The cold days of winter make spring seem far away but just how long it will be until we feel a warm up remains to be seen. We will get a strong hint Sunday, however, when Punxsutawney Phil makes his annual appearance at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Penn.
Ground Hog Day is Sunday, Feb. 2. According to legend, if Phil sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t see his shadow, you can expect an early spring.
Phil will make his 2024 prediction around sunrise, roughly 7:25 am. ET (6:25 a.m. CT).
The origins of Gound Hog Day dates back to 1886 when a group of groundhog hunters from Punxsutawney dubbed themselves “The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club” and began promoting Phil was the nations’ only weather prognosticating groundhog. Phil’s fame spread and his prediction became must-watch news. Today you will find up to 35,000 in attendance and millions watching on television or streaming online.
According to Groundhog Club members, there has only been one Phil and he has been predicting since 1887, making him 135 years old. His longevity is credited to drinking “the elixir of life,” a secret recipe known to club members. Phil takes one sip every summer at the Groundhog Picnic and it magically gives him seven more years of life.
Phil’s accuracy, however, is about as iffy as you might guess for a meteorological furry critter.
The Groundhog Club says he’s always right but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration puts that estimate around 50%.
According to Stormfax.com, Phil has seen his shadow 108 times compared to 20 times with no shadow. There’s no record of nine of his predictions. Based on those numbers, Phil has only been correct about 39% of the time. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration puts that number only slightly higher at 40% over the last decade.
University professors and students have asked a federal court to block a new Alabama law that restricts teaching of “divisive concepts” and prohibits diversity, equity, and inclusion programs on campuses.
Professors at the University of Alabama and students at UAB on Thursday asked for a preliminary injunction to block enforcement of law, Senate Bill 129, while the court considers the plaintiffs’ claims that it violates constitutional rights of free speech and due process.
Several professors and students are plaintiffs, along with the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP. They are represented by the ACLU of Alabama and others.
They wrote in the motion that the chief mission of universities and colleges is to prepare students for their civic and political responsibilities.
“To achieve this mission, professors and students must be allowed to grapple with complex histories and social theories, and to encourage discussion of difficult topics, both inside the classroom and in extracurricular campus activities,” they wrote.
“Yet, Senate Bill 129 violates Plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights by restricting their speech, their receipt of information, and their access to university space and funding, simply because the views expressed by these students and educators are disfavored by elected politicians.”
SB 129 lists eight so-called “divisive concepts,” with most covering topics related to race, ethnicity, sex, religion and national origin.
Cassandra Simon, an associate professor of social work at UA, has been accused of breaking the law, the court motion says. Simon teaches a course titled that Anti-Oppression and Social Justice that covers what the law calls “divisive concepts.”
“She faces the constitutionally untenable position of either self-censoring her classroom instruction or materials or facing severe consequences for violating the law,” the lawyers wrote. “Last fall, while teaching this same class, she was accused of violating SB 129 and threatened with discipline or termination.”
The motion says students are being “are deprived of their right to receive information when professors do not provide the full breadth of their knowledge, expertise, and scholarship for fear of promoting a banned viewpoint.”
“Share the love with the sweetest Valentine’s Day Quencher. Wrapped in luscious berry hues, it’s perfect for gifting and even includes a heart-shaped card. Pops of iridescent metallics and a berry-tinted lid and straw make it as indulgent as the treat it’s named for,” Stanley states on its website.
And, as always, Stanley’s Quencher Tumblers keeps your drink ice cold for hours, thanks to double-wall vacuum insulation. Meanwhile, its versatile FlowState™ 3-position lid has three sip settings: one for the reusable straw, one without and the option to rotate the silicone cover shut. It fits right in your car cupholder when you’re headed to your heart-day celebration.
In a tense exchange over the American Airlines jet that collided Wednesday with an Army helicopter, President Donald Trump called out CNN’s Kaitlan Collins for what he called “not a very smart question.”
At least 28 bodies were pulled from the Potomac, officials said.
We don’t even yet know the names of the 67 people killed and you are blaming Dems and DEI policies and air traffic control and seemingly the member of the US military who was flying that Black Hawk helicopter,” Collins said. “Don’t you think you’re getting ahead of the investigation?”
“No, I don’t think so at all,” Trump said. “The names of the people that are on the plane, you think that is going to make a difference?”
“Does it comfort their families to hearing you blaming DEI?” Collins replied.
“They are a group of people who have lost their lives,” Trump continued. “If you want a list of the names, we will be giving that very soon. … That’s not a very smart question. I’m surprised coming from you.”
Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, insisted to deeply skeptical Democrats on Thursday that he did not have an “enemies list” and that the bureau under his leadership would not seek retribution against the president’s adversaries or launch investigations for political purposes.
“I have no interest nor desire and will not, if confirmed, go backwards,” Patel told a contentious Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing. “There will be no politicization at the FBI. There will be no retributive actions taken by the FBI.”
The reassurances were aimed at blunting a persistent line of attack from Democrats, who throughout Thursday’s hearing confronted Patel with a vast catalog of his incendiary statements. They said those statements raise alarming questions about his loyalty to the president, such as when he described some of the prosecuted Jan. 6 rioters as “political prisoners” and called for a purge of anti-Trump “conspirators” in the government and news media.
“There is an unfathomable difference between a seeming facade being constructed around this nominee here today, and what he has actually done and said in real life when left to his own devices,” said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat. His colleague, Sen. Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota, later added, “It is his own words. It is not some conspiracy. It is what Mr. Patel actually said himself.”
Patel defended defend himself by insisting that Democrats were putting his comments and social media posts in a “grotesque context.” He said the suggestion that he had an “enemies list” — a 2023 book he authored includes a lengthy list of former government officials he says are part of the so-called deep state — was a “total mischaracterization.”
“The only thing that will matter if I’m confirmed as a director of the FBI is a de-weaponized, de-politicized system of law enforcement completely devoted to rigorous obedience to the Constitution and a singular standard of justice,” Patel said.
Patel is a former aide to the House Intelligence Committee and an ex-federal prosecutor who served in Trump’s first administration. He’s alarmed critics with rhetoric — in dozens of podcasts and books he has authored — in which he has demonstrated fealty to Trump and assailed the decision-making of the agency he’s now been asked to lead.
But Patel sought on multiple occasions to reassure Democrats that his FBI would be independent from the White House. He would not acknowledge that Trump had lost the 2020 election, conceding only that Joe Biden was sworn in as president. But he did not endorse Trump’s sweeping pardon of supporters, including violent rioters, charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
“I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement,” Patel said in response to a question from Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the committee. Durbin made his opposition to Patel clear at the outset.
Durbin said the FBI is critical in keeping America safe from terrorism, violent crime and other threats, and the nation “needs an FBI director who understands the gravity of this mission and is ready on day one, not someone who is consumed by his own personal political grievances.”
Patel pledged if confirmed to be transparent and said he would not involve the FBI in prosecutorial decisions, keeping those with Justice Department lawyers instead.
“First, let good cops be cops,” Patel wrote in outlining his priorities. “Leadership means supporting agents in their mission to apprehend criminals and protect our citizens. If confirmed, I will focus on streamlining operations at headquarters while bolstering the presence of field agents across the nation. Collaboration with local law enforcement is crucial to fulfilling the FBI’s mission.”
Patel found common cause with Trump over their shared skepticism of government surveillance and the “deep state” — a pejorative catchall used by Trump to refer to government bureaucracy.
He was part of a small group of supporters during Trump’s recent criminal trial in New York who accompanied him to the courthouse, where he told reporters that Trump was the victim of an “unconstitutional circus.”
That close bond would depart from the modern-day precedent of FBI directors looking to keep presidents at arm’s length.
Republican allies of Trump, who share the president’s belief that the FBI has become politicized, have rallied around Patel and pledged to support him, seeing him as someone who can shake up the bureau and provide needed change.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, the Republican chairman of the committee, sought to blunt attacks on Patel preemptively by focusing on the need to reform an FBI that he said had become weaponized.
The FBI in recent years has become entangled in numerous politically explosive investigations, including not just the two federal inquiries into Trump that resulted in indictments but also probes of Biden and his son, Hunter.
“It’s no surprise that public trust has declined in an institution that has been plagued by abuse, a lack of transparency, and the weaponization of law enforcement,” Grassley said. “Nevertheless, the FBI remains an important, even indispensable institution for law and order in our country.”
He later added: “Mr. Patel, should you be confirmed, you will take charge of an FBI that is in crisis.”
A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee known as a pioneer of the ‘60s folk-rock movement is coming to an intimate Alabama venue in February.
Roger McGuinn, a singer-songwriter and founding member of the Byrds, will perform Friday, Feb. 28 at the OWA Theater in Foley. Ticket prices range from $67.13 to $77.13, fees included; they can be purchased via ticketing links at visitowa.com.
The theater is part of the OWA complex in Foley. It has a capacity of around 400 seats.
As a leader of The Byrds, McGuinn energized a series of classic folk-rock and rock songs with his innovative use of electric 12-string guitar. These included covers of Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” and Pete Seeger’s “Turn! Turn! Turn!” as well as “Eight Miles High” and other original works.
He has continued to perform and record in various collaborations and as a solo artist since the Byrds’ breakup in the early 1970s. More recent albums include “Back from Rio” in 1991 and a Christmas album released in 2020.
As a member of The Byrds, McGuinn was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.
MTV’s Teen Mom: The Next Chapter season two will return for an all new episode Thursday, Jan. 30 at 8/7c.
During this week’s new episode, Maci and Ryan come together to buy Bentley a car for his 16th birthday and Leah’s twins start high school and assert their independence.
Meanwhile, Ashley learns she will have to testify against Bar and gets a call of from an unlikely support.
Where can I watch Teen Mom: The Next Chapter season 2?
All three streaming services offer free trials for new subscribers who watch for free before committing to a paid subscription, however, Philo is the cheapest option at $25 a month after its 7-day free trial.
What is Philo?
Philo is considered one of the cheaper live streaming services available as it allows users to stream over 70 live TV channels for just $28 a month after itsfree trial.
Popular channels offered with Philo include the Hallmark Channel, MTV, AMC, HGTV, History Channel, Discovery Channel, CMT, TLC, BET and more.
The streaming service also offers unlimited DVR along with various movies and TV shows users can watch on-demand, including new episodes ofTeen Mom: The Next Chapter.
What is Fubo?
Fubois also an alternative to basic cable, but with better channel options that Philo does not offer.
Fubo considers itself a sports-focused streaming service, but overall, its standard package comes with over 100 live channels for $79.99 a month after its free trial. These channels include ESPN, ABC, NBC, CBS, TLC, MTV and much more.
Fubo also comes with a variety of shows and movies users can watch on-demand along with the option to record your favorite TV shows.
What is DirecTV Stream?
DirecTV Stream is similar to Fubo in that it offers many of the same channels and features. At $101.98 a month after its free trial, the base package comes with a little over 75 live TV channels.
An Alabama manufacturer did not comply with mandatory machine requirements that could have stopped the fatal workplace injuries sustained by a 58 year old line supervisor in July 2024, according to federal investigators.
Rodney Terry was identified as the supervisor and his accident at work happened while trying to service a door molding machine.
The incident prompted the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to open an investigation into the workplace, Haier US Appliance Solutions Inc.
OSHA stated that the company, also known as GE Appliances, committed several violations including failure to de-energize the machines before allowing service, allowing employees to bypass safety mechanisms to access the machine and for not conducting annual inspections for lockout/tagout procedures.
As a result of the investigation OSHA cited GE Appliance the maximum amount legally allowed at $193,585.
Joel Batiz, OSHA Area Office Director in Birmingham, said that Terry’s death could be avoided if the company did not put profit over worker safety.
“Haier US Appliance Solutions could have avoided this tragedy but put production schedules and profit ahead of employee safety,” said OSHA Area Office Director Joel Batiz in Birmingham.
“This company’s troubling history of safety failures in its manufacturing process has posed a significant risk to the more than 1,500 workers at its Decatur location who rely on a safe and healthy workplace.”
According to OSHA, the company has had over 40 safety inspections since 2016, distributed between the Decatur location and a location in Kentucky, Louisville.
After receiving notice of the citation, Haier US Appliance Solutions Inc. has 15 business days to either comply, contest the findings or request an informal conference with OSHA.
Jacksonville State guard Clay Webb is seeking to play in the NFL in 2025, not wrestle in WWE or AEW. But the former Oxford High School standout credits wrestling with his opportunity to play professional football.
“I think every offensive lineman should be a wrestler,” Webb said on Wednesday in Mobile, where he’s practicing for Saturday’s Reese’s Senior Bowl. “All the movements that you make as an offensive lineman are strengthened through wrestling. I feel like I wouldn’t have been nearly as successful if I had not been a wrestler.”
Webb anchored Oxford to the AHSAA Class 6A wrestling championships in 2017 and 2018. He did not end up being a state champion in football (due in part to Clay-Chalkville, which knocked the Yellow Jackets out of the Class 6A playoffs in third-round games in 2017 and 2018) despite an outstanding collection of accolades.
A three-time first-team selection for the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Class 6A All-State squad, Webb won the ASWA Class 6A Lineman of the Year Award and received recognition as an Under Armour All-American and All-USA selection by USA Today in 2018.
But Webb’s football career didn’t continue on that trajectory in college with Georgia, and after three seasons with the Bulldogs, Webb transferred to Jacksonville State in 2022.
With the Gamecocks, Webb regained his footing, and in 2024, the Football Writers Association of America chose him as a second-team All-American.
“I think just getting around the guys at Jacksonville State,” Webb said, “as well as the coaches like Rick Trickett and Rich Rodriguez kind of helped push me in the right direction, where I needed to go.”
That direction led Webb to Mobile for the annual gathering of the NFL to evaluate some of the game’s top prospects in a week-long job interview.
“I’d like to show people that even though I am from a smaller school, I deserve to be here,” Webb said.
NFL talent evaluators also will likely be paying close attention to Webb’s performance in the one-on-one pass-protection drills during the American team’s practices at Hancock Whitney Stadium.
During Webb’s time as the Gamecocks’ left guard, Jacksonville State had one of the nation’s most prolific rushing attacks. In the 2024 season, only Army piled up more yards on the ground than JSU. The Gamecocks got there by running the football on about two-thirds of their snaps.
“Pass protection was a little bit more rare at Jacksonville State,” Webb said after Wednesday’s practice, “but I feel like I can handle it. The one-on-ones, I think I did pretty well on.”
An offensive tackle in high school, Webb also has been showing the NFL scouts that he can handle center during the Senior Bowl reps.
Three Oxford High School alumni played in the NFL during the 2024 season – linebackers Kwon Alexander and K.J. Britt and defensive back Bobby McCain. Webb remembers when he and Britt were lifting partners in high school and thinks the players who have traveled the road to the pros from Oxford can serve as examples, but, ultimately, he has to find his own way to the NFL.
“I just try to keep to myself in terms of what I need to focus on,” Webb said. “I could imagine and watch the other guys be successful, but I just need to work on myself.”
The Reese’s Senior Bowl kicks off at 1:30 p.m. CST Saturday at Hancock-Whitney Stadium in Mobile. NFL Network will televise the game.
But there’s more to the Senior Bowl than the game. The remaining activity schedule includes:
Thursday
Senior Bowl practices (open to public):
National team, Hancock Whitney Stadium, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
American team, Hancock Whitney Stadium, noon-2 p.m.
USA Health Doc Rock, Soul Kitchen, 6:30 p.m.
Friday
Saints Cheer Krewe clinic, Jaguar Training Center, noon-3 p.m. (Open to high school-aged cheerleaders and dancers. Cost is $75.)
Friday Night Street Party (downtown Mobile) with player parade at 6 p.m. and free concert featuring Eli Young Band and Sammy Kershaw at 7 p.m. in Cathedral Square
Saturday
Senior Bowl Fan Fest (free), south lawn of Hancock Whitney Stadium, 10:30 a.m.
Legacy Tailgate HBCU Experience (free), south end of Jaguar Training Center, 10:30 a.m.
Path to the Draft players walk, outside Hancock Whitney Stadium, 11 a.m.
Reese’s Senior Bowl, 1:30 p.m. at Hancock Whitney Stadium, featuring performances by Jaguar Marching Band and Saints Cheer Krewe.
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Reese’s Senior Bowl – American practice
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
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Reese’s Senior Bowl – National practice
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
President Donald Trump says there were no survivors after an American Airlines jet with 60 passengers and four crew members aboard collided Wednesday with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C.
At least 28 bodies were pulled from the icy waters of the Potomac, officials said. Officials say they believe there were no survivors. If that is the case, the collision would be the deadliest U.S. air crash since 2009.
The body of the plane was found upside down in three sections in waist-deep water. The wreckage of the helicopter was also found. Three soldiers were on board.
“As one nation, we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly,” Trump said at a press briefing Thursday.
“Sadly, there are no survivors” of the crash, he said.
Trump has suggested that the Federal Aviation Administration’s diversity efforts had made air travel less safe.
The president asserted his opinion even though the crash has yet to be fully investigated and there has been no determination as to whether the FAA did anything wrong.
Trump also suggested he might make sweeping changes at federal aviation agencies. There could firings “if we find that people aren’t mentally competent.”
“The FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative spelled out on the agency’s website,” said Trump, noting that the program allowed for the hiring of people with hearing and vision issues as well as paralysis, epilepsy and “dwarfism.”
“For some jobs,” Trump said, singling out air traffic controllers. “They have to be at the highest level of genius.”
Trump blamed previous administrations’ efforts to promote diversity at federal agencies for contributing to the crash. Asked why he thought that was an issue what happened, he responded, “Because I have common sense.”
