Larry_Langford-800x450.jpg";s:5:"width";i:800;s:6:"height";i:450;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Larry_Langford-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Larry_Langford-415x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:415;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Larry_Langford-353x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:353;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Larry_Langford-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Larry_Langford-600x600.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"Larry_Langford-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:2382048;s:14:"optimized_size";i:470251;s:7:"percent";d:80.260000000000005;}s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:54:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/11/Larry_Langford.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:2123134;s:14:"optimized_size";i:280307;s:7:"percent";d:86.799999999999997;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/11/Larry_Langford-771x578.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:105259;s:14:"optimized_size";i:76218;s:7:"percent";d:27.59;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/11/Larry_Langford-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3738;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3714;s:7:"percent";d:0.64000000000000001;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/11/Larry_Langford-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:53049;s:14:"optimized_size";i:38805;s:7:"percent";d:26.850000000000001;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/11/Larry_Langford-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:28384;s:14:"optimized_size";i:20837;s:7:"percent";d:26.59;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/11/Larry_Langford-415x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:38252;s:14:"optimized_size";i:28084;s:7:"percent";d:26.579999999999998;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:62:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2007/11/Larry_Langford-353x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:30232;s:14:"optimized_size";i:22286;s:7:"percent";d:26.280000000000001;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1621251852 
1194825600
Mayor Larry Langford took the oath of office Tuesday, November 13, followed by several hours of an inaugural celebration downtown. The swearing-in capped months of campaigning and years of what he calls stagnation and getting few things done in the city. Langford’s never been at a loss for words and he’s come into his new job with high hopes and lots of ideas. They are plans that will cost money in a city that doesn’t have an endless supply of it. He is likely to encounter people who will stand in his way, rightly or wrongly. One thing’s for sure: he’s well-prepared. Langford’s career spans decades in metro Birmingham, from marketing beer, to the mayor’s office in Fairfield, to representing one district of the county — even presiding over the Jefferson County Commission. Now, he’s going back to the place where he cut his teeth as a reporter, to be asked questions just like he did way back when. WBHM’s Steve Chiotakis caught up with him in Southside.

On Monday, November 26, a challenge by second place mayoral candidate Patrick Cooper alleging Langford was not a legal resident of Birmingham (and therefore not qualified to run for mayor) was dismissed by Judge Allwin Horn. The case went to court the day after Langford was inaugurated with evidence on both sides of the argument. Judge Horn ruled that Langford showed reasonable evidence that he indeed was a resident of the city and did qualify to run and hold office. No word from Cooper as yet whether he plans to appeal the ruling.

~Steve Chiotakis, November 12-26, 2007

 
 

54% of support comes from members

 

Taylor Hunnicutt is championing her home state with debut album ‘Alabama Sound’

Alabama offers a diverse symphony of swampy rock, swaggering blues, murky country, and bone-rattling soul. It’s a sound singer-songwriter Taylor Hunnicutt recently reimagined on her debut album, Alabama Sound, which is out now.

UAB building among Alabama’s first to feature ‘bird safe’ glass

Advocates hope the new glass will prevent window collisions, a leading causes of bird mortality.

Researchers look into community health impact of wood pellet production in rural Mississippi

Brown University and Tougaloo College students are testing for potential air and noise pollution near the Drax wood pellet plant in Gloster, Mississippi.

Alabama coal company sued for a home explosion is delinquent on dozens of penalties

Crimson Oak Grove Resources has been cited for 204 safety violations since the March 8 blast, many involving “significant and substantial” safety violations.

The United Auto Workers faces a key test in the South with upcoming vote at Alabama Mercedes plant

The United Auto Workers is aiming for a key victory at Mercedes-Benz in Alabama. More than 5,000 workers at the facility in Vance and nearby battery plant will vote this week on whether to join the UAW.

Gambling, ethics bills fall short as legislative session ends

Alabama lawmakers closed the books on this year’s regular legislative session Thursday. While Republican leaders passed many of their priority bills, perhaps the most talked about issue – gambling – died.

More Government Coverage