General News

General

Freeze warning issued for Henry County for Wednesday

A freeze warning was issued by the National Weather Service on Tuesday at 2:27 p.m. valid for Wednesday between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. for Henry County.

The weather service says, “A hard freeze as low as 24 expected.”

“Wind chill values can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure. Frost and freeze conditions could kill crops, other sensitive vegetation and possibly damage unprotected outdoor plumbing,” explains the weather service. “Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves. Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold. To prevent freezing and possible bursting of outdoor water pipes they should be wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly. Those that have in-ground sprinkler systems should drain them and cover above-ground pipes to protect them from freezing.”

Freeze watch or warning – this is what it means

Freeze warnings are issued from May to October (but can be extended if necessary), when low temperatures are expected to be 29-32 degrees. If there is a potential for temperatures to fall into these thresholds, a freeze watch may be issued a few days ahead of time.

According to the weather service, if a freeze warning or watch is issued for your area, there is little you can do to protect plants. If you can move your sensitive plants inside, do so because the freeze will likely kill them, depending on the severity of conditions.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

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Lakers-Mavericks free livestream: How to watch NBA game tonight, TV, schedule

The Los Angeles Lakers play against the Dallas Mavericks in an NBA game tonight. The matchup will begin at 6:30 p.m. CT on TNT. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

The Lakers enter this matchup with a 20-15 record, and they have won seven of their last 10 games. However, the team is coming off a 119-115 loss against Houston.

During the loss, three Los Angeles players scored more than 20 points: Anthony Davis, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves. Each of these players average more than 18 points per game, so they will look to perform similarly tonight.

The Mavericks enter this matchup with a 20-16 record, but they have lost five consecutive games. In their most recent game, the Mavericks lost 119-104 against Memphis.

During the loss, P.J. Washington led the Dallas offense. He scored 17 points, but he shot 7-22 from the field. With this in mind, Washington will try to improve his offensive efficiency this evening.

Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

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Fast-rising Alabama country group hints at 2 new albums, tour in 2025

One breakout Alabama music act just went big with its new year’s resolutions, saying it aims to give fans two new albums in 2025.

Muscadine Bloodline, a south Alabama act founded by the duo of Charlie Muncaster and Gary Stanton, had a big year in 2024. In March they headlined Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. In August they released “The Coastal Plain,” an album that focuses the guitar-driven, honky-tonk-friendly sound that has won the notice of Rolling Stone, Billboard, and other music-business news sources. In September they got a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to open for megastar Post Malone.

Stanton and Muncaster kicked off 2025 with a public promise, via social media, to make this year even bigger.

“Some days it feels like we just got started and other days it feels like we’ve been doing this ‘Muscadine’ thing forever,” they said. “Regardless, we’ve learned a lot over the years and most of it has been trial by fire. To us, creatively speaking, it feels like we finally pieced what took 7 years to figure out together; starting with the ‘Teenage Dixie’ record a few years back. Since then, our goal has been to give y’all just that much more on the next record and have fun doing it every time. So when it came to he concept of “The Coastal Plain,” we couldn’t get all the stories and ideas conveyed on just … ONE RECORD.”

That means Chapter 2 of “The Coastal Plain” is on the way, they promised, and it’s more than an expanded edition or an odd lot of unreleased leftovers. “Consider it an evolution of ‘The Coastal Plain’ and what was left behind of the place we spent 18 years of our lives,” they said. “One record wasn’t intended to live without the other and honestly, we both like chapter 2 a little more.”

Also on the agenda for 2025: “Our biggest headlining tour to start the year … some big festivals this summer, the biggest tour we’ve been a part of in the fall, and another record at the end of the year. (TWO RECORDS IN ONE YEAR??? … Yes.)”

While they didn’t lay out any album release dates, Muncaster and Stanton said in a separate post that they’ll release a new song with Josh Meloy on Friday, Jan. 10.

Muscadine Bloodline currently lists two Alabama dates on its 2025 tour page: On July 3 and 4 they’ll open for the Red Clay Strays at the Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach.

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Wayfair is offering a massive discount on the Blackstone pizza oven

Wayfair is offering a major discount on the Blackstone Leggero Portable Pizza Oven, and its the cheapest we’ve seen this product in a while.

With this deal, Wayfair customers can get the Blackstone Leggero Portable Pizza Oven for $220 instead of the original price of $500, a 56% discount overall.

Blackstone Leggero Portable Pizza Oven – $220.84

The Blackstone Leggero Portable Pizza Oven is 56% off for a limited-time.

Buy Now

The Blackstone Leggero Pizza Oven notably comes with a 13″ rotating cordierite stone that creates the most even cook possible without the hassle of having to manually rotate the pizza.

RELATED: Here are all the Brooks running shoes you can get on sale this week

This pizza oven is also equipped with a built-in temperature gauge, an easy temperature control knob and a functional utility door with stable locking positions. Its portable size is just the cherry on top.

“The Leggero Pizza Oven combines durability and mobility, allowing you to bring this high-quality pizza oven wherever you go and effortlessly create delicious restaurant-style pizzas. Lightweight, yet sturdy, Blackstone’s Leggero Pizza Oven boasts a portable size and powerful pizza-making abilities,” the product details state.

Those interested in this deal can checkout more details on Wayfair’s website here.

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Florida-Tennessee free livestream: How to watch college basketball game, TV, schedule

The No. 8 Florida Gators play against the No. 1 Tennessee Volunteers in a college basketball game tonight. The matchup will begin at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN 2. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

The Gators enter this matchup with a 13-1 record, but they are coming off a 106-100 loss against No. 10 Kentucky.

During the loss, Walter Clayton Jr. and Alijah Martin led the Florida offense. The two players combined to score 59 points, and they shot 18-33 from the field. Both players are currently averaging more than 15 points per game, so they will try to continue their offensive success tonight.

The Volunteers enter this matchup with a 14-0 record, and they are coming off a dominant 76-52 win against Arkansas. During the victory, Chaz Lanier led the Tennessee offense. He ended the game with 29 points and shot 5-9 from beyond the arc, so he will be a key player to watch this evening.

Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

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Mobile Azalea Trail Maids invited to Trump’s inauguration day

The Mobile Azalea Trail Maids have been invited to participate in the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20.

The organization announced the invitation to the 60th presidential inauguration in a Facebook post yesterday.

“The Mobile Azalea Trail Maids have officially been invited to participate in the 60th Presidential Inauguration!” the post read.

“We will be making a trip to our nation’s capital in just 2 short weeks. We are excited for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the 2024-2025 court and honored to take part in such a prestigious historic event.”

The Trail Maids consist of a group of 50 high school senior girls in Mobile County that are chosen to represent the City of Mobile as ambassadors. Maids are known for their colorful antebellum style dresses.

Many commenters offered celebratory remarks following the announcement.

One individual, Ron Reams, commented saying, “YEA! This is GREAT! Always a thrill to see the Azalea Trail Maids representing Mobile in nationally publicized events such as this.”

While the dresses are eye-catching they are also known to draw controversy.

In 2009, the Trails Maids participated in the inauguration of former president Barack Obama. However, their attendance was criticized by then-NAACP president Edward Vaughn who said the dresses were reminiscent of American slavery.

Vaughn has since apologized for his remarks.

In 2016, the dresses again were scrutinized as vestiges of a racist history after Maids greeted Trump during a visit to Mobile during a “Thank You Tour” after winning the presidential election that year.

Despite the criticisms Mobile city leaders have continued to profess support for the Maids.

Aside from inaugurations the Trail Maids have participated in several nationally televised events, most notably being the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.

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Former UAB, Alabama State DB flips from Florida to Georgia

Former UAB and Alabama State safety Adrian Maddox has flipped his commitment to Georgia, he announced on social media Tuesday afternoon.

The defensive back originally committed to Florida on Sunday before flipping to the rival Southeastern Conference program; he’ll have one season of eligibility remaining.

He signed with Georgia on Monday night, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Maddox played in 11 games for UAB this season, totaling 44 tackles (30 solo), seven pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two tackles for loss and returned an interception for a 99-yard touchdown against Rice.

The Conyers, Ga., native played in 21 games across two seasons at Alabama State, totaling 90 tackles (51 solo), 10 passes defended, 9.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two interceptions for the Hornets.

He was a finalist for the 2022 Jerry Rice Award, given to the most outstanding freshman player in FCS football.

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2 legendary Southern redheads join forces to make movie set in Alabama

Two legendary Southern redheads will come together to make a film version of a bestselling book partially set in Alabama. Reba McEntire has announced she will star and produce the movie version of Fannie Flagg’s 2013 novel “The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion.”

A press release from Wonder Project, an independent studio that creates films for the faith and values audience, says the film will be directed by Callie Khouri, the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind the 1991 classic “Thelma & Louise.”

Flagg, who was born in Birmingham, wrote the source material and Bekah Brunstetter, a Tony Award-nominated playwright and screenwriter, will pen the adaptation.

McEntire, a Grammy-winning country star and actress, said she is a fan of books by Flagg, who started her career as an actress and comedian. McEntire is busy these days as a coach on “The Voice” and the star of the sitcom “Happy’s Place.”

“I’ve always been a fan of Fannie Flagg and her writing, and it’s been an honor to call her my friend for the past decade. I cannot wait to work with this incredible team to bring another one of her special stories to life on the big screen,” McEntire said in the press release.

Alabama native Fannie Flagg wrote the bestselling novel “The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion.”(Courtesy photo)

Flagg is also the author of the bestselling book “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café,” which was made into the 1991 film starring Kathy Bates, Mary Stuart Masterson, Jessica Tandy and Mary Louise-Parker.

The book follows Sookie Poole of Point Clear, Ala., who finds herself with time on her hands following her daughter’s marriage.

“The only thing left to contend with is her domineering mother, the formidable 90-year-old Lenore Simmons Krackenberry, who is obsessed with family lineage and Southern heritage,” the press release says. “But when Sookie receives a series of mysterious letters that suggest that she’s adopted, she gets sent down a rabbit hole of self-discovery, ultimately uncovering the swashbuckling story of Fritzi Jurdabralinski and her sisters, a daring group of women who ran the first All Girl Filling Station during WWII and ultimately became the first female Air Force pilots.”

All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion

Reba McEntire is set to star in the film version of Fannie Flagg’s “The All-Girl Filling Station’s Last Reunion.”Courtesy of Wonder Project

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Kate Spade Outlet has cutest convertible bag, normally $189, for less than $45

Sometimes you want a purse. Other times all you need is a wristlet, a small bag that can hold your essentials and is easier to carry.

Kate Spade Outlet has the best of both worlds.

The Lena Convertible Wristlet, normally $189, is on sale for $55, a savings of 71%. What makes it even better, however, is you now can get an extra 20% off automatically applied when you add it to your cart, making it only $44.

The best deals are on colors Daffodil, Shimmer Pink and Cherrywood but other colors are marked down, too. You can see all your color choices here.

What makes the bag great is the strap so you can wear the bag over your arm, or with a change of the clip, use it as a wristlet. The bag is just the right size as well, with three interior credit card slots and a zip closure.

The bag is just one of the great deals right now on the Kate Spade Outlet:

Rosie North South Crossbody -$76, normally $279

Lena Colorblock Satchel – $100, normally $429

Kayla Large Shoulder Bag – $115.20, normally $429

Kayla Crescent Shoulder Bag – $101.60, normally $379

Lena Suede Bucket Bag – $102.40, normally $439

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