Alabama News

The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs said Friday that it will take 12-14 months and cost $50 to $60 million to repair the new state veterans home damaged in a fire this spring.

The Bennie G. Adkins State Veterans Home in Enterprise had about 90 occupants when the fire struck on April 16. There were no injuries, the department said.

The residents were moved to the Enterprise Health and Rehabilitation Center.

In a news release, the department said Commissioner Jeff Newton and Enterprise Mayor William Cooper met with the displaced veterans on Thursday to provide an update on restoration of the facility.

“We continue to work diligently to ensure that every resident of the Command Sgt. Maj. Bennie G. Adkins State Veterans Home is able to return safely and comfortably as soon as possible,” Newton said.

“This is a complex process involving many moving parts, and we are grateful for the continued patience and understanding shown by our veterans and their families. Our top priority remains the health and well-being of our veterans, and we are committed to restoring their home with the care and dignity they deserve.”

The Bennie G. Adkins Home opened last year and is the fifth state veterans home in Alabama. Construction cost of the home was $98.8 million, the department said.

Brandon Miller, director of outreach for the veterans department, said funding for the repair will be covered through the Alabama Division of Risk Management and insurance reimbursement.

Planning for the Bennie G. Adkins home started back in 2018, partly to help reduce a waiting list for the other veterans homes.

Those are the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home in Alexander City, the Tut Fann State Veterans Home in Huntsville, the William F. Green State Veterans Home in Bay Minette, and the Colonel Robert L. Howard State Veterans Home in Pell City.

The homes provide nursing home-level skilled care.

Sandra Lucas, deputy commissioner of the veterans department, said the fire started during a project to install stairs for roof access.

Lucas said the fire was contained to the roof. But smoke and water damaged other portions of the facility, including the kitchen and utilities.

Lucas said the occupants were evacuated in less than 30 minutes.

“Everybody was safe with equipment that they had to have,” Lucas said.

“Enterprise, the community, the home, everybody just stepped up and made the transition into a temporary living space really nice.

“We will never have enough words of appreciation for that community.”

The National Weather Service issued a report at 2:13 p.m. on Friday for strong thunderstorms until 3 p.m. for Pike County.

Residents may experience wind gusts of up to 40 mph.

“At 2:13 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm over Glenwood, or near Goshen, moving northeast at 10 mph,” according to the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.”

Locations impacted by the alert include Troy, Brundidge, Goshen, Banks, Kent, Antioch, Linwood, Ansley, Troy Municipal Airport, Troy University, Monticello, Orion, Springhill, Josie, Sandfield, Brundidge Municipal Airport, Mossy Grove and Henderson.

According to the weather service, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.”

Shielding yourself from approaching lightning: Expert safety guidelines

Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these electrifying events occurring during the summer months. Unfortunately, lightning is responsible for claiming the lives of approximately 20 people annually, as reported by the weather service. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.

To guarantee your safety in the midst of a thunderstorm, take into account the following recommendations:

Lightning safety plan:

• When venturing outdoors, it’s vital to establish a clear plan for seeking shelter in case of lightning.
• Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s an indication that lightning is nearby.
• Seek a safe place to shelter, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

• Once you’re indoors, avoid using corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing fixtures, and stay away from windows and doors.
• Lightning can follow conductive pathways, and these precautions reduce the risk of electrical surges.

Wait for the all-clear:

• After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
• It’s important to remember that lightning can strike even when a storm seems to have passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn’t available:

If you find yourself outdoors without access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

• Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, as they expose you to greater lightning risk.
• Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In forested areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
• If you’re with a group, ensure individuals are spread out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
• Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If no alternative exists, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. Remember that a tent offers no protection against lightning.
• Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, preparedness and vigilance are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of lightning-related incidents and prioritize your safety.

Mastering wet roads: Safety tips for heavy rainfall

Rain can turn roads into hazards. Stay informed and follow these tips from the weather service to ensure safety during heavy rainfall:

Beware of rapid water flow:

During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.

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:

On wet roads, slowing down is paramount. Gradually ease off the accelerator and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stick to the middle lanes on multi-lane roads to minimize the risk of hydroplaning, as water tends to accumulate in outer lanes.

Prioritize visibility

Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by turning on your headlights. Watch out for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.

Watch out for slippery roads:

The initial half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mixture of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.

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.

If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.

By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed advice from local authorities to make your journey safe and sound.

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.

A 37-year-old Alabama man has been sentenced to life in prison following his guilty plea to the murder a young mother who was found slain and wrapped in a blanket in a wooded area.

Michael Wade Tucker entered his guilty plea Friday morning, according to 24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Andy Hamlin.

Family members reported Laci Cheyenne Whitson, 21, missing on June 29, 2024.

The investigation showed Tucker had picked up Whitson in Florence during the early morning hours of June 26 and taken her to his home on County Road 52 in northeast Fayette County.

One June 30, 2024, investigators searched Tucker’s home and surrounding property.

They determined Whitson has been shot inside the home.

Her remains were found concealed in a boat on the property, and her clothing and personal belongings were located inside the house.

Tucker was charged, he said, within 24 hours of Whitson’s body being found.

Whitson left behind a young son.

Hamlin thanked the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the State Bureau of Investigation, the district attorney’s Criminal Investigation Division, and Chief Assistant District Attorney Jack Nolen.

“We’re incredibly grateful to the witnesses who came forward and the law enforcement agencies that worked this case so thoroughly,” Hamlin said. “Because of their efforts, we were able to build a solid case that the defendant had no choice but to plead guilty.”

With Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt manning their offensive tackles, Los Angeles has “two great ones,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh.

Los Angeles signed Mekhi Becton to a two-year, $20 million contract as a free agent in March, putting a 2024 Super Bowl winner into the Chargers’ lineup at right guard.

But when Los Angeles became the first NFL team to have a full-squad training-camp practice for the 2025 season on Thursday, the Chargers still had a decision to make at the other two offensive-line positions, even though they return a starter at each spot.

Los Angeles is trying to decide if the offense will be better with Bradley Bozeman staying at center and Zion Johnson remaining at left guard or if it would be beneficial to switch their positions. Each player is working at both spots.

“I don’t know how many days it’ll go like that until we lock it in,” Harbaugh said on Thursday. “We know we got a trusted agent, known friend in Brad Bozeman at center, and we know he could be a really good guard and has been a really good guard. Zion, known friend, trusted agent, starting guard. Will it be a better combination with him at center and Boze at guard, or it’s going to be better with Zion at guard and Boze at center? Hey, let’s find out.

“And how’re we going to know? Like we do everything. They play the best, so we’ll get them in the best position for them and for our team.”

Johnson has started at guard for the Chargers since joining the team from Boston College in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

In his first season with Los Angeles, Bozeman made every offensive snap in 16 of the Chargers’ 17 games in 2024. He missed 10 snaps in the other contest. In his past 45 games, those are the only offensive snaps that Bozeman has missed out of 2,795.

Bozeman could have become an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Instead, he stayed with Los Angeles for a two-year, $6.5 million contract.

Bozeman made the transition from college center to NFL guard and back to center.

A former Handley High School standout, Bozeman served as Alabama’s starting center in the 2016 and 2017 seasons, capping his career in the Crimson Tide’s 26-23 overtime victory against Georgia in the CFP national-championship game.

As a sixth-round rookie, Bozeman played 214 offensive snaps in 14 games with one start for the Baltimore Ravens in 2018. But during the next three seasons, he hardly came off the field for the Ravens offense.

With Bozeman at left guard, the Ravens rushed for more than 3,000 yards in the 2019 and 2020 seasons – two of the six times that had been accomplished in NFL history.

Bozeman shifted to center for Baltimore in 2021 and has played that position exclusively since then.

The Chargers will play in the first game on the NFL’s preseason schedule. Los Angeles will take on the Detroit Lions in the annual Hall of Fame Game on July 31 in Canton, Ohio. The Chargers also will play the New Orleans Saints on Aug. 10, Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 16 and San Francisco 49ers on Aug. 23 in preseason games.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

The Atlanta Braves play against the New York Yankees in an MLB game tonight. The matchup will begin at 6:15 p.m. CT on MLB Network. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV.

The Braves enter this matchup with a 42-53 record, and they have won three of their last five games. However, the team is coming off a 5-4 loss against St. Louis.

In order to bounce back tonight, the Braves will need to rely on their star player Matt Olson. He leads the Atlanta offense with 17 home runs and 61 RBI, so he will look to continue his offensive success this evening.

The Yankees enter this matchup with a 53-43 record, and they have lost back-to-back games. In their most recent game, the Yankees lost 4-1 against the Chicago Cubs.

In order to win tonight’s game, the Yankees will need a great performance from their star player Aaron Judge. He leads the New York offense with 35 home runs and 81 RBI, which highlights his power at the plate.

Fans can watch this MLB game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV.

By Ruben Castañeda | Edited by Patricia Guadalupe

Before he became a hip-hop basketball sneakerhead impresario, before he wrote books about his lifelong love affair with the city game and the shoes players wear on and off the court, before he was mentored by playground legend Earl “The Goat” Manigault, before he palled around with MCs and consulted for an animated movie starring A-list actors about designer kicks who embark on an adventure in New York City, Bobbito García was a skinny kid who just wanted to play ball.

In his entertaining new memoir, “Bobbito’s Book of B-Ball Bong Bong! A Memoir of Sports, Style, and Soul,” which was released July 1, García chronicles his evolution from playground baller to a D-2 college player, to a writer, basketball kicks promoter, and trusted historian-voice for a major documentary on New York hoops legends.

With colorful prose, García, 58, describes the different phases of his life through the prism of his love for basketball. In the 1950s, García’s father, Ramón, was invited to try out for a Puerto Rican professional basketball team at the age of 18. But before the tryout, Ramón’s mother asked him to move to New York City to help her care for his younger siblings. The Garcías were part of the more than 200,000 Puerto Ricans who moved to the Big Apple during the ‘50s.

García caught the hoops bug, and in 1977, at age 11, started for his sixth-grade squad, though he was “a complete burger.”

By 1981, García was a regular at the playground known as the Goat, named after Manigault, a legendary leaper whose potential pro career was derailed by a heroin habit.

“The Goat was a mythical mentor at the park who led by example, with an approachable and kind demeanor,” García writes in his book. “There was a melancholy aura to him, though. As a ballplayer in the fifties and sixties … the hard truth was that he had been an underachiever, someone who never reached his full potential.

“While Earl never had to convince me not to drink or smoke – I was already on that — the lesson he did indirectly impress upon me was that in life we can make some great decisions, and some wrong and hurtful ones. Which side did I want to stand on?”

At the Goat playground and other hoops locales, García began meeting music industry figures, making the kinds of connections that would later prove helpful. After playing for the storied Lower Merion High School basketball team in Pennsylvania (Kobe Bryant’s alma mater) by way of a college prep program for economically disadvantaged students, Bobbito played for Wesleyan University in Connecticut, a Division 2 school.

After barely leaving the bench at Wesleyan, García returned to the Goat playground, where one day Ray Díaz, a pro baller from Puerto Rico, told him after a game that he was ready to play professionally in Puerto Rico.

On the island, García didn’t play much, but he gained immeasurable pride by competing in his homeland. “I had many identity issues growing up as a Boricua who couldn’t speak Spanish,” García writes. “Black opponents in Harlem would call me whiteboy. Two Puerto Rican stickup hoods in my hood once did the same. On my visits to the island, even my cousins would call me gringo when I couldn’t understand what they were saying.”

On the island, he took in the sheer beauty of the island, “how ridiculously gorgeous the biodiversity was, from the mountains to the shores, the palm trees, the bioluminescent bay, the rainforest, the coquís singing at night, the roosters crowing in the morning, and all the enchanted tropical country could offer. For the first time in my life, I felt a spiritual connection to my heritage, one that no one could ever detract from again moving forward.”

While he never became a basketball star, García moved forward – becoming a DJ, briefly showcasing his hoops skills on a Nike commercial, interviewing Kobe Bryant for ESPN, co-hosting a hip-hop radio show, writing for basketball-themed magazines, and then penning his own books, including “Where’d You Get Those? New York City’s Sneaker Culture: 1960-1987,” winning an award from Hoops 4 Hope for giving basketball clinics in Senegal, and becoming a key figure in a Showtime documentary about star New York point guards during the 1980s and 1990s.

“Perhaps the illest component of being involved for me,” García writes, was his credit at the end of NYC Point Gods: Bobbito García, B-ball Sage. “Not bad for a Puerto Rican kid from the Goat who not a soul would have predicted would make an entire career out of loving basketball with global impact, whether storytelling, documenting, curating, teaching, announcing, performing, playing, advocating, or simply inspiring others by example,” García writes.

He’s the “Sneaker Culture Ambassador” for the 2025 animated movie “Sneaks,” which features characters voiced by stars Anthony Mackie and Laurence Fishburne.

In an interview with palabra, García says he started writing his memoir about 22 years ago, but never finished it. In 2023, he returned to it and finished it in a matter of months.

Asked what he hopes readers get from his story, García says, “You don’t have to give two (bleeps) about basketball and still enjoy my memoir. There’s a story about my family, there’s levels of identity, there’s a social justice component. I hope people read the book and maybe get inspired to go out and play, or become energized to become involved in the game and the culture if you don’t play.”

Lunchtime doesn’t have to mean boring. It also doesn’t have to mean soggy sandwiches and lukewarm drinks.

All you need for back to school – or that midday work break – is Stanley’s 7 qt. Easy Carry Lunch Cooler. It’s $50 and users rave about its portability, style and ability to keep their lunch fresh and chilled.

It comes in a variety of beautiful colors: Rose Quartz, Azure, Pamelo, Twilight, Stanley Green, Tigerlily Plum and Dried Pine.

Order yours here.

Here’s all you need to know:

Cool up to 27 hours

The Stanley Easy Carry Lunch Cooler | 7 QT is designed with double-wall foam insulation to keep contents cool for up to 27 hours. It features a leak-resistant gasket to prevent spills and rugged latches and handles for durability. An adjustable bungee system on the lid allows users to secure a Stanley bottle or other items. The cooler weighs 3.9 pounds and has dimensions of 13.3 x 11.1 x 8.6 inches.

Adjustable for your Stanley bottle

The adjustable bungee system on the lid stands out as a particularly useful feature. It allows users to securely attach a Stanley bottle or other items to the top of the cooler, freeing up space inside and making it convenient to carry everything needed for a hike, picnic, or other outing.

Leak-resistant

The leak-resistant gasket is a notable feature, ensuring that the cooler can be transported without worrying about spills, making it suitable for various activities and environments.

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

The brand new reality series The Fixer premieres on FOX Friday, July 18 at 8/7c.

Those looking to check out the latest reality series to hit FOX can stream the premiere of The Fixer through Fubo or DirecTV—both of which offer free trials for new subscribers to enjoy before committing to a paid subscription.

What is The Fixer about?

Marcus Lemonis, a popular TV personality and entrepreneur, is hitting the road to meet with business owners from across the country whose companies are at a crossroads and need to make impactful changes.

Struggling with tough decisions and looking for direction, he assesses their prospects and picks one business in the hope that they will all make a profit.

As they address extraordinary challenges together in a revealing behind-the-scenes journey to success, they benefit from Marcus’s candid instruction and business know-how in an effort to seek an investment.

To kick off the new series, Marcus steps into help a dance and trampoline-based fitness studio that desperately needs a bit of guidance to move forward.

How to watch The Fixer season 1

Those interested in checking out the new series can stream the live premiere through Fubo or DirecTV—both of which offer free trials to new subscribers.

What is Fubo and DirecTV?

Fubo and DirecTV are two of the top streaming services steadily replacing traditional cable services. Both offer free trials to new subscribers, a plethora of popular live TV channels, on-demand streaming options and helpful features such as unlimited DVR storage.

Fubo considers itself a sports-focused live streaming service, but with over 100 live TV channels available through its base package at just $84.99 after its free trial, it offers much more to its subscribers.

Popular TV channels available through Fubo include ABC, FOX, BET, MTV, CNBC, MSNBC, USA and much more.

DirecTV mirrors Fubo by offering many of the same live TV channels and useful features. The base package starts at just $86.99 a month after its 5-day free trial and includes popular channels such as HGTV, ESPN, Bravo, CMT, CNN, BET and much more.

Two other DirecTV packages are the Choice package (original price $114.99) and the Ultimate package (original price $129.99), both of which are part of an ongoing promotion that offers new subscribers $10 off the original price for the first three months of their subscription.

Those interested in comparing all DirecTV’s channel packages can check them out here.

Rather than melting outside in the summer heat this weekend, many are choosing to stay inside and play at their favorite online sweepstakes casinos.

These unique gaming platforms are legal throughout most of the country and offer a huge variety of fun casino games.

Here, I highlight four of the best new sweepstakes slots to play this weekend. Each of these games is exciting and comes from what many consider to be the best sweepstakes casinos in the country.

The best new sweeps slots for this weekend

Slot games are the most popular types of casino games in the US. For decades, these were available only inside land-based casinos and licensed gaming establishments.

Online real money casinos later began offering these games, yet these platforms are legal in only seven states.

For most Americans, online sweepstakes casinos remain the best option to legally play slots online. The majority of sweeps casinos provide hundreds or even thousands of slots from the top developers in the online gaming industry.

Below, I highlight four of the best new sweepstakes slots you can play this weekend:

Candy Blitz Bombs

Pragmatic Play has developed some of the most iconic online slot games in history. In late 2024, this developer launched Candy Blitz Bombs. It’s since turned into one of the hottest slots available at Crown Coins Casino.

This candy-themed slot game features an average RTP rate of 96.49%, six reels and a Pay Anywhere mechanic that allows players to earn winning combinations anywhere on the grid with eight or more matching symbols.

It’s packed with fun features, including a free spins round, triggered by landing between four and six scatter symbols on the grid.

Candy Blitz Bombs is certainly not the only candy-themed slot available to play today. It’s one of the best-looking, though. The graphics are incredible and the soundtrack deserves credit for enhancing the gameplay.

Money Stacks

Yet another fantastic online slot developed by Pragmatic Play is Money Stacks, which can be found at Real Prize.

Like Candy Blitz Bombs, this game features six reels. This game, however, offers players 4,096 paylines, has an average RTP rate of 96.55% and provides a maximum payout of 5,000x their wager.

All of the high RTP slots from Pragmatic Play come with some kind of unique bonus feature. Money Stacks is filled with them, including three unique free spins rounds. Each of these rounds allows players to earn huge multipliers that can offer massive payouts.

It’s difficult to narrow down the specific theme of this game. It features common classic slot symbols, including the 7 symbols and various fruits. The four different jackpot payouts are also clearly visible to players on the left side of the screen.

3 Coin Volcanoes

Those looking for a more simplistic slot game this weekend may enjoy 3 Coin Volcanoes at Mega Frenzy.

This game, developed by 3 Oaks Gaming, features only three reels and three paylines. It’s a basic slot game with a decent RTP rate of 95.68% and a maximum payout of 2,000x your wager.

3 Oaks is also well known for adding great bonus perks to its slots. 3 Coin Volcanoes has numerous bonus features that can offer some good payouts. Perhaps the best is the Volcano Multiplier feature, which randomly triggers during gameplay and can offer up to nine individual multipliers.

This game is tailor-made for beginners. It’s extremely easy to understand. With that being said, it comes with enough unique bonuses to keep even the most hardcore slot fan satisfied.

Flame and Fortune: Hold and Win

Flame and Fortune: Hold and Win was launched earlier this year by Octoplay. It’s gained a huge fanbase since that time, especially at Rolla Casino, because of its great graphics and fun bonuses.

This game features five reels, five paylines and an average RTP rate of 95.97%.

There is no shortage of ways for players to boost their payout in this game. The Crown symbol represents the wild symbol and can help players land winning combinations. The Treasure Dragon acts as the collect symbol, allowing players to immediately earn payouts for every cash symbol featured on the grid.

I am a huge fan of this game’s fantasy theme. It looks like many of the best real money slots, yet focuses more on gameplay and bonuses than flashy animations. It does most things right and certainly deserves a mention as one of the best new sweeps slots to play this weekend.

Learn more about our gaming editorial staff.

If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.

If summer isn’t summer without a nice place to lounge, Wayfair has a sale for you.

The online mega-retailer has slashed the price of its 2-piece Outdoor Chaise Lounge Chair set by Arlmont and Co. by almost 50 percent. The chairs are normally $236 but are now on sale for $126. The best deal is for the black set but you can pay a little more and get some other colors like dark brown, gray or light brown.

You can order yours here.

The standout feature of these chaise lounges is the 5-position adjustable backrest. This allows users to customize their reclining angle for reading, sunbathing, chatting, or even taking a nap, providing a versatile seating experience for various outdoor activities.

They are made with high-grade waterproof and sun-resistant material. The chairs are crafted from PP plastic, which is not only waterproof but also UV – protected, preventing fading and degradation over time. It’s extremely sturdy, capable of supporting up to 300 pounds, and is perfect for long – term outdoor use, standing up to the test of different weather conditions.

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