Alabama News

A fifth suspect has been charged in the shootout at a Woodlawn High School reunion picnic that injured a woman and damaged multiple cars.

Dakawuan Christian Collins, 29, of Center, was taken into custody at the East Precinct Monday by the Birmingham Police Department’s Crime Reduction Team, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

Collins is charged with first-degree assault. He was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 6:36 p.m. Monday and remains held without bond.

Also charged are Camron Hinton, 22, Freddy Hurst III, 22, D’Andre Watkins, 27, and Stefon Todd, 28.

The shooting happened shortly after 7 p.m., July 12, in back parking lot of the school in the 5600 block of First Avenue.

Police responded to the school that Saturday after the city’s Shot Spotter gunfire detection picked up one incident of three shots fired, and then a second burst with 10 shots fired.

Officers arrived to find about seven vehicles damaged by the gunfire.

A young woman then showed up a short time later at UAB Hospital with gunshot injuries. She told staff she was shot at Woodlawn High School.

“These guys had something going on and they chose to meet up at Woodlawn to settle their beef,” Officer De’Rell Freeman previously said.

Police last week issued a plea for more witnesses to come forward.

“We know it’s a cultural thing with the no-snitch thing going on,” Freeman said. “They’d rather say something on the internet instead of coming directly to the source which is the police department.”

The school had reunion activities all week, culminating Saturday with a picnic and other festivities at the school.

“There are other schools that will be having their class picnics and reunions in the coming weeks,” Freeman said. “We want everybody to be comfortable and be safe.”

“When situations like this happen, it causes us to put special attention on the other class days,” he said. “We want everybody to enjoy these things, and we don’t want to have to stop them, but when you have situations like this, the conversations come up.”

Anyone with information is asked to felony assault detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

Phenix City will soon be home to a Slim Chickens restaurant.

A new location of the popular poultry chain is scheduled to open Aug. 4 at 2041 U.S. 280.

It is the company’s 12th Alabama location and will employ about 100 people.

The Phenix City restaurant’s owner, Johnny Griggs, has 25 years of experience and is backed by a group that operates seven Firehouse Subs and two Culver’s restaurants. The group also plans to expand with three additional Slim Chickens locations.

“We’ve been part of this community for years, and bringing Slim Chickens here feels like a natural fit,” Griggs said.

Slim Chickens offers tenders and wings, sandwiches and salads, as well as sides, sweets and shakes.

Since its founding in 2003, Slim Chickens has locations in 34 U.S. states, as well as the United Kingdom, Germany, Turkey and Malaysia, with an overall goal of opening 600 restaurants within the next decade.

The Huntsville public radio station, WLRH, will face “a challenge” after a federal cut to previously authorized support for public broadcasting.

Congress approved a rescission bill on Friday, which will cut $1.1 billion in funding to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which distributes the majority of the money to locally operated National Public Radio (NPR) stations and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) television channels.

In a LinkedIn post on Saturday, the official WLRH 89.3 FM/HD account posted, ” While this presents a challenge to WLRH and hundreds of stations nationwide, smaller and more rural stations could go dark…permanently.”

WLRH General Manager Erick Bruckner said they will lose $155,000 of their annual budget, or 13% of operating costs.

“We’re evaluating our options going forward, but have not made any decisions at this point,” Brukner said. Alabama’s PBS affiliate, Alabama Public Television, will lose 13% of its total annual budget, which is over $2.8 million.

WLRH was launched in 1976 by the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library. In a statement, radio station leaders say, “From the beginning, the station has existed to reflect the voices, values, and culture of the community it serves.”

It boasts programs like Microwave Dave’s Talkin’ The Blues, Bob Labbe’s Reelin’ In The Years and Invisible City with Brad Posey that have been on the airwaves for decades, from 20 to 40 years.

Its coverage area is north of Fayetteville, to Scottsboro, west of Decatur and south of Cullman.

They are bracing for possible “difficult decisions in the months ahead,” because of the rescission’s economic impact.

WLRH just welcomed new general manager, Erich Brukner, to the team in April. He’s worked in radio for about 30 years.

All republican lawmakers representing Alabama in Congress voted in favor of the rescission bill. The two Democrats, Reps. Shomari Figures and Terri Sewell voted against it.

The bill is set to go to President Trump, who can sign it into law.

WLRH leaders say that won’t slow down their programming.

“Public radio was built on community. WLRH’s strength comes from its deep connection to the people of Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley, and that relationship will remain at the heart of everything we do. With the continued support of our listeners, we will navigate these challenges together—and continue to be a vital part of life in North Alabama.”

Former Auburn star Sammie Coates wanted to be a high school football coach.

He wanted to be back in his home state.

He wanted a challenge.

Coates accomplished all three goals when he took the head coaching job at Columbia High School in the offseason. Yes, the same Columbia High that has a 91-game losing streak entering the 2025 football season.

In fact, the Eagles haven’t won a game since 2015. They’ve never been to the playoffs.

Yet, Coates is unafraid. In fact, he’s excited for the challenges ahead. Those will start Aug. 22 at Priceville.

Coates, a state championship player at Leroy High and an SEC Champion at Auburn, talked to AL.com at the Huntsville High School Media Day on Monday about his reasoning for taking the Columbia job, his plans for turning it around and his high school and college careers.

How exactly did you end up at Columbia High?

“I decided to get into high school coaching. I wanted to be a head coach. I was in college coaching, but I wanted to be a head coach. I wanted to run my own show. It’s been going great. I can’t complain about anything that is going on. The kids are buying in. I have a great group so far. I look forward to the process of building a new program. I know it’s going to take a lot of work, but we don’t have a problem with that. It’s a blessing to come somewhere where my expectations are high. I like to have high expectations, and I like to have a challenge. I like to challenge myself to see what I can really do. I think this is a position that will be challenging, but I feel good about it.”

Columbia may be the biggest coaching challenge in the state. How do you turn it around?

“We have to focus on us. We can’t focus on outside noise. We are looking forward. We don’t care about anything else other than what our team can become. We are trying to become a family, trying to become one, trying to learn how to be disciplined, learn how to do things the right way. It’s not about winning or losing. It’s about winning in life. If I can get them to understand that – how to be better people, better players – all that adds up to wins. Win or lose, I’m going to teach them how to do it the right way.”

There were more than 100 offseason high school coaching changes in Alabama this offseason. Why Columbia?

“I was looking to come back to Alabama. I was in Virginia, coaching at a university up there. I was looking to get back home, come back to a place that made me who I am today. I did a little research on Columbia. I saw their record. I thought, “There has to be more to it.’ I get here and I see the players – the great guys I have – I just think the discipline hasn’t been there, and that’s the biggest change I’ve seen. Football is about discipline and consistency, and we are doing a great job so far.”

Do you see it changing?

“Every day we wake up, it’s a chance to change it. I tell them that every day. We are going to change it if ya’ll are willing to change. You have to pay attention to little things and the big things will take care of themselves.”

How are your numbers?

“We are getting there. I’m not going to say we are there, but we have the right numbers to play football games, and that is what matters. We have enough to go out there and compete. It’s going to be a little struggle at first, but that’s part of changing the program.”

Do they know the legacy of Sammie Coates as a high school and college player in this state?

“Once or twice when they start talking about being good football players, I have to show them and remind them. They know a little about me. They were so young when I was playing. It’s crazy to think about that. They were 5 years old when I was at Auburn, but they are trusting me and trusting the process. That’s the biggest thing.”

What do you remember about your time at Leroy?

“I remember Danny Powell, one of the best high school coaches in Alabama. He’s in the Hall of Fame. What he implanted was hard work. He didn’t care who you were. If you didn’t do it the way he wanted it, you weren’t going to play for him. That’s one thing I take away from high school. You’ve got to earn everything. I learned that from Danny Powell. If you didn’t want to be there, you could go on. Also, just the team we had in high school, how close we were. That’s why we won so much. We did everything together. There are no secrets to winning. It’s a family. You have to be on the same page. Coach Powell made sure we were on the same page, not only in football, but baseball as well.”

That Highway 43 corridor in South Alabama with Leroy, Jackson, Thomasville and Clarke County among other schools is legendary for good high school football. Why is that?

“The support. You go to a game on Friday night and the whole town shuts down. It’s truly what it means to be under Friday Night Lights. It means something to them. It’s just that pride. I remember going to those fields when I played Jackson, when I played Thomasville – how packed, how loud, how crazy it was just for a high school game. It made me keep loving the game more, made me play harder. That is what I’m trying to get these kids to understand. True Friday Night Lights hasn’t been here for a while. I’m trying to teach them here how the little things can make it so special.”

How do you get Columbia to that point?

“Getting the community to understand that sports can save these kids lives. It’s not just a game for us. It’s something that keeps us around each other. We learn how to work with people, how to be on the same page, how to grow up, how to mature. The support is everything. Kids do better when you support them so the more support we get in the community the better these guys are going to do, not only in football, but in life.”

It looks like you are wearing some of your Auburn championship rings today. What do you remember about being an Auburn Tiger?

“I remember the growth, the maturity. I went through the ups and downs there. My freshman year, I broke my foot. In 2012, we went 3-9, but I also remember in 2013 winning the SEC championship and going to the national championship. It taught me a lot about life – knowing you are going to fail, but you can also win after that. I took everything I went through with all the amazing coaches I had – (Gus) Malzahn, Rhett Lashlee, all the guys who are doing great now – they put a lot in me. That’s why I wanted to get into coaching because I had some great role models.”

You made a key play in the now famous Kick 6 win over Alabama in 2013.

“I tied the game up. People forgot about that because Chris Davis had to go run that kick back for a touchdown in the biggest game in the world. Some missed the little play I had. (Quarterback) Nick (Marshall) read the defense really good. The safety and the corner came down. He saw me wide open and just tossed it up in the air. The Kick 6 was amazing. Chris Davis was a great player. We had a lot of great players that year.”

No way you could drop that, right?

“I could have. My eyes got really big when I saw that ball coming. That’s why I caught it with my body. I had to cradle it. I was too wide open.”

What did you learn from coach Malzahn?

“Coach Malzahn, coach Rhett Lashlee – the way they approached the business and the way they approached us – they didn’t just treat us like football players, they treated us like human beings. These days, I feel like it is more of a business. A lot of them will get what they need to out of you and move on. That’s why we played so hard for those Auburn coaches. They treated us with respect. They always had our backs. That’s why we did the things we did at Auburn.”

More Americans than not say they believe a recent report from The Wall Street Journal claiming President Donald Trump once sent a birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein, according to a new YouGov poll.

Many are also convinced the men were “close friends” and that Trump knew about Epstein’s alleged crimes before they became public.

The poll comes as the president has faced scrutiny over his administration’s handling of an investigation into Epstein, a convicted sex offender, who was found dead in his New York City jail cell in 2019.

Here is a breakdown of the results.

The Wall Street Journal report

The Wall Street Journal report, published on July 17, alleged Trump wrote a “bawdy” letter to Epstein, which was included in an album assembled by Ghislaine Maxwell for his 50th birthday in 2003.

The typewritten letter, arranged inside a sketch of a nude woman’s silhouette, concluded with the message: “Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”

In response, Trump said the letter was fake, writing on Truth Social, “These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don’t draw pictures.” He then filed a defamation lawsuit against the newspaper’s publisher, Dow Jones & Company, and its owner, News Corp.

However, many Americans are inclined to believe the report, according to polling.

In the poll, close to half of respondents, 46%, said they think The Wall Street Journal report is completely or mostly true.

Meanwhile, just 10% said they consider it to be completely or mostly false. An additional 27% said they hadn’t heard of it, and 17% said they were not sure.

Trump-Epstein relationship

A plurality of Americans also believe Trump and Epstein were once deeply connected.

Forty-two percent said they think the pair were “close friends” when their relationship was at its strongest point.

Meanwhile, 16% said they were “friends, but not close,” and 21% said the two were “acquaintances.” Just 2% described them as “strangers” or “enemies,” and 19% said they were not sure.

Epstein himself — in a 2017 interview with author Michael Wolff — said he was Trump’s “closest friend.” The pair moved in similar social circles in New York and Florida and were photographed at events together, including at Mar-a-Lago, in the 1990s and early 2000s.

And in 2002, Trump told New York Magazine, “I’ve known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy.” However, more recently, he has distanced himself from the disgraced financier.

In 2019, after Epstein was arrested and charged with sex trafficking minors, the president said, “I knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him. I had a falling out with him a long time ago. I don’t think I’ve spoken to him in 15 years. I wasn’t a fan.”

Importance of Epstein story

The survey — which sampled 3,406 U.S. adults on July 18 — also asked respondents: “How important do you think the story of accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein is?”

A plurality, 45%, said they believe the story is “very important,” while 28% described it as “somewhat important.”

An additional 10% said it is “not very important,” and 8% said it is “not at all important.” Nine percent said they were not sure, according to the poll, which has a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points.

The story was thrown back into the national spotlight in early July, when the Department of Justice released a memo claiming it had found no evidence of an Epstein “ client list” and no evidence sufficient to charge third parties.

The revelations contradicted previous statements from some top administration officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, who told Fox News in February that Epstein’s client list was “sitting on my desk right now to review.”

While on the campaign trail, Trump himself also expressed a willingness to release documents related to Epstein.

“I’d certainly take a look at it,” then-candidate Trump said during a podcast interview. “I’d be inclined to do the Epstein, I’d have no problem with it.”

But, his tune has shifted since then. When asked by a reporter about the accused sex trafficker on July 9, Trump said, “Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein? This guy’s been talked about for years. This creep? That is unbelievable.”

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©2025 Miami Herald. Visit at miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Bill Cosby has spoken out on the death of former co-star Malcolm-Jamal Warner.

Warner, who played the comedian’s son in the “Cosby Show,” died Sunday after drowning in Costa Rica at age 54.

“He was always a great studier, and I enjoyed working with him very much,” Cosby told ABC News.

“He was very professional. He always knew his part… He always knew his lines, and he always knew where to go.”

Warner, who was best known as Theo Huxtable, was caught in a strong current while swimming during a family vacation on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.

In the exclusive interview with ABC News, Cosby remembered Warner, who played his son for eight seasons on their hit show, as an ultimate professional.

Cosby told ABC News that he and Warner maintained a close relationship long after the show ended.

“Malcolm calls here regularly,” Cosby said, comparing his relationship to that of a mentor.Cosby, meanwhile, spent three years in prison for a 2018 sexual assault conviction, which was overturned on appeal.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.

Another round of heat advisories will be in effect for Alabama on Tuesday.

The National Weather Service is forecasting high temperatures to reach the mid- to upper 90s in many areas again today.

Those air temperatures combined with higher humidity levels will make it feel hotter, in many cases more than 105 degrees, according to forecasters.

Here are the expected high temperatures (air temperatures) for Tuesday:

It will be hot everywhere today, but the hottest spots are likely to be in south and west Alabama. Mobile’s high today is 98 degrees, for example.

Scattered rain and storms will be possible today, and there is a low chance for isolated severe storms in eastern Alabama.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a Level 1 out of 5 risk for severe weather for a small part of east Alabama today:

A Level 1 risk means that isolated severe storms will be possible.

Wednesday will continue to be hot across Alabama, with the highest temperatures expected to be across the western part of the state. The eastern part of the state could be closer to average for this time of year.

Here are the forecast highs for Wednesday:

Here is a look at the heat advisories for Alabama today:

NORTH ALABAMA

A heat advisory will be in effect for all but northeast Alabama until 9 p.m Tuesday.

The north Alabama counties in the advisory are Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan and Cullman.

The National Weather Service in Huntsville said the heat index will range from 105 to 109 degrees today in those areas.

CENTRAL ALABAMA

A heat advisory will be in effect for most of central Alabama until 9 p.m. Tuesday.

The counties affected are Marion, Lamar, Fayette, Winston, Walker, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Sumter, Greene, Hale, Perry, Bibb, Marengo, Dallas, Autauga, Lowndes, Montgomery, Blount, Etowah, Calhoun, Cherokee, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Chilton, Coosa, Tallapoosa, Chambers, Elmore, Macon, Bullock, Lee, Russell, Pike and Barbour.

The National Weather Service in Birmingham said the heat index will range from 107-108 degrees in those areas this afternoon.

SOUTH ALABAMA

A heat advisory will be in effect until 7 p.m. Tuesday for southwest and south-central Alabama.

The counties in south and southwest Alabama affected are Choctaw, Washington, Clarke, Wilcox, Monroe, Conecuh, Butler, Crenshaw, Escambia, Covington, Mobile and Baldwin.

The National Weather Service in Mobile said the heat index could go as high as 110 degrees today in those areas.

Another heat advisory will be in effect for southeast Alabama until 6 p.m. CDT Tuesday.

The counties affected are Coffee, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston.

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee said the heat index could hit 111 degrees in those areas today.

The National Weather Service issued a dense fog advisory at 6:37 a.m. on Tuesday in effect until 8 a.m. for Jackson County.

The weather service states to be ready for, “Visibility drops to 1/4 of a mile or less in dense fog.”

“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” comments the weather service. “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.”

Navigating fog: Safety tips by the weather service

When a dense fog advisory is issued for your area, it means that widespread dense fog has developed and visibility can plummet to a quarter-mile or less. These conditions pose challenges for travel, so exercise extra caution on the road or consider postponing your trip if possible.

If driving in fog becomes unavoidable, remember these safety tips:

Moderate your speed:

Slow down and allocate extra travel time to reach your destination safely.

Visibility matters:

Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If available, employ your fog lights.

Avoid high-beams:

Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.

Maintain safe gaps:

Leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.

Stay in your lane:

Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to staying in the correct lane.

Zero visibility strategy:

In situations of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a secure location, such as a nearby business’s parking lot, to pull over and come to a stop.

Limited parking options:

If no parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far to the roadside as possible. Once stationary, turn off all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.

By adhering to these precautions from the weather service, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring your personal safety.

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.