“Rumors and Rumblings” is a new weekly feature that runs each Wednesday (a day late this week). It includes short nuggets of information that we glean from conversations throughout the week. Enjoy.

1. Where is Chief Justice Chuck Malone going to land? Some are saying they expect him to end up in Tommy Bryan’s seat on the Court of Civil Appeals. Another possibility could involve a game of judicial musical chairs with Tuscaloosa judge Scott Donaldson landing in Tommy Bryan’s seat and Malone heading back home to Tuscaloosa to replace Donaldson. The most interesting (although unlikely) scenario we’ve heard is that he could end up as head of the two-year college system.

2. Speaker Hubbard’s new book, “Storming the State House” is gearing up for an early June release. A big media push is in the works and proceeds from the book will be going to John Croyl’s Big Oak Ranch. Speculation revolves around who will be happy/mad/sad/surprised with how their role in campaign 2010 is portrayed in the book.

3. A Montgomery-based lobbying firm has found themselves in the crosshairs of various business associations for funneling large amounts of trial lawyer money to Charlie Graddick’s Chief Justice campaign. Working that closely with the trial lawyers has sparked concern (and outrage in some cases) with the firm’s decision which places them on the opposite side of their business clients. This story is developing.