Too many people are drowning on the Gulf Coast beaches of Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, so we’re going to devote some of today’s space to rip currents and the beach flag system.

Also, if you took yesterday’s quiz but didn’t see the results, we share them below.

Thanks for reading, folks, and have a great Tuesday.

Gulf danger

It’s already been a rough summer beach season along the Gulf Coast.

AL.com’s Warren Kulo reports that, through this past weekend, 10 people had drowned on Alabama and Florida Panhandle beaches in two weeks.

There’s an expectation that if you go to the beach you’re going to frolic in the waves. Yet, along the Alabama coast and Florida Panhandle, rip currents kill more people than tornadoes, floods, hurricanes and lightning combined.

Of course, if there are double-red flags then you’re not allowed to swim in the Gulf. But that doesn’t mean it’s OK to swim under single reds. There are a lot of terrible ideas out there that are technically legal.

But no matter the color of the flags, the Gulf is not a benign swimming hole. Have fun, but make sure you are in control and keeping the kids close.

You’ve heard that, if you ever get caught in a rip current, swim parallel to the shore. And that’s right — but it’s more important to make sure you stay afloat and not panic and not wear yourself out. It’s not going to suck you under or take you out forever. At some point you should be able to get outside the rip and angle back toward the beach, letting the waves help you along.

Here’s a reminder of the flag warning system:

• Double red flags: The water is closed to the public. Violators can be arrested and fined.
• Single red flag: High hazard, indicating high surf and/or strong currents.
• Yellow flag: Medium hazard, indicating moderate surf and/or currents.
• Green flag: Low hazard, with calm conditions.
• Purple flag: Stinging marine life present, such as jellyfish or stingrays.

Land dispute, alleged threats, and charges

The harassment charges that were filed against Alabama Department of Transportation Director John Cooper involve a property dispute and Cooper’s alleged threats to shoot the other party, reports AL.com’s William Thornton.

Scottsboro businessman Gerald Carter said that earlier this year he bought 5.5 acres adjacent to Cooper’s property, and that they have had several run-ins over an easement claim.

It led to one day Carter telling Cooper to remove a gate to the property or he would take it down. According to Carter, Cooper said, quote, “You touch my gate and I’ll shoot you.’ and then, ‘You know what? You ain’t even worth the price of a bullet. You touch my gate and I’ll whup your fat butt.” Except he didn’t say “butt.”

A Distinguished Young Woman

The 2023 Distinguished Young Woman of America is from Alabama, reports AL.com’s Lawrence Specker.

Carrington Hodge of Helena won the national event, which began in 1958 as America’s Junior Miss. Along the way to the title, the Jefferson County IB School grad won $46,000 in cash scholarships.Hodge plans to study pediatric neurosurgery at Vanderbilt University.

Quoting

“Rickwood is just perfect. It’s historic.”

— Bob Costas, on the the “Field of Dreams Game” concept moving to Birmingham for 2024.

More Alabama news

Born on this date

• 1880: Helen Keller of Tuscumbia.
• 1964: Former NBA and Auburn player and assistant coach Chuck Person of Brantley.

Monday’s quiz answers

In yesterday’s newsletter we challenged y’all to take a quick 5-question Alabama news quiz. Due to an oversight by the producer of this newsletter (ahem) for the first part of the day it was not set to reveal your results. Which kind of takes away from having taken the thing in the first place.

If you were one of those, here are the answers posted below, along with the results of all those who took it:

What artist and song did Alabama lawmakers hear on the floor of the State House during the final day of the 2023 Legislative Session?

• Randy Owen: “My Home’s in Alabama” 58% (correct)
• Ruben Studdard: “Sweet Home Alabama” 22%
• Jason Isbell: “Alabama Pines” 18%
• Richard Scrushy and Dallas County Line: “Honk If You Love to Honky Tonk” 2%

Which Old West lawman was originally from Alabama?

• Pat Garrett 62% (correct)
• Bat Masterson 20%
• Roscoe P. Coltrane 13%
• Johnny Behan 6%

What was the original intended name of Arab, Alabama?

• Arad 63% (correct)
• Arabia 21%
• Scratch Ankle 14%
• Riyadh 2%

Which is not considered native to Alabama?

• Black panther 58% (correct)
• Puma 25%
• Mountain lion 14%
• Bobcat 4%

Wallethub recently released its list of the most fun states in the U.S. Which state came in at the bottom of that list, making it the LEAST fun state?

• Mississippi 39% (correct)
• North Dakota 31%
• Alabama 16%
• New Jersey 14%

At the end of the day yesterday, there were 27 people who aced the quiz.

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