Welcome back. Hope you brought a jacket.

Listen to today’s podcast episode if you’d like to hear weather reporter go over some of the expectations for this week’s winter weather.

Otherwise, the rest of the report follows. Thanks for reading,

Ike

There she is …

Miss Alabama is Miss America.

Or is it better to say: Miss America is Miss Alabama?

Either way, Abbie Stockard of Vestavia Hills wore the coveted crown at the end of the Miss America 2025 contest Sunday night in Orlando, reports AL.com’s Mary Colurso.

Stockard is a 22-year-old nursing major at Auburn University. She wore the title of Miss Hoover at the Miss Alabama event. As she becomes Miss America for the next year, she’ll hand over the Miss Alabama crown to Emma Terry.

She’s only the fourth Miss Alabama to become Miss America. She joins Deidre Downs in 2005, Heather Whitestone in 1995 and Yolande Betbeze in 1951.

That puts Alabama into a tie with Mississippi and two other states for eighth in most titles.

Heather Whitestone — who’s now Heather Whitestone McCallum — was on the judges panel Sunday evening.

Other judges were Miss America 1985 Sharlene Wells Hawkes, YouTuber/cheerleader/pro wrestler Gabi Butler, retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Stayce D. Harris and track legend Carl Lewis (who did not sing the national anthem).

Alabama almost pulled off an impressive weekend double of sorts. Miss Alabama’s Teen Ali Mills was named first runner-up for Miss America’s Teen on Saturday. Mims is from Harpersville and performed a soprano aria.

Closed doors

Speaking of Auburn University: If you’re headed back to school on the plain, you’re going to find the town is minus one iconic eatery.

AL.com’s William Thornton reports that Tenda Chick has closed. The establishment opened in 1989 at Corner Village on North Dean Road. The owner wrote in a note on the door that business has been tough since the COVID pandemic. He did leave the door open for bringing back the brand at some point.

Busy at the gates

“Enhanced security measures” have been put into place at military bases around the nation. AL.com’s Sarah Whites-Koditschek reports that Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville announced it has adopted the measures immediately.

They have paused the use of facial recognition and the Trusted Traveler Program. And if you’re driving onto the base, everybody in the vehicle needs an agency identification card to get in. If somebody doesn’t have one, they’ll have to go through the Visitor Control Center.

You all who drive to and from Redstone know the drill: During busy times traffic can be slower at the gate, so plan accordingly.

Military officials haven’t gotten specific over their concerns, but the added security measures follow terrorism events in New Orleans and Las Vegas on New Year’s.

Living right

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix had already broken a record for the longest NFL touchdown pass by a quarterback from an Alabama high school or college.

Nix played at Pinson Valley High and part of his college career at Auburn University.

On Sunday, he broke the NFL record for most home touchdown passes by an NFL rookie from anywhere, reports AL.com’s Mark Inabinett.

What was wild about Sunday was the way his 18th scoring strike at Mile High Stadium ended up in his receiver’s hands. The pass was intended for Adam Trautman near the back of the end zone. Instead it was deflected by one Kansas City defender, then another, then ended up in Devaughn Vele’s grasp for the score.

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