Alabama News

South Alabama added yet another commitment to its recent Gulf Coast recruiting run Tuesday afternoon.

The Jaguars secured a commitment from Baker 3-star wide receiver/athlete Khatori Marion.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound Marion announced his decision on “X.” He’s the sixth Mobile-area commitment for head coach Major Applewhite already in the Class of 2026.

As a junior, Marion caught 29 passes for 452 yards and 5 TDs for the Hornets. He also ran for a touchdown and had 154 yards in punt returns.

The Jaguars are now up to 19 commitments in the class.

Marion joins Mary G. Montgomery DB Trakarris Collier, Cottage Hill DE Caleb Metzner, Spanish Fort QB Aaden Shamburger and the St. Michael duo of WR Brody Jones and RB Noah Moss as local commitments.

South Alabama 2026 recruiting class (19)

Sami Abdelhak, OL, 6-3, 305, Baton Rouge, La./Southern Lab HS

Xavious Anderson, LB, 6-1, 215, Hogansville, Ga./Callaway HS

Darius Burwell, SAF, 6-2, 185, Huntsville, Ala./Mae Jemison HS

Deon Callins, CB, 6-1, 180, Pinson, Ala./Clay-Chalkville HS

Lavonte Cole, RB, 5-11, 190, Thomasville, Ga./Thomasville HS

Trakarris Collier, CB, 6-1, 180, Semmes, Ala./Mary G. Montgomery HS

Tyray Darensburg, LB, 6-1, 215, Chalmette, La./Chalmette HS

Teryn Green, SAF, 6-1, 195, Flowood, Miss./Hartfield Academy

Heij Jackson, WR, 6-3, 190, New Orleans, La./McDonogh 35 HS

Taylor Jacobs Jr., QB, 6-1, 185, Tallahassee, Fla./Lincoln HS

Brody Jones, WR, 5-10, 163, Fairhope, Ala./St. Michael Catholic School

Zech Hall, SAF, 6-2, 195, Havana, Fla./Gadsden County HS

Khatori Marion, WR/ATH, 5-11, 180, Mobile, Ala./Baker HS

Caleb Metzner, DE, 6-2, 215, Mobile, Ala./Cottage Hill Christian HS

Noah Moss, RB, 6-1, 205, Fairhope, Ala./St. Michael Catholic HS

Aaden Shamburger, QB, 6-3, 180, Spanish Fort, Ala./Spanish Fort HS

Camen Upshaw, SAF, 6-0, 180, Tallahassee, Fla./John Paul II Catholic School

Dominic White, WR, 6-1, 180, Adamsville, Ala./Minor HS

Caleb Wynn, RB, 5-11, 205, Oxford, Ala./Oxford HS

Popular breakfast and lunch concept First Watch is planning to open more locations by the end of this year.

On a 2025 first-quarter earnings call, the breakfast chain said it expects to open between 59 and 64 new restaurants in 2025, reports USA TODAY. During the call, First Watch also said it opened 13 restaurants in 10 states during the first three months of the year.

“First quarter same restaurant traffic results are encouraging and continued the trends we experienced exiting 2024, demonstrating both the strength and the resilience of the First Watch brand,” First Watch President and CEO Chris Tomasso said on the call, according to USA TODAY.

Here are the states where First Watch opened a new location in the first three months of the year:

• Alabama
• Florida
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Virginia

The company told USA TODAY it plans to open new locations in the following states in the second half of 2025:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Delaware
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Missouri
• Nevada
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Wisconsin

The specific locations for the new restaurants haven’t been announced.

A T-shirt worn by Beyoncé during a Juneteenth performance on her “Cowboy Carter” tour has sparked a discussion over how Americans frame their history and caused a wave of criticism for the Houston-born superstar.

The T-shirt worn during a concert in Paris featured images of the Buffalo Soldiers, who belonged to Black U.S. Army units active during the late 1800s and early 1900s. On the back was a lengthy description of the soldiers that included “their antagonists were the enemies of peace, order and settlement: warring Indians, bandits, cattle thieves, murderous gunmen, bootleggers, trespassers, and Mexican revolutionaries.”

Images of the shirt and videos of the performance are also featured on Beyoncé’s website.

As she prepares to return to the U.S. for performances in her hometown this weekend, fans and Indigenous influencers took to social media to criticize Beyoncé for wearing a shirt that frames Native Americans and Mexican revolutionaries as anything but the victims of American imperialism and for promoting anti-Indigenous language.

A spokesperson for Beyoncé did not respond to a request for comment.

Who were the Buffalo Soldiers?

The Buffalo Soldiers served in six military units created after the Civil War in 1866. They were comprised of formerly enslaved men, freemen, and Black Civil War soldiers and fought in hundreds of conflicts — including in the Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II — until they were disbanded in 1951.

As the quote on Beyoncé’s shirt notes, they also fought numerous battles against Indigenous peoples as part of the U.S. Army’s campaign of violence and land theft during the country’s westward expansion.

Some historians say the moniker “Buffalo Soldiers” was bestowed by the tribes who admired the bravery and tenacity of the fighters, but that might be more legend than fact. “At the end of the day, we really don’t have that kind of information,” said Cale Carter, director of exhibitions at the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston.

Carter and other museum staff said that, only in the past few years, the museum made broader efforts to include more of the complexities of the battles the Buffalo Soldiers fought against Native Americans and Mexican revolutionaries and the role they played in the subjugation of Indigenous peoples. They, much like many other museums across the country, are hoping to add more nuance to the framing of American history and be more respectful of the ways they have caused harm to Indigenous communities.

“We romanticize the Western frontier,” he said. “The early stories that talked about the Buffalo Soldiers were impacted by a lot of those factors. So you really didn’t see a changing in that narrative until recently.”

There has often been a lack of diverse voices discussing how the history of the Buffalo Soldiers is framed, said Michelle Tovar, the museum’s director of education. The current political climate has put enormous pressure on schools, including those in Texas, to avoid honest discussions about American history, she said.

“Right now, in this area, we are getting pushback from a lot of school districts in which we can’t go and teach this history,” Tovar said. ”We are a museum where we can at least be a hub, where we can invite the community regardless of what districts say, invite them to learn it and do what we can do the outreach to continue to teach honest history.”

Historians scrutinize reclamation motive

Beyoncé’s recent album “Act II: Cowboy Carter” has played on a kind of American iconography, which many see as her way of subverting the country music genre’s adjacency to whiteness and reclaiming the cowboy aesthetic for Black Americans. Last year, she became the first Black woman ever to top Billboard’s country music chart, and “Cowboy Carter” won her the top prize at the 2025 Grammy Awards, album of the year.

“The Buffalo Soldiers play this major role in the Black ownership of the American West,” said Tad Stoermer, a historian and professor at Johns Hopkins University. “In my view, (Beyoncé is) well aware of the role that these images play. This is the ‘Cowboy Carter’ tour for crying out loud. The entire tour, the entire album, the entire piece is situated in this layered narrative.”

But Stoermer also points out that the Buffalo Soldiers have been framed in the American story in a way that also plays into the myths of American nationalism.

As Beyoncé’s use of Buffalo Soldiers imagery implies, Black Americans also use their story to claim agency over their role in the creation of the country, said Alaina E. Roberts, a historian, author and professor at the University of Pittsburgh who studies the intersection of Black and Native American life from the Civil War to present day.

“That’s the category in which she thought maybe she was coming into this conversation, but the Buffalo Soldiers are even a step above that because they were literally involved in not just the settlement of the West but of genocide in a sense,” she said.

Online backlash builds ahead of Houston shows

Several Native influencers, performers, and academics took to social media this week to criticize Beyoncé or decry the shirt’s language as anti-Indigenous. “Do you think Beyoncé will apologize (or acknowledge) the shirt?” indigenous.tv, an Indigenous news and culture Instagram account with more than 130,000 followers, asked in a post Thursday.

Many of her critics, as well as fans, agree. A flood of social media posts called out the pop star for the historic framing on the shirt.

“The Buffalo Soldiers are an interesting historical moment to look at. But we have to be honest about what they did, especially in their operations against Indigenous Americans and Mexicans,” said Chisom Okorafor, who posts on TikTok under the handle @confirmedsomaya.

Okorafor said there is no “progressive” way to reclaim America’s history of empire building in the West, and that Beyoncé’s use of Western symbolism sends a problematic message: “That Black people, too, can engage in American nationalism.”

“Black people, too, can profit from the atrocities of (the) American empire,” she said. “It is a message that tells you to abandon immigrants, Indigenous people, and people who live outside of the United States. It is a message that tells you not only is it a virtue to have been born in this country, but the longer your line extends in this country, the more virtuous you are.”

The University of Montevallo is raising tuition, laying off staff and removing some academic programs as it works to address a multimillion dollar budget shortfall.

The small public college, founded in 1896, has been running a deficit for at least four years. It is currently in the red by about $8 million, AL.com confirmed with Wesley Hallman, communications director. The school’s deficit was as high as $12 million in 2021-22, according to university finance reports.

Faculty and staff salaries make up the biggest chunk of the school’s regular expenses, about $24 million, according to university expenditure reports from October 2024.

For the first time in seven years, there will be a tuition increase for incoming students in August 2025. Rates will go up 3.5% from $403 per credit hour to $417 per credit hour for undergraduates.

The board of trustees recently also approved increases to parking and streaming fees to boost revenue.

The university also is looking to cut and streamline some academic programs. It terminated its bachelor’s program for Deaf and hard of hearing education in May. This was the only program of its kind in Alabama. It enrolled 15 students.

“The decision to discontinue an academic program is one of the hardest choices a university can make,” Courtney Bentley, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs told AL.com in a statement. “We will continue to fully support every student currently enrolled in the program and those students will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in education of the Deaf and hard of hearing from UM.”

The school enrolled about 3,000 students last year.

Montevallo receives a majority of its revenue, about 37%, from state appropriations.

A man accused in the separate killings of two women in Birmingham has been indicted by a grand jury.

A Jefferson County grand jury indicted Demarchies Jawhonn Mincey, 27, on charges of capital murder, murder and corpse abuse, according to court records made public Tuesday.

Mincey, of Gardendale, is charged with murder in the April 2023 slaying of Ariel Jones and capital murder and abuse of corpse in the killing of Jermiera Fowler in June 2023.

Birmingham police initially announced Mincey’s a month after Fowler was killed.

He was taken into custody in Stonecrest, Georgia and later extradited to Alabama in September 2024.

Jones, 31, was found slain April 18, 2023, in east Birmingham, not far from East Lake Park.

Officers responded to a field in the 8400 block of Fifth Avenue North in East Lake shortly before 8:30 a.m. that Tuesday. A citizen called 911 to report the abandoned vehicle.

When officers and Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service arrived, they discovered Jones’ body inside. Authorities said it appeared someone unsuccessfully tried to set a fire at the scene.

Neighbors said the vehicle had been in the field for at least two days. The field is just off an alley between Fourth and Fifth Avenues.

According to Jones’ obituary, she grew up in Indiana and later moved to Alabama, where she attended Parker High School.

“Ariel enjoyed singing and dancing. She was the life of the party. Her smile and goofy personality would light up a room,’’ her obituary read. “Ariel enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Special times for her were the holidays and her birthday. Ariel loved getting her hair and nails done. She also had a passion for helping others feel and look their best.”

Fowler, also 31, was found dead June 1, 2023, also on the city’s east side.

The discovery was made just hours after police announced said she had been reported missing.

Fowler’s burned body was discovered about 9 p.m. that Thursday in the 200 block of Sellers Road. Police had responded to the location after receiving a report of a burning body.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the flames and pronounced Fowler dead on the scene.

An autopsy showed Fowler had been shot.

Earlier that day, Birmingham police had issued a missing alert for Fowler, saying she had last been seen in the 500 block of 41st Street North. She was driving a white Nissan Versa Note.

Police said Fowler had not been seen or heard from since she left home to reportedly meet someone to make a purchase from Facebook Marketplace.

According to Fowler’s obituary, she was the oldest of eight siblings, had a natural gift for leadership and a heart full of love.

“She was the kind of person who made everyone feel welcome and included, and her infectious energy and joy was contagious,’’ the obituary read. “Jermiera was an entrepreneur and a motivational speaker, inspiring others to follow their dreams and live life to the fullest. Her wisdom and guidance helped countless people find their way, and her legacy will live on through the lives she touched.”

Fowler was a mother to two children who were “the light of her life,’’ the obituary stated. “She was a loving sister, a loyal friend, and a role model to all who knew her.”

When police announced Mincey’s arrest, they said first identified Mincey as a suspect in Fowler’s death. On June 12, 2023, they obtained the warrants against Mincey in her death.

They then linked him to Jones’ death as well, but did not elaborate what evidence they have linking him to both crimes.

The U.S. Marshals arrested Mincey in Stonecrest, Georgia on June 22, 2023.

He was booked into the DeKalb County Jail in connection with Fowler’s death, and with unrelated Georgia charges for assault, battery and cruelty to children.

He was extradited to the Jefferson County Jail on Sept. 12, 2024. He remains held without bond.

Birmingham police at the time of Mincey’s arrest said it didn’t appear the two victims knew each other or knew Mincey.

A trial date has not yet been set.

An updated severe thunderstorm warning was issued by the National Weather Service on Tuesday at 3:21 p.m. in effect until 4:15 p.m. for Jackson County.

Residents should prepare for wind gusts of up to 60 mph.

“At 3:20 p.m., a severe thunderstorm was located near Winchester, moving southeast at 20 mph,” according to the weather service. “Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees.”

Locations impacted by the warning include Winchester, Decherd, Estill Springs, Cowan, Tims Ford Lake, Anderson, Hytop, Lexie Crossroads, Jericho and Harmony.

The weather service comments, “For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.”

Preparing for approaching lightning: Expert safety advice

Lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times each year, with the bulk of these electrical discharges occurring during the summer months. Tragically, lightning claims the lives of about 20 individuals annually, as reported by the weather service. The risk of lightning-related incidents escalates as thunderstorms draw near, reaching its peak when the storm directly looms overhead. However, it gradually recedes as the tempest moves away.

To guarantee your safety in the midst of a thunderstorm, take into account the following recommendations:

Lightning safety plan:

• When venturing outdoors, it’s crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.
• Stay vigilant by monitoring the sky for ominous signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s a clear indication of nearby lightning.
• Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

• Once you’re indoors, avoid using corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing fixtures, and stay away from windows and doors.
• Lightning can follow conductive pathways, and these precautions reduce the risk of electrical surges.

Wait for the all-clear:

• After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
• It’s important to remember that lightning can strike even when a storm seems to have passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn’t available:

If you find yourself outdoors with no access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

• Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, which expose you to greater lightning risk.
• Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In wooded areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
• If you’re with a group, ensure individuals are spread out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
• Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If you have no alternative, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. It’s crucial to note that a tent provides no protection against lightning.
• Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. While water and metal don’t attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, vigilance and preparedness are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the chances of lightning-related accidents and prioritize your safety.

Navigating rainy roads: Safety tips for wet weather

When heavy rain pours, the risk of flooding and treacherous roads rises. Here’s your guide from the weather service to staying safe during downpours:

Beware of rapid water flow:

In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Adhere to the two-second rule for maintaining a safe following distance behind the vehicle in front of you. In heavy rain, allow an additional two seconds of distance to compensate for reduced traction and braking effectiveness.

Reduce speed and drive cautiously:

If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stay toward the middle lanes – water tends to pool in the outside lanes.

Visibility matters:

Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by activating your headlights. Be particularly vigilant for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.

Watch out for slippery roads:

The initial half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mixture of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly 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 by the roadside is your only option, 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 of your position.

By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed advice from local authorities to make your journey safe and sound.

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.

An updated weather alert was issued by the National Weather Service on Tuesday at 3:43 p.m. for strong thunderstorms until 4:30 p.m. for Jackson County.

Residents may experience wind gusts of up to 50 mph.

“At 3:43 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm 8 miles east of Huntland, or 9 miles south of Winchester, moving southeast at 15 mph,” says the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.”

Locations impacted by the alert include Scottsboro, Winchester, Bridgeport, Stevenson, Hollywood, Huntland, Skyline, Anderson, Hytop and Bass.

The weather service comments, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.”

Preparing for impending lightning strikes: Expert safety recommendations

Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these electrifying events occurring during the summer months. Unfortunately, lightning is responsible for claiming the lives of approximately 20 people annually, as reported by the weather service. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.

To protect yourself during a thunderstorm, take these recommendations into consideration:

Lightning safety plan:

• When venturing outdoors, it’s crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.
• Stay vigilant by monitoring the sky for ominous signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s a clear indication of nearby lightning.
• Seek a safe place to shelter, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

• Once you’ve found shelter indoors, abstain from using corded phones, electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures, and refrain from approaching windows and doors.
• Lightning can follow conductive pathways, and these precautions reduce the risk of electrical surges.

Wait for the all-clear:

• After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
• It’s important to remember that lightning can strike even when a storm seems to have passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn’t available:

If you find yourself outdoors with no access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

• Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, as they expose you to greater lightning risk.
• Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In forested areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
• If you’re with a group, ensure individuals are spread out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
• Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If you have no alternative, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. It’s crucial to note that a tent provides no protection against lightning.
• Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. While water and metal don’t attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, preparedness and vigilance are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning-related incidents and prioritize your safety.

Rainy roadways ahead: Essential safety tips for heavy rain

Rain can turn roads into hazards. Stay informed and follow these tips from the weather service to ensure safety during heavy rainfall:

Beware of swollen waterways:

In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Adhere to the two-second rule for maintaining a safe following distance behind the vehicle in front of you. In heavy rain, allow an additional two seconds of distance to compensate for reduced traction and braking effectiveness.

Reduce speed and drive cautiously:

If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stay toward the middle lanes – water tends to pool in the outside lanes.

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:

Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely impairs your vision, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or sheltered spots.

When stopping by the roadside is your only option, 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 of your position.

By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed advice from local authorities to make your journey safe and sound.

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.

An updated report was issued from the National Weather Service on Tuesday at 3:41 p.m. for strong thunderstorms until 4:30 p.m. for Cleburne, Talladega and Clay counties.

Residents may experience wind gusts of up to 50 mph.

“At 3:40 p.m., Doppler radar tracked strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Lincoln to near Waldo. Movement was southeast at 15 mph,” says the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.”

Locations impacted by the alert include Oxford, Talladega, Lincoln, Munford, Waldo, Grant Town, Talladega Superspeedway, Anniston Regional Airport, Talladega Municipal Airport, Mount Cheaha, Logan Martin Lake, Camp Mac, Jackson Shoals, Ironaton, Jenifer and Lake Chinnabee.

The weather service adds, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with these storms and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.”

Preparing for approaching lightning: Expert safety advice

Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these electrifying events occurring during the summer months. Unfortunately, lightning is responsible for claiming the lives of approximately 20 people annually, as reported by the weather service. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.

To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, keep these recommendations in mind:

Lightning safety plan:

• When venturing outdoors, it’s crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.
• Stay vigilant by monitoring the sky for ominous signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s a clear indication of nearby lightning.
• Seek a safe place to shelter, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

• Once you’re indoors, avoid using corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing fixtures, and stay away from windows and doors.
• These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways.

Wait for the all-clear:

• After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
• Lightning can strike even when a storm has seemingly passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn’t available:

If you find yourself outdoors with no access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

• Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, as they expose you to greater lightning risk.
• Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In wooded areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
• If you’re with a group, ensure individuals are spread out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
• Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If no alternative exists, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. Remember that a tent offers no protection against lightning.
• Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. While water and metal don’t attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, vigilance and preparedness are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the chances of lightning-related accidents and prioritize your safety.

Rainy roadways ahead: Essential safety tips for heavy rain

When heavy rain pours, the risk of flooding and treacherous roads rises. Here’s your guide from the weather service to staying safe during downpours:

Beware of swollen waterways:

During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.

Slow down and drive with care:

If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.

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:

Turn on your headlights and be careful of other vehicles to the rear and in blind spot areas as they are especially difficult to see through rain-spattered windows.

Watch out for slippery roads:

Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly 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 by the roadside is your only option, 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 of your position.

By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed advice from local authorities to make your journey safe and sound.

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.

The 2025 WNBA season continues this week with another slate of solid games. To start, the Commissioner’s Cup will take place on Tuesday between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx.

The Fever listed superstar Caitlin Clark as questionable with a groin injury. If she can’t go, the Fever still have some talent to work with. Aliyah Boston posted 21 points, and Kelsey Mitchell added 32 points in a win against the Dallas Wings over the weekend.

The Fever will be taking on the Lynx, currently the best team in the league with a 14-2 record. Led by MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier, the Lynx are clicking on every cylinder. Along with Collier’s 24.4 points per game, Minnesota has three other players averaging double-digit points per night.

Clark and Collier were named captains for the upcoming WNBA All-Star game in Indianapolis.

Fans looking to tune into the Fever vs Lynx game can do so on Prime Video, who’s offering a 30-day free trial to new subscribers.

Here’s everything you need to know before the Fever and Lynx tipoff:

When: Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN

Time: 8 p.m. E.T.

Fans looking to tune into the Fever vs Lynx game can do so on Prime Video, who’s offering a 30-day free trial to new subscribers.

The Atlanta Braves play against the Los Angeles Angels in an MLB game tonight. The matchup will begin at 6:15 p.m. CT on FanDuel Sports Network South/FanDuel Sports Network Southeast. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV.

The Braves enter this matchup with a 38-45 record, and they have lost four of their last five games. In their most recent game, the Braves lost 2-1 against Philadelphia.

In order to bounce back this evening, the Braves will need a great performance from their star player Matt Olson. He leads the Atlanta offense with 15 home runs and 52 RBI, so he will look to continue his offensive success tonight.

Notably, Olson enters this matchup with a seven-game hitting streak.

The Angels enter this matchup with a 41-42 record, and they have won four of their last six games. In their last game, the Angels lost 7-4 against Washington in 11 innings.

In order to win tonight’s game, the Angels will need to rely on their star player Taylor Ward. He leads the Los Angeles offense with 20 home runs and 57 RBI, which highlights his power at the plate.

Fans can watch this MLB game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV.