Category: General

General

Lions, tigers and the quiz: Down in Alabama

The podcast player and daily report are below. First, the Alabama news quiz:

Listen to the podcast or read the report beneath it:

Lions in Florence …

The University of North Alabama is considering bringing another live lion to its campus habitat, reports AL.com’s Heather Gann. The school has been surveying the community in Florence to see how folks feel about it.

The lion program has been active for most of the past 50 years. Leo III died earlier this year.

The survey is ongoing, but reaction on social media is varied. Some are concerned about the animals kept in captivity while many enjoy the tradition and like the idea of the program’s being used for education and advocacy.

The school said if it does restart the program, it will adhere to Association of Zoos and Aquariums standards for the lion’s treatment and habitat and that the $5-$7 million cost would not be paid with student tuition.

… and Tigers in Baton Rouge

Speaking of live mascots and debates, LSU reportedly may restart its tradition of having a caged live tiger at Tiger Stadium when the Alabama Crimson Tide visits on Saturday.

It’s a tradition that was paused after the death of Mike VI in 2016. Mike VII lives in a 15,000-square-foot habitat across the street from the stadium, but the reports say the school has acquired another tiger that would appear at the ballgame.

PETA is not happy about this. The animal-rights group has called it “idiotic” and said a tiger would face too much chaos and stress.

Prep football tragedy

Back in August, a 14-year-old football player collapsed on New Brockton High School’s practice field in Coffee County and later died at Medical Center Enterprise.

AL.com’s Carol Robinson reports that Coffee County Coroner Arnold Woodham has now released Semaj Wilkins’ cause of death. He said an autopsy revealed that Wilkins had died of congestive heart failure because of a coronary anomaly. That is, he had an enlarged heart that wouldn’t pump blood like it was supposed to.

The autopsy said it was due to natural causes.

Warm November breezes

A person could almost call yesterday hot. I wouldn’t, but somebody else might. If it was raining at all we’d still be cutting grass.

AL.com weather reporter Leigh Morgan reports that a pair of cities saw record highs on Thursday. Birmingham reached 86 degrees, beating the previous record high for Nov. 7 by one degree. That previous record was set two years ago.

And Huntsville reached 84 degrees, breaking its previous record of 82, also set two years ago.

Both Birmingham and Huntsville, as well as Anniston, Muscle Shoals and Tuscaloosa, were more than 10 degrees above the average high temperatures for Nov. 7.

For a little context, the nighttime lows we’ve been having in many parts of the state are about what we usually can expect for daytime highs.

Quoting

“I’m glad it’s basketball season, right? And I’m sure people that follow me on Twitter are glad it’s basketball season.”

Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl, while discussing his tendency to get political.

More Alabama News

Born on This Date

In 1929, former Samford and Florida State head football coach Bobby Bowden of Birmingham.

In 1942, singer-songwriter, longtime keyboard player for Kris Kristofferson, “the Alabama Leaning Man” Donnie Fritts.

The podcast

General

5 things we love to do in fantastic Fairhope

A half-hour or so from Mobile on the other side of Mobile Bay, Fairhope is a Coastal Alabama treasure — an easy, fun little getaway whether you want to spend an afternoon there or stay for the whole weekend.

We don’t get there often enough, but when we do, we never run out of places to go and things to do, and we always leave wishing we had more time.

General

Thanksgiving side dishes that steal the show

Yep, it’s that time of the year again, time to get over the sugar rush from Halloween and commence planning something really frightening: Thanksgiving Day.

I’m not sure if you’ve been paying attention, but the most overwhelming one-day cooking event in the year for home chefs is coming up soon. And the guest of honor will be a perfectly cooked turkey that will take its rightful place at the center of the table.

General

Prince William: King Charles and Catherine’s cancer battles ‘the hardest year in my life’

Prince William got candid this week about the “brutal” and heartbreaking year 2024 has been, as wife Kate Middleton and father King Charles have navigated their respective cancer journeys.

“It’s been dreadful,” he told People from South Africa, where he was presiding over the Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony for climate change innovation, which he founded. “It’s probably been the hardest year in my life.”

He said he’s managed by simply powering through, inspired by the strength of the king and the Princess of Wales.

“But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done,” William said. “But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.”

With three small children and royal duties, on top of a fairly new role as the Prince of Wales in the wake of the 2022 death of Queen Elizabeth II, William had his hands full.

In January, Kate underwent “planned abdominal surgery,” disappearing from public life for weeks amid speculation about her health.

The following month, King Charles announced that cancer had been discovered during a routine surgical procedure. He has been undergoing treatment while tailoring his official duties to fit it in.

Then in March, the princess announced her own cancer diagnosis in a poignant video, revealing she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy. She remained out of public life for the most part until finishing her treatment in September and has slowly begun to pick up the reins.

While she could not join William in South Africa, Princess Kate is on the mend, he said, adding she would be cheering him on from home at Windsor Castle.

“She’s doing really well thanks,” William told the BBC. “She’s been amazing this whole year. I know she will be really keen to see tonight be a success.”

_____

General

Country music star accused of abuse; Ex says, ‘I’m still scared right now’

Brianna LaPaglia, known as Brianna Chickenfry, alleges she suffered abuse while in a year-long relationship with ex Zach Bryan.

She alleged on her “BFFs” podcast that she faced “narcissistic, emotional abuse” for a year before they broke up last month.

“The last year of my life has been the hardest year of my life,” she told cohosts Dave Portnoy and Josh Richards. “Dealing with the abuse from this dude, I’m still scared right now.

“My brain’s rewired, I’m scared to make him mad. “He made me believe everything was my fault. He isolated me from my whole entire life. He wouldn’t let me be who I wanted to be. He made me hate everything that I loved about myself.”

LaPaglia said she ignored multiple red flags, and it escalated.

“He manipulated the f-word out of me,” LaPaglia said. “I don’t expect people to understand emotional abuse if you haven’t been through it, and I hope you never have to go through, but if you’ve been there, you know what I’m talking about. It was just this constant cycle of, ‘Built you up, beat you down, apologize,’ over and over and over.”

LaPaglia said she refused $12 million to sign an NDA.

“I don’t want, in two years, to buy a f-ing house,” she said, “and think, ‘Oh, this is the money from the dude that literally f–king destroyed me and broke me for a year.’ F-word that.”

Last month, Bryan confirmed the couple’s split after just more than a year in a post. Bryan made the news public on Instagram.

“Addressing something,” Bryan wrote on Instagram, “Brianna and me have broken up with each other and I respect and love her with every ounce of my heart. She has loved me unconditionally for a very long time and for that I’ll always thank her.”

LaPaglia, in an emotional video message via YouTube, said she’s been “blindsided” by the news, but she is focused on her healing.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

General

Alabama football rooting guide for CFP implications: These teams can help Tide on Nov. 9

If Alabama football wins out, it should be in the College Football Playoff.

That looks to be the case with the CFP committee ranking the Crimson Tide No. 11 with the No. 11 seed inside the 12-team playoff in the first CFP rankings this past week.

There are potential scenarios where Alabama wins out and doesn’t make it, though. SMU winning the ACC could prove problematic, for example. So it wouldn’t hurt if Alabama received some help from some other teams to boost its ranking and provide more cushion.

Of course, none of it matters for the Crimson Tide if it doesn’t beat LSU on Saturday (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC) at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Another loss, and Alabama is out of the College Football Playoff race.

For now, let‘s operate as if the Crimson Tide remains in the mix after this weekend. With that in mind, here are some of the teams for whom Alabama fans should root this weekend to help boost the Crimson Tide in the CFP rankings and improve Alabama’s seeding.

No. 3 Georgia vs. No. 16 Ole Miss

Logistics: 2:30 p.m. on ABC in Oxford, Mississippi

Root for: Georgia

Right now, the Crimson Tide has the second-best win in the country behind No. 1 Oregon beating No. 2 Ohio State. Alabama’s late September victory over the Bulldogs is the best reason for including the Crimson Tide in the playoff. Alabama needs the win to stay that way. So the more Georgia keeps winning, the better for the Crimson Tide. If Georgia loses and falls in the rankings, that will hurt the value of that victory Alabama has on its resume. Plus, Ole Miss losing another game will make it a three-loss team and eliminate the Rebels from playoff contention.

South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt

Logistics: 3:15 p.m. on SEC Network in Nashville, Tennessee

Root for: South Carolina

It might help for Vanderbilt to win and become ranked so that Alabama‘s two losses would be to two ranked teams. But the committee will probably value the Crimson Tide adding to its list of wins over ranked opponents. Alabama beat South Carolina, so the Gamecocks becoming ranked would be good for the Crimson Tide. South Carolina isn‘t ranked now, and it‘s hard to know how far out of the CFP top 25 the Gamecocks are right now. But South Carolina was the second team out of the AP top 25. So maybe a win over a solid Vanderbilt team would put the Gamecocks in the CFP top 25.

Florida vs No. 5 Texas

Logistics: 11 a.m. on ABC in Austin, Texas

Root for: Florida

If the Gators can go into Austin and beat the Longhorns, it would give Texas its second loss. That would almost certainly move the Longhorns below Alabama as Texas doesn’t have a victory over an opponent ranked in the CFP top 25.

Michigan vs. No. 8 Indiana

Logistics: 2:30 p.m. on CBS in Bloomington, Indiana

Root for: Michigan

The Hoosiers are undefeated, but they don‘t have a single victory over a ranked opponent. Their best wins are over two 5-4 teams: Washington and Nebraska. Considering Indiana only sits three spots above two-loss Alabama, one loss could move the Hoosiers below or around the Crimson Tide. If Indiana loses to Michigan and Ohio State, two losses would without a doubt put the Hoosiers lower than Alabama in the CFP rankings. So an Indiana loss to Michigan would be a good thing for the Cri

Florida State vs. No. 10 Notre Dame

Logistics: 6:30 p.m. on NBC in Notre Dame, Indiana

Root for: Florida State

The Seminoles have struggled mightily this season, winning only once. Outside of Florida to close out the regular season, this is the last matchup for Florida State to get any kind of signature victory in what has been a dismal season. At this point, the Seminoles don’t have much to lose. Can they go into Notre Dame and beat the Fighting Irish? Probably not. But it sure would help Alabama, ranked one spot behind the Fighting Irish right now.

Washington vs. No. 6 Penn State

Logistics: 7 p.m. on Peacock in University Park, Pennsylvania

Root for: Washington

If the Huskies can somehow go into Happy Valley and beat the Nittany Lions, that would give Penn State a second loss. Couple that with no wins over teams that are still ranked, and Penn State wouldn’t have much of an argument for being ranked ahead of Alabama.

Purdue vs. No. 2 Ohio State

Logistics: 11 a.m. on Fox in Columbus, Ohio

Root for: Purdue

Don’t hold your breath on Purdue (1-7) beating Ohio State (7-1), but it would benefit Alabama. The Buckeyes would fall in the rankings and Georgia would move back up to No. 2 and give Alabama the best win in the country again.

Mississippi State vs. No. 7 Tennessee

Logistics: 6 p.m. on ESPN in Knoxville, Tennessee

Root for: Mississippi State

Add this to the list of rooting for the significant underdog. Chances are slim the Bulldogs will go into Neyland Stadium and beat the Vols, but it would be nice for Alabama if Mississippi State did so. That would give the Vols a second loss. Tennessee still might not fall below Alabama considering the Vols beat the Crimson Tide, but another Tennessee loss or two will help the Crimson Tide potentially move up. Alabama just doesn’t want the Vols to lose too much so that it becomes a loss to an unranked team on the resume. Tennessee is a long ways away from that happening, though. So one or two more Vols losses should help Alabama.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

General

What Alabama must do to beat LSU

Stop if you’ve heard this before but the Alabama-LSU early November showdown has massive postseason implications.

The winner survives and remains in the playoff conversation. To the loser: Pack your bags for Orlando.

This time, both enter the 6:30 p.m. CT Saturday game with matching 6-2 records. The No. 15 Tigers dropped its opener to USC — now 4-5 won just one of its last five games — and its last outing, 38-23 at Texas A&M.

No. 11 Alabama had its slump when losing to Vanderbilt and Tennessee before rebounding to beat Missouri, 34-0 before the open week.

So, in a season of parity, these two rivals have been caught up in the wash at times.

But the new 12-team playoff doesn‘t disqualify two-loss teams. Alabama has among the nation’s highest quality wins over then-No. 2 Georgia on Sept. 28. Two weeks later, LSU got its marquee moment by taking down then-No. 9 Ole Miss in Tiger Stadium.

Now, one of these two will get a second data point to impress the College Football Playoff selection committee.

This is setting up to be another classic between these two under the lights on ABC on Saturday night.

The best-case scenario for Alabama: One-dimensional Tigers, Milroe turned loose

There are certain truths we’ve come to associate with LSU football. First, the Tigers can run the ball, and they play stout defense.

Well, neither are necessarily the case this fall.

LSU is a stunning 15th of 16 SEC teams (111th nationally) averaging 99.5 rushing yards in league games.

A year ago, this team was No. 1, averaging 222.0 yards running against SEC teams. That was not the case this season as it managed just 24 rushing yards on 23 tries in the 38-23 loss to Texas A&M. That Tiger offense was severely one-dimensional against the Aggies as Garrett Nussmeier threw it 50 times, completing half of them for 405 yards but with three interceptions to two touchdowns.

Forcing a team to be predictable would be a good recipe for an Alabama team eager to avenge a 2022 loss to LSU the last time they traveled to Baton Rouge.

Texas A&M also exposed an LSU defensive weakness when combating a mobile quarterback. Pulling traditional passer Conner Weigman for the speedy Marcel Reed helped turn a 10-point second-half deficit into a 15-point lead.

Granted, that mid-game swap wasn’t necessarily something LSU spent time in preparation and Jalen Milroe’s skillset is no secret.

Especially to LSU.

That’s because Milroe ran all over the Tigers in last season’s 42-28 win in Tuscaloosa. While throwing for 219 yards on 15 of 23 passing, the 155 rushing yards remain his career high on 20 carries. That included four touchdowns as LSU struggled to keep Milroe contained in the pocket.

Getting that going again would be nice for an Alabama offense that’s also struggled with its multi-dimensionality. That was better against Missouri when a league season-high 271 rushing yards (on 37 attempts) paired with 215 passing yards (on 26 throws).

Worst-case scenario: LSU bombs away

This LSU passing game is a high-risk, high-reward kind of attack. The Tigers have 20 passing touchdowns but nine interceptions. They have 37 completions of 20-plus years, the 13th most in the nation.

This is an offense with big play threats in Kyren Lacy (41 catches, 618 yards) and former Alabama WR Aaron Anderson (36 catches, 614 yards). Tight end Mason Taylor, who caught the game-winning two-point conversion against Alabama two years ago, has 39 catches for 369 yards.

The point is LSU has multiple weapons that can make big plays in the passing game. Alabama brings a secondary that’s banged up and has been susceptible to big plays. It would also be fair to say that group is high risk, high reward as it recorded 11 interceptions and allowed 11 passing touchdowns.

If LSU can get the passing game in rhythm, Death Valley can become a dangerous place for visiting teams. Alabama lost its last two road games, one at Vanderbilt but the other in a similarly insane Neyland Stadium.

Allowing a repeat of that would be a pretty bad scenario.

Prediction: Alabama 28, LSU 21

Who knows?

Flip a coin.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.

General

Dear Abby: My longtime friend and colleague drives me nuts

DEAR ABBY: You often respond to a person who has been “ghosted” by a friend or relative. I have the opposite problem. I have a longtime friend and colleague who has begun to drive me nuts, creating anxiety and anger whenever I must deal with them.

They are a nice person, but every time I communicate with them, they respond by texts and emails multiple times a day. They have only four go-to topics — one of them being weather. I don’t know how not to hurt their feelings, so ghosting seems like the softest approach. Ideas? — FUTURE GHOSTER IN OREGON

DEAR FUTURE GHOSTER: Explain to this colleague that your schedule is swamped. Then stop responding to the unnecessary texts and emails.

If the person asks why or what has changed, repeat that you are jammed and do not have time for personal exchanges during work hours. Period.

Read more Dear Abby and other advice columns.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

General

What Chaney Johnson’s development means for Auburn men’s basketball

Few Auburn players were talked about during the preseason more than Chaney Johnson. Against Houston, he showed why.

Despite not starting, he finished with 13 points and nine rebounds in 16 minutes in Auburn’s season-opening win over Vermont.

“Chaney was a monster inside. Just a beast,” Bruce Pearl said after the game. “Chaney Johnson is our hardest worker. I just love seeing one of your hardest workers get rewarded like that.”

Johnson gives Auburn a different look compared to the two-center lineup it started with against Vermont. At 6-foot-7, 225 pounds, his versatility is a slight contrast to Dylan Cardwell and Johni Broome. With Jaylin Williams gone, Johnson was the most comparable player left on the roster to fill his role going into this season.

To do that, though, he needed to change his body.

Johnson said he gained close to 20 pounds over the offseason, something he claimed was one of his three goals for the summer along with getting faster and preventing knee injuries.

“I definitely feel a lot more physically stronger, a lot quicker,” Johnson told reporters Thursday. “It‘s just a testament to the work I’ve put in, a testament to Coach D. He really pushed us, and if you take the weight room serious, you’ll really see gains from it.”

The work paid off and it didn’t take long for Pearl to take notice.

“So when we watched Chaney, from a year ago — back early, like November, December, early January — it’s like, ‘Who’s that skinny kid, right?’“ Pearl said. ”And then you watch him now, and obviously he’s done a great job with coach Damon Davis and getting his body so powerful.”

Johnson‘s 13 points against Vermont were the third-most in a game in his Auburn career. He was also used on 26.6% of Auburn’s possessions against Vermont, according to KenPom, the fourth most on the team.

While it‘s only one game, 26.6% is a 10.2% jump from his usage rate last season. His 16.4% usage rate during the 2024-2025 season was the third lowest on the team of the players KenPom tracked.

It‘s unclear what to make of that this early in the season, but it‘s an indication of what his potential can be now in his second year with the program. It‘s unlikely that he’ll fill the exact role previously held by Jaylin Williams, but his development keeps Auburn versatile at the four and five positions, giving relief to Broome and Cardwell.

“For us to be the best team we want to be, we need Chaney to play with his confidence,” Broome said, “and we’ll be just fine.”

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m

General

Rodent feces, gnats, moldy strawberries: Madison County’s worst restaurant ratings for October

After the Madison County Department of Health conducted dozens of inspections last month, these restaurants posted the worst grades.

Nine restaurants in the county scored 84 or below on their health inspections — the threshold that triggers a reinspection within 60 days — in October.

Infractions ranged from rodent feces to gnats to mold on strawberries.

Here are those nine restaurants, in descending order:

Campus Corner Wavaho

109 Winchester Rd. NE, Huntsville

Score: 84

Inspection date: Oct. 22

The ice machine had debris.

The person in charge did not have a certified food manager certificate.

Hawaiian Poke Aloha 2 Ramen AL LLC

6125 University Dr. NW Unit D6, Huntsville

Score: 84

Inspection date: Oct. 16

Various foods in the reach-in cooler and reach-in freezer were not properly labeled.

Fish was out of temperature.

Dairy Queen #44222

214 Oakwood Ave. NE, Huntsville

Score: 82

Inspection date: Oct. 21

Hand sinks were missing paper towels.

Employee health agreements were missing.

Starbucks Coffee #80662

114 Heart of Huntsville Dr. SW, Huntsville

Score: 82

Inspection date: Oct. 1

Several gnats were found “flying throughout the establishment.”

Several foods were out of temperature.

Baumhower’s Victory Grille

2309 Memorial Pkwy SW, Huntsville

Score: 78

Inspection date: Oct. 8

Mold was found on several strawberries in the cooler.

The ice chute was dirty; the inside of the chute was rusty.

Several foods were out of temperature.

Dodge’s Store # 7001

2211 Whitesburg Dr. SE, Huntsville

Score: 78

Inspection date: Oct. 30

Several foods were out of temperature.

There was no way to access paper towels at the hand sink.

There was no hot water.

Khushi 2009 LLC (Hi & Bye)

1449 O’ Shaughnessy Ave. NE, Huntsville

Score: 78

Inspection date: Oct. 29

Rodent feces were found in the back storage area.

The ice machine was dirty.

The establishment did not have a food thermometer or sanitizer test strips.

Texas Roadhouse

121 Jeff Rd. NW, Huntsville

Score: 78

Inspection date: Oct. 31

There was “brown residue” on the bar nozzle and drink dispensers.

The base of a plastic bag with ice was touching ready-to-eat cut tomatoes, lettuce and lemons

Insect spray was stored on the same shelf as salt and sugar containers.

Waffle House # 1384

36 Shields Rd., Huntsville

Score: 74

Inspection date: Oct. 31

Sliced tomatoes and half-and-half were out of temperature.

There was ice inside the front hand sink.

Employee health reporting agreements were unavailable.