Welcome back, and happy National Metric Day to those who celebrate. You can celebrate for all 24 hours if you’d like.

The daily news report is below, followed by the results of yesterday’s quiz.

Spreading the Word, protecting family

A missionary from Grand Bay was shot during a robbery attempt in Guatemala and later died, reports AL.com’s Warren Kulo.

Michael Taylor, wife Deidra and three kids moved to the Central American nation six years ago and helped build thousands of homes and a school.

On Sept. 30, three men came to the family’s home and demanded money. Deidra kept the kids inside while Michael Taylor confronted the men. They shot him in the stomach and ran. After 3.5 hours of surgery he seemed to be improving, but he developed an infection that killed him on Oct. 2.

A memorial fund has raised more than $30,000 to help the family with medical, funeral and other costs.

Michael Taylor’s father-in-law is a pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Grand Bay. A memorial service will be held at the church Thursday.

Prep protestation

Pell City’s school system is fighting back after the Alabama High School Athletic Association declared one of Pell City’s players ineligible, reports AL.com’s Ben Thomas.

The decision caused Pell City to forfeit its only victory of the season, and it brought controversy to the first season at the school by already-controversial football coach Rush Propst.

Pell City Superintendent James Martin issued a press release on Monday, calling the decision “arbitrary,” “capricious” and just “plain wrong.”

He said the school system will appeal.

The AHSAA has forced three high school football programs to forfeit games over alleged violations of transfer rules. Coosa Christian and Vigor join Pell city on that list. Coosa has also said it will appeal.

Row, row, row … and row some more

A Florence man won a unique kayaking event recently, paddling 650 miles of Alabama waterways in six days, one hour and 39 minutes, reports AL.com’s Lawrence Specker.

The Great Alabama 650 began on Weiss Lake northeast of Gadsden and meandered down waterways to Fort Morgan where Mobile Bay spills into the Gulf of Mexico. It has to be one of the coolest ways to see Alabama. But probably not among the easiest ways to see Alabama. I’d do it with an Evinrude.

Trey Reaves did not need an Evinrude. He survived a race that saw eight of its 19 entrants drop out during the first two days. He finished four hours and 11 minutes ahead of second-place finisher Bobby Johnson, who won the race in 2019 and 2022.

Almost an hour later, at six days, six hours and 40 minutes, Salli O’Donnell was the top woman finisher. She’s done that in all five Great Alabama 650s.

Quoting

“While President Biden was agreeing to a $6 billion ransom and allowing Iran’s president to enter our country, the Iranian regime was plotting terrorist attacks that killed innocent children, women, and men.”

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, posting on X.

Born on this date

In 1933, Hollywood celebrity hairstylist Jay Sebring, born Thomas John Kummer in Birmingham, although he grew up in Michigan. He found big fame as an innovative men’s hairstylist, flying to Vegas to cut Sinatra’s hair and designing cuts for men such as Jim Morrison and Bruce Lee. But he goes down in history most famously as a victim in the Manson Family murders and a boyfriend of Sharon Tate.

More Alabama news

Results: Week-in-Review Quiz No. 15

Which of these are NOT one of the proposed rules by Gov. Kay Ivey to Alabama Public Library Service director Nancy Pack?

• “Establish a three-person book evaluation committee, appointed by the state legislature, to decide whether parent-flagged books are appropriate for local libraries.” (CORRECT) 41%
• “Require all expenditures of public funds to the American Library Association be approved by the relevant governing authority in an open, public meeting.” 21%
• “Make state aid for local libraries contingent on the adoption of sensible policies to facilitate greater parental supervision of their children.” 19%
• “Reaffirm local libraries’ ability to respond to parental concerns about sexually explicit or other inappropriate materials.” 19%

Who was the only congressperson from Alabama to vote in favor of removing Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House?

• Terry Sewell (CORRECT) 66%
• Barry Moore 16%
• Jerry Carl 11%
• Gary Palmer 7%

What somewhat recently identified Gulf species has raised concern among some that future environmental regulation could hurt the energy industry?

• Rice’s Whale (CORRECT)  47%
• Kemp’s ridley sea turtle 31%
• Fireworm 17%
• Rockford’s Firebird 5%

Who bought downtown Birmingham’s Daniel Building for $16 million?

• UAB Medicine (CORRECT) 83%
• Alexander Shunnarah 8%
• Jimmy Rane 7%
• Nick Saban 2%

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