Voters in Alabama will head to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in national, state and local races.
The Alabama Secretary of State’s Office has sample ballots for every county so you can look them over before you go to the polls. The samples are a common one for each county, so not all races will appear on all ballots. For example, ballots within the same county could have different Congressional races or State Board of Education offices, though all options will appear on the sample ballot.
You are allowed to bring a marked sample ballot into the polling place but you can’t leave it behind.
One statewide constitutional amendment will also be on the ballot. The amendment would allow Franklin County School System to sell a large portion of land it owns in Walker and Fayette counties in hopes of selling it or leasing it to a developer. You can see more on the amendment here.
Rookie Jermaine Burton had caught two passes and played 49 offensive snaps in the Cincinnati Bengals’ first eight games, so it shouldn’t have been surprising the former Alabama wide receiver was designated as a game-day inactive for Game No. 9 on Sunday – except coach Zac Taylor and quarterback Joe Burrow had indicated the third-round pick was being prepped for a much bigger role with wide receiver Tee Higgins out.
“Jermaine was a big part of the plan,” Taylor said after the Bengals beat the Las Vegas Raiders 41-24, “and as the week unfolded, there were a lot of positive things people were saying about him, and it was all true. And then late in the week, we just got to handle all of our business the right way. And so I can sit here and say it was a difficult decision to make him inactive, but it was absolutely the right decision with all of the information we had.
“He’s a guy who’s going to have, I think, a really good career here, and we’re going to support him. And he wants to help us win and do things the right way. Today was just a necessary step we had to make. But we’re going to get him back in the fold and keep him moving along and becoming a pro. There’s a lot of things to love about Jermaine, so his best days are in front of him, and we’re going to make sure he achieves that.”
Taylor declined to provide specifics about what led to keeping Burton out of uniform just as his opportunity had arrived, but he did say: “Jermaine understands the situation.”
“I still think that his best days are ahead of him,” Taylor said. “We’re going to help him get there. And he wants it for himself. We want it for him as well. Sometimes you have to do things like, well, what we did to help him get to that next part. He understands that, and we’re going to help him get there.”
Cincinnati cornerback Mike Hilton was more blunt after the game than his coach.
“When you get to this point in your career, you got to grow up,” the eight-year veteran said. “You’re a grown man. Nobody’s going to baby you anymore.”
Working as an analyst during ABC’s coverage of the NFL Draft on April 26, former Alabama coach Nick Saban said Burton needed more “emotional maturity” as he took his ability to the pros.
“The No. 1 thing that he needs to do — and I think emotional maturity is the best way to say it — is do the right things all the time,” Saban said. “He does the right things on the field. He knows the importance of what he has to do in the field. He wants to be a player. That’s all he thinks about.
“But you’ve got to do the right things in your life all the time so that you can do the best things that you can do on the field and be the best you can do.”
With Higgins missing because of a quadriceps injury, the Bengals didn’t seem to miss the help that Burton was supposed to provide on Sunday. Seven players had receptions in support of Pro Bowl wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, with four players catching quarterback Joe Burrow’s five touchdown passes.
“We had guys step up today,” Burrow said. “We had guys get their first playing time, make their first catches and make some big-time plays for us, so I was confident in the guys we had out there.”
Burrow said he hadn’t given up on Burton.
“I think Jermaine’s going to be a great player,” Burrow said after Sunday’s game. “He’s just got to do the little things right. He’s a guy that you like his demeanor. You like his energy. You like how he practices. He practices hard. He’s got a chance. …
“We’ll have discussions, and just like any young player, you’re going to try to help him along anyway that you can. As he gets older, he’ll understand things in a different way.”
Sunday’s victory moved the Bengals to 4-5 heading into their AFC North game against the Baltimore Ravens at 7:15 p.m. CST Thursday at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Prime Video will televise the game.
The Ravens have a 6-3 record after defeating the Denver Broncos 41-10 on Sunday.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
UAB basketball is back. Here’s a guide to everything you need to know about this year’s team before their conference tournament title defense starts on Monday night vs. Vermont.
Head coach: Andy Kennedy (fifth season)
Last season’s record: 23-12 (12-6 in AAC)
Postseason: AAC Tournament Champions, NCAA Tournament appearance (lost to 5th seed SDSU in 1st round)
Top returning players: F/C Yaxel Lendeborg (6-9, Sr., 13.8 pts, 10.6 reb), F/C Christian Coleman (6-8, Sr., 7.7 pts, 4.5 reb), G Alejandro Vasquez (6-4, Sr., 11.1 pts, 3.4 reb). F Efrem “Butta” Johnson (6-4., Jr., 11.2 pts, 2.3 reb), G Tony Toney (6-2, Sr., 4.6 pts, 1.9 reb)
Key additions: G Greg Gordon (6-5, Sr., Transferred from Iona), G Ja’borri McGhee (6-1, Jr., Transferred from South Plains CC), G Tyren Moore (5-11, Sr., Transferred from Georgia Southern), F Bradley Ezewiro (6-9, Jr., Transferred from St. Louis), F Makhi Myles (6-6, Fr., Commit from Starkville HS, MS), G Reginald Kennedy Jr. (6-1, Fr., Commit from Middle Georgia Prep, GA)
Key losses: G Eric Gaines (9.2 pts, 3.1 reb, 3.6 ast), G Daniel Ortiz (6.6 pts, 1.4 reb, 0.8 ast)
Exhibition results: 88-79 Win @ Western Kentucky on Oct. 27
Season opener: Monday vs. Vermont (6:30 p.m.)
AAC opener: Dec. 31 @ North Texas (3 p.m.)
Notable:
As head basketball coach of UAB, Andy Kennedy is 101-37 overall (.732), and 60-11 at Bartow Arena (.845).
Reigning AAC Defensive Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg has taken the leap from a conference star to a national star over the course of his one season at UAB. He was voted the AAC Preseason Player of the Year, Preseason All-AAC First-team, named to the Naismith Player of the Year Award Watch list and the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Watch list.
“Butta” Johnson and Alejandro Vasquez, the two top returning Blazers in terms of 3P% in 2023-24, were both named to the Preseason All-AAC Second Team.
The starting five at their Oct. 27 exhibition @ WKY were Ja’Borri McGhee, Greg Gordon, “Butta” Johnson, Christian Coleman and Yaxel Lendeborg.
The Blazers have earned trips to the NCAA Tournament in two of the last three seasons and look not just to return this year but win their first March Madness game since the 2014-15 season. While they didn’t make it to “The Big Dance” in 2022-23, they were the runner-up champions of the NIT Tournament.
Over the last 10 seasons, UAB has the 24th most total wins in the nation with 224.
UAB 2024-25 men’s basketball schedule
(Home games in bold)
Nov. 4, vs. Vermont, 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 7, vs. Southern Miss., 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 15, @ High Point, 6 p.m.
Nov. 18, vs. Auburn Montgomery, 6:30 p.m.
(Paradise Jam, U.S. Virgin Islands) Nov. 22, vs. Longwood, 11:30 a.m.
(Paradise Jam, U.S. Virgin Islands) Nov. 23-24, vs. Illinois St. or McNeese St., TBD
(Paradise Jam, U.S. Virgin Islands) Nov. 25, TBD, TBD
Alabama has some of the nation’s highest percentages of households struggling to afford everyday expenses, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Household Pulse Survey, which collected data from Aug. 20 to Sept. 16, 2024, shows 41% of households in Alabama said they had a somewhat difficult or very difficult time in the week leading up to the survey. Only Kentucky and Wyoming ranked worse than Alabama, at 43% each.
Despite a recent drop in inflation, financial hardship persists for many Alabamians, fueled by low wages, a regressive tax system and the increased cost of essentials like food and health care. Advocates and policymakers were divided on solutions, with some calling for expanded Medicaid and the elimination of the state’s grocery tax, while others push for workforce development and broader tax cuts to ease household burdens.
“We unfairly tax the poor more than we do the rich. So the less you make, the more that you have to pay in our tax system. It’s just a regressive tax system,” said Shakita B. Jones, an instructor of social work at Auburn University focusing on the causes of poverty.
Chris Sanders, communications director at Alabama Arise, a left-leaning nonprofit organization, said state lawmakers can take direct action through policies like completely eliminating the state’s sales tax on groceries.
“State lawmakers can’t control global or national economic trends, but they can and should enact state-level policies to reduce poverty, expand opportunity and improve well-being for the people of Alabama,” Sanders said in a statement.
Alabama remains one of the few states where groceries are subject to a sales tax, which advocates say further strains household budgets. Until lawmakers in 2023 reduced the state tax by 1%, the combined state and local sales tax meant some municipalities charged up to 10% tax on groceries. The 2023 tax cut included another provision to cut the state grocery tax an additional 1% depending on sales tax growth, but advocates argue it is insufficient.
Justin Bogie, senior director of fiscal policy for Alabama Policy Institute (API), a conservative think tank, also supports a full repeal of the state’s sales tax on groceries.
“The grocery tax cut was a good first step in reducing some of these household expenses,” Bogie said.
Bogie said API also supports broader tax reductions, advocating for individual and corporate income tax cuts, which he believes would put more money in the pockets of Alabamians.
“Instead of putting most of that money back into government, we think that that money should be returned to the people of Alabama through lower tax rates,” he said, adding that a period of surplus revenue provides an opportunity to make tax cuts without compromising funding for public services.
Most state income and sales tax goes into the Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget. Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, chairman of the House Ways and Means Education Committee, which oversees the ETF, said that while Alabama has some of the lowest overall tax rates in the country, any changes to reduce these taxes must be balanced with the need to sustain education funding.
“We are mindful of our situation,” Garrett said, noting that the Legislature has made efforts to reduce income taxes and other burdens while still addressing funding needs in essential areas like education.
But Jones said that systemic issues tied to Alabama’s tax structure worsen poverty. She said the state’s regressive tax system forces low-income families to pay a disproportionately higher share of their income on taxes compared to wealthier residents.
“There’s a lot of reasons why Alabama is struggling financially, number one because of our tax system and how we tax the poor, and because we do have a regressive tax system,” Jones said.
Jones also expressed frustration with political ideology directing policy decisions, saying that policies from the past and the state’s conservative approach continue to hold back meaningful reforms.
“Political ideology just kind of holds us back from really taking care and serving the people that we need,” she said, describing Medicaid expansion and tax reform as measures that would improve the quality of life for struggling Alabamians.
She also said that “a lot of our issues stem from our historical policies,” and these policies “continue to oppress people.”
State officials have tended to prefer a workforce-centered approach, particularly in raising the state’s workforce participation rate. The number stood at 57.5% labor participation rate in September, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, one of the lowest in the nation. Alabama’s rate has been lower than the nation’s since at least 1976.
Garrett said providing better job opportunities and increasing the workforce participation rate should boost household incomes and reduce reliance on assistance programs.
“If we can get more people in the workforce, that will provide incomes… and address some of the situations” facing Alabama’s working families, Garrett said.
To address poverty in Alabama, Jones believes officials need to look at the generational impact of Alabama’s economic policies. She pointed to how families trapped in poverty often lack access to resources that could help lift them out, such as affordable child care and educational opportunities.
“If we get people back to work and we’re not paying them a living wage, that doesn’t help,” Jones said. “We have to create a more equitable society, and to me, that’s paying a fair wage.”
She also said that increasing workforce participation alone does not address the root issues low-income households face. She sees Medicaid expansion, a long-debated issue in Alabama, as a necessary step to provide health care access and reduce financial burdens for the state’s poorest residents.
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“Most people, they go without health care, they go without paying their bills, like utility bills, their basic needs,” Jones said about which expenses families struggle the most to meet.
Sanders also suggested the expansion of programs targeting child hunger and food insecurity. Starting in 2025, Alabama will use federal funding to offer Summer EBT benefits to feed children during the summer vacation. But he mentioned additional measures, such as providing free breakfast for every student in Alabama’s public schools, calling it essential to ensuring students do not start their day hungry. Jones said that food banks have become more accessible to struggling families, but they often don’t provide the most nutritious foods.
“If we’re really serious in this country about strengthening families and helping people, we have to look back, we have to look at where we are now, and we need to look forward,” Jones said.
Here’s all you need to know about the Beats headphones:
Built-in microphone
The Beats Solo 4 headphones utilize Class 1 Bluetooth technology for wireless connectivity and come equipped with a built-in microphone that leverages environmental noise suppression for clearer call quality. With an impressive battery life of up to 50 hours, these headphones can quickly recharge in just 10 minutes, providing up to 5 hours of playback with Fast Fuel technology. They feature both USB-C and a 3.5 mm audio jack for versatile audio connectivity. The custom acoustic architecture and upgraded drivers ensure high-resolution lossless audio quality, making for an enhanced listening experience. Weighing only 217 grams, the headphones are designed for comfort with UltraPlush ear cushions. They are compatible with both iOS and Android devices, allowing for seamless one-touch pairing. Additionally, they offer personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking for an immersive audio experience.
Overview of Beats by Dre
Founded in 2006 by music producer Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, Beats by Dre has established itself as a prominent brand within the realms of music, fashion, and technology. The brand emphasizes premium sound quality and aims to deliver the emotional and sensory immersion of studio recording to everyday listeners. Beats holds its roots in hip-hop culture, bolstered by Dr. Dre’s legacy in the music industry, which fosters an authentic connection with its audience.
Design and aesthetics
Beats products are not just functional audio devices; they are also regarded as fashion statements. Sleek and stylish, the design encapsulates both functionality and visual appeal, seamlessly integrating technology with fashion.
Spatial audio with dynamic head tracking
One of the standout features of the Beats Solo 4 headphones is their ability to deliver personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking. This technology uses built-in gyroscopes and accelerometers to create an immersive audio experience, allowing users to feel as though they are surrounded by sound that moves with them.
UltraPlush ear cushions
Unique to these headphones are the UltraPlush ear cushions, designed for both comfort and durability. These cushions provide a light touch that ensures long-lasting comfort during extended listening sessions, making them suitable for users who enjoy music or podcasts over lengthy periods.
Technical Details
Wireless Technology: Class 1 Bluetooth®
Microphone: Built-In with environmental noise suppression
Battery Life: Up to 50 hours
Fast Fuel Charging: 10 minutes of charging for up to 5 hours of playback
Audio Ports: USB-C for charging and audio; 3.5 mm analog audio cable
The SEC continues to cannibalize itself, and there are still four weeks left in the regular season.
South Carolina blistered Texas A&M on Saturday, meaning there are no longer any teams without at least one conference loss. In fact, there are now five with one SEC loss, and four more with two.
All of this is to say that we have no idea which two teams will be playing for the SEC championship in a month. The elimination of the East and West Divisions also means that we could get into some funky tiebreakers before we know which two teams are headed to Atlanta.
So how do the teams in the SEC stack up as we hit the season’s homestretch? Here’s the Week 11 edition of AL.com’s SEC football power rankings for 2024 (all times Central and all games Saturday):
STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI – NOVEMBER 02: Michael Van Buren Jr. #0 of the Mississippi State Bulldogs celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Davis Wade Stadium on November 02, 2024 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)Getty Images
16. Mississippi State (2-7, 0-5)
Last week’s ranking: 16
Last week’s game: Beat Massachusetts, 45-20
This week’s game: at Tennessee, 6 p.m., ESPN
Two months of misery finally ended on Saturday for the Bulldogs, who recorded their first victory since Aug. 31 by pulling away from UMass. Mississippi State doesn’t have much going for it this year, though it does have a keeper in freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren (assuming, you know, they can keep him). Jeff Lebby’s team gets a trip to Knoxville this week, following by an open date, then Missouri and Ole Miss. The Bulldogs will be double-digit underdogs in all three, so it seems unlikely they’ll pick up another win before the season ends.
Kentucky tight end Josh Kattus (84) scores a touchdown in front of Tennessee linebacker Jalen Smith (39) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)AP
15. Kentucky (3-6, 1-6)
Last week’s ranking: 15
Last week’s game: Lost to Tennessee, 28-18
This week’s game: Open date
The Wildcats gave Tennessee a game for a half, actually leading 10-7 at the break. The Volunteers won the war of attrition over the final two quarters, knocking Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff and star receiver Barion Brown from the game with injuries. Mark Stoops’ team has now lost four consecutive games, and must win out vs. Murray State, Texas and Louisville to earn a ninth straight bowl bid. They’ll need to get healthy during the bye week if there’s any hope of that happening.
Auburn running back Damari Alston (0) is tackled by Vanderbilt linebacker Bryan Longwell (4) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)AP
14. Auburn (3-6, 1-5)
Last week’s ranking: 13
Last week’s game: Lost to Vanderbilt, 17-7
This week’s game: Open date
The Tigers made their triumphant return from a win at Kentucky the previous week and fell flat against the scrappy Commodores, who won for the first time ever at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Hugh Freeze’s offensive game plan continues to be puzzling, as Jarquez Hunter had only limited touches in the second half vs. Vandy after running the Wildcats off the field. Auburn limps into its open date knowing it will need to win out vs. Louisiana-Monroe, Texas A&M and Alabama to avoid a fourth straight losing season. The comparisons of Freeze to Bryan Harsin — fair or not — won’t cease until the Tigers start winning again.
13. Oklahoma (5-4, 1-4)
Last week’s ranking: 14
Last week’s game: Beat Maine, 59-14
This week’s game: at Missouri, 6:45 p.m., SEC Network
The Sooners needed a get-well game in the worst way, and got it by dominating an FCS opponent after falling behind 7-0. Quarterback Jackson Arnold is playing with confidence again, and Oklahoma’s other skill position players are slowly beginning to get healthy. Things get tough again this weekend with a trip to Missouri, which is probably the Sooners’ best shot at a win (and bowl-eligibility) in the final three games. After an open date Nov. 16, OU finishes up with Alabama and LSU.
Mississippi linebacker TJ Dottery (6) knocks the ball out of the hands of Arkansas quarterback Taylen Green (10) in the end zone during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. The fumble was recovered for a touchdown by Mississippi defensive end Princely Umanmielen. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)AP
12. Arkansas (5-4, 3-3)
Last week’s ranking: 10
Last week’s game: Lost to Ole Miss, 63-31
This week’s game: Open date
A week after being the hammer in a 58-25 rout of Mississippi State, the Razorbacks were the nail when they faced the Rebels. Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart riddled them for 515 yards and six touchdowns, five of them to Jordan Watkins. Arkansas moved the ball well on offense, but simply could not stop the Rebels’ passing attack in what wound up being a bleak day in Fayetteville. There’s still a game with Louisiana Tech left on the schedule, so the Hogs should wind up bowl-eligible. However, Sam Pittman doesn’t seem to be inspiring the confidence he was just a week or two ago.
Florida head coach Billy Napier, right, has words with field judge Jay Brown during the first half of an NCAA college football game =aj=, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)AP
11. Florida (4-4, 2-3)
Last week’s ranking: 11
Last week’s game: Lost to Georgia, 34-20
This week’s game: at Texas, 11 a.m., ABC
The Gators gave the Bulldogs all they wanted in Jacksonville on Saturday, and might have come closer to springing the upset had freshman quarterback DJ Lagway not suffered what could be a season-ending hamstring injury in the second quarter. Ironically, the injury to Lagway might end up saving Billy Napier’s job. The Gators’ November schedule is tough enough without having to rely on third-string quarterback Aiden Warren down the stretch. Florida faces Texas, LSU and Ole Miss the next three weeks, and will have to beat at least one to have a shot at bowl-eligibility heading into the regular-season finale at Florida State.
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer leaves the field while fans storm the field after an NCAA college football game against Texas A&M, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)AP
10. South Carolina (5-3, 3-3)
Last week’s ranking: 12
Last week’s game: Beat Texas A&M, 44-21
This week’s game: at Vanderbilt, 3:15 p.m., SEC Network
The Gamecocks finally put it all together against a quality team, pounding the Aggies behind quarterback LaNorris Sellers and a powerful running game. In what was an electric atmosphere in Columbia, South Carolina finished the job in a way it was not able to do against LSU and Alabama earlier in the year. Shane Beamer’s team would probably contend for the championship in the ACC or Big 12, but is just another program in the super-competitive SEC. With Wofford still on the schedule, bowl-eligibility appears to be inevitable, but the game at Vanderbilt this week is another chance to make a statement.
Missouri quarterback Drew Pyne (6) throws against Alabama during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP
9. Missouri (6-2, 2-2)
Last week’s ranking: 9
Last week’s game: Open date
This week’s game: vs. Oklahoma, 6:45 p.m., SEC Network
The Tigers were extremely banged up heading into their open date, but are likely to be favored in three of their final four games — if not all four. Winning out would give Missouri an outside shot at a playoff berth, though they’d need some help from others in the conference (and perhaps around the country) to get there. There’s no one left on the schedule — Oklahoma, South Carolina, Mississippi State and Arkansas — that is going to give Eli Drinkwitz’s team much of a boost in the eyes of CFP committee members.
Vanderbilt cornerback Jaylin Lackey reacts after Auburn place kicker Alex McPherson missed a field goal during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/ Butch Dill)AP
8. Vanderbilt (6-3, 3-2)
Last week’s ranking: 8
Last week’s game: Beat Auburn, 17-7
This week’s game: vs. South Carolina, 3:15 p.m., SEC Network
The good times continue for Diego Pavia and the Commodores, who have now beaten Alabama and Auburn in the same season for the first time since 1955. The win over the Tigers at Jordan-Hare was less of a thrill ride than the shocker over the Crimson Tide in Nashville back on Oct. 5, but no less satisfying in the end. Clark Lea’s team is bowl-eligible and back in the Top 25, and looks to continue the fun when it hosts hot-and-cold South Carolina on Saturday. LSU and Tennessee after the bye week is a tough way to end the season, but the Commodores are playing with house money at this point.
Mississippi coach Lane Kiffin reacts after an offensive pass interference call in the end zone against them during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)AP
7. Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2)
Last week’s ranking: 7
Last week’s game: Beat Arkansas, 63-31
This week’s game: vs. Georgia, 2:30 p.m., ABC
The Rebels’ offense we had been waiting on for weeks finally showed up in Fayetteville on Saturday. Ole Miss piled up 694 yards and 63 points behind Jaxson Dart — who set a program record for passing yards (515) — and Jordan Watkins — who tied the SEC mark for touchdown catches (5). The Rebels were also salty on defense, forcing turnovers and harassing the Arkansas quarterbacks all day. But all those yards and points will be meaningless if Lane Kiffin’s team doesn’t at least put forth a representative effort against Georgia this week. A win of course would vault Ole Miss back into the playoff and SEC championship conversations. A loss would render this just another good-but-not-great season.
LSU wide receiver Aaron Anderson (1) races to the end zone for a 76 yard catch and run as LSU safety Dashawn Spears (10) tries to catch him during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)AP
6. LSU (6-2, 3-1)
Last week’s ranking: 6
Last week’s game: Open date
This week’s game: vs. Alabama, 6:30 p.m., ABC
The Tigers come out of their open date and straight into a College Football Playoff elimination game vs. Alabama, adding some spice to a rivalry that has had high stakes most years in the last decade-and-a-half. Even before Nick Saban arrived at Alabama, LSU appeared to have a psychological barrier vs. the Crimson Tide in Baton Rouge. The Crimson Tide has lost only five times at Tiger Stadium in the last half-century. One of those was of course two years ago, and Brian Kelly will certainly pull out all the stops trying to put together another winning game plan. Should LSU win this one, the Tigers would be in excellent position for at least a spot in the SEC championship game.
Alabama running back Justice Haynes (22) runs for a touchdown against Missouri as Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams (2) looks on during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP
5. Alabama (6-2, 3-2)
Last week’s ranking: 5
Last week’s game: Open date
This week’s game: at LSU, 6:30 p.m., ABC
Saban’s retirement and Alabama’s midseason struggles have removed a tiny bit of luster from the annual game with LSU, but the stakes are still extremely high for the Crimson Tide. Another loss would eliminate any hopes of a playoff berth, something even the most pessimistic Alabama fan thought was inevitable even with the coaching change. Kalen DeBoer’s team played continues to be wildly inconsistent and has not handled road adversity well, so it’s anyone’s guess what we’ll see from the Crimson Tide in Baton Rouge. The defense appears to have improved of late, but a return to form by quarterback Jalen Milroe would be a huge boost.
Texas A&M wide receiver Jabre Barber (1) makes a 2-yard touchdown reception late in the first half of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)AP
4. Texas A&M (7-2, 5-1)
Last week’s ranking: 2
Last week’s game: Lost to South Carolina, 44-20
This week’s game: Open date
The Aggies were in the SEC driver’s seat before they ran into a ditch in Columbia, not only getting shredded by South Carolina’s offense, but failing time and time again in big situations. Texas A&M came up twice on fourth-and-1 and also turned the ball over twice at inopportune moments, failing altogether to score in the second half. Still, Mike Elko’s team is in the thick of the conference and playoff race, just not in control of it. Following the open date, the Aggies get New Mexico State and Auburn before a showdown with Texas in College Station on Nov. 30.
Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson (6) runs for yardage during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)AP
3. Tennessee (7-1, 4-1)
Last week’s ranking: 4
Last week’s game: Beat Kentucky, 28-18
This week’s game: vs. Mississippi State, 6 p.m., ESPN
The Volunteers rode Dylan Sampson and a strong defense once again in their comeback win over the Wildcats, in which they trailed 10-7 at halftime. Tennessee did manage to score in the first half this time, which is definitely progress. Still, Josh Heupel’s team has positioned itself well for a College Football Playoff spot heading into the final four weeks. The Nov. 16 game at Georgia will be massive, as should the regular-season finale at Vanderbilt. The Vols can wind up in the playoff with a split; they’ll play for the SEC title and a top 4 seed if they sweep.
Texas tight end Gunnar Helm, left, celebrates with place-kicker Bert Auburn, right, after the team’s win against Vanderbilt in an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)AP
2. Texas (7-1, 3-1)
Last week’s ranking: 3
Last week’s game: Open date
This week’s game: vs. Florida, 11 a.m., ABC
After stubbing its toe vs. Georgia and surviving vs. Vanderbilt, the Longhorns can gear it down a little bit against a trio of flawed teams the next three weeks. Quinn Ewers got a chance to rest during the bye week and should be back to form after looking not quite right last time out. Florida, Arkansas and Kentucky are all banged up at quarterback, and Texas should be able to keep all three from mounting much of a threat offensively. Assuming the Longhorns take care of business before then, the Nov. 30 game at Texas A&M will likely be for a spot in the SEC championship game. A trip to Atlanta in its first year in the conference would be quite an accomplishment for Steve Sarkisian’s team.
Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) looks for a receiver during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)AP
1. Georgia (7-1, 5-1)
Last week’s ranking: 1
Last week’s game: Beat Florida, 34-20
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This week’s game: at Ole Miss, 2:30 p.m., ABC
The Bulldogs do what they often have done in the last few years, and play just well enough to win. The good news is that Georgia outscored Florida 28-7 in the second half and has now won four straight in the “World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party” for the first time since the Herschel Walker glory days of the early 1980s. The bad news is they didn’t look great in doing it. Quarterback Carson Beck has thrown three interceptions in back-to-back games, and more than one in four of his last five. Such sloppiness is likely to catch up with Georgia against someone other than Alabama at some point. The way Ole Miss can score, the Bulldogs might not be able to climb out of a hole this week. Still, Georgia has more talent than anyone it will face, and controls its destiny for the SEC championship game and College Football Playoff.
Creg Stephenson has worked for AL.com since 2010 and covered college football for a variety of publications since 1994. Contact him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @CregStephenson.
Nov. 4 is Election Day with voters deciding on the next U.S. President.
Polls in Alabama will open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. You can go to the Secretary of State’s website to find your voting information.
Go here and put in your first and last name and date of birth. Hit “enter” and you will be directed to the name and number of your polling location, its address and a map. The same page includes a drop-down menu that shows your districts for any city, county, state and national races.
Alabama requires voters to show ID at the polling place. Acceptable ID includes:
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Valid Alabama Driver’s License – Must be current or not expired for more than 60 days
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Digital Driver’s License
Valid Alabama Nondriver ID – Must be current or not expired for more than 60 days
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Digital Nondriver ID
Valid Alabama Photo Voter ID Card
Valid State-Issued ID (Alabama or any other state)
Examples
Valid AL Department of Corrections Release – Temporary ID (Photo Required)
Valid AL Movement/Booking Sheet from Prison/Jail System (Photo Required)
Valid Pistol Permit (Photo Required)
Valid Federal-Issued ID
Valid US passport
Valid Employee ID from Federal Government, State of Alabama, County, Municipality, Board, or other entity of this state
Valid student or employee ID from a public or private college or university in the State of Alabama (including postgraduate technical or professional schools)
Digital student ID from a public or private college or university in the State of Alabama (including postgraduate technical or professional schools)
Valid student or employee ID issued by a state institution of higher learning in any other state
Digital student ID issued by a state institution of higher learning in any other state
Immigration debates are not new to Alabama, but the issue has played a large role in both national and state elections, now one day away.
Local officials in a handful of Alabama towns have confronted what they called “baseless accusations and hurtful rhetoric” about Haitian migrants and other new arrivals in recent months. A key question: How is immigration changing Alabama schools?
AL.com took a look at migration and school enrollment trends across the state, over periods of 10 to 25 years up to 2023, the most recent year of available data. What we found shows a complex picture of immigration in Alabama. Scroll down to see local data and trends.
Figures continue to ask questions about both national and state immigration. In September, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall met with law enforcement in Talladega County, following unfounded claims from former President Donald Trump’s campaign about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, eating their neighbors’ pets. In October, Gov. Kay Ivey and Lt. Gov Will Ainsworth publicly criticized the federal migrant asylum program, which allows people from certain countries to come to America for two years as long as they have a financial sponsor.
Caroleene Dobson, Republican candidate in the closely watched 2nd Congressional District, recently said she wants to push for legislation to require more information about migrant workers. She said undocumented immigrants are “flooding our public school classrooms, emergency rooms, and other public facilities.”
While the country has seen recent spikes in migrants crossing the southern United States border, recent research suggests that only a small share of Americans live in communities that are seeing significant shifts.
The same is true in Alabama, according to census data. In fact, many counties have seen declines in their foreign-born population – especially among school-aged-children – in the past decade.
Congregants attend Eglise Porte Etroite, a Creole-language church which has gone from seven attendees to close to 300 in under 15 years, in Albertville, Ala., Sept. 29, 2024.(AP Photo/Safiyah Riddle)
Where communities have seen shifts, such as Albertville, it can take time to separate facts from rumors. Local officials told AL.com they had seen no increase in crime since a small group of Haitian immigrants arrived.
“These workers are coming in to pay for taxes, they‘re paying in for our system, and they’re making it possible for you and me to receive Social Security, to receive our retirement benefits,” Hector Baeza, the federal programs director at Gadsden City Schools, told AL.com.
Baeza, who started working at the small, north Alabama district in the mid-1990s, has seen the system‘s English learner population grow from just over 100 students to more than 700 this school year. Typically, about 20-30% of English learners are students who have recently arrived to the United States or who are children of migrant workers.
“They‘re coming in and they’re providing for their family, but they’re also providing for me,” he said. “It just takes all of us together to be able to be a productive country.”
Immigration in Alabama, by the numbers
Foreign-born immigrants make up about 4% of Alabama’s population, compared to 14.3% nationwide, according to 2023 American Community Survey data.
That’s up from 3.5% in 2022 – a big jump after nearly a decade of slow growth.
About 98,000, or 9.6%, of Alabama children under 18 have one or more parents who were foreign born, up from 2.1% in 1990. Just 1% of Alabama children, about 13,500, are also foreign born, according to the latest census surveys.
Experts say that more and more migrant workers from Mexico and Central America are likely coming to Alabama from states like Florida and Texas, possibly accounting for changes in the older population.
“What we are seeing is not so much births, but definitely migration,” said Rafael Gonzalez, a program director with the Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama. “That’s what’s pushing it, and that’s mostly around that age between 16 to 54 which is primary working age.”
Gonzalez said that many migrants are driven by economic opportunities, particularly in industries like agriculture and construction.
Still, birth rates among Hispanic immigrants, who make up the majority of foreign-born residents in the state, skew higher than those of native-born residents, Gonzalez noted. That could mean schools may continue to see a climb in English learners.
And while it’s difficult to gauge more recent population shifts, he and other advocates are urging state officials to embrace future growth by bolstering language support and access to more high-skilled jobs.
“What happens with levels of educational attainment that are not so great for the jobs that are out there is that it tends to also drive down the median household income of an area,” he said.
“I think we’re in a good position to be able to anticipate those problems, because Alabama hasn’t grown like these other states, but it’s poised to grow.”
Where has immigration grown in Alabama? Where has it declined?
More Alabama immigrants also are becoming naturalized citizens. In 2022, 42% of all foreign-born Alabamians were naturalized, compared to 31% in 2012.
But Gonzalez and other researchers urge some caution when looking at annual census survey data, rather than 10-year household counts. Undocumented immigrants may feel especially wary about self-disclosing any personal information to the government.
“It tells the story of a population that tends to be a little bit in the shadows and likely not to want to kind of out themselves,” Gonzalez said. “Where that becomes kind of problematic is you can’t really articulate a clear picture of where that population is from year to year.”
Even with those caveats in mind, experts are sure of one key fact: much of the growth is concentrated in pockets across Alabama.
Franklin County in North Alabama has the state’s largest share of immigrants, who make up 8.7% of the population. It is followed by Marshall and DeKalb County, where immigrants make up about 7% of the population.
From 2012 to 2022, 27 counties have seen declines in their immigrant population, with Monroe, Henry and Coosa County seeing the steepest dips.
Greene, Pickens and Sumter County have seen some of the largest changes in the share of immigrants who now live in those areas, while Madison County has seen the biggest overall increase, with about 10,000 more foreign-born residents calling the county home.
Impact on school systems
“There’s a lot of rhetoric about recent immigrants and how they affect school systems,” said Umut Özek, a researcher with RAND who has looked at the effects of English learners in “new destination” states that have seen bigger populations of immigrants arrive in recent years.
“But much of those debates typically take place in empirical vacuums, because there’s no research to test those different hypotheses and anecdotes.”
In Gadsden, immigrant students are drum majors, school ambassadors, and star athletes, Baeza said.
Nancy Blanco, an ESL and world languages coordinator at Birmingham City Schools, said she has seen many of her English learner students outperform their peers once they’ve grasped the English language.
In recent years, Birmingham schools have enrolled a growing proportion of immigrant students and refugees.
“It’s something that inevitably gets politicized, but at the end of the day we’re just trying to do our best for children who are our students,” she said. “And we have to remember that these are children who deserve and are legally entitled to every opportunity that their native English-speaking peers have.”
“We all want the best for our kids, she added. “And often, our immigrant families come with a really strong sense of family, faith, and are excited for the opportunities that they will have to work and contribute to the community, and are excited for the opportunities that their kids will have to learn and advance in their education.”
Officials estimate that nationwide, the amount of people coming into the U.S. is only slightly higher than those leaving the country.
“What we have seen in the past ten years or so is that the net immigration rate is practically zero,” said Oscar Jiménez-Castellanos, an endowed professor and executive director for the Center for Latino Achievement and Success in Education at the University of Georgia.
“There have been a lot of folks that actually have returned to their home countries,” he said. “So that’s something really interesting to take a look at – it debunks that myth of an ‘invasion.’”
About the data: The Alabama Education Lab took a look at citizenship and migration data, as well as English learner enrollment in schools to understand the scope of immigration trends in the state. Data for EL students was compiled from federal and state education statistics from the 1998-99 school year to 2022-23. We used 2009 to 2022 five-year estimates from the American Community Survey to analyze county-level immigration patterns and included new 2023 one-year estimates to look at broader state and national trends.
A tropical disturbance in the Caribbean Sea could become Tropical Storm Rafael later today.
The National Hurricane Center thinks the potential Rafael will strengthen to a hurricane in a few days, and it is on a path toward the Gulf of Mexico.
The storm could be in the central Gulf by the end of the work week, but forecasters expect it to weaken as it moves into more unfavorable conditions near the northern Gulf Coast.
What happens after that is very uncertain, according to the hurricane center and the National Weather Service.
As of 6 a.m. CST Monday, Potential Tropical Cyclone 18 was located about 220 miles south of Kingston, Jamaica, and was tracking to the north at 7 mph.
The storm had winds of 35 mph. It needs a defined surface circulation and winds of at east 39 mph to become Tropical Storm Rafael. That could happen as soon as today, according to the hurricane center.
The potential Rafael could strengthen quickly after that and become a hurricane by early Wednesday morning.
On the hurricane center’s forecast track, the storm is expected to move near Jamaica tonight, be near or over the Cayman Islands on Tuesday and approach Cuba on Wednesday.
Forecasters said hurricane conditions will be possible in the Cayman Islands by Tuesday afternoon
The storm could bring 3 to 6 inches of rain to parts of Jamaica and Cuba through the middle of the week.
More rain will spread to parts of Florida and eventually the Southeast U.S. later this week.
A hurricane warning is now in effect for the Cayman Islands, and a tropical storm warning continues for Jamaica.
POSSIBLE ALABAMA IMPACTS
The National Weather Service offices in Alabama continued to watch the evolution of the storm on Monday.
The weather service in Mobile said that there is an “unusually large amount of uncertainty with the movement of this system later in the week.”
Forecasters said it is too early to know with any certainty what coastal areas could face as far as storm surge, rain amounts and wind potential.
What is more certain is that the storm will generate rough surf and a high risk of rip currents along the Alabama and northwest Florida coastline this week.
The weather service in Birmingham also said that there was considerable uncertainty about how the Gulf storm could affect the rest of Alabama later this week.
Forecasters said “forecast confidence decreases significantly for Thursday through Sunday and rain chances will hinge on the potential for isentropic lift and progression of the system in the Gulf of Mexico.”
Best-case scenario is a weak system that doesn’t cause any damage but brings beneficial rainfall to Alabama, which is mired in various stages of drought.
Here is the latest report on Alabama’s drought conditions:
All of Alabama is now either in a drought or on the verge of one. This week’s drought report, shown above, shows the driest areas are in southwest and north Alabama.U.S. Drought Monitor
Those along the Gulf Coast and through Alabama are urged to keep a close eye on the forecast through the week.
ELSEWHERE IN THE TROPICS
In addition to the Caribbean system (Potential Tropical Cyclone 18), there is also Tropical Storm Patty far to the east and a tropical disturbance near the Bahamas and Cuba.NHC
The National Hurricane Center was also monitoring Tropical Storm Patty in the northeastern Atlantic on Monday. Patty transitioned from a subtropical storm to a fully tropical system on Sunday but is expected to lose all those features later today and become a post-tropical storm.
Patty could bring 3 to 6 inches of rain to parts of Portugal and Spain, however.
Tropical Storm Patty is expected to become a post-tropical system later today.NHC
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There will also be another tropical disturbance to watch near the Bahamas and Cuba this week.
The hurricane center said an area of low pressure could develop near the northern Leeward Islands in a few days. It has a low chance of development (20 percent) into a tropical depression as it heads westward this week.
The Atlantic hurricane season has a few weeks left to go. The last day will be Nov. 30.
