The Alabama Constitution prohibits lotteries and gambling. That means the Legislature would have to pass a proposed constitutional amendment to submit to voters, who would have the final say.
The last time a proposal went to the ballot was in 1999, when voters rejected Gov. Don Siegelman’s lottery plan.
Billionaire businessman Mark Cuban predicted economic disaster for Alabama and other southern states if the Department of Government Efficiency continues on its trajectory of slashing federal workers and cutting spending that bleeds into the private sector.
“I think there is going to be a Red Rural Recession and soon if all the cuts continue as is,” Cuban posted to the Bluesky social media platform on Wednesday.
“All the firings, cancelling of grants and contracts with companies, the closing of offices, disproportionately impact small towns, cities and states,” Cuban continued. “Their finances will be turned upside.”
I think there is going to be a Red Rural Recession and soon if all the cuts continue as is
All the firings, cancelling of grants and contracts with companies , the closing of offices, disproportionately impact small towns, cities and states.
Cuban’s prediction was issued as several reports of Donald Trump voters impacted by the DOGE cuts began telling their stories.
Among them was Jennifer Piggott, a self-described “MAGA Junkie” from West Virginia who was fired from her Treasury Department job.
“To cut the knees off the working class Americans, it doesn’t make sense to me,” she told CNN in a video posted Thursday.
Piggott, who said she was harassed and had eggs thrown at her home, said she regretted her vote.
Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of Tesla, is the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, where he has gained access to sensitive data and shuttered entire agencies as he attempts to slash government spending.
DOGE’s cuts fueled protests at Tesla dealerships across the country and beyond.
Violent incidents were also reported, including fires set at car dealerships.
Madison County Sheriff’s deputies were shot at while responding to a call Tuesday morning.
No one was injured as the deputies responded to calls of hearing multiple gunshots in the 100 block of Misty Hollow Way the sheriff’s department said.
Deputies took Royden Warren Vickers, 48 of Madison County, into custody and charged him with two counts of attempted murder and one count of discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling. He is being held in the Madison County Jail.
“This is a prime example of the dangers that our deputies face daily while they strive to protect the community,” Sheriff Kevin Turner said in a news release. “I commend our deputies for their actions, and I ask everyone to thank a deputy when you see them for the selfless actions they take every day.”
Deputies were dispatched to the call on Misty Hollow Way shortly after 6 a.m. The 911 calls reported hearing multiple gunshots being fired in the area of the cul-de-sac.
When deputies arrived, they could hear gunshots and while attempting to locate the suspect at least two deputies were shot at. The deputies were able to take cover and quickly locate the suspect.
At that point Vickers surrendered to deputies and was taken into custody without further incident. Once taken into custody deputies secured the .223 rifle that he used to shoot at them. He had four guns – a rifle, a semi-auto handgun and two revolvers.
During the follow-up investigation it was discovered that at bullet from at least one of the shots he had fired struck a neighboring house with the residents inside. No one was struck.
GameStop closed over 1,000 locations in 2023 and plans to close even more in the future.
The specialty gaming and electronics retailer revealed that it expects to close a “significant number” of shops, according to a report from CNN.
While Gamestop hasn’t identified the locations on the chopping block, it has announced plans for its next chapter.
The company says it plans to make a significant investment into bitcoin.
Axios reports GameStop currently has more than 3,000 locations, including 2,325 in the U.S. GameStop has more than 15 locations in Alabama, including retailers in Tuscaloosa, Cullman, and the Birmingham metro area.
Both Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and Assisted Living have new episodes premiering Tuesday, April 1 on BET.
First on the schedule, Tyler Perry’s House of Payne premieres with an all new episode titled “Love At First Swipe” at 9/8c. Assisted Living will immediately follow with a new episode titled “Failure 2 Launch” at 9:30/8:30c.
On this week’s new episode of House of Payne, C.J. and Janine receive marital advice from an unlikely source, and Peanut seeks help with his newfound online lover.
The brand new episode of Assisted Living follows Jeremy and Leah as they visit a doctor to get tested for fertility issues. When the tests come back that both Leah and Jeremy have fertility issues, the couple has a big decision to make.
Where can I stream Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and Assisted Living?
Those interested in making it a night full of Tyler Perry can stream both popular BET shows for free through Philo, Fubo or DirecTV Steam. Though all three options offer free trials to new subscribers, Philo is the cheapest option at just $28 a month after its free trial concludes.
Both shows are also available for streaming through Sling, too. Although Sling doesn’t offer a free trial at the moment, new subscribers receive half off their first month once they commit to a paid subscription.
What is Philo?
Philo is one of the cheapest basic cable alternatives currently on the market. Users can access over 70 live TV channels for just $28 a month after its 7-day free trial.
Some of the most popular channels available through Philo include MTV, AMC, HGTV, Discovery Channel, CMT, TLC, BET and more. Users can stream these channels and various movies/TV shows on-demand.
Philo subscribers can take advantage of useful features such as the unlimited DVR option which makes recording favorite content simple.
What is Fubo?
Fubo is much like any other streaming service, but instead of simply offering on-demand streaming, it offers a plethora of live TV channels such as ESPN, ABC, NBC, CBS, TLC, MTV and more.
Fubo considers itself a sports-focused live streaming service but also offers over 100 live TV channels through its basic package at just $84.99 a month following its free trial.
Users can stream a variety of shows and movies on-demand and even have the option to record favorite shows and movies through Fubo’s unlimited DVR feature.
What is DirecTV Stream?
Much like Fubo, DirecTV Stream offers subscribers with an abundance of live TV channels and helpful features, too. The Entertainment 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.
Two other DirecTV Stream 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 $25 off the original price for the first three months of their subscription.
Those interested in comparing all DirecTV Stream’s channel packages can check them out here.
What is Sling?
Sling is another streaming service to consider if you want to stream live TV channels like BET. Though no free trial is available to new subscribers, those who commit to a paid plan get half off the first month.
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).
A 55-year-old man shot dead during a fender-bender on a Birmingham interstate was intoxicated and aggressive, and the suspect clearly fired in self-defense, an attorney said Tuesday.
Leon Ruffin, 38, is charged with capital murder in the Feb. 1 slaying of Willie Robert “Bill” Morgan when the two drivers clashed that Saturday afternoon on the I-59/20 exit ramp at 31st Street.
Prosecutors contend that Morgan wasn’t armed and was punched in the face by Ruffin, which prompted him moments later to approach Ruffin’s vehicle.
It was not something, they said, that should have ended in death.
Ruffin’s defense attorney, however, said a jury likely wouldn’t convict someone of capital murder based on what happened that day.
New details in the deadly encounter emerged Tuesday when Ruffin went before Jefferson County District Judge Tanita Cain for a preliminary hearing.
When the hour-long hearing ended, Cain said there was enough probable cause to send the case to a grand jury for indictment consideration.
Jefferson County Deputy District Attorney Charissa Henrich is prosecuting. Attorney John Robbins represents Ruffin.
Birmingham homicide Det. Justin Lane was the lone witness in the hearing.
One man is dead and another detained after a minor traffic crash on an I-59 off-ramp Saturday led to gunfire.(Contributed)
Morgan was on his way to work at Luttrell Architectural Woodworks where he had worked for 20 years as a custom woodworker.
Lane, the lead detective, said he arrived at the scene at 2:05 p.m.
Morgan was dead on the ground outside his Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and there were three shell casings near him.
Morgan, Lane testified, was not armed and a search of his truck showed there were no weapons inside the vehicle.
The shooting was captured on video from two nearby gas stations – Marathon and Shell. The video from Shell was accompanied by audio.
Investigators learned that Ruffin’s uncle in Pleasant Grove had been doing repairs on Ruffin’s BMW.
Ruffin’s cousin went that Saturday to pick up Ruffin on the city’s eastside and Ruffin was driving his cousin back home to Pleasant Grove, Lane said.
As they were on the exit ramp from the interstate at 31st Street North, the BMW stalled and stopped in that spot at 1:44 p.m.
Ruffin was in the driver’s seat, Lane said, and his cousin was in the passenger’s seat.
They remained there, trying to get the BMW to start.
At 1:51 p.m., the videos showed, Morgan’s truck pulled up behind Ruffin’s car, waited momentarily, blew his horn at Ruffin, and then “tapped” the rear of Ruffin’s BMW with his pickup truck.
After Morgan’s truck hit the BMW, Lane testified, Ruffin exited his car and walked back to Morgan’s truck.
Lane testified that Ruffin then punched Morgan in the face through the truck’s window and walked back to his car.
Lane said the video did not show the punch but said Ruffin’s cousin told detectives that’s what happened.
Morgan, the detective said, then got out of his truck and walked to Ruffin’s car, whose door was already open, and said, “Get out of the vehicle. Let’s do this.”
Robbins asked the detective if Morgan appeared angry, and Lane said, “Yes.”
“Like three seconds later,” Lane said, “you hear three gunshots.”
Leon Ruffin(Jefferson County Jail)
Robbins pointed out that Morgan’s autopsy showed that the victim’s blood alcohol level was at 0.188, more than twice the legal BAC level to operate a vehicle.
“So, we had an angry, drunk man telling my client to get out of the vehicle and let’s do this,” Robbins said. “It’s at that point my client fired.”
Lane said that was correct.
Morgan dropped to the ground and Ruffin was able to get to the car to start and drove off, Lane said.
The autopsy showed Morgan had been shot twice in the upper torso/chest area, and once in the forearm.
Multiple witnesses called 911, he said. Ruffin did not call 911.
The police department’s Real Time Crime Center obtained the surveillance videos and were able to pull the BMW’s license plate number.
The city’s Flock cameras – also known as license plate readers – picked up the BMW in the Pleasant Grove area, Lane said.
Police – including Chief Michael Pickett, the Crime Reduction Team and the Special Enforcement Team – located the BMW at a Pleasant Grove Road home where Ruffin’s uncle and cousin lived.
When police arrived at the home, Ruffin and his BMW were there, Lane said.
A search of the BMW turned up a 40-caliber pistol, which is the same caliber with which Morgan was killed.
The handgun was on the driver’s side floorboard of Ruffin’s car.
Ruffin was taken into custody without incident, but said he wanted a lawyer before he spoke with police.
His uncle and his cousin both willingly talked to detectives and identified Ruffin through a photo lineup, Lane testified.
Under questioning by prosecutor Henrich, Lane said the shell casings found at the homicide are a possible match to the ones used in a December 2024 shooting of another man for which Ruffin is charged with attempted murder.
Henrich argued that there was enough evidence against Ruffin to send the case to the grand jury, citing the videos and witness statements.
Robbins said self-defense is clearly an issue, also citing the surveillance videos.
“Mr. Morgan gets out of his truck, angrily, and he was more than twice the legal limit of operating that truck and approached my client in an angry manner,” the defense attorney said, “and demanded my client get out of his car, ‘Let’s do this, as if he were going to fight him.”
“Mr. Morgan is over 6 feet and over 200 pounds,‘’ Robbins said. “He’s a big man and he was drunk and aggressive, and my client acted in self-defense.”
Henrich pointed out that Ruffin left the scene quickly and did not call 911.
Robbins also asked that Ruffin be given a bond. Ruffin has no felony convictions and was employed at Uber Eats prior to his arrest.
Ruffin, Robbins said, has strong family support. “Half the courtroom is here supporting him,” he said.
Henrich said Ruffin should remain jailed, noting his charges in the December shooting case, which also happened again in a car and involving an incident believed to be “road-rage.”
The victim, she said, “lost his life that day for bumping Mr. Ruffin’s car.”
“We have two different incidents involving road rage involving Mr. Ruffin,‘’ Henrich said. “He’s a danger to the community.”
Robbins said Ruffin was not required to call 911, and said he was cooperative with police and had the right to assert his right to call a lawyer.
This case, he said, is not a death penalty case and Ruffin shouldn’t have to sit in jail until it goes to trial, which would be at a minimum 18 months.
“Is this really a capital case?” he said. “This is one of those that a jury is probably ultimately not going to convict him of capital murder on the facts of this case.”
If you’ve been watching “The White Lotus,” the hit series on HBO, you’ve probably noticed — or possibly become obsessed with — the luxurious clothing worn by Parker Posey’s character, Victoria Ratliff.
It’s resort wear par excellence, perfect for a rich lady from the South who values comfort — and wants to be extra cozy when she’s lounging at a fabulous villa in Thailand. Victoria Ratliff has been known to pop a few pills on vacation, as well, to help smooth the rough edges when she’s away from her beloved home in North Carolina.
Parker Posey’s character on “The White Lotus,” Victoria Ratliff, has been making a fashion statement with comfy caftans. For help with these, the series costume designer, Alex Bovaird, says she reached out to Susan Dumas, a Birmingham woman who sells caftans and other vintage clothing.(Fabio Lovino/HBO)
Posey has become a fan favorite on the show during Season 3, playing the hilariously entitled mother of a clan that encounters family strife and gets tangled up in a murder mystery at a fancy Thai hotel.
“Parker is probably one of the most collaborative actors in the cast, so we got on the phone and talked a lot about what she would wear,” costume designer Alex Bovaird said in an interview with Who What Wear. “She doesn’t really go to the pool, she doesn’t go to the beach, she just sort of hangs around being comfortable, getting massages, getting treatments, staying in her comfort zone. So she has these big, flouncy caftans. She’s very comfy.”
“We were inspired by a lady from Alabama who sells vintage clothes and caftans, and she gave me a bit of insight into her country club world and how fun the women are down there,” Bovaird told Who What Wear.
Bovaird also mentioned Dumas’ influence in an interview with Vogue, which pointed to Victoria Ratliff’s “floaty cover-ups, perfect for sipping mint juleps by a members-only pool.”
Dumas, who sells vintage clothing from her home in Mountain Brook, clearly is having a moment on national television, even if casual viewers of “The White Lotus” don’t recognize her name. She acknowledged the connection in a recent Instagram post that said:
“How many times have I said it but @alexbovairdsprouse (the brilliant costume director for White Lotus) is deservedly on top of the world right now but is so wonderful and kind that she is giving me my 15 minutes too. Every time she mentions me in an interview, I have to remind myself that I still have to do the dishes and laundry because I feel like I might be getting too big for my britches!! It’s one thing to let me throw my clothes in the show. It’s another for Alex to mention me in her fancy interviews!! So, thank you, Alex for being the BEST and I can’t wait for you to come to Birmingham and hang out with my cool country club friends.”
Parker Posey’s character on “The White Lotus,” Victoria Ratliff, has been making a fashion statement with comfy caftans. For help with these, the series costume designer, Alex Bovaird, says she reached out to Susan Dumas, a Birmingham woman who sells caftans and other vintage clothing.(Fabio Lovino/HBO)
From what we can tell, Dumas had an Etsy shop for a few years, called I Wish I Could Keep It All. She now focuses on periodic shows at her home on Old Leeds Road, serving as a consultant and fashion guru for folks who attend. Dumas also showcases vintage clothing in her posts on Instagram and Facebook.
Her collection is filled with “sexy halter dresses, muumuus, timeless evening gowns, and delicate, detailed tops,” according to a 2018 feature story in Mountain Brook magazine. “Printed silk scarves, woven leather belts, chunky costume jewelry and embellished bags are carefully on display, ready to be thrown over the vintage garment of a shopper’s choosing.”
Dumas, who grew up in Selma, has traced her love of vintage clothing to her teen years, wearing items she found in her mother’s closet. Her fondness for vintage apparel increased during time spent in San Francisco, and continued when Dumas moved to Birmingham.
“Throughout my life, I have always loved being a little different, and vintage clothes help me do that,” Dumas said in a recent interview with StyleBlueprint. “My postman, Jeff, got me started in the vintage clothes business. He stopped by one day and told me I should try to sell some of my clothes ‘because you don’t do anything and you have a real interesting style.’ It was intended as a compliment … I think. To be fair, I did have a huge collection. When you buy vintage clothes on the internet, one piece fits, but then ten don’t. So, I had the inventory.”
Her first home show was a success, Dumas said, and her business grew from there. She maintains an extensive collection in the basement of her house, and is especially fond of fashions from the 1960s and ‘70s.
“I mainly buy vintage American caftans, Middle Eastern caftans, black tie dresses, Mexican Puebla dresses, blouses, secretary dresses, jumpsuits, Hawaiian designer dresses, skirts, palazzo pants and accessories, all from the 1960s and 1970s,” Dumas said in a 2021 interview with AboutTown. “I love lots and lots and lots of color but other than that, anything goes. I buy so many different styles of clothing so that everyone can find their own groove in the collection.”
Parker Posey’s character on “The White Lotus,” Victoria Ratliff, has been making a fashion statement with comfy caftans. For help with these, the series costume designer, Alex Bovaird, says she reached out to Susan Dumas, a Birmingham woman who sells caftans and other vintage clothing.(Fabio Lovino/HBO)
If you’re wondering how Dumas became a caftan guru for “The White Lotus,” she explained the fashion hookup to StyleBlueprint.
“That’s the craziest thing that has ever happened to me!” Dumas said. “My friend went to a wedding where she wore a lot of my clothes. Her cousin apparently liked them and told her sister-in-law about them. Her sister-in-law, Alex (Bovaird) Sprouse, happened to be the costume designer for ‘The White Lotus.’ I guess she followed my Instagram, where I post my pieces that will be in upcoming shows. I came home from a big night out to an email from Alex saying she’d like me to help costume the upcoming ‘White Lotus’ season. Would you believe that?”
Viewers will have one more chance to see Parker Posey in resort wear inspired by Dumas. The Season 3 finale of “The White Lotus” is set for Sunday, April 6, at 8 p.m. CT, airing on HBO and streaming on MAX.
NBC gets Steve Kornacki — and his khakis — in the divorce.
Kornacki, a popular presence on MSNBC during election cycles, when he examines state-level voting data and helps explain how candidates benefit, will take his data-analzying skills to NBC News and NBC Sports as parent company Comcast prepares to spin off the bulk of its cable networks into a new stand-alone entity, NBC News confirmed Tuesday.
Kornacki will hold the title of chief data analyst with both the news and sports division — a contributor role that has a long-term commitment, according to three people familiar with the matter. The Los Angeles Times previously reported the move.
Kornacki is likely to turn up on “Meet the Press,” and has in the past assisted hosts on “Football Night in America” and during the Kentucky Derby and other sports telecasts with break-downs of player stats and more.
The swap suggests NBCUniversal is scanning its employee ranks and trying to determine which employees will serve best on which platform. Andrea Mitchell, for example, recently stepped down from her long-running MSNBC program and took up a role at NBC News.
Even so, talks between Kornacki and NBCUniversal about the new role have been simmering for more than a year, according to one person familiar with the situation.
Because he will work as a contributor, rather than as a full-time employee, Kornacki will be able to seek roles outside NBC that do not conflict with the news and sports roles he will hold at the media conglomerate, according to two people familiar with the matter.
He will likely be missed by MSNBC audiences, who have watched him rise as an on-air regular in long-discarded programs such as “The Cycle” and “Up.”
Kornacki has been with MSNBC since 2012, and got his start as a reporter for a New Jersey political-news site, PoliticsNJ.com, before moving to News 12 New Jersey and Roll Call.
Wide receiver was already a strength for Auburn following the 2024 season.
The Tigers lost KeAndre Lambert-Smith, but had exciting freshmen such as Cam Coleman and Malcolm Simmons returning along with other more raw freshmen like Bryce Cain and Perry Thompson.
Hugh Freeze and his staff hit the transfer portal anyway, adding top-ranked portal receiver Eric Singleton Jr. from Georgia Tech and fellow Power Four starter Horatio Fields from Wake Forest.
Singleton was the name that jumped out initially, and he’s already impressed during the first week of spring practice. However, Fields drew high praise from Freeze Tuesday morning, describing signing him out of the transfer portal as hitting a home run.
“I love long receivers. Always have,” Freeze said. “I think now we’ve got some of those that fit that mold. And Horatio certainly does. He’s stood out.”
Listed at 6-foot-2, 201 pounds, Fields gives Auburn even more size on the outside opposite Coleman, who is 6-foot-3. Fields had a 50% contested catch rate on 24 contested targets last season, per Pro Football Focus, a better mark than any of Auburn’s other current receivers.
He caught 39 passes for 463 yards and four touchdowns with Wake Forest in 2024, the most productive season of his career so far.
Along with his ability to make plays on 50/50 balls, Fields has also stood out as a blocker in the practices open to media. He finished the 2024 season with a 68.8 run blocking grade, per PFF, higher than any Auburn receiver last season.
His blocking ability is another plus for the offense as it likes to run a lot of screens for Singleton out of the slot along with swing passes to running backs out of the backfield.
With Fields in the mix, Auburn has a deep receiver core of experienced players including Fields, Coleman, Singleton and Simmons, along with the other young returners — Cain and Thompson — and freshmen such as Sam Turner, Derick Smith and Erick Smith.
“I think it’s a really, really talented room,” Freeze said.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., reintroduced a pair of bills Tuesday aimed at bolstering cryptocurrency, including one to reverse Biden administration-era guidance dissuading Americans from holding crypto in their retirement accounts.
Alabama’s senior senator rolled out the announcement by tweeting his portrait with glowing/laser eyes — a popular meme among the crypto community:
Ironically, the meme gained popularity when then-President Joe Biden gave himself red laser eyes after referencing the 2024 Super Bowl in a tweet that came to known as ‘Dark Brandon.’
It would reverse a Biden-era memo from the U.S. Department of Labor that limits options for where Americans can invest their retirement earnings, the senator’s office said in a press release.
The Financial Freedom Act would allow Americans to choose how they want to invest their money, including in crypto.
“The Biden administration was hellbent on controlling every aspect of Americans’ lives,” Tuberville said.
“Meddling in 401(k) investments through overregulation restrains financial growth and restricts personal liberty. The federal government, which is $36 trillion debt, shouldn’t be telling anyone how to invest their money. My bill ensures that hardworking Americans have the financial freedom to make decisions about how to invest their retirement savings.”
Also on Tuesday, the senator reintroduced the Prohibiting Foreign Adversary Interference in Cryptocurrency Markets Act, which would prohibit the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) from registering a digital commodity platform that is owned in whole or in part by an entity organized or established in China.
The bill also requires the CFTC to revoke the registration of any digital commodity platform in the event an entity with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) acquires all or any part of the ownership of the entity.
Digital commodity platforms collect and store personally identifiable information — including Social Security numbers, mailing addresses, and sensitive financial account data — of their users, according to the senator’s office.
Allowing entities based in the PRC to access this information raises serious concerns related to investor protection, data privacy, national security, sanctions compliance, and anti-money laundering efforts. Companies based in the PRC all ultimately answer to the CCP.
“For four years, the Biden administration put America last – bowing to China at every turn and allowing our adversaries to get ahead,” Tuberville said. “Thanks to President Trump, those days are over. Crypto is the future and we have to make sure our markets are protected from bad actors like China who want to destroy us. This critical bill will protect our markets and make Americans safer.”
