Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, a loyal Kamala Harris supporter who many suggested might have been up for an appointment in her administration if she had won the presidential race, waited until after Harris’ concession speech Wednesday to speak out on her defeat.
“Last night was last night,” Woodfin said on X Wednesday afternoon. “If you’re like me, you’re feeling the collective shock of the outcome.”
“But let’s not talk about last night,” Woodfin said. “Let’s talk about today. We are our ancestors’ wildest dreams – the descendants of activists and changemakers. Defiance is in our DNA and we refuse to be victims of circumstance. When laws were unjust, we marched. When institutions were set up against us, we tore them down. When our opps literally spit on our faces, we stood tall, ten toes down, and watched them fold.”
Woodfin referenced Birmingham’s history as a cradle of the civil rights movement as a source of continuing strength.
“We have shown the world time and time again how to rewrite our destiny,” Woodfin said. “Those election results were a reminder that our families, our education, our rights and freedoms must not be taken for granted. And we won’t. Last night was not the end. Today is the beginning. And tomorrow is when real change comes.”
Woodfin preached continued optimism.
“Hope and optimism is still the order of the day,” Woodfin said. “Let’s keep working to make the future better and brighter for our next generation.”
A September shooting that left one person dead and three others wounded, including the suspect, was not a home invasion but an apparent dispute between at least two people who lived together in a vacant Birmingham apartment, police testified on Wednesday.
He is also charged with two counts of attempted murder in the wounding of Tameka Williams and Sander’s uncle, Freddie Wilson, who authorities said remains on life support more than two months after the gunfire.
Sanders appeared before Jefferson County District Judge William Bell for a preliminary hearing. When it was over, Bell deemed there was enough evidence to send the cases to a Jefferson County grand jury for indictment consideration.
The case is being tried by Deputy District Attorney Charissa Henrich. Sanders is represented by Sammie Shaw of the Jefferson County Public’s Defender’s Office.
Police were en route when they received updated information that someone had been shot. Authorities initially described the incident as a possible home invasion.
Officers arrived to find Sanders shot outside the apartment building. Seriously injured, he was taken UAB Hospital. After being released, he was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on Sept. 10 where he remains held.
Officers learned there was another victim inside the apartment. Lenard was found unresponsive in a bathroom and pronounced dead on the scene at 11:23 p.m.
Williams and Wilson were also found wounded and taken to UAB.
Birmingham homicide Det. Mark Green was the lone witness at Wednesday’s hearing.
He said Sanders, his uncle, and Lenard were all living in the second-floor apartment, but said the apartment was not leased to anyone and was supposed to be vacant.
When police arrived on the scene, a woman who lives in the apartment below told them a man brandishing a rifle – later identified as Sanders – walked up to the apartment and she heard someone say, “You owe me money,’’ followed by shots fired.
Green said investigators recover 11 rifle casings and five 9 mm casings, which indicated that there was an exchange of gunfire.
Sanders told authorities he had been at the apartment earlier and his uncle – Wilson – had threatened to kill him.
He said on his way to return to the apartment, he picked up a rifle that he and his uncle had bought together and that he was delivering the rifle to Wilson.
Green said Sanders reported that his uncle began firing as soon as he entered the apartment, and that he returned fire.
Williams told police she had only arrived at the apartment about 20 minutes before the shooting and that Sanders came in “on 10,″ which he said meant irritated.
Williams, authorities said, did not want to give any additional information, including who started the gunfight.
Another woman in the apartment, the detective said, did not cooperate with investigators.
One person was killed and three others wounded when someone kicked open an apartment door where they were playing cards.(Carol Robinson)
Lenard, a friend of Williams, had also been staying in the apartment with Williams and Sanders.
Green testified that after the shooting, Sanders asked officers if he could get his cell phone, which was charging inside the apartment, and also stated, “I’m not a thief.”
Green testified that “a guy with dreads” took both guns and fled the scene after the shooting.
The detective said evidence indicated that it was Lenard who fired back at Sanders.
Shaw argued that there was not sufficient evidence against Sanders to continue with the cases against his client.
“We don’t have any evidence in this case that Mr. Sanders shot either one of the victims,’’ Shaw said. “There is no testimony that Mr. Sanders shot at anyone.”
“We don’t have any scientific evidence that any of the projectiles that hit anyone came from a weapon that has been assigned to Mr. Sanders,’’ Shaw said.
“No one saw what happened in this situation,’’ he said.
“The logical conclusion would be someone thought Mr. Sanders stole something from them and when he reentered that apartment, the altercation ensued, and someone shot at Mr. Sanders,’’ Shaw said. “And that he then defended himself.”
Henrich said the testimony showed that Sanders was irate, pulled out a gun and started firing. She said the issue of self-defense should be considered during trial, not at this stage in the judicial process.
Shaw then asked that Sanders be granted bond on the murder charge. There are already bonds set on the attempted murder charges.
He said Sanders has a history of employment, and said if released, he would live with his parents under any conditions deemed appropriate by the judge.
“He doesn’t have the means to flee even if he wanted to,’’ Shaw said.
Henrich argued against bond for Sanders. A different judge at an Aniah’s Law hearing for Sanders ordered Sanders remain held without bond and the prosecutor asked that it remain that way.
“I don’t think having a large bank account or not necessarily grants you the ability to flee the jurisdiction,’’ Henrich said. “The question is whether or not he would come back to court and whether or not he presents a danger to the community.”
Not that we needed more proof that Alabama’s Red Clay Strays are living the rock ‘n’ roll dream, but the past few days have certainly provided it in the form of multiple media showcases.
It all helps expand the breakout band’s national audience, and there’s more to come, with a late night TV appearance coming up soon.
Let’s catch up:
As previously reported, the band was featured Oct. 26 on “CBS Saturday Morning.” The band’s “Saturday Sessions” performances of “Disaster,”“I’m Still Fine” and “Wanna Be Loved” can be seen on YouTube. Here’s the last:
Side note: The band followed another act with Alabama ties that the “Saturday Sessions” featured in October. In that session, Waxahatchee performed “Crowbar” and other songs.
Then on Tuesday, the Strays were featured guests on the “Two Cool Moms” podcast hosted by comedians Joe Gatto and Steve Byrne.
We have to insert a content warning here. Early in the episode, Byrne drops a raunchy, not-for-polite-company take on the “sister city” kinship between Mobile and New Orleans. You’ve been warned.
Gatto (who’ll perform at the Mobile Saenger Theatre Nov. 14), tells the group, “I have heard your music because Steve plays it all the time.” The session opens with some small talk about topics such as touring, fashion and bourbon, giving a sense of the group’s easygoing chemistry. “We have a lot of fun together, we’re literally five best friends hanging out,” says bassist Andrew Bishop. “I love that. I’ve had a very similar experience like that,” answers Gatto, “working with your friends is so great. It really is, because you also go through it all together.”
Then the band gets to help the hosts answer caller questions such as “How do I tell a guy that I don’t want to be in a serious relationship?” and “If you could live life as a superhero or villain, who would it be and why?” The podcast can be seen on YouTube or heard at iHeart.com. And if you like the idea of the band appearing in a comedian’s podcast, but you’d also like it to focus on the music, go back and check out their appearance last summer on Bert Kreischer’s “Bertcast.”
Wednesday’s addition to the canon is a Premier Guitar “Rig Rundown.” In the video, shot at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, guitarists Drew Nix and Zachary Rishel talk to John Bohlinger about some of their favorite guitars and other gear. It turns out that some of their go-to touring axes are the product of Fairhope-based Chris Fayland and Fayland Guitars.
The band also recently announced that it’ll be featured Nov. 13 on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” so stay tuned for that. The timing could hardly be better, considering that a new album, “Live at the Ryman,” drops on Nov. 15.
The Strays also recently dropped a heavy hint that they’ll be featured on NPR’s “Tiny Desk.” NPR has yet to say when that might see the light of day.
The Red Clay Strays formed around 2016 in the Mobile and spent years honing their roots-rock sound the old-fashioned way, through constant touring. Since releasing their 2022 album “Moment of Truth” they’ve gained increasing notice from publications such as Rolling Stone and Billboard. 2024 has been a breakout year marked by a three-night stand at the Ryman, the release of the album “Made By These Moments” on RCA, a date opening for The Rolling Stones and a CMA nomination for vocal group of the year. Signature songs include “Good Godly Woman” and “Wondering Why.”
Bruce Pearl has never been shy about speaking his mind when it comes to politics.
The day after president-elect Donald Trump won the 2024 election over Kamala Harris was no different.
“President Trump won big because more Americans believed he will fix inflation, secure our border, support legal immigration, bring peace to the world through strength and put America first,” the Auburn coach posted on “X,” the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “I pray, and I believe he will work for all Americans, uniting us as one nation under God!”
Pearl has company in Auburn.
The Loveliest Village on The Plains celebrated the Trump victory with the tradition of rolling Toomer’s Corner. The historic victory avenged Trump’s loss in the 2020 election.
Toomer’s Corner is, obviously, named for Toomer’s Drugs, the business that occupies one of the four corners of the main downtown square. Other businesses may come and go, but the things that remain are Toomer’s Drugs and the entrance to the Auburn University campus, located diagonally from one another.
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.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Kamala Harris said Wednesday that “we must accept the results of this election” as she encouraged supporters to continue fighting for their vision of the country after her loss to Donald Trump.
The Democratic vice president said the battle would continue “in the voting booth, in the courts and in the public square.”
“Sometimes the fight takes a while,” she said. “That doesn’t mean we won’t win.”
Harris delivered her remarks at Howard University, her alma mater and one of the country’s most prominent historically Black schools, in the same spot where she hoped to give a victory speech.
“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign,” Harris said.
Her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, was in the audience. So were Reps. Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker, and Barbara Lee, both from Harris’ home state of California.
Before her speech, Harris called Trump to concede the election and congratulate him on his victory. She said, “We will engage in a peaceful transfer of power.”
Harris, once viewed as a potential savior for the Democratic Party after Joe Biden ‘s reelection campaign stalled, is reckoning with a profound rejection by American voters in this year’s presidential election.
She trailed in every battleground state to Trump, a man she described as an existential danger to the country’s foundational institutions. And Trump appeared on track to win the popular vote for the first time in his three campaigns for the White House — even after two impeachments, felony convictions and his attempt to overturn his previous election loss.
Biden plans to address the election results on Thursday. The White House said he spoke with Harris and Trump on Wednesday, and he invited the president-elect to meet with him soon.
David Plouffe, a top Harris adviser, said campaign staffers “left it all on the field for their country.”
“We dug out of a deep hole but not enough,” he said. “A devastating loss.”
In a bitter footnote for Harris, as the sitting vice president she is expected to oversee Congress’ ceremonial certification of the election.
It’s the same role Mike Pence played four years ago, when Trump directed his supporters to march on the U.S. Capitol. Although critics said the violent insurrection crystallized Trump’s threat to American democracy, that ultimately did not dissuade voters from electing him again.
Harris became the Democratic candidate after Biden, who was already struggling to convince voters that he could serve as president until he was 86 years old, stumbled badly in his June 27 debate with Trump.
He dropped out of the race on July 21 and endorsed his vice president, who swiftly unified the Democratic Party around her candidacy.
It was a remarkable twist of fate for Harris. Four years earlier, her own presidential campaign had flamed out and revealed the political limitations of someone once dubbed “the female Barack Obama.” Even though Biden chose Harris as his running mate, she languished in the role after taking office as the first woman, Black person or person of South Asian descent to serve as vice president.
Some Democrats started writing her off when they pondered the party’s future after Biden. But Harris found fresh purpose after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, and she became the White House’s leading advocate for abortion rights.
Harris also made a more concerted effort to network with local politicians, business leaders and cultural figures, forging connections that could serve her down the road. The moment arrived sooner than she anticipated, and she was catapulted into the presidential race with Biden’s departure only a month before the Democratic National Convention.
Harris instantly reset the terms of the contest with Trump. She was 18 years younger and a former courtroom prosecutor going up against the first major presidential candidate convicted of crimes. Her candidacy energized Democrats who feared they were destined for defeat with Biden at the top of the ticket.
But she also faced steep odds from the beginning. She inherited Biden’s political operation with just 107 days until the end of the election, and she faced a restless electorate that was eager for change.
Although Harris pitched “a new way forward,” she struggled to meaningfully differentiate herself from the unpopular sitting president. In addition, she had limited time to introduce herself to skeptical voters, who never cast a ballot for her in a presidential primary.
Democrats now face the prospect of picking up the pieces during a second Trump presidency, and it’s unclear what role Harris will play in her party’s future.
“The work of protecting America from the impacts of a Trump Presidency starts now,” wrote Jen O‘Malley Dillon, Harris’ campaign chair, in a letter to staff. ”I know the Vice President isn’t finished in this fight, and I know the very people on this email are also going to be leaders in this collective mission.”
— By CHRIS MEGERIAN and DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press
Roots & Revelry, a restaurant and bar in downtown Birmingham, says their recent Trump champagne election night promotion wasn’t intended as a bid for any one presidential candidate.
“To be clear, this restaurant supports all people,” wrote restaurant owner Robert Lynn in a Wednesday afternoon Instagram post.
It was announced early Wednesday morning that Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States.
“Special for tonight, $92 (45+47) for either Trump Chardonnay or Champagne!” the Nov. 5 post read. “We will have election coverage on the TV, so watch the results come in with us, or just pick up a bottle to enjoy at home!”
Later that day, bar manager Zachary Austin deleted the post and told AL.com that he was not made aware of the promotion before the it went up. He said he deleted the post because the owner’s opinion wasn’t representative of the entire staff.
In today’s post, Lynn said that the sale was simply a matter of available product.
“If Kamala had a wine, I would have promoted it also.” he wrote. “We love everyone and believe that everyone’s voice matters. My intention was not to divide.”
“I love B’ham and all of the people and personalities that help make this such a beautiful city!
Commentors responses varied but were largely negative as of 4:00 p.m. on Nov. 6.
“As a business it is your responsibility to keep personal opinions and viewpoints to yourself,” one woman wrote.
“I will not be dining with you again,” another wrote. “Not because of your seemed political leanings, but because you obviously have no regard for your staff that depends on tips from your customers. Best of luck though.”
But some say the move gained support for the restaurant.
“I will be dining here soon no matter your political beliefs to support your business and its staff!” someone commented.
“If you do have any more Trump bottles I would like to purchase too.”
The National Weather Service issued a weather alert at 3:42 p.m. on Wednesday for heavy rain until 4:15 p.m. for Marshall and Jackson counties.
“At 3:36 p.m., Doppler radar tracked heavy rain and isolated thunderstorms from near Grant northeast to just southwest of Scottsboro, moving northeast at 20 mph,” says the weather service. “Heavy rainfall rates of up to 1 inch per hour could cause ponding on area roadways. Allow extra time to get to your destination and extra driving distance in these areas.”
Locations impacted by the alert include Scottsboro, Grant, Section, Dutton, Langston, Union Grove, Larkinsville and Columbus City.
According to the weather service, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.”
Navigating rainy roads: Safety tips for wet weather
When heavy rain strikes, safety is paramount. Equip yourself with these guidelines from the weather service to navigate wet roads and avoid hazards:
Beware of rapid water flow:
During heavy rain, avoid playing near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.
Maintain safe driving distances:
The two-second rule for following distance is your ally in heavy rain. Extend it to four seconds to ensure safe spacing in adverse conditions.
Slow down and drive with care:
On wet roads, reducing your speed is crucial. Ease off the gas pedal gradually and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.
Choose your lane wisely:
Stick to the middle lanes to minimize the risk of hydroplaning. Outer lanes are more prone to accumulating water.
Visibility matters:
Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by turning on your headlights. Watch out for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.
Watch out for slippery roads:
The first half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mix of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.
Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:
Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid tailgating and pass them swiftly and safely.
Mind your windshield wipers:
Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely limits your sight, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or protected spots. When stopping roadside, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Keep your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert other drivers.
In the face of heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road. Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey.
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.
Cardi B pulled no punches when she appeared to lash out at Southern states for Donald Trump’s second presidential victory in a quickly deleted clip.
The 32-year-old New York rapper, who has campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris, suggested in the clip that the region deserves the deadly hurricanes that have recently battered it, according to multiple outlets that viewed the video before she deleted it.
“This is why some of y’all states be getting hurricanes,” said the Grammy winner, real name Belcalis Almánzar, in the video that continues to circulate.
“No matter what they’ve said to bring you down or belittle your run for presidency, they can never say you didn’t run your race with honesty and with integrity! You really put up a fight against all the odds that were already stacked against you! You never accepted defeat as an option which says so much about your strength and about your heart,” said Cardi in a statement on Instagram.
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Cardi also praised the VP for wanting “better for ALL of us” and making history with her run.
“I never thought I would see the day that a woman of color would be running for the President of the United States, but you have shown me, showed [sic] my daughters and women across the country that anything is possible,” she continued, dubbing Harris “a real example of what the American dream should be!”
Former Auburn men’s basketball head coach Sonny Smith is retiring from his current role as radio analyst, the school announced Wednesday.
Randall Dickey, who has filled in for Smith during the last two seasons, will be Auburn men‘s basketball’s new radio analyst.
“After years courtside as both a coach and a broadcaster, it is time to pass the mic and reflect,” Smith said in a release. “That front row seat was more than a job; it was love for the game. As the color commentator, I had the privilege of bringing the game to life, going beyond the stats and scores by adding a little extra color to the game.”
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Smith coached Auburn from 1978-1989, making five consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 1984-1988. He won 173 games as Auburn’s head coach, the fourth-most in school history.
Smith has been providing commentary on Auburn men’s basketball since 2012.
Roger Clemens has a message for anyone who said or posted they were leaving the country if and when Donald Trump won the 2024 election.
“Who ever said, ‘I’m leaving America if Trump wins’ … don’t let the door hit you in the a– on the way out,” the former Major League Baseball pitcher posted on “X,” the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
He added, “This is massive for our great country!” Clemson, who pitched for the New York Yankees, Houston Astros and the Boston Red Sox, added he was “most proud of the people. We did it!”
Clemens, a seven-time Cy-Young award-winner, lives in Houston.
Trump, meanwhile, spent his first day as president-elect receiving congratulatory phone calls from his defeated opponent, world leaders and President Joe Biden as he began the process of turning his election victory into a government.
Vice President Kamala Harris called Trump to concede the race and to congratulate him, while Biden invited the man he ousted from the White House four years ago to an Oval Office meeting to prepare to return the keys.
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The White House announced that Biden had spoken to the president-elect and expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition, while emphasizing the importance of working to bring the country together.
Biden also called Harris to salute her for her campaign. And Trump and Harris spoke on a call where the president-elect “acknowledged Vice President Harris on her strength, professionalism, and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying the country,” according to Trump spokesman Steven Cheung.