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Today’s daily horoscopes: May 23, 2025

There are those who have their social performance down pat — the look, the snappy one-liners, the filtered image and the quicksilver cool. Others have an effect beyond what’s seen. They walk into a room and people feel something — feel seen, warmed and held. The fire sign trine favors the warm second type today. Be the hearth, not the mirror.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Try not to linger on the flubs. You’re still in rehearsal. Every mistake, every off note, is shaping the performance — except there is no final performance. This act keeps touring, finding new audiences. It’s a living work, with endless revivals.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ll spot a case of emotional freeze-frame — someone stuck at a stage they were supposed to outgrow a few seasons ago. They have no idea. Try not to laugh. Or do — but follow it up with compassion. Growth is hard.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Every experience strikes a different note in your mind. Reading stimulates one kind of brilliance, watching another. Conversations, quiet moments, even errands shape your creativity in ways you don’t always notice. Stay open. It’s all feeding the art you’ll make.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Time will tell, or so they say. But which time? Six months from now, you might feel regret. A year from now, you could be elated, grateful it unfolded exactly as it did. Maybe even proud of how you handled the fallout.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll field an array of questions. Trust your gut about what kind of energy is behind the inquiry, and don’t feel obligated to engage just because someone’s asking. You set boundaries so delicately that people feel like they’re the ones doing it.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). People will want your input — not because they can’t decide without you, but because they’d rather not. Your presence makes things feel clearer, more intentional. What they’re really after is your attention, your vibe, your energy.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You don’t have to share every part of yourself. Create a space just for you — a small retreat, a corner, a mood. Private time allows you to reconnect with the parts of you that thrive in stillness.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Neutrality is often a peaceful stance, but what’s going on now is different. Your stand can make a difference to someone who needs it. Learn the situation. Defend the defenseless. Plan your next move, but don’t make it yet.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). To follow your idols and linger in their work, hoping to soak in their brilliance, may feel like fun and even like slacking, but it’s not. You’re fueling yourself with inspiration. By studying the greats, you’ll become one.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Criticism reflects on the critic. Those who point out another person’s flaws are implying that, by comparison, they have fewer — which is rarely true. And calling it out? A red flag-sized flaw.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You know this, but it bears repeating: Show, don’t tell. If you merely say the expected things, you’ll get the expected response, and then you’ll get forgotten. But if you entertain them, make them smile, wonder or feel, you’ll have their attention.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You read the hearts and minds of those close to you. You can sense even the quietest anger, fear, joy and elation. Employ this skill to gently realign a relationship that’s been slightly out of tune.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (May 23). Your intuition is the star of this solar year. Trust it, train it and let it lead you toward people and paths that reflect the treasures of your heart. More highlights: You’ll laugh in rooms you thought would be intimidating, get the funding and teamwork to create a one-of-a-kind experience for others, and receive an answer you’ve waited years to hear. Cancer and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 15, 6, 18, 32, and 11.

Holiday Mathis’ debut novel, “How To Fail Epically in Hollywood,” is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

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Critical Missing Alert issued for man who could be danger to self, others, Birmingham police say

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Economic benefit from Space Command won’t be immediate, Huntsville leaders say

Mayor Tommy Battle speaks at the State of the City earlier this year. (City of Huntsville photo)

It could take up to five years before Huntsville will fully benefit economically from U.S. Space Command should the headquarters be moved here, according to city officials.

Should the headquarters be moved to the Rocket City as members of Alabama’s congressional delegation expect, the city is prepared, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and City Urban and Economic Director Shane Davis told the City Council on Thursday night.

“If you remember when we were in the competition for it, it was set up as a six year project,” Battle said in response to question from District 4 City Councilman Bill Kling. “I think now we’re looking at a four-year project. It does have a ramp up period.”

Kling had asked Davis if the announcement could give the city an economic boost at a time when city departments have been asked to trim 1% of their budgets due to sales tax revenue coming in lower than projected so far this fiscal year.

“No one at city hall has a crystal ball,” Davis said. “That’s not a decision we get to make. Certainly, we put our best foot forward in the RFP (request for proposal) response about our community’s readiness for Space Command. We’ve been ready for five years.”

Should Huntsville be selected, Davis told Kling, “I don’t think you’ll see an immediate influx because that is a combative command.”

“So, you’re not going to move pieces of that, and there is preparation on Redstone Arsenal to actually relocate,” Davis said. “So, I think it would be three, four or five years when you’ll see that influx and impact on the economy.”

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, R-Monrovia, said earlier this month that a relocation of Space Command could mean 1,700 direct jobs and an additional 3,000 spinoff jobs in north Alabama.

Kling said members of the congressional delegation told Huntsville city leaders during the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber’s trip to Washington D.C. recently that they expected an announcement by the end of this month. Strong and U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt said they expected an announcement soon after the Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee as Air Force secretary.

Should the announcement come, Davis said, “that type of news does create consumer confidence of what the future looks like in our community.”

“I would imagine if we did have such an announcement, the bond rating agencies would look fondly at the city of Huntsville for the future,” Kling added.

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Alabama tornado count increases from Tuesday storms

The National Weather Service is adding to its number of confirmed tornadoes from Tuesday’s round of severe weather.

The National Weather Service in Huntsville continued conducting storm surveys on Thursday and have added one tornado to the ongoing count, which stands at seven.

That number will likely climb, possibly tonight, with additional storm surveys ongoing, forecasters said.

The newest confirmed tornado was an EF-1 with top winds estimated at 100 mph in Marshall County near Allens Crossroads, according to the weather service.

The weather service in Huntsville also did storm surveys on Wednesday and confirmed three other tornadoes — and two of them were EF-2s.

The weather service in Birmingham also confirmed three EF-1 tornadoes in central Alabama from storms Tuesday and early Wednesday.

In addition, straight-line winds of up to 105 mph were noted in far western Limestone, southeastern Lauderdale, northern Lawrence and northern Colbert counties, according to the weather service in Huntsville.

Here are the tornadoes confirmed so far:

  1. Killingsworth Cove Tornado (Madison County): EF-2, maximum winds 134 mph. Path length 1.41 miles; path width 175 yards. No injuries.
  2. Madison Tornado (Limestone and Madison counties): EF-2, top winds 125 mph. Path length 13.15 miles; path width 380 yards. No injuries.
  3. South Athens Tornado (Limestone County): EF-1, top winds 105 mph. Path length 2.76 miles; path width 160 yards. No injuries.
  4. Saks Tornado (Calhoun County): EF-1, top winds 95 mph. Path length 3.51 miles; path width 0 yards. No injuries.
  5. County Road 67 Tornado (Cleburne County): EF-1, top winds 95 mph. Path length 1.97 miles; path width 550 yards. No injuries.
  6. County Road 185 Tornado (Bullock County): EF-1, top winds 105 mph. Path length 4.98 miles; path width 900 yards. No injuries.
  7. Allens Crossroads Tornado (Marshall County): EF-1, top winds 100 mph. Path length 3.39 miles; path width 150 yards. No injuries.
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Small salmonella outbreak confirmed in Alabama: FDA warns of link to cucumbers

Following a multi-state salmonella outbreak, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers to avoid cucumbers grown and distributed by a Florida based business over the last three weeks.

The FDA is investigating the outbreak that is linked to cucumbers grown by Bedner Growers, Inc. located in Boynton Beach, Florida. The produce was also distributed by Fresh Start Produce Sales, Inc., of Delray, Florida.

The potentially contaminated cucumbers were sold from April 29 until May 19 when Bedner Growers issued a recall of the produce.

Food recalls are also being conducted by several companies that used the recalled cucumbers including Kroger, PennRose Farms, LLC, Ukrop’s Homestyle Foods, LLC and Harris Teeter.

There have been over 26 confirmed illnesses and nine hospitalizations across 15 states, according to the federal agency.

One or two people have gotten sick in Alabama based on a case count map from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Illness due to salmonella usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating food that is contaminated.

Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps and can last up to a week.

Children younger than five, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe infections, the FDA said.

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Class 5A school hires veteran high school, college coach to lead football program

Joel Williams will enter his 45th year of coaching football this fall, and he’ll do it at what he believes will be his final stop.

Williams was approved Thursday night as the new head football coach at Class 5A Elberta High in Baldwin County.

“This is my last job,” Williams told AL.com. “I’m not going anywhere else and anyone who knows me knows I am nowhere close to retiring. I’m still a high energy guy, and I can’t wait to get in there and get started. I think we can build something special here.”

Williams replaces Nate McDaniel, who stepped down after five years as the Warriors head coach in April. He’s just the third football coach in the short history of the school following Greg Seibert and McDaniel.

“I’m just really excited,” Williams said. “I think there is a world of potential there. The facilities are unbelievable. I don’t know if there are better facilities anywhere in Baldwin County – the fieldhouse, the lockerroom, the stadium. They just opened the indoor area and weight room. We have a brand new principal in Dr. (Stan) Shotts. He is a young, energetic leader that I’m excited to work for.”

Williams, a native of Marietta, Ga., spent last fall as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Mississippi College. That school decided to discontinue the program after the 2024 season, and Williams was hired as offensive coordinator at Spanish Fort earlier this year.

However, McDaniel leaving Elberta opened another door for him.

“After Mississippi College folded its program, I knew I was coming back to Baldwin County,” he said. “I knew I was going to live in my condo at the beach in Gulf Shores. I also knew I would love to be a head coach in this county, and ultimately the good Lord opened this door for me.”

Few coaches have more experience on different levels of the sport than Williams. He coached for the Birmingham Fire of the World League of American football and has been an assistant at multiple colleges, including Delta State, the University of Mississippi, Samford, Birmingham Southern and, of course, Mississippi College.

He’s been a high school head coach in Alabama at T.R. Miller, UMS-Wright, Gadsden and Straughn and served as an assistant at Foley, Fairhope, Mountain Brook. He’s also coached at several high schools schools in Georgia and Florida.

“He obviously has experience at every level – high school, college, pro,” Shotts said. “He’s had success at every level. He’s been successful here in the county and knows people in the county and how to build a program. We are excited to get him in and see what he can do when he gets his hands on Elberta.”

The Warriors played a limited schedule in 2018 and 2019 under Seibert before joining the AHSAA full-time in 2020. The school has yet to have a winning season or make the playoffs, but Williams believes he might have three secrets to future success.

“No. 1 positive energy,” he said. “We are just not going to accept negativity in any form or fashion in our program. We are going to celebrate small triumphs and small victories. That’s my personality. I’m always charged up. No. 2, we are going to have fun. This is a tough game, and I think a lot of times we get carried away with the seriousness. That is not what we are going to do. This is America’s greatest game. Let’s have fun playing.

“No. 3 is the strength of the Warrior is the man next to me. In today’s game, especially in college and the pros, there is so much individualism and greediness. We are still on the purest level. This is high school football, and the most important person should not be yourself, but the guy next to you.”

Elberta competes in Class 5A, Region 1 with Vigor, Williamson, Citronelle, UMS-Wright, B.C. Rain, LeFlore and Faith Academy. Williams said one of the biggest keys for his team would be to do things differently than those other teams.

“One of the biggest things we have to do is do a tremendous job of getting outside the box schematically on what we do offensively, defensively and on special teams,” he said. “We are not going to do things like everyone else does. Our players will be a little different athletically. I’ve never been a guy married to the system. I always fit what we do to the people we have.

“We are going to be a football team that is really, really hard to prepare for because of the things we are doing. We want people to see us and think, ‘Oh my Lord, we have to get ready for this stuff in a week?’ A lot of time, that makes up for speed, size whatever case is.”

Williams will hit the ground running Friday.

He will meet individually with coaches in the morning followed by a team meeting at noon and a meet-and-greet from 1-3.

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Alabama teen robbery suspect shot dead by SBI agent during Montgomery traffic stop

A 19-year-old robbery suspect was fatally shot earlier today by a State Bureau of Investigation agent.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency identified the slain man as Raymond Tellis Jr. of Montgomery.

The incident began at 9:20 a.m. Thursday when police responded to an armed robbery on Herron Street.

ALEA Lt. Jeremy Burkett said initial reports indicated a person was shot and the suspect fled the scene in the victim’s vehicle.

The unidentified victim was taken to a Montgomery area hospital for treatment.

Montgomery police issued a law enforcement bulletin for the stolen vehicle, Burkett said.

Shortly after receiving the bulletin, an SBI agent who was assisting the Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit located the stolen vehicle on Upper Wetumpka Road in Montgomery and initiated a traffic stop.

Tellis was identified as the driver.

The agent tried to arrest Tellis, Burkett said, but Tellis resisted and pulled a gun.

The agent then fired, killing Tellis.

No officers were injured.

SBI agents not assigned to the Montgomery area were called in to investigate the officer-involved shooting, Burkett said.

Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be turned over to the Alabama Attorney General’s Office.

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Hamburg Sea Devils sign former Alabama prep star, Crimson Tide QB

The Hamburg Sea Devils have signed quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, the European League of Football team announced on Thursday.

The Sea Devils signed the former Thompson High School and Alabama QB after losing quarterback Micah Leon in their season-opening 13-12 defeat by the Madrid Bravos on Saturday. German quarterback Moritz Maack finished the game for Hamburg, but the team’s website said Tagovailoa would be the “new starting quarterback” with Leon going to injured reserve.

Tagovailoa was available to sign after being released by the Canadian Football League’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats on May 11.

The Sea Devils visit the Prague Lions for their next game on Saturday.

At Thompson High School in Alabaster, Tagovailoa was the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 7A Back of the Year for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Tagovailoa became the first player in Alabama high school history with at least four 400-yard passing games, with a high of 507 yards in a 35-21 victory over Oak Mountain in a 7A Region 3 game on Sept. 14, 2018.

As a senior, Tagovailoa passed for 3,728 yards and 35 touchdowns as the Warriors reached the AHSAA Class 7A Championship Game.

At Alabama, Tagovailoa was behind his brother, Tua Tagovailoa, and Mac Jones on the Crimson Tide’s depth chart in 2019. He completed 9-of-12 passes for 100 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions at Alabama.

After transferring to Maryland, Tagovailoa became the Big Ten’s career leader for passing yards. Tagovailoa completed 955-of-1,424 passes for 11,256 yards with 76 touchdowns and 37 interceptions in four seasons with the Terrapins.

In 2024, Tagovailoa played in eight games for the Tiger-Cats. He ran three times for 10 yards and one touchdown and completed his only pass for a 6-yard gain.

The Europe League of Football has 16 teams in Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Spain and Switzerland. Some of the teams use the nicknames and logos of teams that were in NFL Europe.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

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Capital murder charge dropped against woman who shot her mother’s ex-boyfriend

A murder charge against a 23-year-old woman in a Birmingham shooting was dismissed Thursday, the second time in 24 hours that a Jefferson County judge said there was not enough evidence to support criminal charges at this time.

Tamiya Krishaun Thomas was charged with capital murder in the January slaying of 40-year-old James Leon Craig. The charge was capital because the fatal shots were fired from outside into Craig’s home.

Prosecutors said the deadly shooting happened during a domestic dispute between Craig and Thomas’s mother, Meenya Thomas.

The mother and daughter were at Craig’s family home uninvited – the front door had been kicked in – while Craig had another woman there and Tamiyah Thomas ultimately fired shots into the house, striking Craig in the head.

Thomas’s defense attorney, however, argued that Craig fired first, wounding Meenya Thomas, and said that Tamiyah Thomas was defending her mother when she fired the shots that killed Craig.

After lengthy testimony Thursday morning, Jefferson County Judge William Bell dismissed Tamiya Thomas’s murder warrant.

“Based on the testimony I’ve heard today, I’m not going to find probable cause, especially not for capital murder,” Bell said.

“This to me is clearly not capital murder based on what (the detective) testified. The charge is dismissed against you.”

<a href="https://” target=”_blank” rel title=”https://”>Bell on Wednesday dismissed a murder charge against 37-year-old Qwaron Wilson in the April 2 killing of 42-year-old Brandon Luvine Cunningham, saying testimony showed the fatal shooting was self-defense.

Wilson was released from the jail early Wednesday afternoon.

Thomas was released from the jail at 3:27 p.m. today.

Prosecutors can still present the cases to a grand jury at a later time for indictment consideration.

The shooting happened at 2:31 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 5, at a house n o17th Court South in south Titusville.

Craig was taken to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead later that day.

Birmingham Det. Maximillian Price was the lone witness in Thursday’s hearing.

Price testified that Craig and Meenya Thomas had a prior dating relationship. Meenya Thomas has not been charged with any crime.

On that morning, Craig was at his mother’s house having sex with his current girlfriend when Meenya Thomas started to knock on the door.

Craig and his girlfriend retreated to the bedroom, Price said, when Meenya Thomas break into the home to confront him.

After a brief argument, the detective said, Meenya Thomas left but later returned with her daughter, Tamiya Thomas, who had a gun.

At no point, Price said, were the women invited into his home but entered through the open door that had already been damage in the previous incident.

The argument resumed.

The detective said Tamiya Thomas was, according to witnesses, visibly irate and “acting like she wanted to fight Mr. Craig.” Others were holding her back.

Tamiya Thomas handed the gun to her mother, and the mother eventually handed the gun back to her.

Once Tamiya Thomas was outside the home, in the front yard, she fired shots into the house, striking Craig in the head.

Under questioning by defense attorney Jacqueline Morrette, Price said testified that Craig had gotten his own gun and shot Meenya Thomas in the leg as the two women were leaving Craig’s home.

That’s when Tamiya fired the fatal shots, Price acknowledged.

Morrette, during the hearing, pointed out that there was a history of domestic violence between Craig and the Thomas women.

In 2021, court records show, Craig was charged with shooting at Tamiya Thomas, and also with fatally shooting two of Meenya Thomas’s dogs.

Both cases were dismissed because of lack of participation from the victims and witnesses, records state.

Price testified that Meenya Thomas had previously stabbed Craig.

Testimony showed that Tamiya Craig was initially detained on a 48-hold. She wasn’t charged and arrested until nearly two months later.

Morrette asked the detective if the decision to charge Tamiya Thomas was a result of an online campaign seeking justice by Craig’s family. Price said it was not.

Morrette also said there was phone evidence that Craig invited Meenya Thomas over to his home that night.

The detective said he was not aware of that and said that wouldn’t make sense since Craig’s girlfriend was there.

In closing statements, Morrette asked Bell to drop the case.

“I believe this case, although very tragic, the evidence does not put forth a charge of capital murder certainly,” she said.

“There’s not testimony whatsoever that my client threatened Mr. Craig, that she was doing anything other than protecting and defending her mother.”

“We believe this is a justifiable homicide,” Morrette said.

Deputy District Attorney Aaron Brown disagreed. The women showed up at the house uninvited, were told they weren’t welcome, and asked to leave.

“The victim is just minding his own business, living his life,” Brown said. “They inserted themselves into this situation, they inserted the gun into this situation.”

“They’re the ones who made a charge. They were the ones yelling. They were the ones brandishing the weapon,” the prosecutor said. “He didn’t ask for any of that.”

“You can’t claim you’re defending someone else,” he said, “when you’re breaking into the house.”

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‘Welcome to Wrexham’ season 4 episode 3: How to watch, where to stream free

A brand new episode of the hit sports docuseries Welcome to Wrexham premieres on FX Thursday, May 22 at 9/8c.

In case you missed the season 4 two-episode premiere last week, the Wrexham AFC entered the ultra-competitive EFL League One while owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney confronted the financial costs of remaining competitive.

Once in the EFL League One, Wrexham AFC began to spar with their League One rival Birmingham City and its owner Tom Brady.

This week, McElhenney and Reynolds experience anxiety and fear in this emotionally charged episode as they navigate the team’s ups and downs.

Where can I watch Welcome to Wrexham season 4?

Those interested in catching season four of the FX hit show Welcome to Wrexham can stream the series even without access to traditional cable through Fubo (free trial), DirecTV (free trial) or Sling (50% off first month).

What is Fubo and DirecTV?

Fubo and DirecTV are two of the top streaming services steadily replacing traditional cable services. Both offer free trials to new subscribers, a plethora of popular live TV channels, on-demand streaming options and helpful features such as unlimited DVR storage.

Fubo considers itself a sports-focused live streaming service, but with over 100 live TV channels available through its base package at just $84.99 after its free trial, it offers much more to its subscribers.

Popular TV channels available through Fubo include ABC, FOX, BET, MTV, CNBC, MSNBC, USA and much more.

DirecTV mirrors Fubo by offering many of the same live TV channels and useful features. The base package starts at just $86.99 a month after its 5-day free trial and includes popular channels such as HGTV, ESPN, Bravo, CMT, CNN, BET and much more.

Two other DirecTV packages are the Choice package (original price $114.99) and the Ultimate package (original price $129.99), both of which are part of an ongoing promotion that offers new subscribers $10 off the original price for the first three months of their subscription.

Those interested in comparing all DirecTV’s channel packages can check them out here.

What is Sling?

Sling is another streaming service to consider if you want to stream live TV channels like FX. Though no free trial is available to new subscribers, those who commit to a paid plan get half off the first month and one month free of AMC+.

Both the Sling Orange plan and the Sling Blue plan are normally $45.99 a month, but with the current promotion, Sling users will pay just $23 a month for the first month.

For those who wish to access channels from both the Sling Blue and Sling Orange plans can do so by signing up for the Orange + Blue plan, which combines the best of both plans for just $60.99 a month ($30.50 for the first month).

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