The 54-year-old Emmy winner placed second on the show’s 37th season in 2018. He is one of 24 returning players who will compete in the milestone season, which will be filmed in Fiji.
“Mike, after he finished playing, said, ‘I want to play again,’” host and executive producer Jeff Probst told CBS Mornings on Wednesday. “Then ‘White Lotus’ hit, and I thought, ‘Well, he’ll never play again.’ But he kept texting and saying, ‘Look, I’m serious. If you ever do anything where you have returning players, I want to play again.’ So we’re happy to have Mike.
Other returning fan favorites include Cirie Fields, Ozzy Lusth, Colby Donaldson, Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, Aubry Bracco and Benjamin “Coach” Wade.
White, whose other credits include “School of Rock” and “Enlightened,” told the New Yorker in a 2021 interview how the show has inspired him.
“I still feel like, even on the most contrived reality show, the people are human and they’re more interesting than some of the most well-scripted drama,” he said. “And for me, as a writer of drama, I aspire to do what reality television already does. To create characters that are surprising and dimensional and do weird s–t and capture your attention.”
Season four of the hit crime series Taking the Stand premieres on A&E Wednesday, May 28 at 10/9c.
The popular A&E series is available for streaming through Philo (free trial), DirecTV (free trial) and Sling (50% off first month).
What is Taking the Stand?
For those unfamiliar with the long-running A&E series, Taking the Stand tells the stories of crimes from the unique lens of the accused as they take the witness stand. Each episode features exclusive interviews and responses from the defendants themselves, to provide an in-depth look at dozens of raw and real cases.
The upcoming season four premiere episode centers on Richard Acosta, Jr., who is being tried for capital murder and accused of being the getaway driver for his 14-year-old son, Abel.
Surveillance footage at a Texas convenience store capture Abel shooting four teens, killing three; Abel is yet to be captured.
Philo and DirecTV offer free trials for new subscribers while Sling offers those that commit to a paid subscription half off their first month and one month free of AMC+.
Out of the three streaming platforms, Philo is the cheapest option at just $28 a month after its 7-day free trial expires.
What is Philo?
Philo is considered one of the most affordable streaming platforms on the market. Known as an entertainment-focused streaming service, Philo offers its subscribers access to over 70 top-rated TV channels such as TLC, MTV, BET, AMC, CMT, Investigation Discovery and more.
New users can enjoy Philo’s 7-day free trial and continue to stream top channels, hit TV shows and movies on-demand for just $28 a month once the free trial expires.
Those looking to customize their flow of content even further on Philo can consider including add-ons such as MGM+, STARZ, and AMC+ in their subscription.
What is DirecTV?
DirecTV is a top streaming service perfect for those looking to access a plethora of live TV channels and enjoy helpful features. The base package starts at just $86.99 a month after its 5-day free trial and includes popular TV channels such as HGTV, ESPN, Bravo, CMT, CNBC, BET, CNN and more.
DirecTV has also recently introduced a lineup of genre packs, which allows subscribers to choose their favorite viewing options based on what genre they watch the most. With genre packs, users can get the channels and content they want without filler channel overload. Packs start at just $34.99 a month.
Those interested in comparing all DirecTV’s channel packages and the new genre packs can check them out here.
What is Sling?
Sling is another streaming service to consider if you want to ditch the hassle of traditional cable. Though no free trial is available to new subscribers, those who commit to a paid plan get half off the first month and one month free of AMC+.
Both the Sling Orange plan and the Sling Blue plan are normally $45.99 a month, but with the current promotion, Sling users will pay just $23 a month for the first month.
For those who wish to access channels from both the Sling Blue and Sling Orange plans can do so by signing up for the Orange + Blue plan, which combines the best of both plans for just $60.99 a month ($30.50 for the first month).
Donald Trump has found little pleasure in polling numbers as of late, but the newest Insider Advantage survey is promising for the president.
The poll, conducted between May 17 and May 19, shows Trump with a positive approval rating.
About 55% of respondents said they approve of the president’s job performance compared to about 44% who say they disapprove, the poll found.
Besides Trump’s approval rating being in positive territory overall, the president’s support among one ethnic group is soaring.
Hispanics approve of the president’s job performance at a nearly 60% clip compared to about 40% who disapprove, the survey showed.
That’s a more than 22% jump from late April to early May, when more than 38% of Hispanics said they approved of Trump’s job performance and about 20% said they did not.
Only whites — at nearly 63% — approve of Trump at a higher level than Hispanics.
Trump is underwater with Black respondents. Only about 28% of Black participants in the poll approve of Trump’s job performance while about 71% disapprove.
The Insider Advantage survey, run by a Republican pollster, is an outlier among major polls that take the temperature of the president’s support.
That average is boosted by Insider Advantage and the Republican-friendly Rasmussen Reports; they are the only two polls that show Trump above water this month.
A federal judge is recommending that a U.S. Department of Labor lawsuit against Hyundai and two other companies over child labor practices proceed through the courts.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Doyle Tuesday denied motions that the lawsuit, filed last year, should be dismissed.
The U.S. Department of Labor last May brought the suit in federal court to compel Hyundai, an Alabama automotive supply plant and a temporary agency to “surrender profits” related to child labor in the state.
And when federal investigators learned of the minor’s employment, the company, Smart Alabama, told another two employees not to return due to their “appearance and other physical characteristics, which suggested they were also underage,” according to court documents.
The court action was filed against Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Smart Alabama, which employed the teen, and Best Practice Service, the service that provided the worker to Smart Alabama, according to court documents.
In court filings, lawyers for the defendants argued that the acting labor secretary last year lacked legal standing to bring the suit, and that, as there were no children currently working for the companies, there was no danger of “hot goods” – items made in violation of child labor law – entering the marketplace.
However, Doyle wrote in his opinion that, although there was no evidence of ongoing violations, there was no mention of “any promises made or safeguards implemented by Defendants to ensure that child-labor law violations do not recur. Thus, under these circumstances, a real and immediate threat of future injury to underage workers and the public generally remains…” he wrote.
Doyle said there is no evidence Hyundai or the two other companies are violating child labor law currently, but that would be determined by a “fully developed factual record.” He also dismissed claims the labor secretary could not bring the suit.
Reuters originally reported in 2022 that children were employed at SMART Alabama, which supplied parts for Hyundai’s Montgomery plant since 2003.
Two suppliers, SL Alabama and SMART, have terminated their relationships with third-party staffing agencies which, the company said, falsely certified that they had screened and cleared children as being eligible to work.
Both SL Alabama and JK USA, an Opelika temporary employment agency, in 2023 paid fines from federal court and the Alabama Department of Labor.
With this deal, you can snag the QVC-exclusive Ninja CREAMi with nine colors to choose from for just $179 instead of its normal retail price of $250. For comparison, Walmart’s gray Ninja CREAMi is typically the cheapest you’ll find one, however, it is still more expensive at $187.
Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 treat maker
$249 $179.98
The Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 treat maker is available in nine color variations exclusively from QVC, and now it’s on sale.
“Who’s up for a treat? Don’t chase down the ice cream truck. The Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 treat maker is headed your way, churning out ice cream, sorbet, milkshakes and more at the touch of a button. From a healthy smoothie to an indulgent dessert, your favorite flavors transform into smooth, creamy delicacies (that taste sooo much better than store-bought!),” QVC’s product details state.
“Just fill it, freeze it and CREAMi it! Simply pack a pint bowl (there’s five!) with your desired ingredients, freeze overnight and use Creamify technology to churn a uniformly frozen block into a smooth, creamy texture in minutes. There’s even a mix-in option so you can add nuts, candy, fruit, protein powder or whatever else you like to customize your flavor. (Bet the ice cream truck can’t do that!) And the best part? You have complete control over what goes inside.”
Jovic appears to be that player, and he fills a hole on the roster left by the departures of Johni Broome, Dylan Cardwell, Chaney Johnson and Ja’Heim Hudson.
According to basketball reference, Jovic averaged 12.3 points and four rebounds per game during the 2024-2025 AdmiralBet ABA League season, a professional league consisting of teams from Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Arab Emirates. Jovic comes from the same Serbian team that NBA star Nikola Jokic once played for.
He joins a rebuilt frontcourt that includes Mississippi State transfer KeShawn Murphy, JUCO transfer Emeka Opurum and incoming freshman Sebastian Williams-Adams.
Throughout SEC spring meetings, the conference’s football coaches have lobbied for a change to the transfer portal calendar. Georgia coach Kirby Smart raised the alarm during a press conference, calling for one portal window, which he wanted to happen in January.
Coaches across the league would prefer that scenario, and having their rosters set for the year by the time spring football starts. Speaking to reporters Tuesday at spring meetings, Alabama athletics director Greg Byrne concurred.
“From my lens, one (window) still gives the opportunity, and then it helps slow that down,” Byrne said. “Back to coach (Kalen) DeBoer, the fact that we were the only SEC program to not have anybody go in the portal in the spring, and other schools had small number, but that says a lot about what’s going on in the walls of your program when you have that.
“So, is the transfer portal going to go away? No. But does it make sense to have a little better definition? And maybe shrinking that down to one window could be beneficial.”
Byrne said he and DeBoer had not spoken extensively about whether they would prefer the one transfer window to happen in January or the spring. DeBoer said in January that he preferred shortening the current window, and having a single portal entry period.
According to Byrne, he would prefer the window happen in January, after the end of the season, but noted that would come with its own set of problems.
“The challenge with that is that classes have started,” Byrne said. “And so people aren’t always looking at it from the academic side of it, and that should be an important part of what we’re doing. I mean, the data’s out there that shows if you transfer multiple times, then your opportunities to have broad-based degrees are severely limited. And I do think, the academic impact on it should be something that is weighed into what the impact should be.”
A reporter asked Byrne whether the lesser evil would be holding the portal window while the College Football Playoff was still going on, or in the spring. Alabama’s AD said he wasn’t a fan of those options..
“I don’t like either way that goes,” Byrne said. “Honestly. That’s not good for the teams involved, that’s not good for the kids and their academics.”
SEC spring meetings is scheduled to continue through Thursday in Miramar Beach, Fl.
The Minnesota Timberwolves play against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game 5 of their NBA Playoff series tonight. The matchup will begin at 7:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
The Timberwolves are currently trailing 3-1 in this playoff series, and they are coming off a close 128-126 loss. In order to keep their season alive, the Minnesota squad will need a great performance from their star guard Anthony Edwards. He leads the team in points and assists, but he struggled offensively last game. With this in mind, Edwards will look to improve his play tonight.
Three Oklahoma City players scored at least 21 points last game: Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. These three players combined to score 95 points, so they will try to continue their offensive success tonight.
Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City offense with 40 points and 10 assists, so he will be a key player to watch this evening.
Fans can watch game 5 of this NBA Playoff series for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
An Alabama chef with multiple James Beard nominations has set an opening date for his newest venture in a coastal destination city.
According to information released Wednesday, Chef Bill Briand and the Deep Roots Restaurant Group will open Little Bird at 404 Oak Ave. on June 4. Deep Roots operates Fairhope’s Hope Farm restaurant and event venue; Hope Farm co-founders Robert and Bentley Evans are partners in the new venture.
Backers describe the menu as a showcase for “Briand’s commitment to sustainably-sourced seafood and the region’s best local growers.”
“Raw bar offerings include freshly-shucked Gulf oysters, marinated crab claws with citrus-chili vinaigrette, and West Indies salad,” said Wednesday’s announcement. “Appetizers like yellowfin tuna poke tacos with wasabi whip and smoked Gulf fish jalapeño corn fritters deliver fresh, flavorful notes. Entrées highlight Briand’s signature style like boudin-stuffed Manchester Farm quail, duck l’orange with Louisiana dirty rice, and seared scallops with cauliflower purée and pistachio crunch. A separate lunch menu offers a more casual experience, with standout items like a fried oyster BLT on brioche, Southern fried chicken with smothered greens and Alabama white BBQ, and a Gulf shrimp salad croissant with crisp garden greens. Sides such as crispy Brussels sprouts in honey-sherry vinaigrette, house-seasoned fries with jalapeño aioli, and “Mom’s Sweet Cornbread” with charred scallion butter round out the offerings with familiar, comforting flavors.”
The Seafood Tower at Little Bird in Fairhope features a dozen each of oysters, marinated crab claws & royal red shrimp with West Indies salad. smoked Gulf fish dip, cucumber mignonette, spicy cocktail sauce, horseradish and more. (Little Bird via Green Olive Media)Little Bird via Green Olive Media
Briand started his career at Emeril’s in New Orleans and went on to work at the highly regarded Cochon Restaurant and Cochon Butcher before moving to the Alabama coast around 2013. He made a name for himself as chef at the now-closed Fisher’s at Orange Beach Marina, developing a style he has called “seafood Southern soul food,” and at Playa.
The restaurant’s name is a reference to Briand’s mother, the late Virginia Eileen Brand. The interior design by Ivy Schuster of Birmingham-based Hatcher Schuster Interiors also is designed to reflect “a chapter of her story” in every room.
“Little Bird is my way of thanking my mother for showing me that love can be shared and expressed through food,” Briand said in Thursday’s announcement. “Everything about the restaurant is grounded in that maternal spirit of warmth and care.”
According to Wednesday’s announcement, reservations are now available through opentable.com. For more information, including menus, visit littlebirdfairhope.com.
On Wednesday at 11:19 a.m. the National Weather Service released a flood warning valid from Thursday 11 a.m. until Monday 3 a.m. for Clarke and Washington counties.
The weather service adds, “Minor flooding is forecast for Tombigbee River near Leroy.”
“At 24.0 feet, Flooding of low-lying farm and pasturelands begins. Cattle in low-lying areas should be moved to higher ground. Water approaches low-lying roads on west side of river,” adds the weather service. “Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas. Caution is urged when walking near riverbanks. The next statement will be issued when updates occur.”
Understanding the differences between advisories, watches, and warnings
Flash flood warning: Take action!
A flash flood warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring. If you are in a flood-prone area, move immediately to high ground. A flash flood is a sudden violent flood that can take from minutes to hours to develop. It is even possible to experience a flash flood in areas not immediately receiving rain.
Flood warning: Take action!
A flood warning is declared when flooding is on the verge of happening or is already underway.
Flood advisory: Be aware:
A flood advisory is released when flooding is not expected to reach a severity level necessitating a warning. Nonetheless, it can still cause considerable inconvenience and, without exercising caution, potentially lead to situations that threaten life and/or property.
Flood watch: Be prepared:
A flood watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible.
Be flood-ready: Expert guidance from the weather service for your safety
Floods can pose a significant threat, especially if you live in a flood-prone area or find yourself camping in a low-lying region. To ensure your safety, the weather service offers essential flood safety guidelines:
Move to higher ground:
If you’re in a flood-prone area, or if you’re camping in a low-lying spot, move to higher ground as a first step.
Adhere to evacuation orders:
If local authorities issue an evacuation order, heed it promptly. Prior to leaving, secure your home by locking it.
Disconnect utilities and appliances:
If time allows, disconnect your utilities and appliances. This reduces the risk of electrical hazards during flooding.
Steer clear of flooded basements and submerged areas:
Steer clear of basements or rooms where water has submerged electrical outlets or cords. This helps prevent electrical accidents.
Evacuate promptly for safety:
If you notice sparks or hear buzzing, crackling, snapping, or popping noises, evacuate immediately. Avoid any water that may be charged with electricity.
Stay away from floodwaters:
Never attempt to walk through floodwaters. Even just 6 inches of swiftly moving water can forcefully knock you off your feet.
Seek higher ground when trapped:
Should you become trapped by moving water, reach the highest point possible and dial 911 to contact emergency services.
During heavy rain, flooding is possible, especially in low-lying and flood-prone areas. Never drive through water on the road, even if it does not appear to be deep. It takes just 12 inches of rushing water to carry away most cars, according to the weather service. Stay safe by being prepared and informed.
Navigating heavy rain: Essential safety measures for wet roads
When heavy rain sets in, the risk of flooding and hazardous driving conditions rises. Whether it’s prolonged rainfall or rapid runoff, being prepared is essential. Here are some valuable safety tips from the weather service to ensure you stay safe in heavy rain:
Beware of rapid water flow:
In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger.
Maintain safe driving distances:
Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.
Reduce speed and drive cautiously:
If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.
Choose your lane wisely:
Stay toward the middle lanes – water tends to pool in the outside lanes.
Prioritize visibility:
Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by activating your headlights. Be particularly vigilant for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.
Watch out for slippery roads:
Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.
Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:
Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid tailgating and pass them swiftly and safely.
Mind your windshield wipers:
Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas.
When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Keep your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.
In the face of heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road. Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey.
Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.