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Troy lands 2 former Power 4 players via transfer portal

Troy added its first two portal transfers of the current cycle over the weekend, getting commitments from former Vanderbilt safety Steven Sannieniola on Saturday and former Georgia Tech offensive lineman on Sunday.

Sannieniola, originally from Gaithersburg, Md., was a 3-star prospect in the 2022 signing class and has two year of eligibility remaining. He played in nine games during his career at Vanderbilt, totaling 10 tackles with a tackle for loss.

Via XAL.com

Troy lost five defensive backs — including starting free safety Ian Conerly-Goodly and top backup Darrell Starling — to the transfer portal after the 2024 season. Strong safety Justin Powe and “spear” safety Devin Lafayette are set to return in 2025.

The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Screws was a three-star prospect in the 2023 class out of Eufaula High School. He did not see any game action the last two seasons at Georgia Tech and has three years of eligibility remaining.

Troy is set to return four of its five starting offensive linemen from 2024, losing only right tackle Daniel King. However, King — who also played guard during his career — was arguably the top lineman on the team.

Troy finished 4-8 in 2024 under first-year coach Gerad Parker, winning three of its final four games after a 1-7 start.

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See the 2024 AL.com high school volleyball all-state team by classification

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Wayfair has 11-piece Cuisinart cookware set, normally $340, on sale for $90

If your New Year’s resolutions included cooking at home more, Wayfair has a deal for you.

The Cuisinart Ceramica XT 11-piece non-stick cookware set is normally $340 but is now on sale for $90. It comes in two colors – Black and Red.

You can order yours here.

Here’s all you need to know about the set:

  • Product Name: Cuisinart Ceramica XT 11-Piece Non-Stick Cookware Set
  • Total Number of Pieces: 11
  • Materials: Aluminum construction
  • Non-Stick: Yes (titanium-reinforced ceramic)
  • PTFE Free: Yes
  • PFOA Free: Yes
  • Handle Material: Silicone (cool touch)
  • Oven Safe: Up to 350°F
  • Compatible with: Gas, Electric Smooth Top, Ceramic, Electric Coil stoves
  • Weight of Set: 20 lbs
  • Stock Pot Capacity: 6 quarts
  • Saute Pan Capacity: 3 quarts

Included Items:

  • 2 Saucepans (1 quart and 2 quarts)
  • 1 Stock Pot (6 quarts)
  • 2 Skillets (8-inch and 10-inch)
  • 1 Saute Pan (3 quarts)
  • 1 Steamer Basket
  • 4 Glass Lids
  • Warranty: Lifetime warranty (limited)

11 piece set

The Cuisinart Ceramica XT 11-Piece Non-Stick Cookware Set features an aluminum construction which makes it durable and lightweight at a total weight of 20 lbs. It includes 11 pieces, among which are two saucepans of 1 quart and 2 quarts, a stock pot of 6 quarts, two skillets measuring 8 inches and 10 inches, a 3-quart saute pan, and a steamer basket. The cookware is equipped with a titanium-reinforced ceramic nonstick interior that is PTFE and PFOA free, ensuring a safer cooking experience. The handles are made from silicone, designed to stay cool during cooking. This cookware set is oven safe up to a maximum temperature of 350°F and is compatible with gas, electric smooth top, ceramic, and electric coil stoves. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

Titanium-reinforced ceramic nonstick interior

A standout feature of the Cuisinart Ceramica XT set is its exclusive titanium-reinforced ceramic nonstick interior, which enhances food release and durability. This feature not only allows for easier cooking and clean-up but also contributes to healthier meal preparation by requiring less oil or butter.

Glass lids

The set includes glass lids that allow for easy monitoring of cooking without lifting the lid, which can help retain moisture and enhance flavors while cooking. These lids are designed to be durable and add a stylish touch to the cookware.

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

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School choice biggest civil rights breakthrough in Alabama in several decades: Op-ed

This is a guest opinion

Years from now, historians will look back and recognize that Alabama turned a corner when it implemented the CHOOSE Act and threw open the door of opportunity to a generation of children who were trapped in failing and underperforming schools.

The CHOOSE Act, which stands for the Creating Hope. and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education Act, was passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey last year, and it allows qualifying students to receive $7,000 annually for an Education Savings Account that may be used for tuition to private, parochial or Christian schools or $2,000 in expenses related to home schooling.

During the first two years, only families whose income is under 300% of the poverty rate — which equates to $93,600 for a family of four — may apply, but in the third year, applications will open to any family that wishes to participate.

Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, who was born in Birmingham, highlighted the lack of quality school options available to many low income families today when she said:

“We have a choice…. If you are of means, you will move to a district where the schools are good and the houses are expensive, or if you are really wealthy you send your kids to private schools. So who is stuck in failing neighborhood schools? Poor kids, a lot of them minority kids.”

Despite the fact that the CHOOSE Act offers immediate relief to low-income families and students trapped in poorly performing schools, Amy Marlowe, the director of the state teachers’ union, has falsely claimed that the program will mainly benefit children from wealthy families, and she wants to roll back its availability based upon bogus beliefs that it somehow harms education.

Rather than continuing to sentence children from low-income families to the indignity of a sub-par education, Marlowe and her union should focus instead on fixing the persistent and endemic problems that cause families to want to leave certain public schools in the first place.

According to surveys, only 44% of parents in Alabama feel satisfied with the education their children are receiving while 76% indicate they support school choice with Education Savings Plans.

Children should not be held captive in a failing school simply because they reside in a specific zip code.

Children who require a specialized learning environment should not be denied it because their zoned school is unable to fill the need.

And we must no longer ignore the fact that our public schools are too often graduating seniors who are unable to read at a proper grade level.

Several states across the country already have robust school choice programs that have been in place for years, and numerous studies have proven that public schools do not experience a mass exodus.

Alabama’s Education Trust Fund Budget, which funds K-12 public schools, community colleges, and four-year public universities, totals $9.3 billion, and the Legislature has allocated $100 million —roughly one-tenth of one percent — to school choice, but that is enough to begin rescuing students who currently have too little hope, too little opportunity, and too few chances to succeed later in life.

In the first year, CHOOSE Act funding will serve about 15,000 students, and it is my hope that parents seeking a better education for their children will claim all of the available funds so the Legislature will be forced to allocate a larger dollar amount the following year.

When CHOOSE Act applications were opened last week, several thousand families from across the state applied on the first day alone, and a steady stream has followed ever since.

The number one priority of elected officials who make decisions about public education must be determining how we can we best teach every child in every class every single day, but a one-size-fits-all approach fails to recognize that each child has unique needs and some respond better to different teaching methods or different learning environments.

That is why many of us believe that school choice offers the best outcome for students while also ensuring that taxpayer dollars are used both efficiently and effectively.

At the same time, school choice allows parents, who know their children better than anyone, to decide which educational path will prepare students to become independent and productive adults.

We must continue supporting our public schools, but we also need the children being taught there to thrive, even if charting a different pathway to success is the only option.

Public schools are making headway, and legislators and other elected officials will continue to implement policies to help all schools and students, but matching children to the best learning environment through school choice is a critical win for all and a major victory for civil rights.

State Rep. Susan DuBose represents Alabama House of Representatives District 45, which includes portions of Jefferson, Shelby, and St. Clair counties.

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Alabama senator moves to make ‘revenge porn’ a felony

Alabama Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, has prefiled a bill that would expand the state’s definition of sexual extortion to include what is often referred to as “revenge porn,” making it punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Currently, the crime of sexual extortion in Alabama only applies to those who knowingly cause or attempt to cause another person to engage in a sexual act or to produce any sexual content under threat of injury to the body, property, or reputation of any person, according to the bill’s text.

It is a Class B felony, punishable with up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $30,000.

If Allen’s bill, SB35, is passed, this punishment would also apply to any Alabamian who “knowingly threatens to release or transmit any photograph, digital image, video, film, or other recording of any individual, whether recognizable or not, engaged in any act of sexually explicit conduct in order to compel or attempt to compel the victim to do any act or refrain from doing any act against his or her will,” otherwise known as revenge porn.

The bill is currently pending action in the Senate Committee on Judiciary.

Several other states have cracked down on online sex crimes in recent years, including Georgia, which passed a law to make revenge porn a felony in 2021.

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Pop superstar leaves $20,000 tip on Christmas Eve

Post Malone presented a Texas bartender with a Christmas present for the ages.

The pop star gifted a single mother, who was working on Christmas Eve, a $20,000 tip.

Renee Brown, 36, waited on the F-1 Trillion star at The Railyard, a small neighborhood establishment in Houston, according to Music Mayhem Magazine.

“Going into work Christmas Eve, I was so sad I had to leave my baby girl to go to work. Oblivious that God would send me a Christmas miracle,” Brown said. “This is hands down the most humble, personable celebrity I’ve had the pleasure of meeting. He changed my life on Christmas (f-king) Eve and will forever be grateful. Thank you so much, Austin.”

Brown said Post Malone walked in with Shaboozey.

“I initially didn’t realize he was there until one of my coworkers from my second job came inside and told me that Austin (Post Malone) was outside on the patio,” she said. “I thought he was kidding with me at first, then I kept seeing people go outside, (and) I kept making drinks for like 30 minutes before curiosity got the best of me, and lo and behold, he was there.”

Brown shared that patrons bought drinks for Post Malone, so when he asked for the bill late into the night, it was covered. She said Post Malone insisted on being charged, so he could tip her.

“So, he asked me to ring him up for a penny or anything, so I did,” she said. “I continued my close and collected all my checks and started to enter my tips. Then I got to his. It was a tip for $20,000.”

Check out the full report.

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.

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Winter weather advisory affecting North Alabama until Monday evening

On Monday at 10:03 a.m. the National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory in effect until 7 p.m. for Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan, Marshall, Jackson, DeKalb and Cullman counties.

The weather service adds to anticipate, “Light snowfall. Additional snow accumulations up to one inch and freezing of lingering rainfall.”

“Plan on slippery road conditions where fallen precipitation refreezes into the afternoon hours. The hazardous conditions could impact the Monday evening commute,” describes the weather service. “Slow down and use caution while traveling. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.”

Winter driving guide: Tips from the weather service for safe and sound travels

Winter’s icy grip often turns roads treacherous, leading to over 6,000 weather-related vehicle fatalities and more than 480,000 injuries each year. When you find yourself on snowy or freezing rain-slicked roads, your top priority should be safety. Slow down and exercise caution. In temperatures near freezing, it’s prudent to assume icy patches on the road and adjust your driving accordingly. Be on alert for ice accumulating on power lines and tree branches, as they may break and fall. If possible, avoid driving in these conditions altogether. But if you must venture out, choose routes with fewer trees and power lines, and never touch a downed power line. If you encounter one, dial 911 immediately. Here are additional winter weather driving tips:

Share your travel plans:

When venturing out of town in hazardous winter weather, be sure to inform family or friends of your destination, your intended route, and your estimated arrival time.

Prepare your vehicle:

Ensure your gas tank is full and equip your vehicle with essential winter supplies, including a windshield scraper, jumper cables, a small shovel, flashlight, cell phone, blanket, extra warm clothing, drinking water, and high-calorie non-perishable food.

Stay calm when stranded:

If you become stranded, remain composed. Inform someone about your situation and location. Avoid attempting to walk to safety. Indicate that you need assistance by attaching a cloth to your car’s antenna or mirror, and make your vehicle more visible by using the dome light and flashers

Be mindful of snow plows:

Keep an eye out for snow plows and provide them with ample room to pass. Only overtake a plow when you have a clear view of the road ahead.

Check road conditions:

Before embarking on your journey, verify the current road conditions to make informed travel decisions.

Stay safe on wintry roads with these valuable winter driving tips from the weather service, and reduce the risk of accidents during challenging weather conditions.

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.

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58-year-old man killed in Center Point shooting; suspect in custody

One man is dead, and another is jailed following a shooting late Sunday in Center Point.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Paul Raymond Newell. He was 58 and lived in Center Point.

The shooting happened at 11:34 p.m. in the 2200 block of Second Place N.E.

Newell was taken to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:13 a.m. Monday.

Details surrounding the fatal shooting have not yet been disclosed.

Steven Lee McDaniel, 30, is charged with murder. He is being held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call sheriff’s investigators at 205-325-1450 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

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Jax State’s leading receiver set to reunite with Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia

Rich Rodriguez added another familiar face to his growing West Virginia roster.

A&P Sports Agency announced on Monday Cam Vaughn is expected to transfer to West Virginia, reuniting the Gamecocks’ former leading receiver with his past head coach.

He will join fellow wide receiver Jarod Bowie and tight end Jacob Barrick as former Jax State players to transfer to WVU and reunite with Rodriguez and wide receivers coach Ryan Garrett, who also moved from Jax State to West Virginia.

Vaughn, a native of Temple, Georgia, will have three years of eligibility remaining.

The receiver was one of the top targets in the Group of Five this season and earned Conference USA All-Freshman team honors this season with the Gamecocks.

He led Jax State in receptions (48), receiving yards (803) and receiving touchdowns (five) as a redshirt freshman, averaging over 16 yards per catch with the Gamecocks.

Vaughn’s season was highlighted by a Hail Mary reception from 49 yards out to end regulation of Jax State’s 44-37, overtime win over Louisiana Tech.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound receiver capped off his Jax State career with 10 catches for 184 yards and a touchdown against Ohio in the StaffDNA Cure Bowl.

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Day of mourning declared for Alabama victims of New Orleans terrorist attack

Gov. Kay Ivey called on Alabama to join Louisiana in a day of mourning Monday for victims of the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans, including two victims who called Alabama home.

Kareem Badawi was a Baton Rouge native who was a freshman at the University of Alabama. Drew Dauphin was an auto engineer who graduated from Auburn University in 2023.

Ivey issued a proclamation directing that flags remain lowered as a visible sign of respect and remembrance for Badawi, Dauphin, and all the victims of the attack, which killed 14 people and also ended in the death of the perpetrator. (Flags are also lowered in Alabama to honor President Jimmy Carter.)

Drew Dauphin, an Auburn University graduate, was among those killed in the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans.(Contributed)

Badawi, 18, was a 2024 graduate of the Episcopal School of Baton Rouge and had started this fall at UA, where he pledged to join the Sigma Chi fraternity.

Read more: ‘It’s evil’: Father of UA freshman killed in New Orleans attack says ‘we’ll miss him forever’

Dauphin as a supplier process engineer who had worked for American Honda Motor Company Inc. since his graduation from Auburn. Dauphin graduated from Alabama Christian Academy in Montgomery in 2016.

A group of friends visiting New Orleans from Mobile were among the 30 or so injured in the attack.

Alexis Scott-Windham, 23, told AL.com she was shot in the ankle and her friend, Brandon Whitsett, was struck by the pickup truck.

Scott-Windam said she has to go back to the hospital in two weeks to have her fracture re-examined. In the meantime, she’s on bed rest and off work from her job at the Amazon facility in Mobile.

Whitsett, she said, remains in New Orleans and is in stable condition at Touro Hospital. H

Whitsett, a 2022 alumni of Vigor, posted on Facebook Wednesday saying, “Forever thank god that could of been worse.”

Scott-Windham will receive full pay from her employer, Amazon, while she recovers.

A story by NOLA.com on Thursday quoted Scott-Windham saying she was denied a “leave of absence” to recover. She also expressed fear of retaliation that will require her to find a new job.

Amazon learned Friday that Scott-Windham had mistakenly requested the wrong type of leave.

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