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Roy S. Johnson: Hush arrest reveals infuriating thread of terror among our own

This is an opinion column.

That thread. That infuriatingly annoying thread. That loose thread dangling from the sleeve of your favorite sweater.

That loose and dangerous thread.

You want to pull it, yet you don’t. You want to quickly yank it away, yet you don’t—afraid of where it might lead, how long it might be. Afraid it might unravel, leaving your sleeve frayed and unseemly. The sweater unwearable.

Damien Laron McDaniel III is that thread. That dangerous thread—though no longer loose.

He’s behind iron bars now, a 22-year-old from Fairfield yanked from our streets and charged with killing six people over just 72 hours: the September 19 killing of a 35-year-old mother police say was an innocent caught in a hail of fiery lead inside a bar on Ninth Street North; four people in the Sept. 21 mass shooting outside Hush in Five Points South (the crime that finally shook up from our numbness); and a 32-year-old man felled in yet another bullet hell-storm less than 24 hours later according to police documents, while being robbed of a backpack.

We know now what senseless (alleged) evil looks like. The senseless evil that plagued Birmingham for far too long. The senseless evil of gun violence gone amok. Of death. Of pain. Of terrorism. Among our own.

It left us frayed and frustrated—infuriated.

It has a new face now after long dwelling in the shadows as homicides in the city soared unfettered and seemingly unsolvable.

It has, most frighteningly, many faces. More faces likely than we yet know. Faces interwoven into the tapestry of an ecosystem where killing is treated less stringently than a cough. Where it is enacted without so much as a thought, often for cash. Where it is—let’s be real now—even enabled by some close to those pulling the switch-enhanced trigger.

Just pull the thread. Read the initial account of McDaniel’s arrest, deftly reported and crafted—intricately woven by my colleagues Carol Robinson and Managing Producer Jeremy Gray into a fine, cashmere, blood-drenched sweater.

A sweater with that infuriating thread. With McDaniel, a deadly (allegedly) connecting thread long, deep, and intricate strands of shooting and killings ripped from our most tragic headlines. Strands entangling too many neighborhoods, choking too many loved ones with grief, and ending too many lives.

Strands that make you want to pull out a whiteboard and revive your sentence-diagramming skills.

Strands that no doubt influenced the postponement of Fairfield City Schools’ homecoming and alumni joy last month, and caused Miles College, also in Fairfield, to move up its Oct. 5 homecoming kickoff and scratch its parade.

Strands reaching back almost a decade – to 11 homicides over eight years.

Just pull. There’s a 2015 shooting that, police say, sparked a retaliation killing the following year, of which Carlos De’Juan McCain was acquitted. McCain was among the four who died on the sidewalk outside Hush.

Keep pulling. Another victim outside Hush, Roderick Lynn Patterson, Jr. was charged with murder in a 2021 shooting at a Chevron station on First Ave. North. The charges were later dismissed at the urging of prosecutors, who cited, Robinson wrote, “death, unavailability, and non-cooperation of witnesses.”

Neither of the others who died outside Hush, tragically entangled, too—21-year-old mother Anitra Hollomon, and Taj Booker, 27, who witnesses said shielded Hollomon as bullets sprayed—has any record of criminal activity.

Pull the thread and it reveals that in April 2023 – 18 months ago – McDaniel pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted murder in a 2021 Fairfield shooting, was sentenced to 15 years in prison with two years to serve followed by three years of probation.

Pull the thread and it leads to three other strands, three others charged in the slaying of Jamarcus McIntyre the following day.

Pull and one of the three alleged in the killing, Larry Denzel Rollins, entangles (unfairly, his attorney says) the tragic shooting death of Birmingham firefighter Jordan Melton, gunned down last year at Birmingham Station 9. Melton was to testify as a witness in a trial in which Rollins was charged with killing Hoover father Eric Tyler Sledge, Jr. in 2021; Rollins was found not guilty.

So many lives lost. So many lives entangled. So much terror. All emanating from that singular thread, as far as we know now.

Someone’s still pulling.

I was raised by good people who encouraged me to be a good man and surround myself with good people. If I did, they said, good things would happen. I am a member of the National Association of Black Journalists’ Hall of Fame, an Edward R. Murrow Award winner, and a Pulitzer Prize finalist for commentary. My column appears on AL.com, and digital editions of The Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, and Mobile Press-Register. Tell me what you think at [email protected], and follow me at twitter.com/roysj, or on Instagram @roysj.

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Frost advisory affecting Central Alabama Friday

On Thursday at 7:42 p.m. a frost advisory was issued by the National Weather Service valid for Friday between 3 a.m. and 8 a.m. for Marengo, Dallas and Lowndes counties.

The weather service comments, “Temperatures as low as 36 degrees will result in frost formation.”

“Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive outdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered,” states the weather service. “Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.”

Frost advisory – this is what it means

Frost advisories are issued from May to October (but can be extended if necessary) when temperatures, winds, and sky cover are favorable for frost development. This is most likely to happen when the temperature is 36 degrees or less. In some cases, the frost is severe enough to end the growing season and is then referred to as a ‘killing frost’.

According to the weather service, if a frost advisory is issued for your area, cover up sensitive plants before the sun sets so that it can help retain heat near the plants, or move the plants indoors for the night, if possible.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

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More frost advisories for Alabama overnight

Another cold night is in the forecast, and frost advisories will be in effect for areas in north and north-central Alabama.

The National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures to fall as low as the mid-30s overnight, which could damage sensitive plants still out in the cold.

A frost advisory will be in effect from 3 a.m. until 8 a.m. Friday for all of north Alabama. The National Weather Service in Huntsville said temperatures could fall as low as 35 degrees overnight.

Another frost advisory will be in effect from 3 a.m. until 8 a.m. Friday for the northern part of central Alabama.

The central Alabama counties in blue will be under a frost advisory overnight.NWS

The National Weather Service in Birmingham said temperatures could go as low as 34 degrees in some areas in central Alabama overnight.

Temperatures are expected to warm up a little during the day on Friday, and overnight lows on Friday night into Saturday morning are not expected to be as cold, with 40s expected in most of the state:

Friday-Saturday lows

Low temperatures from Friday night into Saturday morning won’t be quite as cold.NWS

The warming trend is expected to continue through the weekend and into next week, according to the weather service.

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Alabama football injury report: 2 names added, 2 removed Thursday before Tennessee

The Thursday Alabama football availability report has two new names while two were removed from the report on Wednesday ahead of the game against Tennessee.

Receivers Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice, who were listed as probable Wednesday, are no longer listed on the report. That bodes well for their chances of playing. Both missed the South Carolina game with injuries.

“Feeling better and better about it each and every day,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said Wednesday on the SEC coaches teleconference about Prentice and Law.

Meanwhile, reserve running back Daniel Hill was added to the list and ruled out for the game. Starting safety Keon Sabb was also a new addition to the list, but he is listed as probable for the game.

As for edge rusher Yhonzae Pierre, who was out for the South Carolina game, he was upgraded to probable after he was listed as questionable on Wednesday.

The other two players listed are Domani Jackson (probable) and Cayden Jones (out). Jackson, a starting cornerback, was also listed as probable Wednesday.

No. 7 Alabama will travel to Knoxville to face No. 11 Tennessee on Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, ABC) at Neyland Stadium.

The return of Law and Prentice will bring back key receivers behind Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard. Law has been a starting receiver this season along with Williams and Bernard. Prentice has also been frequently in the rotation. Prentice is fifth on the team with eight receptions for 107 receiving yards and one touchdown. Law has caught two passes for 41 yards and one touchdown.

Meanwhile Pierre had been in the rotation at Wolf with the likes of Que Robinson, Qua Russaw, Keanu Koht and others.

Alabama football injury report: Thursday before Tennessee

  • RB Daniel Hill (out)
  • LB Cayden Jones (out)
  • DB Domani Jackson (probable)
  • DB Keon Sabb (probable)
  • LB Yhonzae Pierre (probable)

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

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New FanDuel promo code for Broncos vs. Saints offers $300 bonus and free NBA League Pass Trial

Get ready for a fantastic night of Thursday Night Football when the Denver Broncos (3-3) travel to the Big Easy for a non-conference Week 7 NFL matchup with the New Orleans Saints (2-4).

Making this game extra sweet? The new FanDuel promo code offers a bet $5 get $300 in bonus bets (if your bet wins), plus three months of NBA League Pass (win or lose).

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FanDuel promo code: How to get $300 bonus + 3 free months of NBA League Pass

FanDuel has sweetened the pot by adding three free months of NBA League Pass (win or lose) to its already solid bet $5 get $300 in bonus bets if your bet wins promo.

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Broncos vs. Saints odds to use your FanDuel promo code offer

The Saints are short favorites at FanDuel (-116) but both groups will start highly touted rookie quarterbacks.

Broncos’ rookie QB Bo Nix has started all six games, with mixed results. He’s thrown as many TD passes (5) as interceptions but tossed a pair of scoring strikes in the Broncos Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Meanwhile, with starting QB Derek Carr on the shelf with an oblique injury, rookie signal-caller Spencer Rattler will make his second consecutive start for the Saints. He threw for 243 passing yards and a TD with two interceptions alongside 27 additional rushing yards in the Saints Week 6 home loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Thursday’s clash of the rookie signal-callers will be a great way to fire up your newly acquired FanDuel betting account. Just be sure to pick a winner as a winning ticket is the only way to acquire the $300 in free FanDuel bonus bets and the NBA League Pass.

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Alabama school board member and pastor arrested on DUI charges in Georgia
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Alabama school board member and pastor arrested on DUI charges in Georgia

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Trussville Mayor Buddy Choat announces he won’t seek re-election to third term: ‘It’s time’

Trussville Mayor Buddy Choat said during his State of the City address Thursday he will not seek re-election to a third term.

Choat, who has served two terms as mayor and was a Trussville City councilor for nine years, said he never intended to serve more than two as the city’s highest-ranking elected official.

The decision was finalized after Choat returned from a vacation in Nova Scotia late last year, he said.

“[W]hen we got back I had a clear vision on what next year, this coming year, meant. One of the things that did become clear to me was it’s time for a change,” the mayor told the crowd at the Trussville Civic Center.

Choat had to take a moment to compose himself.

“I am not going to seek reelection next year. It was never my plan to stay here more than two terms, although I love what I do, I love the people I work with … great citizens, but it’s time,” he said.

“There’s leaders, there’s always leaders in a community, we’ve got leaders in this community that will step up and take over and just keep carrying the torch, and that’s what I hope they’ll do,” he said.

Choat said the decision, which had been private until Thursday, has “kind of been a burden on me” as people constantly asked him whether he would seek a third four-year term.

“Quite honestly, four more years – I just don’t feel like I’m ready to take that challenge,” he said.

The mayor noted he still has more than a full year left in his second term.

“We’ve got a lot of challenges before us, we’ve got a lot of great things in the works. I’m looking forward to that, but … Our work is not done, but I thank you,” Choat said.

The remark was interrupted by a standing ovation inside the civic center.

“But I thank you for the opportunity to do what I’ve done for what will be nine years – a total of 17 years; two terms on the council and nine years as your mayor – it’s been a great honor to me and a privilege and us, we say, ‘thank you,’” the mayor said.

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One Direction’s Liam Payne’s cause of death revealed in preliminary autopsy report

An autopsy revealed One Direction singer Liam Payne died from “polytrauma” and “an internal and external hemorrhage.”

Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighborhood of Argentina’s capital, resulting in “extremely serious injuries.” Medics confirmed his death on the spot, the statement said.

Forensic experts reported, per Fox News, finding 25 injuries “compatible with those caused by falling from a height,” according to the autopsy. They also noted that “craniocerebral lesions were adequate enough to cause death, while internal and external hemorrhages in the skull, thorax, abdomen and limbs, they contributed to the mechanism of death.”

Payne died Wednesday as a result of the fall he suffered from the balcony of the third floor room of the hotel in Buenos Aires.

“At this point, analysis of stomach contents, alcohol and blood toxins, vitreous humor, bile, nasal swab and urine was required to determine alcohols and toxins,” the report stated.

No defensive injuries were confirmed.

“It is presumed that Payne did not adopt a reflex stance to protect himself and that he may have rushed into a state of semi- or complete unconsciousness.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Country music star, wife reveal they have two more on way

Kane Brown and his wife Katelyn have two more duets on the way

The country music star told “Taste of Country Nights” as long as they can make it work, the duets are always on the radar. The happy couple saw “Thank God,” their first duet, become a No. 1 hit.

According to the report, Brown said he and his wife have “found two more songs that fit their needs” and the duets are coming “in the near future.” He also shared that one song is more country, while the other “is just blatantly pop.”

“I think it’s gonna be a massive song because Kate is an incredible singer, and she can … she really gets to showcase her voice in this,” he said during a CMT interview, which was posted to social media.

The pop song is called “Body Talk.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

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Virginia men’s basketball coach Tony Bennett retiring, effective immediately

Virginia men’s basketball coach Tony Bennett is retiring effective immediately, a stunning, abrupt departure on the eve of the start of the season.

The program said Thursday the 55-year-old Bennett will announce his retirement at a news conference on Friday at 11 a.m. EDT. No reasons were given for his decision, which comes months after signing a contract extension to keep him in the job through at least 2030.

Virginia opens the season on Nov. 6 at home against Campbell.

Bennett led the Cavaliers to the national title in 2019. In his 15 seasons as the coach in Charlottesville, he made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances.

He went 364-136 at Virginia, a tenure that included two ACC Tournament titles and six regular-season conference championships. He was voted national coach of the year three times.

Bennett left Washington State to take over at Virginia ahead of the 2009-10 season, charged with resurrecting a program that had reached just one NCAA Tournament in eight seasons. He got the Cavaliers back to March Madness by his third season as he installed a defensive-oriented system that included slow-tempo offense that led to plenty of low scores and had Virginia fans roaring in approval at forced shot-clock violations.

The peak came in a run of six straight tournament bids from 2014-19, with four of those coming as a No. 1 seed. Yet that time also included an incredible one-year span of a crushing on-court humiliation, followed by the highest of highs.

In 2018, the Cavaliers were the top overall seed in the tournament, then they became the first-ever No. 1 seed to lose to a 16 seed, shocked by UMBC. Awkwardly, he was named The Associated Press national men’s coach of the year weeks later, an honor secured primarily on regular-season success.

But Bennett handled it with a deft, steady and reassuring touch, telling his players they had a chance to write their own ending to that terrible moment and that everyone — family, friends and critics — was waiting to see how they would respond. That next year, the Cavaliers went on to hold off Texas Tech in overtime to win the program’s lone NCAA championship in an all-time redemptive moment in tournament history coming amid multiple white-knuckle moments.

Bennett savored that finish in Minneapolis, emphatically slapping the sticker bearing Virginia’s name on the champion line of the bracket during the trophy presentation. After players had cut down the nets and danced amid confetti, they all gathered on stage to gaze at videoboards high above them as the “One Shining Moment” highlight montage that is a tournament-capping tradition began to play.

Fittingly, the humble Bennett took in the scene from the background, leaning against a railing at the stage’s edge while holding one of the nets.

That proved to be the apex of Bennett’s time at Virginia. He got the Cavaliers back to the NCAAs in three of his final four seasons, but the Cavaliers never won another tournament game. Along the way, questions grew as to whether his methodical playing philosophy could work as well in a time of veteran players moving freely between schools through the transfer portal.

In March, the Cavaliers managed only 42 points in a 25-point loss to Colorado State in the First Four. But Bennett was back at the ACC’s preseason media days last week in Charlotte, not far from the site of the UMBC upset, talking about plans for the upcoming season.

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