It’s not often that we get this much national attention on our state outside of football season. So we’ll catch up on the Carlee Russell saga and more.

Attention on Alabama mystery

National media have descended upon Alabama, literally and virtually.

The peculiar nature of Carlee Russell’s disappearance Thursday evening, her rescue efforts, and her reappearance Saturday evening have captured attention and driven page views all over the country.

Part of the drama here is that what was purported to have happened — that she stopped to help a mysterious toddler along I-459, then was heard over a phone call screaming, and then could simply not be found — was terrifying but somehow didn’t exactly seem to add up.

Facts released Wednesday by Hoover Police about the investigation seem to confirm that, somehow, things aren’t adding up.

Among those facts, per HPD and reported by AL.com’s Carol Robinson, was that in the couple days before her disappearance Russell performed multiple Google searches related to Amber alerts, one about the abduction movie “Taken,” and some on bus tickets.

Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis also said that while she was describing the mysterious toddler to 911, Russell moved down the Interstate 600 yards.

Derzis said that she told police she had been abducted by a man and woman and put into an 18-wheeler. And her parents told hosts of NBC’s “Today” Show that she had fought for her life.

Still, Hoover Police say they “have no reason to believe that there is a threat to public safety related to this case.”

Derzis said police are ready to further interview Russell whenever she is ready.

Special session nears finish

Similar plans to redraw the Congressional district map have passed the Alabama State House and Senate during the current special legislative session, reports AL.com’s Mke Cason.

The goal here, according to a decision by a district court and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, is to replace a current district map that, according to the courts, dilutes the power of Black voters. Alabama has one majority-Black district, and the district court said the state should have a second district that’s at least close to majority-Black.

Senate sponsor Steve Livingston, a Scottsboro Republican, said this plan would increase the Black voting-age population in District 2 from 30% to 38%.

Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, a Greensboro Democrat, accused Republicans behind the plan of crafting it so that they’ll end up back in court and get a ruling that would weaken the Voting Rights Act.

The next step here is for lawmakers to sync up plans in the Senate and House so that they agree on a map that can pass both chambers. Committees will be working on this today, and you can look for the Legislature to possibly send something to the governor on Friday.

A YouTuber’s passing

A popular YouTube personality based in Atlanta died while she was Fairhope for a bachelorette party, reports Tribune Media Services.

Annabelle Ham, 22, according to her family, suffered an “epileptic event.” Ham had gone missing last week after being seen walking on a pier.

She was a lifestyle vlogger on YouTube, doing videos on college life and beauty hacks.

Quoting

“Every season is a new challenge. It’s like you took a new job.”

— Nick Saban, Alabama football coach, while speaking at SEC Media Days about all the new faces he’s working with this season.

More Alabama news

Born on this date

In 1901, Heinie Manush of Tuscumbia, baseball Hall of Famer.

Manush beat out Babe Ruth to lead the American League in hitting with a .378 average for the Detroit Tigers in 1926.

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