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Co-founder of popular travel stop chain dead at 87

Judy Love, co-founder of Love’s Travel Stops, died in Oklahoma City on Tuesday. She was 87.

The company announced her death in a press release this week.

“Our mother, Judy Love, was the heart and soul of our family,” her family said in the release.

“She cared deeply for us and those who worked alongside her and Dad. Her tenacity, strength, and focus will guide us forever.”

“She taught us the importance of hard work, honesty, and the joy of giving back. While we will miss her dearly, her spirit will live on through the countless lives she touched.”

Love co-founded the travel stop chain in 1954 with her late husband, Tom. The couple started the business with a $5,000 loan and it has since transformed into a nationally recognized brand worth nearly $10 billion, according to previous Forbes reports.

“Judy’s financial acumen and dedication to the company’s growth saw her serve as secretary and treasurer as it expanded into 42 states,” the release reads.

“Her warm spirit, generosity, and commitment to community service earned her widespread admiration.”

In 1999, she established the Love Family Affiliated Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. She also established the Tom and Judy Love Foundation in 2013.

In 2020, Judy was honored as Oklahoma Mother of the Year by American Mothers and received the Outstanding Philanthropist Award from the Oklahoma City chapter of the National Fundraising Professionals in 1999.

She was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2010.

“Judy Love was an extraordinary woman with a huge heart for others and an inexhaustible joy of life,” said Oklahoma public official Jayroe-Gamble.

“Her passion for family, friends, community, and the Catholic Church inspired many. Judy and Tom were a partnership made in Heaven, and their successful business reflects their hard work, dedication, and generosity.”

“As we mourn her loss, let’s celebrate her remarkable life, positive spirit, gifts of encouragement, and significant impact on our world.”

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New Alabama basketball facility takes next step

The new Alabama basketball facility went through the next step of approval needed for the building to become a reality Thursday.

The physical properties committee for the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees met Thursday and voted to authorize the latest part of Stage IV, which meant approving a construction contract for what is called Package C: the construction of the building foundation for the new basketball facility. The full board of trustees will meet Friday to officially approve the next step.

That comes two months after the committee approved Package B, which included site and utilities.

The board broke the packages into two in order to expedite the process. That’s why construction has already started in the Coleman Coliseum parking lot, even before Stage IV approval officially happened by the physical properties committee in September.

UA will look to have the new facilities fully operational by 2026. The project has a price tag of $58.67 million, with about $56.95 million for the upgrades.

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Thursday’s vote was the latest step toward building the new training and development facility for men’s basketball. The new gym for Nate Oats’ team will be connected to the current practice facility for the men and be 48,883 gross square feet.

Once the men‘s team moves over to the new facility, the women‘s team will move into the practice facility Oats’ team is currently using.

The addition of a new facility is a vital step for a program competing with the nation’s best in basketball, fresh off a Final Four and firmly in the hunt for a national championship this season.

“The practice gym is the coach’s classroom,” Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne told The Tuscaloosa News in June. “It’s where they teach and they develop. We’re doing this right now to take a very significant step for our basketball programs and then allowing us to navigate the waters that we’re in in college athletics right now. Then realizing the arena still has to be addressed.”

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

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This OLAPLEX hair style kit is on sale for just $28 this week

Nordstrom Rack has kicked off its Clear the Rack Sale this week with markdowns site-wide, including discounts on best-selling beauty brands.

During this sale, the OLAPLEX Smooth Your Style Kit that typically sells for $40, and is valued at $53, is being sold for just $23, a 30% discount overall. This item also qualifies for free shipping.

The OLAPLEX Smooth Your Style Kit is described as a hair-strengthening, frizz-control kit that features four must-have haircare products from OLAPLEX to keep hair frizz-free, sleek and strong.

The entire set comes with the following OLAPLEX products:

• No.3 Hair Perfector™ (1 oz.): a concentrated hair treatment that strengthens hair from within, helping to reduce breakage and improving look and feel
• No.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum (0.68 oz.): a weightless, silicone-free, leave-in hair serum that shields strands from pollution for 48 hours and provides heat protection up to 450°F
• No. 6 Bond Smoother® (3.3 oz.): a bond smoother that hydrates and provides 72-hour frizz control, faster blow-dries and more defined air-dries
• No. 7 Bonding Oil™ (0.25 oz.): an oil that delivers dramatic shine at the finish line

RELATED: The UGG Nita Shearling Slippers are on sale, but only for a limited-time

Highlighted Product Feature: One of the standout features of the OLAPLEX Smooth Your Style Kit is the inclusion of No.9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum, which actively provides heat protection up to 450°F. This feature is particularly beneficial for users who frequently use styling tools, helping to prevent heat damage while keeping hair vibrant and protected.

Other Features: The No.3 Hair Perfector™ also stands out as a unique treatment that helps to strengthen hair from within. This concentrated formula not only reduces breakage but also improves the overall look and feel of the hair, making it a notable product within the kit that users can utilize for deep conditioning and restorative benefits.

Those interested in this limited-time deal can check out the full rundown here.

Generative AI was used to provide product description for this story, based on data provided by Nordstrom Rack. It was reviewed and edited by AL.com.

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Cause of death released for Alabama 14-year-old who collapsed at football practice

Authorities have released the cause of death for a 14-year-old football player who died after collapsing at practice in August.

Semaj Wilkins, a student athlete at New Brockton High School, died Aug. 13 at Medical Center Enterprise.

Coffee County Coroner Arnold Woodham on Thursday said an autopsy done by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences determined Semaj died from congestive heart failure due to cardiomegaly with biventricular hypertrophy, resulting from a coronary anomaly.

That means that his heart was failing to pump blood effectively because it was enlarged.

His death was ruled natural, Woodham said.

Woodham said his thoughts and prayers remain with the Wilkins family during this difficult time.

The coroner also extended support to New Brockton High School, and thanked the New Brockton Fire Department, Enterprise Rescue, Coffee County Sheriff’s Office, New Brockton Police Department, and Medical Center Enterprise staff for their swift response and care.

Semaj was a freshman at the school.

Coffee County superintendent Kelly Cobb released the following statement after Semaj’s death:

“Our Coffee County School System family is grieving the loss of a New Brockton High School freshman who passed away after a medical emergency late this afternoon. The Coffee County Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s Office are conducting an investigation, and the Coffee County School System will fully cooperate with both agencies.

“Starting tomorrow, we will have our crisis response team which includes counselors, pastors, and other support staff available at New Brockton High School to provide support for the family, friends, classmates, teachers, and other school staff. Our hearts are broken for the family’s loss and our prayers are with them as they mourn. We ask that the family’s privacy be respected during this difficult time.”

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New Trader Joe’s coming to Alabama town in 2025, will be 3rd in state

Trader Joe’s will open another Alabama location – this time in Hoover – next year.

The city of Hoover made the announcement Thursday.

The new store will open in the space formerly occupied by Bed Bath and Beyond on Lorna Road.

A popular national chain of neighborhood grocery stores, Trader Joe’s has made a name for itself with its variety of niche food products, alcohol and flowers. It has locations in Huntsville and at the Summit in Birmingham. (Mobile has pushed for a store location, but to no avail.)

In the announcement, the city of Hoover stated, “For months, the city worked with the shopping center owner on an incentive package to help make this announcement a reality!”

Attempts to reach city officials for further comment were not immediately successful.

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Guns, drugs seized in raid at Ensley home in ongoing prison contraband probe

A Birmingham man has been arrested in connection with an ongoing investigation into prison contraband.

The Alabama Department of Corrections and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency SWAT team carried out a search Monday at an Ensley home, authorities announced Thursday.

Christopher Needham, 41, was taken into custody at the home.

ADOC spokeswoman Kelly Windham Butts said drugs and guns were confiscated during the raid. She said the search warrant was in connection with prison contraband but did not elaborate.

Needham was charged with unlawful distribution of marijuana, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, trafficking methamphetamine and possession of an altered firearm.

Needham was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 8:22 a.m. Monday and released shortly before 7 p.m. after posting bond totaling $100,000.

Betts said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be filed.

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LSU bringing back its iconic mascot for Alabama game

This Saturday night, Louisiana State University (LSU) and Alabama football fans will hear one roar that rises above the crowd’s.

According to Louisiana Sports, LSU will bring back a long running tradition of rolling a caged live tiger around their aptly named Tiger Stadium.

The tiger has been delivered from an out of state refuge with assistance from Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry. Mike VII, the university’s current eight-year-old mascot, will be kept in his 15,000 square foot habitat across the street from the stadium, the site reported.

The university previously discontinued the practice after the 2016 death of mascot Mike VI. But Landry has publicly advocated to bring the tradition back multiple times since.

“I think the opportunity to bring our mascot back onto the field is an unbelievable opportunity,” Landry said at a news conference this September.

Many have expressed concerns about bringing a live tiger in front of thousands of screaming fans.

In the past, cheerleaders would also pound on the cage to make the tiger roar.

In 2016, PETA [People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals] and LSU Animal Advocates sent a letter to LSU asking for the university to stop the tradition of using Bengal tigers.

“People go to LSU football games because they want to see top college athletes playing the best football in the country, not because there’s a caged tiger sitting on the sidelines,” reads the letter sent to LSU President Fieldon King Alexander.

“I hope you agree that it’s time to recognize society’s growing distaste for animal exhibition and bring a new tradition to LSU of using only willing, costumed human mascots. Orcas don’t belong in tanks, elephants don’t belong in the circus, and tigers do not belong in stadiums.”

“Generations of tigers have given LSU everything they have–isn’t it time for LSU to give something back?”

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LSU’s Livvy Dunne, Paul Skenes guest pickers ahead of Alabama-LSU for ESPN’s ‘College GameDay’

Star power will be on hand Saturday for ESPN’s Week 11 “College GameDay” broadcast from Baton Rouge ahead of Alabama’s visit to LSU.

Gymnast Livvy Dunne and Pittsburgh pitcher Paul Skenes will be the celebrity guest pickers, sources told On3′s Pete Nakos.

It will be the first time this season a pair of guest pickers will be used.

Skenes, of course, was at the center of the 2023 LSU baseball team that won the College World Series.

Dunne, on the other hand, is a social media sensation and was a part of LSU national championship gymnastics team last year.

Rece Davis will be joined at the desk by analysts Lee Corso, Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Pat McAfee and Nick Saban. College football insider Pete Thamel, college football betting analyst ‘Stanford Steve’ Coughlin and reporters Jen Lada and Jess Sims round out the “GameDay” cast.

The Crimson Tide (6-2, 3-2) and the Tigers (6-2, 3-1) were idle last week and face off at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.

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.

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Caitlin Clark signature basketballs are available at Target for only $20

We’ve found the perfect gift for the basketball lover in your life.

Target has Wilson’s  Caitlin Clark Journey Basketball Series in 27.5 inch, 28.5 inch and 29.5 inch available for only $19.99. The ball honoring the college basketball and WNBA superstar is available in two styles – the Every Point, a black ball with colorful confetti images and Make Your Mark, a white ball with multi-color writing. Both of the balls contain Clark’s signature.

You can order yours here.

Here’s all you need to know about the balls:

Approved for official play

The Wilson Caitlin Clark Journey Basketball Series is available in three sizes: 27.5 inches, 28.5 inches, and 29.5 inches. Each ball features an all-surface cover that is ideal for outdoor play, ensuring durability and performance. The construction includes deep channels for enhanced grip, while the internal structure maintains a standard feel for players. The basketball employs a pressure lock bladder, which helps in retaining air and maintaining optimal performance during games. Notably, this basketball is approved for official play, making it a suitable choice for competitive settings. The retail price is set at $19.99.

Deep channel construction

One outstanding feature of the Wilson Caitlin Clark Journey Basketball is its deep channel construction. This design offers a superior grip, enabling players to handle the ball with greater control and precision. Whether shooting, passing, or dribbling, players can experience enhanced responsiveness thanks to the thoughtfully crafted channels.

All surface cover

Another unique aspect of this basketball is its versatility due to the all-surface cover. This feature allows it to perform well on varied outdoor surfaces, whether it’s asphalt or concrete, ensuring that players can enjoy a consistent game experience regardless of the environment.

Generative AI was used to create a product description for this story, based on data provided by Target.com. It was reviewed and edited by AL.com.

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