The Utah-based low-cost carrier Breeze Airways will suspend service from the Mobile International Airport by the end of the month, the company said in a statement Friday.
Breeze had been the only commercial carrier operating flights from the downtown Mobile Airport.
Breeze Airways sees “a lot of promise in Mobile and the surrounding area,” according to the statement, but is offering no estimated timeline for resuming service from the airport. The suspension of service is effective on Jan. 31.
“We are working with our Guests who have been impacted by this change to issue full refunds or serve them from one of our nearby airports in the meantime,” the statement reads.
A spokesperson with the Mobile Airport Authority did not respond to a request for comment.
Breeze’s exit from the airport comes after Houston-based Avelo Airlines suspended its Orlando-based flights from the downtown Mobile airport in March 2024.
The airport is a temporary two-gate terminal that will be replaced later this year or early in 2026 with a new $381 million, five-gate commercial terminal that has the potential to expand to 12 gates.
The new commercial airport at the Brookley Aeroplex south of downtown Mobile will allow the Mobile Airport Authority to complete a swap of services from Mobile Regional Airport. Three legacy airlines — American Airlines, Delta, and United — will begin flying from Mobile International Airport once the new terminal opens.
Supporters of the airport swap, including city officials and the Mobile Airport Authority, say they believe having the new commercial airport closer to downtown will allow for greater expansion of destinations from Mobile, and more competitive fares.
The Fairhope Police Department has closed off a road as they conduct a death investigation Friday morning.
According to a Facebook post from the department, Prospect Avenue has been closed as officers look into the death of an individual. Prospect Avenue is a residential road located two blocks west of a Walgreens.
The department said updates would be provided as soon as possible and there is no threat to public safety.
Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe has accepted an invitation to the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl, game officials announced Friday.
Milroe, who declared for the draft on Thursday, joins punter James Burnip, defensive back Malachi Moore and tight end CJ Dippre as Alabama players confirmed for the Senior Bowl. The annual college football all-star game and NFL draft showcase takes place Feb. 1 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile.
The 6-foot-2, 201-pound Milroe was a two-year starter at Alabama, which finished its season with a 19-13 loss to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Tuesday. In 38 career games with the Crimson Tide, he passed for 6,016 yards with 45 touchdowns and 20 interceptions while adding 1,577 yards and 33 touchdowns rushing.
Milroe is the sixth quarterback confirmed for the 2025 Senior Bowl, along with Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard (a Fairhope native), Ohio State’s Will Howard, Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Louisville’s Tyler Shough.
Additional Senior Bowl players will be announced periodically as game week approaches. A full list of accepted invitations is available by clicking HERE.
Kickoff for the 2025 Senior Bowl is set for 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 1, with television coverage on NFL Network Tickets are available at seniorbowl.com/tickets.
2025 Senior Bowl players with state of Alabama ties
The auto industry is bracing to see whether the incoming Trump Administration will follow through on a proposed 25% tariff on imports from Mexico and Canada.
But Alabama might benefit from such a move, according to The Wall Street Journal. Mazda could move some vehicle production to its joint manufacturing plant with Toyota in Huntsville in response.
In November, President-Elect Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico if the two nations don’t stop what he called the flow of drugs and migrants across their borders. He said he would impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico as one of his first executive orders.
The threat of duties that high prompted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to fly to Florida on Friday to have dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago club.
Tariffs that high would particularly impact automakers which have moved many vehicle and parts production lines to Mexico for cheaper labor expenses. Analysts say the tariffs would be passed on to buyers and would hit the most affordable cars and SUVs the hardest, and at a time when car prices are already at near-historic highs.
Wolfe Research, for example, estimates the tariffs could add about $3,000 to the average cost of every car sold in the U.S., as an estimated $97 billion worth of auto parts are imported to the U.S. from Canada and Mexico each year.
So how would automakers respond to a move that could hammer their bottom lines?
Tom Donnelly, CEO of Mazda North American Operations, told The Wall Street Journal that the company “could consider building more vehicles in Alabama” or importing them from Japan.
The company currently makes its Mazda3 and the CX-30 SUV in Mexico, which makes up about 30% of the company’s U.S. sales volume.
“No business can absorb immediately something like what’s being proposed here,” Donnelly told the paper.
Mazda currently makes the CX-50 in Huntsville. In November, the last month for which sales figures are publicly available, Mazda reported its best November sales of the CX-50, with 7,072 vehicles sold. By November Mazda reported a yearly increase in its overall sales of 18.6%.
About 4,000 people are employed at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA in Huntsville. The plant also manufactures the Toyota Corolla Cross.
The final weekend of the NFL’s 2024 regular season will decide whether the Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos or Miami Dolphins fill the final opening in the AFC playoff field as the third wild-card team and the No. 7 seed.
Because only one team will advance, at least two quarterbacks with Alabama football roots won’t make the postseason. If the Broncos don’t make it, it’ll be four, although they’re not all quarterbacks now.
Bo Nix, the Broncos’ starting quarterback, is a former Pinson Valley High School star who played three seasons at Auburn. As a rookie, he’s trying to lead Denver into the postseason. The Broncos haven’t reach the playoffs since Nix was a freshman QB at Scottsboro High School in 2015.
“It would mean a lot,” Nix said. “Obviously, it would mean a lot to the organization, everyone who’s put time and effort into this organization to make it what it is. It’s a special place, special fans, special atmosphere. Obviously, we’ve got players here that have worked really hard, and it’d be really important to them, so it goes without saying: It’s a really important thing. It’s a really important opportunity. And we just got to finish. We got to finish the task at hand. And it’s right there in front of us. We just have to go take it.”
As it has been for the previous two weeks, the playoff spot is Denver’s to win. If the Broncos beat the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Denver will go the playoffs.
If the Broncos lose, then the Miami Dolphins will get the playoff spot by beating the New York Jets. If Denver and Miami lose, then Cincinnati will get the playoff spot by beating the Pittsburgh Steelers. If all three contenders lose, then Denver gets the spot.
Nix is backed up by another former Auburn quarterback, Jarrett Stidham. Like Nix, two other Denver players are former Alabama All-State selections as high school quarterbacks – cornerbacks Kris Abrams-Draine from Spanish Fort and Tremon Smith from Saks.
Miami’s No. 1 quarterback is Tua Tagovailoa, a former Alabama All-American, but his status for Sunday’s game is up in the air after he missed the Week 17 contest because of a hip injury.
The quarterback with Alabama roots on the Bengals isn’t Pro Bowler Joe Burrow, but cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, who played QB for Park Crossing in Montgomery.
Denver has seven players from Alabama high schools and colleges on its active roster, Miami has five and Cincinnati four.
One opening is available in the NFC – the South Division spot, which will go to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Atlanta Falcons. If the Bucs beat the New Orleans Saints, they get it. If not, the Falcons can take the position by beating the Carolina Panthers.
Tampa Bay has three players with Alabama football roots on its active roster. Atlanta has one.
They’ll be trying to join the 55 players from Alabama high schools and colleges already heading to the playoffs.
The Chiefs at No. 1, Buffalo Bills at No. 2 and Houston Texans at No. 4 in the AFC and Philadelphia Eagles at No. 2 in the NFC are locked into their postseason positions. The other 10 seeds will be determined by this weekend’s results, headlined by the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions playing for the NFC’s No. 1 seed and accompanying first-round bye on Sunday night.
The Alabama Game of the Week is the New York Giants-Philadelphia Eagles contest on Sunday. Thirteen players from Alabama high schools and colleges are on the teams’ active rosters.
The Week 18 schedule (with all times Central and point spreads from BetMGM):
Saturday
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens (-19.5), 3:30 p.m. (ABC, ESPN)
Cincinnati Bengals (-1.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers, 7 p.m. (ABC, ESPN)
Sunday
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (-8.5), noon (WIAT, WTVY, WHNT, WKRG, WAKA)
Washington Commanders (-6) at Dallas Cowboys, noon
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers (-10), noon
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts (-5), noon
Buffalo Bills (-2.5) at New England Patriots, noon
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (-3), noon
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-13.5), noon (WBRC, WZDX, WALA, WCOV, WDFX)
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans (-1.5), noon
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals (-4), 3:25 p.m.
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos (-10.5), 3:25 p.m. (WIAT, WTVY, WHNT, WKRG, WAKA)
Seattle Seahawks (-6.5) at Los Angeles Rams, 3:25 p.m.
Los Angeles Chargers (-4.5) at Las Vegas Raiders, 3:25 p.m.
Miami Dolphins (-1) at New York Jets, 3:25 p.m. (WBRC, WZDX, WALA, WCOV, WDFX)
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions (-3), 7:20 p.m. (NBC)
Jesse Lewis learned early in life he wanted more beyond his sparse surroundings and that he needed a plan to achieve it.
“I came from Northport, Alabama, I was reared by my grandmother. and we didn’t have a nickel or a nail, and I made up my mind that I wanted to make some money,” he said. “I didn’t want to do anything else but make some money.”
A simple plan that spawned a lifelong journey, leading Lewis to build a career in media, public relations, government and education.
Lewis turns 100 years old today, but his life is a story of milestones that overshadow the centenarian’s birthday. Lewis’ career includes several firsts, including one of the first Blacks to serve on a state-wide cabinet and the founder of one the first Black-owned advertising and marketing agency.
The World War II Army veteran, who grew up in poverty in deeply segregated Alabama, became a central figure in Birmingham and state politics and business.
Lewis’ business ventures included Jesse J. Lewis & Associates, now Agency54, an advertising and public relations firm, and the Birmingham Times newspaper. Both companies remain in business after decades of operation.
The ad firm founded in 1954 is regarded as being among the oldest Black-owned advertising firms in the country. His first advertising client, Coca-Cola, set the stage for his future success.
“When I walked in the door and said I worked for Coca-Cola, that’s name recognition,” he said. “If you get to the big boys then you can get the little boys. I had enough sense to know who to go to first, and if I could get them, everything else would be easy.”
Lewis said his job expanded nationally as he convinced local bottlers around the country to begin hiring Black employees.
“My selling point was, ‘Black people drink Coca-Cola and if you put more effort in getting a Black person to help you, they would drink more Coca-Cola, and you will benefit,” Lewis recalled.
The strategy worked, even in the segregated South.
Lewis then added politics to his resume, eventually working for Alabama Governor George Wallace as state director of traffic safety, the first black person to serve in the cabinet since Reconstruction.
Lewis said he has no secret to his longevity and viability. But he has always gone to bed early.
“I feel great. I don’t know what It feels like to be 100. I’ve never been 100 before,” he said sitting in his Birmingham home after climbing the front stairs to sit in his living room. “I lived the same type of lifestyle that the average person lived other than the fact that I’ve never been a drinker or a smoker. I don’t even like to smell whisky.”
Today, Lewis still needs no introduction at Birmingham City Hall where he was a frequent visitor over the years to the third floor offices of the mayor and council.
A longtime confidant to many Birmingham politicians including mayors, Lewis often advocated for his clients, including the Birmingham Housing Authority, Birmingham Water Works Board and the transit authority.
Lewis gained a reputation for being a fierce protector of his businesses. For that, he remains unapologetic.
“You can’t go around worrying about people who are going to criticize you. And then you can’t go around worrying about people who dislike you,” he said. “I have not done anything for people to dislike me, but what I have done was make money. And if people don’t like you because you’re financially successful, you’ve got to keep on doing what you are doing to be more financially successful. Which one would you like to be – a liked broke person or a liked rich person? I’ll take my option. I’ll take the other side.”
Lewis laughed when told the story of a man who envied his success and who planned to ‘wait him out’ for a chance to succeed Lewis. That was more than a dozen years ago. The ambitious man has since left town.
“You’re going to be waiting a long time,” Lewis shot back.
Asked about his favorite business venture, Lewis offered a rare pause before recalling his appointment to the cabinet of the former segregationist Alabama Governor George Wallace in 1975.
“What I liked the most is seeing some type of results. When George Wallace hired me, I was severely criticized,” he said. “If you’ve got an opportunity to participate in anything that could move people forward, then you do it.”
Back then, Lewis asked Wallace to hire black employees for the highway department.
“I just went down there and did it, and in one day we hired 22 black folks in in the highway department,” he said. “You get what you can out of everybody that you can.”
Lewis then went on to serve as president of Lawson State Community College from 1978 to 1987.
An avid golfer, Lewis’ company continues to manage Birmingham’s Roebuck Golf Course in east Birmingham. And he remains a presence there on the green.
“I don’t play as good as I used to play. But still beat the people I used to beat,” he said. “As long as I can walk, I’m not going to ever stop playing golf.”
Both of Lewis‘s late sons, James and Jesse Lewis Jr., were actively involved in running the family businesses.
Lewis sold the Birmingham Times newspaper but remains chairman of his public relations company.
Even as he turns 100, Lewis still comes to work regularly in his office about four days a week.
“You ain’t going to get paid until you go to work. I want to get paid, so if you don’t work you don’t get a check,” he said with a laugh. “I still do it because I want to. I doubt if I will ever stop working until I leave and go to Heaven.
“I hope they’ve got a place for me in Heaven. Don’t misunderstand me now, I ain’t ready to go to Heaven today, probably won’t be ready tomorrow, but if I leave, that’s where I want to go.”
While Lewis celebrates his centennial today, he also recently celebrated another milestone, his second wedding anniversary.
Longtime Alabama entrepreneur Jessie Lewis marked his 100th birthday Jan. 3 with his wife Brenda. Lewis remains active in business, still going to his office.Joseph D. Bryant
Lewis was a widower after being married 62 years to Helen M. Lewis, who died in 2016. Years later, he began a series of long phone conversations that led to romance and then another chance at matrimony to Brenda Lewis.
According to Mrs. Lewis, it was her husband who began the surprise courtship through a series of phone calls.
“We would talk and talk and talk, and it got longer and longer and longer,” she said. “I thought, ‘this is really an interesting man,’ she said. “He’s not like I thought he was.”
Brenda Lewis finally admitted that she had a crush on the senior bachelor.
“We just talked all the time, and the crush didn’t go away,” she said.
Jesse Lewis smiled as he listened to his wife’s story.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to face some difficulties in his quest to retain the gavel on Friday, but he’s not expected to face opposition from Alabama’s GOP House delegation.
Republican Reps. Dale Strong of Huntsville; Robert Adherolt of Hayleyville; and Barry Moore of Enterprise plan to support Johnson for speaker, according to their spokespeople.
Responses were not immediately available from Rep. Mike Rogers of Saks and Gary Palmer of Hoover.
The two Republicans have been supportive of Johnson in the past.
Moore is a member of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of about three dozen conservative lawmakers whose membership includes some Republicans who had not committed to backing Johnson in recent days.
Johnson can ill-afford many defections to receive the 218 votes need to win if all members are present and voting. There will likely be 219 Republicans and 215 Democrats voting Friday as the 119th Congress officially convenes on Capitol Hill.
Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia campaigns for U.S. Rep. Barry Moore on Saturday, March 2, 2024, during a campaign stop at Steele Creek Lodge in Satsuma, Ala.John Sharp/[email protected]
The House speaker vote will be the first major vote taken by Moore as the representative for Alabama’s 1st congressional district. Moore defeated Republican U.S. Jerry Carl last March for the GOP nomination to the post before rolling to victory during November’s General Election.
Moore had previously served as the 2nd district congressional representative, but opted to run in the 1st district after his hometown of Enterprise was drawn into it during redistricting.
U.S. Rep.-elect Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, will be sworn in Friday after winning the 2nd district seat that was redrawn by federal judges in 2023.
House Democrats are expected to cast votes for party leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York. Jefferies has said Democrats will not help save Johnson during Friday’s voting.
President Joe Biden declaration of Jan. 9 as a National Day of Mourning for late President Jimmy Carter means closures for some financial institutions and government offices. Carter, the 39th president, died Dec. 29 at age 100.
“Over six decades, we had the honor of calling Jimmy Carter a dear friend. But, what’s extraordinary about Jimmy Carter, though, is that millions of people throughout America and the world who never met him thought of him as a dear friend as well,” Biden said in a statement. ” With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us. He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe.”
Biden ordered flags to be flown at half-staff during the mourning period.
The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will close that day, according to USA Today. Bond markets will be open but will close early at 2 p.m. Most banks will remain open.
Federal offices and agencies will be closed though employees deemed as “essential” will remain on the job.
U.S. Postal Service is expected to close as well, meaning no mail will be delivered on that day.
An official state funeral for Carter will be held on Jan. 9.
The last national day of mourning was observed in December 2018 to honor the late President George H.W. Bush.
Even though Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick had been chosen for the Pro Bowl four times previously, his fifth selection still came as a surprise to the former Alabama All-American.
“Yeah, to be honest,” Fitzpatrick said on Thursday when asked if the announcement of the accolade had caught him off-guard. “I’m going to keep it real. Like I said, it hasn’t been my splashiest year. I’ve been backing the coach and doing my job for the most part, so, yeah, I was surprised. But I’m also honored.”
In the three seasons that he’s been chosen as first-team All-Pro, Fitzpatrick intercepted 15 passes. This season, Fitzpatrick has one interception, but his 60 solo tackles are his most since 2021.
“I mean it’s just part of doing your job,” Fitzpatrick said. “Not everybody’s job is going to be the most fun. You know what I’m saying? There’s a lot of other things on the field that I wouldn’t want to be doing. I’m happy to be out there. I’m happy to be a part of Steelers defense.”
But the Steelers defense has been in a tailspin as the team lost its grip on first place in the AFC North. Pittsburgh ranks seventh in points allowed and 11th in yards allowed in the 2024 season. But over the past three weeks, quarterbacks Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes have led offenses that have piled up 90 points and 1,208 yards.
“I think teams are scheming us,” Fitzpatrick said. “They’re knowing that we’re having some issues with motions and stacks and points and stuff like that because if you look at the stuff that we’ve been beaten on and when guys are running open, it’s stuff that each team kind of got from the last two. So we’ve made a real big emphasis this week on those style of plays and even plays that can stem off from it and working on communication, everybody being on the same page and playing field.”
The three consecutive losses have left Pittsburgh a game behind the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North standings entering the final weekend of the regular season. The Steelers still have an opportunity to earn the first-round home game that goes to the division’s top team. But for that to happen, Pittsburgh must beat the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore must lose to the Cleveland Browns. Otherwise, the Steelers will enter the postseason as a wild-card team and start the postseason on the road.
The Steelers will kick off against the Bengals at 7 p.m. CST Saturday at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh knowing if they have a chance to play at home next week. The Browns and Ravens play at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
Fitzpatrick doesn’t expect Cincinnati to do much scheming in an attempt to get the better of Pittsburgh’s defense. The Bengals have the NFL’s No. 1 passing offense, and quarterback Joe Burrow threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns in Cincinnati’s 44-38 loss to the Steelers on Dec. 1.
“They have a really solid identity on offense,” Fitzpatrick said. “I don’t think they’re going to change. They’ve been putting up 30-plus points a game. When you’re doing that, you’re not going to change too much. …They rely on Joey B, their receivers, to make plays with his legs, with his arm. They depend on (wide receiver Ja’Marr) Chase to get a lot of touches, get a lot of YAC. They have a lot of weapons.”
At 8-8, the Bengals have an opportunity to reach the playoffs. To claim the final spot in the AFC field, Cincinnati must beat Pittsburgh. Then the Bengals will need the Denver Broncos to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins to lose to the New York Jets on Sunday to get into the postseason.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
What will the high school sports headlines be in 2025?
It’s impossible to know, of course, what team will come out of nowhere in what sport to when a state title or what major coaching job may open down the line.
However, here are a few questions we will see answered in the next 12 months.
1. Where will the 2025 Super 7 be held?
Obviously, this one has to be answered pretty soon. True, the state’s high school football championships aren’t held until December, but the time is now for a city to start planning, start recruiting volunteers and start pouring over every detail leading up to the event. I think we can safely assume Birmingham will still at least be in the rotation, but who else – if anyone – will host with the title games?
We know the AHSAA conducted site visits to Montgomery and Mobile late last year. The big question that must be answered is do those sites have everything needed to host the AHSAA’s biggest event? Crucial in those conversations are the number of suites in each stadium and the number of lockerrooms available. Since three games are held each day of the Super 7, a total of four lockerrooms are needed.
A decision could be made at the next Central Board meeting on Jan. 22.
2. Will Alabama continue to stand against high school NIL?
This was a question last year at this time and likely will continue to be moving forward. New AHSAA executive director Heath Harmon stated last summer that he needed to “determine the current reality of the entire organization … Where are we wanting to go and how do we get there?” More than 30 states now allow high school athletes to profit from name, image, likeness in some form or fashion. Alabama is not one of them even though several high-profile athletes – including multiple prominent basketball players – have left the state to finish their high school careers.
“NIL is coming, and I’m retiring when it does,” one coach said. “Coaches in education don’t make enough money to deal with children trying to get money for their behalf. Plus, parents already make our job extremely difficult without bringing money into the equation. It’s a lose-lose.”
The question will continue to dominate in 2025 and beyond.
3. Which teams will be national championship good in 2025?
Alabama had two teams in two different sports declared national champions in 2024.
Both of those teams could be in the running for more national recognition this year. Other contenders to be nationally recognized include Hoover boys basketball and Thompson football.
Our staff selected 16 players representing different positions, classifications and regions from the state of Alabama and seeded them 1-16 for an NCAA Tournament-like bracket.
We hope you will vote with us throughout the next three weeks.
The Alabama Sports Writers Association will announce its Mr. Football winner on Jan. 28 in Montgomery.
Newsletters are back
After taking a slight break during the holidays, our high school newsletters are back starting today.
We produce two newsletters a week in Mobile, Huntsville and Birmingham. They come straight to your inbox on Tuesdays and Fridays and are free. The newsletters recap what is going on in each market and statewide.
The Friday newsletter includes a column from yours truly that you can only see if you subscribe.
To sign up for one – or all – of the newsletters, just go to al.com/newsletters.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“To reveal the kingdom coming
And to reconcile the lost
To redeem the whole creation
You did not despise the cross
For even in your suffering
You saw to the other side
Knowing this was our salvation
Jesus for our sake you died.”
– “King of Kings”
Ben Thomas is the high school sports managing producer at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at [email protected].