» Gambling Demands Energy Reform: Veteran WOR/New York morning host John Gambling has launched The John Gambling Energy Resource Center on the Buckley Broadcasting News/Talker's WEBSITE. The new feature allows tri-state area residents to log on and review how their elected officials have voted on energy issues in the past eight years and voice their opinions to those politicians. "No President, no Congress, no party, no agency, has had the political will to put the United States on a path to a sustainable energy policy," says Gambling.  "There have been lots of words, much posturing, and dozens of bills passed, but nothing near what is needed. After forty years of no coherent or coordinated energy policy from Washington, it is time to hold our local representatives responsible for easing the energy crisis in this country."

» Another Host Charged With Diary Tampering: The San Diego Union Tribune reports that the recent firing of KLSD/San Diego Sports/Talk host Dave Palet came just hours after Clear Channel Radio issued a memo admitting that three Arbitron diaries in the recent Arbitrends came from the home of a "local media member." While station management did not release the name of the person involved, the newspaper reports that the "household in question has been directly linked to the household of an on-air personality at KLSD." Palet's agent, David Brody told the U-T that his client "denies all claims made by Clear Channel and will pursue legal action for defamation of professional reputation." Meanwhile, Arbitron says it will issue a revised Arbitrend report this Friday (9/26) and noted, "Audience estimates for KLSD may be substantially affected in particular demos and dayparts." More HERE.

» Murder Confession A Hoax: It was two years ago when a woman, Megan Suzanne Vice, phoned into Tom Leykis' nationally syndicated Westwood One radio show to confess that she'd shot and killed her ex-boyfriend in Phoenix back in 2001 and gotten away with the crime by lying to police and leading them to believe the death was a suicide. Leykis turned over a recording of Vice's phone call to authorities in Phoenix who investigated and have concluded that there is "no credible physical or circumstantial evidence to suggest the death was anything other than a suicide." However, Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas told Arizona's East Valley Tribune that while no evidence a murder had been committed was found, "We do have evidence a crime was committed by virtue of the fact that our hard-working police were forced to spend valuable time and resources investigating what turned out to be a bogus claim." Vice will be charged with filing a false police report.

» Talk Media News Notes: Ch-ch-ch-changes at KFWB/Los Angeles as PD Andy Ludlum exits the CBS Radio all-newser. Market vet David G. Hall, PD of All-News clustermate KNX, will now also handle programming chores at KFWB ... Charlie Cook is named Senior Director/Programming for Mount Wilson Broadcasters which owns Country KKGO/Los Angeles and SoCal News/Talk simulcast KGIL/Los Angeles and XSUR/Tijuana-San Diego ... CBS Evening News anchor Katie Couric goes one-on-one with Republican Vice Presidential candidate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin on tonight's broadcast. Check your local listings ... Kudos to Buffalo radio legend Art Wander who was one of a dozen inductees to the Buffalo Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame during ceremonies held in the upstate New York city last night.

» T-Mobile Unveils G-1 Phone: First came the iPhone, now comes the first commercially available mobile handset to run Google's open Android OS. T-Mobile announced today that the G-1 phone is available for pre-order in advance of its October 22 debut. The G-1 will cost $179 with a two-year contract and two plans; a $25 unlimited Web/Internet package with some messaging and a $25 unlimited data and messaging plan. The new Google mobile phone is the latest addition to a future increasingly focused on mobile media that offers access to the web no matter where you are. The G-1 works with several Internet-based email clients but it is (surprise!) "optimized" for use with Google's own G-mail service.

» So You Wanna Be A News Reporter, Eh? The Associated Press TV and Radio Association, representing California, Nevada, Hawaii, Arizona, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming (APTRA), will hold it's annual two-day "APTRA Academy", October 11-12, at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles. The Academy is defined as "an immersion program" that's designed to give aspiring news reporters a chance to spend two days with some of the best news mentors in the business from both TV and radio. Students learn step-by-step how to construct a single news story and also have the opportunity to be a reporter or anchor "in action" as part of the workshop. You can learn more about the program and get registration info HERE.