Alabama Rep. Thomas Jackson, D-Thomasville, has pre-filed a bill that would allow registered voters to vote prior to election day.
This bill would require each county to provide at least one early voting center to be open during the week immediately preceding election day, according to its text.
It specifies that the centers cannot allow people to vote less than four days or more than six days during the one-week period immediately preceding election day.
On weekdays and Saturdays, the centers would be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays, they would be open from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
If the governing body of a county opts to establish more than one early voting center, the bill says officials will have the sole authority to configure the centers’ boundaries.
County officials will also control what days the centers are open, provided they allow people to vote between four and six days prior to election day.
Alabama lawmakers have shown increased interest in establishing early voting this year as the state remains one of only three without any way of doing it.
“I think we need to see what other states are doing,” said Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, a former General Fund chairman in the Alabama House, advocating for a study or an analysis of how much early voting costs elsewhere.
But many state officials remain opposed to the idea.
“Since before I was elected as Secretary of State, I have been clear that I believe in Election Day, not election month,” said Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, a former Republican state lawmaker from Troy.
“Alabamians deserve a fair, secure, and transparent election. Initiatives like no excuse absentee voting, unsolicited mass mail voting, curbside ballot drop boxes, and same-day voter registration can lead to chaos and confusion, like we have seen in other states.”
Jackson’s bill is currently pending action in the House Committee on Constitution, Campaigns and Elections.
Read MoreElkmont Police arrested a Limestone County man this week on multiple charges after he allegedly assaulted his parents.
On Tuesday, November 5, 2024, a 911 call was placed for an assault in progress in the 25000 block of Children St. in Elkmont, AL, from a good Samaritan, according to a release from the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office.
Elkmont Police Chief Donny Johns responded and found an elderly male and female severely beaten and bleeding.
Charlie Cain Jr., 55, fled from Chief Johns on foot toward the Richard Martin Walking Trail and was later located by Captain Caleb Durden and Chief Johns in the woods along the walking trail about a mile from the scene.
Cain was taken into custody and Investigator Jesse Gibson determined that the victims were Cain’s parents.
This week Cain was charged with the following, according to the release:
-Elder Abuse 1st degree for assaulting his mother (No Bond Set)
-Elder Abuse 2nd degree for assaulting his father (No Bond Set)
-Domestic Violence 3 Criminal Mischief 3rd (No Bond Set)
-Violation of a Domestic Violence Protection Order (No Bond Set)
-Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement (Bond $2500)
-Public Intoxication (Bond $500)
-Resisting Arrest (Bond $1000)
-Warrant – DUI (Bond $1000)
“The Protecting Alabama’s Elders Act states that a person commits the crime of elder abuse and neglect in the first degree if he or she intentionally abuses or neglects any elderly person and the abuse or neglect causes serious physical injury to the elderly person,” the release reads.
“Elder abuse and neglect in the first degree is a Class A felony. A person commits the crime of elder abuse in the second degree if he or she intentionally abuses or neglects any elderly person and the abuse or neglect causes physical injury to the elderly person. Elder abuse and neglect in the second degree is a Class B felony.”
Read MoreThe city of Birmingham this week approved authority for City Attorney Nicole King to settle a longstanding dispute with the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church over an abandoned half-built cathedral near Protective Stadium.
The city declined to release any details of the proposed settlement, and a church official said it’s not finalized.
Read MoreFlorida men’s basketball coach Todd Golden has been accused of sexual harassment by several female students, according to a report Friday by the school’s student newspaper.
The Independent Alligator is reporting that an “undefined” number of women filed a formal Title IX complaint with the university on Sept. 27, accusing him of conduct that could violate the school’s gender equity policy. The complaint alleges that over the course of a year, the 39-year-old Golden — who is married — engaged in behavior that could be defined as stalking and sexual exploitation.
According to the report, Golden allegedly sent photos and videos of his genitalia to women, made unwanted sexual advances via Instagram and requested sexual favors. He is also accused of taking photos of women without their consent and then sending the pictures to them, and “showing up to locations where he knew the women would be.”
The university cited federal law in refusing to either confirm or deny the existence of a Title IX complaint, though The Alligator reports that it obtained documents from the case and quoted two of Golden’s accusers in its story. The school’s athletic department has not yet publicly responded to the allegations.
Golden is in his third season at Florida, which is 2-0 after an 81-60 win over Jacksonville on Thursday night. The Gators went 24-12 and reached the NCAA tournament in 2023-24, and next play Monday at home vs. Grambling State.
Read MoreA spicy favorite is headed back to McDonald’s.
The Spicy Chicken McNuggets are available at participating restaurants for a limited time.
McDonald’s Spicy McNuggets are made with a crispy tempura coating spiced with a blend of cayenne and chili pepper. The bites have come on and off the menu since they made their McDonald’s debut in 2020, reports PEOPLE.
So far, McDonald’s said participating markets include — but are not limited to — Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Memphis and New York.
Customers can order the Spicy McNuggets as a 4-piece, 6-piece, 10-piece, 20-piece and 40-piece.
In October, the chain announced the return of the Chicken Big Mac, The sandwich features the same toppings as the Big Mac but with two tempura battered chicken patties, in place of the beef patties. Back in 2022, the sandwich was tested as a limited-time offer in Miami. The sandwich has been popular internationally, particularly in the U.K. and Australia.
Read MoreThe Homewood Planning Commission approved a major renovation proposal for a new 131,000-square-foot medical facility in the old Belk department store space at Brookwood Village.
The Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center’s proposed development plan received a 6-2 committee vote, although there was some opposition from the public.
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Read MoreFor years, Donald Trump has made derogatory statements about Latinos and immigrants. Still, Trump captured 47% of the Latino vote in 2024—a wider margin than he ever has before and the highest share ever for a Republican presidential candidate.
The shift reveals a complex intersection of economic concerns, social media influence and changing cultural dynamics, particularly among young Latino men. Trends reveal that Latinos are voting more conservatively, even in major cities like Chicago and Philadelphia.
“Young Hispanics do not have the same muscle memory as their grandparents who voted for Democrats for 50 years,” Republican media strategist Giancarlo Sopo, who worked on Latino outreach for Trump’s 2020 campaign, told Reuters Thursday.
Young Latino men in particular who may be raised in conservative households are additionally consuming “manosphere” content which promotes hypermasculinity and the same content creators they’re following have expressed alliance to Trump.
While political analysts often treat Latino voters as a unified bloc, their backgrounds span from fifth-generation Mexican Americans in Texas to recent Venezuelan immigrants in Florida, each group bringing distinct political perspectives and priorities..
For instance, Americas Society/Council of the Americas (AS/COA) breakdown of the Latino vote by heritage shows Cubans led the Latino vote for Trump with 58%. Historically, most Cubans in the U.S. are Republican and have higher voter turnout than other Latino communities. Through Cold War conflict, this group has also been granted entrance into the U.S. in which no other Latino group has been allowed, making for a different immigrant story and placing a distance between Cubans in America and other refugees and immigrants.
“Despite our good fortune, far too many Cuban Americans in South Florida heartlessly espouse MAGA-fueled anti-immigration sentiments toward equally worthy refugees. Too often, my fellow Cuban Americans let their sense of exceptionalism cloud their hearts. Have decades of comfort snuffed out their empathy?” Cuban American columnist Lizette Alvarez wrote in a 2022 Washington Post op-ed.
For comparison, South Americans were the second largest group of Latinos for Trump, 41% of the vote. Followed by 37% of Puerto Ricans and 36% of Central Americans. About 33% of Mexicans voted for Trump, according to AS/COA data.
Immigration is a prominent Latino origin story, but that has changed. Not only are 81% of Latinos in the U.S. citizens, but most are U.S. born. In 2020, 68% of Latinos in the country were born here, up from 60% in 2000, according to UCLA.
Balta said that politicians view Latinos through their race and culture, but aren’t appealing to how Latinos view themselves: as Americans. Many of whom are blue collar workers who feel ignored by the establishment.
“So when we’re talking about the Latino electorate, we’re talking about American citizens and not just naturalized citizens… and then you’re also talking about second, third [and] in Texas four and five generations of Latinos, so they very much see themselves as Americans,” he said.
Though distanced from their country of origin, many of which have heavy religious and machismo influences in their culture, young U.S. born Latinos are facing a new wave of conservatism pushed by the media they consume.
Trump’s historic gains with Latino voters came despite a long history of controversial statements about the community. In his 2015 presidential campaign announcement, he characterized Mexican immigrants as “bringing drugs…crime… rapists.” His promised Mexican border wall remained largely unbuilt, with Mexico refusing to spend a dime. More recently, he targeted Venezuelan immigrants as criminals and made unsubstantiated claims about Haitian immigrants eating cats and dogs during the 2024 presidential debate against Vice President Kamala Harris.
The latest Latino-aimed mishap came during an Oct. 27 Trump rally at Madison Square Garden when comedian Tony Hinchcliffe referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” a statement that didn’t land well in a city home to 574,000 Puerto Ricans.
Despite all of this, Trump made historic gains among Latino voters.
More Latinos voted for Trump this year than in past elections, gaining 45% of the vote, 13% more than he did in 2020, according to NBC exit polls, a record high for a Republican presidential candidate. Though intersectional data on how many young Latinos chose Trump has not been released, the exit poll data that is available reveals a lot:
“While the dust is still settling on how Latinos actually voted in this election, it’s clear that our community is primarily concerned with the economy and the same pocketbook issues as other Americans, such as the rising costs of food, housing and other essentials. Deep concerns with inflation and making ends meet almost singularly drove how Hispanics voted in this election,” UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía said in a statement on Thursday.
Throughout the political season polls consistently showed that the economy was the top issue for the vast majority of Latinos. Polling published by Pew Research Center in September found that 85% of Latinos said the economy was important for their vote this year, but among Latinos who said they were voting for Trump 93% cited the economy as their top issue, followed by violent crime, 73%, and immigration, 71%.
“Latinos were saying, ‘I don’t care what Trump says. I want to be able to pay the bills. I want to be able to send my kid to college. I want to pay the mortgage, to afford a new car,’” University of Houston political science professor Jeronimo Cortina told Axios.
Publisher of Latino News Network, Hugo Balta, shared with Illinois Public Media that Latinos were able to look past Trump’s remarks because affording to support their families is more important.
“People are appalled by it and certainly are against it but they’re not voting necessarily based on Donald Trump’s rhetoric, disparaging comments, [or] insults to the Latino community, they’re voting to put food on the table, to put a roof over their head and to support their families,” Balta said.
Young people who attended the Democratic National Convention in August also told Reckon that the economy was a core issue in their decision-making at the polls.
“[The economy is] something I think is in the back of young Americans’ minds for almost every decision, and something I think about all the time,” 24-year-old Jessica Siles said. “It’s definitely helped decide for me what areas I can and can’t live in.”
Both candidates attempted to meet young people online by implementing social media into their campaigns in interesting ways which haven’t been done before. Harris’ use of Charlie XCX’s lime green brat imagery and borrowing of Chappel Roan’s Midwest Princess camo hat gained traction among young women and queer folks. Harris appeared on the Call Her Daddy podcast, while Trump opted for Theo Von and Joe Rogan, whose audience alone reaches over 14.5 million followers —predominantly young men.
Leading up to Election Day Trump received endorsements or support from many stars of the manosphere, an online ecosystem of male-focused content promoting traditional masculinity and anti-feminist views. These included Twitter/X owner Elon Musk’s ongoing support and a Nov. 4 endorsement from Rogan. The Joe Rogan Experience is the top streaming podcast with an audience consisting of 80% males, 51% between the ages of 18 and 34, and 21% identifying as Hispanic or Latino, according to Edison Research.
Trends have shown Gen Z men leaning more conservative, feeling that their future is uncertain and their identities are threatened, according to the 2023 State of American Men report by Equimundo, an organization working to promote gender equity by engaging men and boys in partnership with other genders. The report also revealed that 53% of men believe that men in America today have it harder than women and that men between the ages of 18 to 23 have the least amount of optimism for their future and the lowest levels of social support.
The gender divide among Latino voters reflects a dramatic national shift. While young Latino men are increasingly drawn to conservative media and traditional masculinity, Gallup data shows young women ages 18-29 are moving sharply left. The ideological gap between young men and women has quintupled since 2000, with young women now 15% more likely to identify as liberal than their male counterparts. This polarization extends beyond politics—71% of Democratic college students say they wouldn’t date someone who voted for the opposing presidential candidate, suggesting these ideological divisions could reshape social relationships within Latino communities.
This leaves many men to seek community in the manosphere, which has helped push extremist ideology around gender roles into young men’s minds and American politics.
“It is a subculture that seems to give young men a sense of identity and belonging in a world where they’re not really finding that elsewhere,” Margot Peppers, consumer trends editor at Foresight Factory, who conducted a report on the rise of anti feminism in the U.S. last year, told Reckon in January.
Key figures in this movement like Andrew Tate promote male dominance and incel rhetoric, which has been linked to violent crime in some males.
The identity of Latino men is the U.S is shifting, deepening the machismo ideology they may have grown up around through consumption of American-bred white supremacy and male dominance.
Read MoreIt’s must-see TV anytime Alabama travels to Baton Rouge for a night game against LSU.
The already intense college football rivalry is taken up a notch when you consider the SEC championship implications and Alabama’s national championship odds. Both teams have two losses, and a third would crush any postseason dreams.
The Alabama versus LSU odds are calling for the Tide to win a high-scoring game, and below are my three favorite prop bets for the SEC clash.
Odds: -115 at Caesars
QB Jalen Milroe has been far less effective as a runner since SEC play began. However, I predict Milroe’s rushing stats will spike against LSU’s subpar defense.
The Tigers surrender 130 rushing yards per game and have allowed the second-most rushing touchdowns in the conference.
LSU hasn‘t done well against mobile QBs. South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers gashed the Tigers for 88 yards and two touchdowns, and Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed had 62 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Running the ball hasn’t always been easy for Alabama this season, but it should be a strength against the Tigers’ suspect defense.
Last year when these teams played, Milroe had the best rushing performance of his career. He racked up 155 yards, gained 7.8 yards per carry and found the end zone four times.
I don’t expect similar numbers Saturday night because of LSU’s defensive improvement from 2023. The Tigers do an excellent job rushing the passer and have 28 sacks.
However, 40+ rushing yards is more than attainable for Milroe.
Odds: -115 at bet365
WR Ryan Williams’ receiving yards have diminished after a hot start to his freshman campaign. Williams had 462 yards in Alabama’s first four games but only 240 yards in the last four.
WR Germie Bernard’s stats aren’t eye-popping, but the Washington transfer has been making up for Williams’ drop-off. Bernard tallied 70 yards or more in four straight games and has a knack for producing explosive plays.
A matchup with LSU bodes well, considering the Tigers allow the fifth-most passing yards in the SEC. While Williams draws most of the attention from LSU’s secondary, I’m betting on Bernard getting favorable matchups and surpassing his receiving yards prop.
Odds: +110 at FanDuel
FanDuel’s unadjusted over/under for Alabama versus LSU is 58.5. The odds increase from -110 to +110 if you add two points and wager on the alternate total.
More than 60 points have been scored in four of the past five meetings between the Crimson Tide and Tigers. The game cruised past that total in 2023, when Alabama beat LSU, 42-28.
Neither team has a consistent rushing attack, but both defenses have struggled against the run. It should be a shootout if both offenses bust out of their typical one-dimensional schemes.
Alabama has only 18 sacks on the season, and LSU’s offensive line has done a phenomenal job of protecting QB Garrett Nussmeier. The Tigers have surrendered the second-fewest sacks in FBS.
If LSU can pound the rock, it’ll give Nussmeier more time in the pocket to hit star WRs Kyren Lacy and Aaron Anderson. The pair have combined for 1,232 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Milroe tore up LSU’s defense last season, but the Tide lacked a play-making WR in 2023. Williams fits that mold and will help Alabama match LSU’s scoring if the Tigers offense has a hot start.
Read MoreFasten your chinstraps, college football fans. Alabama faces LSU in Baton Rouge at night on Saturday. It will be one of the most electric atmospheres of the season.
Alabama (6-2 SU, 4-4 ATS) already has lost two SEC games, but it could get a marquee win in head coach Kalen DeBoer’s first season by topping the Tigers (6-2 SU, 3-5 ATS) in prime time.
The Crimson Tide have dominated this rivalry, going 11-2 against LSU since the 2012 BCS Championship game that they won. However, when they met in Baton Rouge two seasons ago, LSU scored a 32-31 win.
Alabama is a three-point favorite, and the total is a lofty 58 points. Here are our Alabama vs. LSU predictions and best bets.
Note: Odds are based on the best value our experts find as of publication; check lines closer to game time to ensure you get the best odds.
It is hard to imagine the loser of this game having a chance to be selected for the College Football Playoff’s 12-team field, so there will be a sense of desperation added to the general hatred of this rivalry.
Alabama has lost twice and will be out of the running for the SEC championship game with another loss. Alabama’s national championship odds also would take a huge hit with a loss.
With only one conference loss, LSU has a straightforward path to qualifying for the conference title game, but a loss Saturday would complicate those hopes. That’s the motivation that can put a team over the top.
The Tigers have a few trends on their side, too. Since 2016, LSU is 16-6 SU when playing a team it lost to the previous season. The Tigers are also 14-3 ATS in their last 17 conference games following a road loss.
Last but not least, in games featuring two ranked teams since 2017, home teams are 186-91 SU.
This is not the same Nick Saban-guided Alabama juggernaut of the last 16 years. The Crimson Tide got a big win over Georgia but also lost to Vanderbilt and looked shaky in a narrow victory over South Carolina.
With revenge on its mind and a potential SEC championship berth on the line, look for LSU to cover the +3 points and maybe win outright.
LSU’s running game ranks last in the SEC with 115.3 yards per game, but it has been good in some key conference games. It will have a chance to do well again Saturday against Alabama’s defense, which ranks third-worst in the league against the run.
Tigers freshman RB Caden Durham has had some clunkers in his first season, but he also has had some big performances. He ran for 98 yards and two touchdowns in a win over South Carolina and for 101 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Arkansas.
Speaking of running games, look for Alabama QB Jalen Milroe to perform well on the ground. Milroe has 12 rushing TDs this season and has scored in every game but the loss at Tennessee.
In last season’s game against LSU, Milroe rushed 20 times for 155 yards and four touchdowns. The juice is high on his anytime TD prop for this game for a reason. He’s going to find the end zone Saturday.
Best odds: -138 at FanDuel Sportsbook
Following a three-week stretch that featured two losses and one too-close-for-comfort win, Alabama righted the ship with a 34-0 victory over No. 21-ranked Missouri. If the Crimson Tide truly turned the corner last week, they will be well-positioned to beat LSU on Saturday.
Alabama’s defense was great against Missouri, and its offense returned to the level it had early in the season.
LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier is coming off a three-interception game against Texas A&M. If Alabama can make some big defensive plays early, it could force doubt into Nussmeier’s mind. That’s a terrible mentality for a quarterback.
Best odds: +125 at bet365 Sportsbook
The Tigers are the second-best passing team in the SEC with 332.8 yards per game but the worst rushing offense. The bonus this weekend is that Alabama has been average against the run. Even in last week’s shutout win over Missouri, the Crimson Tide allowed 167 rushing yards.
That bodes well for LSU’s offense to succeed on the ground. When the ground game is successful, the passing game opens up. The Tigers haven’t had a lot of balance on offense, but they should Saturday.
That’s how you win in the SEC.
Read MoreHallmark is kicking off the 2024 Christmas season early this year with three new Christmas movies set to premiere this weekend.
These new Hallmark holiday movies include Trivia at St. Nick’s on Friday, Santa Tell Me on Saturday and ‘Tis the Season to Be Irish on Sunday.
Those without basic cable can still watch new Hallmark Christmas movies the same day they premiere with either Philo or Fubo. Both offer free trials for new subscribers, however, Philo is the cheaper option at $28 a month after its 7-day free trial.
Philo is also the only option that also offers the Lifetime channel for those who want to watch Lifetime’s new Holiday movies this year as well.
Those who do have regular cable can also watch these new movies the day after they premiere using the Lifetime app.
Be sure to check out more details about these upcoming HallmarkChristmas movies below.
“Trivia at St. Nick’s” will premiere this Friday on the Hallmark channel.(Hallmark)
Premiere Date: Friday, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (7 p.m. Central Time)
Synopsis: When students all flee an elite university in Vermont for winter break, the locals and faculty hunker down for their favorite time of year – the annual Christmas Bar Trivia Tournament! For Celeste (Sursok), a Type-A astronomy professor, this event combines the magic of Christmas with her greatest comfort in life: knowing the right answer. But when her colleague drops out of the tournament to do a month-long lecture tour in Asia, Celeste’s team must adopt Max (Daugherty), the football team’s new offensive coordinator. To Celeste, Max seems like nothing more than a grown-up class clown – though he brings an undeniable knowledge of sports trivia (a category their team has always fallen short in).
“Santa Tell Me” will premiere this Saturday on the Hallmark channel.(Hallmark)
Premiere Date: Saturday, Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (7 p.m. Central Time)
Synopsis: When Olivia, a successful interior designer, finds an old letter from Santa promising she’ll meet the love of her life by Christmas Eve—and that his name will be Nick—she’s stunned to meet not one, but three guys named Nick. As she navigates these holiday romances, Olivia also finds herself drawn to her charming co-worker, Chris, throwing her magical Christmas quest into question. With the clock ticking toward Christmas Eve, Olivia embarks on a heartwarming and humorous journey to uncover her true soulmate.
“‘Tis the Season to Be Irish” will premiere this Sunday on the Hallmark channel.(Hallmark)
Premiere Date: Sunday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time (7 p.m. Central Time)
Synopsis: Rose, a nomadic house flipper, heads to Ireland to renovate and sell a cottage, but her plans are upended when she meets Sean, a local realtor determined to preserve his town’s heritage. As she works on the cottage and embraces Irish Christmas traditions, Rose finds herself falling for Sean and questioning her fear of settling down. Together, they must confront their pasts and discover if love is worth taking root.
Read More