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General

What’s coming next at Mobile County Sportsplex? It’ll be 48 acres worth of something

Mobile County paid $1.25 million for 48 acres at 3461 Halls Mill Road in Mobile, according to Crawford Stitt of White-Spunner Realty, who represented the seller. The property is adjacent to the Mobile County Sportsplex and will be developed as part of the Sportsplex. Matt White of Coastal Alabama Real Estate represented the buyer.

Also …

* The Flying Biscuit Cafe has leased 4,000 square feet of space in Spring Hill Shopping Center at 4356 Old Shell Road in Mobile, according to Mike Reid of Merrill P. Thomas Co., who represented the tenant. Robert Cook of Vallas Realty worked for the landlord. The Flying Biscuit Cafe opened more than 30 years ago in Atlanta, GA., and now has more than 34 locations in Alabama, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida and Texas. The cafe offers a Southern-inspired menu of comfort food including their signature grits and biscuits. Each restaurant bakes almost 5,000 biscuits each week.

General

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General

13-year-old shot dead inside Bessemer home identified: ‘This is unacceptable,’ mayor says

Authorities have released the name of a 13-year-old boy shot to death when someone fired into his Bessemer home.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Allen T. Thomas.

Allen attended Bessemer City Middle School.

“My baby was the sweetest, most happiest baby there was to have,’’ said his grieving mother, Erica Chaney. “There was never a dull moment while he was around.”

“He never missed a day teling me he loves me,’’ Chaney said. “He would call while I was at work and ask me how was my day going and when I got home, he would ask me if I had a good day.”

“My baby did not deserve this,’’ she said. “He was in his bed asleep.”

“He doesn’t even know what happened to him,’’ Chaney said. “I’m so heartbroken.”

Just before 10 p.m. Friday, officers were dispatched to the 1200 block of 13th Street North on a report that the child had been shot.

Thomas was taken to Children’s of Alabama hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:58 a.m. Saturday.

Bessemer police Detective Justin Burmeister said the boy was inside the home when a suspect or suspects opened fire.

Investigators have not yet said who was targeted.

Multiple bullet holes were seen in the left side of the house, the result of Friday’s shooting.

Gunfire damage to a large window on the right side of the front door was from a previous shooting, said those gathered at the home Saturday.

No arrests have been announced.

The teen is one of two people killed in Bessemer in the first days of 2025.

“It is with a heavy heart that I extend my deepest condolences to the Chaney-Thomas family as they grieve the devastating loss of their loved one due to gun violence,’’ Mayor Kenneth Gulley said in a weekend statement. “No parent should have to bury their child, and no community should have to endure such senseless acts of violence.”

“We are just four days into the new year, and already our city has experienced two tragic homicides,’’ he said. “This is unacceptable. As your mayor, I want to assure you that we will exhaust every resource and avenue to bring those responsible for this heinous act to justice.”

The mayor appealed to the people of Bessemer, “let us choose peace over violence. We must find ways to resolve our differences without resorting to guns. This lawlessness cannot and will not define who we are as a city.”

Anyone with information in the teen’s slaying is asked to call detectives at 205-425-2411, the tip line at 205-428-3541 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

General

After 3-14 season, former Alabama coordinator keeps his job as New York Giants coach

The New England Patriots fired coach Jerod Mayo on Sunday night after a 23-16 victory on the final Sunday of the NFL’s 2024 regular season left the team with a 4-13 record.

The Jacksonville Jaguars fired coach Doug Pederson on Monday morning after a 26-23 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday left the team with a 4-13 showing for 2024.

But on Monday morning, the New York Giants announced Brian Daboll would return for a fourth season as their coach after they closed a 3-14 campaign with a 20-13 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Giants President John Mara said New York wouldn’t join the five teams already looking for head coaches for the 2025 season.

“Now that our season is over, we felt it necessary to make this statement,” Mara said in a release from the team. “(General manager) Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll will continue in their respective roles with the organization. As disappointing as the results of the season have been, (co-owner) Steve (Tisch) and I remain confident in the process that Joe and Brian have implemented and their vision for our team. We look forward to the future and achieving the results we all desire.”

Daboll went 9-7-1 and won a playoff game in his first season at the helm in New York in 2022. The Giants slumped to 6-11 in 2023 before winning half that many games in 2024.

New York holds the third pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and could have a quarterback at the top of its wish list. The Giants signed Daniel Jones to a four-year, $160 million contract extension in 2023. The quarterback played in 16 games over the past two seasons before the New York released him on Nov. 27.

Daboll joined the Giants after four seasons as the Buffalo Bills’ offensive coordinator.

The Bills hired Daboll after he served as the offensive coordinator for Alabama’s 2017 CFP national-championship team.

In addition to the Patriots and Jaguars, the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets have coaching vacancies. The Bears, Saints and Jets finished the 2024 season under interim head coaches.

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.

General

Did a tornado touch down in Alabama on Sunday? NWS to check

The National Weather Service plans to be in west Alabama on Monday to look at storm damage from Sunday night.

Storms that moved through that region generated a tornado warning on Sunday night. The National Weather Service in Birmingham at one point had a tornado debris signature (or TDS) on radar, indicating a storm was lofting debris into the air.

The survey is planned for this morning, according to the weather service, and results could come by this afternoon.

If the weather service finds a tornado has touched down it will be given a preliminary rating using the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which ranges from EF0 to EF5.

Speaking of tornadoes, the weather service in Birmingham added a few to its final total from a round of severe storms on Dec. 28 and 29.

The latest additions to the list were in Greene, Hale and Chilton counties, the weather service said. That brings the tornado total in central Alabama to 18. There were also seven tornadoes in south Alabama and one in north Alabama.

Here’s the list of the Alabama tornadoes on Dec. 28 and 29:

1. Athens tornado (Limestone County) — Dec. 28, EF1, top winds 100 mph.

2. Faustinas tornado (Mobile County) — Dec. 28, EF0, top winds 80 mph.

3. Molloy tornado (Lamar County) — Dec. 28, EF1, top winds 105 mph.

4. Byson Road tornado (Lamar County) — Dec. 28, EF0, 65 mph winds.

5. Beaverton tornado (Lamar County) — Dec. 28, EF0, top winds 70 mph.

6. Sunny Home tornado (Marion County) — Dec. 28, EF0, top winds 75 mph.

7. Sawyerville tornado (Greene/Hale counties) — Dec. 28, EF1, top winds 100 mph.

8. Chandler Mountain tornado (Chilton County) — Dec. 28, EF0, top winds 65 mph.

9. El Gezria Road tornado (Shelby County) — Dec. 29, EF1, top winds 90 mph.

10. Knight Place Road tornado (Lowndes County) — Dec. 29, EF0, top winds 85 mph.

11. Coosa Island Road tornado (St. Clair County) — Dec. 29, EF0, top winds 85 mph.

12. Roberts Mill Pond Road tornado (St. Clair County) — Dec. 29, EF1, top winds 110 mph.

13. Rolling Acres tornado (Lowndes, Montgomery counties) — Dec. 29, EF0, top winds 75 mph.

14. Hope Hull tornado (Montgomery County) — Dec. 29, EF1, top winds 110 mph.

15. Mt. Zion Road tornado (Montgomery County) — Dec. 29, EF1, top winds 100 mph.

16. Cecil tornado (Montgomery County) — Dec. 29, EF0, top winds 80 mph.

17. Jackson Road tornado (Macon County) — Dec. 29, EF0, top winds 75 mph.

18. Shorter tornado (Macon County) — Dec. 29, EF0, top winds 75 mph.

19. County Road 8 tornado (Macon County) — Dec. 29, EF0, top winds 75 mph.

20. County Road 56 tornado (Macon County) — Dec. 29, EF0, top winds 60 mph.

21. Barnett Crossroads tornado (Escambia County) — Dec. 28, EF1, top winds 100 mph.

22. Range tornado (Conecuh County) — Dec. 28, EF0, top winds 85 mph.

23. Burnt Corn tornado (Monroe County) — Dec. 28, EF1, top winds 100 mph.

24. Bookers Mill tornado (Conecuh County) — Dec. 28, EF1, top winds 100 mph.

25. Mt. Pisgah Road tornado (Butler County) — Dec. 29, EF1, top winds 110 mph.

26. Summerdale tornado (Baldwin County) — Dec. 29, EF1, top winds 95 mph.

General

3 receivers with Alabama football roots reach 1,000 yards on season’s final Sunday

Six players from Alabama high schools and colleges entered the final weekend of the NFL’s 2024 regular season with at least 900 receiving yards. Three made it to the 1,000 milestone – but barely.

Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville) had five receptions for 38 yards and one touchdown before heading to the bench with some of the Houston Texans’ other key players in a 23-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Collins heads into the playoffs after recording 68 receptions for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns in the 2024 regular season, even though he missed five games because of a hamstring injury.

Calvin Ridley (Alabama) had three receptions for 76 yards in the Titans’ loss to Houston. That pushed Ridley’s 2024 totals to 64 receptions for 1,017 yards and four touchdowns.

Jameson Williams (Alabama) had six receptions for 34 yards in the Detroit Lions’ 31-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night. Williams closed the regular season with 58 receptions for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns.

Of the three other players with Alabama football roots who entered the weekend within 100 of 1,000, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (Gadsden City) missed Sunday’s 44-38 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers because of a shoulder injury, which left him at 64 receptions for 992 yards and five touchdowns for the 2024 campaign.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama) had two receptions for 20 yards in a 32-20 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday to close the season with 81 receptions for 959 yards and six touchdowns.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (Hoover) had one reception for zero yards in a 19-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday night. That left him at 59 receptions for 900 yards and three touchdowns.

Hill, Mooney and Pickens have been 1,000-yard receivers previously in their careers, as have Collins and Ridley. But Williams reached the milestone for the first time, becoming the 21st player from an Alabama high school or college to record a 1,000-yard receiving season in the NFL.

Those players have produced 62 such seasons, with four hitting the mark in 2024. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) previously had gotten to 1,000 receiving yards in the current campaign.

The NFL 1,000-yard receivers with Alabama football roots include (with yearly totals presented as receptions-receiving yards-touchdown receptions):

Don Hutson, Alabama

Green Bay Packers

1942: 74-1,211-17

—-

Harlon Hill, Lauderdale County High School, North Alabama

Chicago Bears

1954: 45-1,124-12

1956: 47-1,128-11

—-

Jim “Red” Phillips, Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City, Auburn

Los Angeles Rams

1961: 78-1,092-5

—-

John Stallworth, Tuscaloosa High School, Alabama A&M

Pittsburgh Steelers

1979: 70-1,183-8

1981: 63-1,098-5

1984: 80-1,395-11

—-

Ozzie Newsome, Colbert County High School, Alabama

Cleveland Browns

1981: 69-1,002-6

1984: 89-1,001-5

—-

Lionel James, Auburn

San Diego Chargers

1985: 86-1,027-6

—-

Frank Sanders, Auburn

Arizona Cardinals

1997: 75-1,017-4

1998: 89-1,145-3

—-

Terrell Owens, Benjamin Russell High School

San Francisco 49ers

1998: 67-1,097-14

2000: 97-1,451-13

2001: 93-1,412-16

2002: 100-1,300-13

2003: 80-1,102-9

Philadelphia Eagles

2004: 77-1,200-14

Dallas Cowboys

2006: 85-1,180-13

2007: 81-1,355-15

2008: 69-1,052-10

—-

Jerricho Cotchery, Phillips High School in Birmingham

New York Jets

2007: 82-1,130-2

—-

Roddy White, UAB

Atlanta Falcons

2007: 83-1,202-6

2008: 88-1,382-7

2009: 85-1,153-11

2010: 115-1,389-10

2011: 100-1,296-8

2012: 92-1,351-7

—-

Julio Jones, Foley High School, Alabama

Atlanta Falcons

2012: 79-1,198-10

2014: 104-1,583-6

2015: 136-1,871-8

2016: 83-1,409-6

2017: 88-1,444-3

2018: 113-1,677-8

2019: 99-1,394-6

—-

Amari Cooper, Alabama

Oakland Raiders

2015: 72-1,070-6

2016: 83-1,153-5

Oakland Raiders/Dallas Cowboys

2018: 75-1,005-7

Dallas Cowboys

2019: 79-1,189-8

2020: 92-1,114-5

Cleveland Browns

2022: 78-1,160-9

2023: 72-1,250-5

—-

Tyreek Hill, West Alabama

Kansas City Chiefs

2017: 75-1,183-7

2018: 87-1,479-12

2020: 87-1,276-15

2021: 111-1239-9

Miami Dolphins

2022: 119-1,710-7

2023: 119-1,799-13

—-

Calvin Ridley, Alabama

Atlanta Falcons

2020: 90-1,374-9

2023: 76-1,016-8

2024: 64-1,017-4

—-

Darnell Mooney, Gadsden City High School

Chicago Bears

2021: 81-1,055-4

—-

Jaylen Waddle, Alabama

Miami Dolphins

2021: 104-1,015-6

2022: 75-1,356-8

2023: 72-1,014-4

—-

DeVonta Smith, Alabama

Philadelphia Eagles

2022: 95-1,196-7

2023: 81-1,066-7

—-

Nico Collins, Clay-Chalkville High School

Houston Texans

2023: 80-1,297-8

2024: 68-1,006-7

—-

George Pickens, Hoover High School

Pittsburgh Steelers

2023: 63-1,140-5

—-

Jerry Jeudy, Alabama

Cleveland Browns

2024: 90-1,229-4

—-

Jameson Williams, Alabama

2024: 58-1,001-7

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins catches a touchdown pass against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.(AP Photo/John Amis)

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.

General

JD Crowe: Happy Insurrection Day. ‘Tis the season of the treason

This is an opinion cartoon

Happy Insurrection Day? Nope.

For those who believe their own eyes and ears, it was far from a happy day. Yet, there are those among us who live in denial of the truth. Some are trying to rewrite its history.

January 6 stands as one of America’s darkest, politically tragic days. Trump calls it a “day of love.” Next thing you know, Marjorie Taylor Greene will be pushing for a J6 MAGA national holiday.

Adam Kinzinger sets it straight in his Substack column under the headline:

Defending The Truth About Jan 6

Here are a few excerpts:

For four years, a massive machine of deception has worked tirelessly to transform the greatest political tragedy of our time — the bloody January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol — into what Donald Trump now calls a “day of love.” As the machine’s chief operator, Trump is determined to make the truth the ultimate casualty of that tragedy. It is up to us to defend it.

Related: Alabama Coup Klutz Klan

No crime in history has been documented more thoroughly than the January 6 attack. More than 1,000 cameras captured the day’s events, and much of that footage was used to charge over 1,600 people with crimes related to the riot. Around 1,000 have been convicted.

As a member of the House committee that investigated the attack, I reviewed the key footage repeatedly and listened closely to the officers who fought against the mob. More importantly, the world watched the tragedy unfold in real time as news networks broadcast the events minute by minute. Since then, we have all seen the images of Trump supporters clad in helmets and tactical gear waging medieval combat against police officers. We’ve witnessed the assaults with our own eyes.

The truth of January 6 is so well established that even people who weren’t there have felt the moral injury of seeing their fellow citizens surge violently into the Capitol. Like September 11, January 6 was a national trauma. The key difference, however, is that this attack was incited by the sitting President of the United States and carried out by our own citizens.

Although the story is familiar, it must be repeated every time January 6 is mentioned.

Read all of Kinzinger’s column here.

Check out more cartoons and stuff by JD Crowe

JD Crowe is the cartoonist for AL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler at [email protected].

General

Shamsud-Din Jabbar wore Meta glasses during New Orleans terror attack

The man who drove a truck into a crowd of people in New Orleans on New Year’s Day, killing 14, had previously scouted the French Quarter and recorded video with his Meta smart glasses, the FBI said.

On Oct. 31, Shamsud-Din Jabbar recorded video with the glasses as he cycled through the French Quarter and plotted the attack, said Lyonel Myrthil, FBI special agent in charge of the New Orleans field office. Jabbar also wore the glasses, which are capable of livestreaming, during the attack, but did not activate them.

A spokesperson for Meta, the parent company of Facebook, declined to comment.

Here’s what the glasses are capable of:

What are Meta glasses?

Meta glasses, made in partnership with Ray-Ban, are frames with a built-in camera, speakers and artificial intelligence that can be controlled with your voice, buttons and some simple gestures. Some functions, such as listening to music or interacting with Meta’s AI assistant, require the device to be either paired with a phone or able to access the internet.

The wearable does not have a display built into the lens, unlike some past industry attempts at building augmented-reality smart glasses. However, Meta has said it is working on a pair of glasses that will give users a fully holographic experience.

What the glasses can do

One of the glasses’ main selling points is the ability to capture images and video using the onboard camera, then upload those files to Instagram or Facebook. You can also livestream, but only to Meta’s compatible social platforms.

You can also use the glasses to make audio and video calls, message people or listen to music.

The camera also allows Meta’s AI assistant to see what you’re seeing, allowing it to translate text into multiple languages (spoken back to you, or shown on a paired phone app), and answer simple questions, such as searching the nearest landmark to your location. The glasses are largely a hands-free experience so you will be talking to your device — and it will reply.

What the glasses can’t do

The glasses currently cannot perform complex tasks that other digital assistants might be able to, like booking you a reservation at a restaurant or giving you turn-by-turn directions while you’re on the move. And there’s no display in the lens, so there isn’t a viewfinder for framing photos or video.

There are also visual indicators built into the system that allow bystanders to know when you’re shooting video or taking photos. This LED privacy indicator stays on while you use the camera functions. According to Meta, you can’t disable this light to be more discreet in your actions.

General

Snow, freezing temperatures in Alabama: What you need to do now, according to experts

Alabama is bracing for freezing cold temperatures and the possibility of snow later in the week.

There are things people need to be doing now to get ready, according to Emergency Management Agency experts.

Know the conditions before you go

It’s important to check the weather forecast before you go.
You can see the latest forecast at www.weather.gov
Alabama road conditions should be checked https://algotraffic.com
Or on X at @algo_hsv

Set up your safety kit

It’s important to have a safety kit in your car if you’re traveling during a storm. The kit should include:

Car charger
Tow rope
Shovel
Warm clothes, gloves and shoes
Ice scraper/brush
Flashlight and batteries
First aid kit

Check your generators

Generators can be helpful with the power goes out but it’s important to use them safely to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning and other hazards.

EMA recommends:

Generators and fuel should always be used outdoors and at least 20 feet away from windows, doors and attached garages.
Install working carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can kill you, your family and pets.
Keep the generator dry and protected from rain or flooding. Touching a wet generator or devices connected to one can cause electrical shock.
Always connect the generator to appliances with heavy-duty extension cords.
Let the generator cool before refueling. Fuel spilled on hot engine parts can ignite.
Follow manufacturer’s instructions carefully.

Use the chart to determine how cold it will feel outside.NWS Huntsville

Why wind chill matters

Wind chill is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by wind and cold. AS the wind increases, it draws heat from the body, driving down skin temperature and eventually, internal body temperatures. Simply put, the wind makes it feel much colder.

Exposure to wind during frigid temperatures can cause frostbite or hypothermia that can become life-threatening. For example, the average temperature of the human body is 98.6 degrees but when it’s windy, the moving air breaks up the insulating layers people wear. This speeds up heat loss by moving warmth away from the skin. Hypothermia begins when body temperature drops 2 to 4 degrees and can be fatal if it goes below 95 degrees.

What’s the difference between hypothermia and frostbite?

Hypothermia is brought on when body temperature drops to less than 95 degrees. Warning signs of hypothermia includes confusion, shivering, difficulty speaking, sleepiness and stiff muscles. You should seek medical attention if you are concerned about hypothermia while warming the person slowly starting with the body core.

Frostbite occurs when body tissue is exposed to extreme cold. A wind chill of minus 20 degrees F will cause frostbite in just 30 minutes.

Warnings signs include a loss of feeling or a white/pale appearance in extremities such as the fingers, toes, ear lobes or the tip of the nose. You should seek medical attention if you suspect frostbite. You should also drink warm fluids and put on extra layers of clothes or blankets.

General

Alabama defender enters transfer portal before deadline, per report

Alabama football linebacker Justin Okoronkwo entered the transfer portal Sunday before the deadline, 247Sports reported.

Okoronkwo is a 6-3, 228-pound freshman from Munich, Germany. He tallied 14 tackles in his freshman season in 2024.

Okoronkwo tallied 39 defensive snaps in his first season, per Pro Football Focus. The most playing time on defense he saw was in the Missouri game with 14 snaps; the Crimson Tide shut out the Tigers that day.

Okoronkwo is a former three-star recruit in the 2024 recruiting class. He was the No. 506 prospect and No. 47 linebacker but the No. 1 overall prospect in Germany.

Okoronkwo joins Jeremiah Alexander and Jihaad Campbell in the group of inside linebackers who won’t return for next season. Alexander entered the transfer portal and Campbell entered the NFL Draft.

Meanwhile, Alabama will have several key inside linebackers returning in 2025. Justin Jefferson and Deontae Lawson both announced they will stay for 2025. The Crimson Tide also added Nikhai Hill-Green from Colorado via the transfer portal.

An additional portal window of five days opened after Alabama played in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Tuesday. The portal closed Sunday, but names can show up in the transfer portal for up to two days still after the school submits them.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.