Alabama News

Bryan Braman left the NFL as a champion. Seven years later, he’s battling again – this time for his life.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the former linebacker as he deals with “a very rare form of cancer.”

Since being diagnosed in February, Braman’s cancer has been treated with surgeries, chemotherapy and, most recently, CAR T-cell therapy, a procedure used to reprogram white blood cells for cancer fighting. But the GoFundMe page reported on June 20 the cancer was “now growing around his vital organs.”

“At Stellato Sports, Bryan Braman has always stood for strength, resilience and leadership,” Braman’s agent, Sean Stellato, told KPRC-TV in Houston. “He is a pillar and a staple of the underdog. Now, in the face of cancer, he embodies those qualities more than ever. If there is one person that I know that can beat cancer, it is Bryan Braman, who I have always considered family. He’s in the fight of his life.”

Braman entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie from West Texas A&M. He played three seasons with the Houston Texans and four with the Philadelphia Eagles. During his 97 NFL regular-season games, Braman was on the field for 117 defensive snaps and 1,927 special-teams plays.

In the Texans’ 29-17 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Dec. 16, 2012, Braman blocked a punt by Pat McAfee and returned it 8 yards for his only NFL touchdown.

In his final season, Braman rejoined the Eagles for the last three games of the regular season, then played in three postseason contests, including Philadelphia’s 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII on Feb. 4, 2018. That was the final game of Braman’s career.

The GoFundMe account had an initial goal of $25,000. At 10 a.m. CDT Monday, the fund had raised $83,662, with some of Braman’s NFL teammates listed among the donors, including three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt, who contributed $10,000.

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.

Another Alabama auto plant is responding to an effort to organize under the United Auto Workers.

And like the labor battles of 2024, the company is appealing directly to workers ahead of an expected election.

The UAW last week notified the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that it had filed a petition to organize at International Motors in Huntsville.

It’s the latest effort by the union in an Alabama automotive factory after last year’s unsuccessful election at Mercedes-Benz in Tuscaloosa County, and an associated effort at Hyundai in Montgomery.

The International Motors union push promises to be smaller scale than last year’s action, as the petition affects 220 full-time and part-time manufacturing workers, according to NLRB paperwork.

That’s far less than the thousands employed at the much larger vehicle plants last year.

As in 2024’s organizing efforts at other factories, International Motors plant management began communicating with employees, even over the July 4 holiday. On Wednesday, workers received a letter about the UAW, saying that they “hestitate(d) to interrupt your family time.”

According to the company, it received the petition on June 27 from a group called “HPP Workers United for Change.”

Prior to that, the UAW had requested a card check process for unionization, which involves a majority of employees sign authorization forms requesting a union. The company instead requested a secret ballot election, according to the company.

Attempts to reach the UAW for comment were not immediately successful.

“To be clear, we strongly believe that selecting an outside organization like a union to represent you in your dealings with the Company (and having to join the union and pay union dues) is not necessary here in Huntsville,” the letter states.

Illinois-based International Motors is a manufacturer of trucks, buses, engines and parts, among other items.

The Huntsville plant, on Short Pike Road Southwest, is a powertrain manufacturing facility, turning out diesel engines and transmissions.

The plant currently supplies International’s vehicle assembly plants in Springfield, Ohio and Escobedo, Mexico.

Brandon Tucker, International/Navistar Huntsville Powertrain plant manager, said the company has invested $200 million into the plant, and full-time employment there has doubled over the past five years, with “strong plans to add many more associates as we fully ramp up our lines.”

“Our plant and company have worked tirelessly to address issues that come with rapid growth and changes in the industry and economic environment,” Tucker said.

“We are committed to continuous improvement and maintaining Huntsville as a great place to work.”

Tucker, and the company letter, promised that company officials will spend the coming weeks communicating with employees ahead of the election. A date for the vote has not yet been set.

“The city of Huntsville is thriving, and we want to continue to be a strong part of that. We believe prioritizing flexibility, innovation, and direct communication to overcome challenges provides the brightest future for all,” Tucker said.

Last year, the UAW’s executive board earmarked $40 million to fund an organizing push among non-union auto and electric battery workers, concentrating some of the money in the South.

But a high-profile push to unionize Mercedes-Benz’s plant in Tuscaloosa County failed by a margin of 597 votes.

And late last year, The Wall Street Journal reported that the UAW was shifting its strategy after the drive appeared to stall at Hyundai’s Montgomery plant.

MAGA influencers, including some who received “Epstein Files” binders from Attorney General Pam Bondi, are enraged after the Department of Justice reneged on its promise to release the so-called “Epstein client list” by claiming that no such list exists.

In a Sunday night memo detailing its investigation into Epstein, the DOJ and the FBI claimed there was “no incriminating ‘client list’” and “no credible evidence” that the financier blackmailed co-conspirators who sexually abused underaged girls provided by Epstein, Axios first reported.

During a Fox News Channel interview in February, Bondi suggested an alleged Epstein “client list” was sitting on her desk.

The Justice Department after that distributed binders marked “declassified” to far-right influencers at the White House, but it quickly became clear much of the information had long been in the public domain, according to the Associated Press.

Jack Posobiec, a right-wing social media influencer with more than 3 million followers on X, tweeted his frustration with the memo Sunday night.

“I want answers on Epstein. As many as possible. Not press releases. Answers,” Posobiec posted.

“We were all told more was coming. That answers were out there and would be provided. Incredible how utterly mismanaged this Epstein mess has been. And it didn’t have to be,” he continued.

David Freeman, another conservative influencer who tweets under the pseudonym Gunther Eagleman, accused Bondi and the FBI of lying, adding that there should be criminal repercussions.

“Right now… My trust in government is at ZERO,” he tweeted. “‘On my desk’ and ‘Truck full’ is what we were told. The lies are blatant. Someone has some explaining to do. People have to go to jail.”

Elon Musk, who formed his own political party over the weekend following a break from President Donald Trump — a public fight that included Musk’s claim that the Epstein list was not released because Trump is on it — tweeted a countdown clock set to zero titled “The Official Jeffrey Epstein Pedophile Arrest Counter.”

“What’s the time? Oh look, it’s no-one-has-been-arrested-o’clock again …,” Musk tweeted.

The world’s most richest man also reposted a tweet from conservative influencer Sarah Fields that stated: “If the entire government is protecting pedophiles, it has officially become the government against the people. I hope you all understand that.”

Benny Johnson, a right-wing podcaster with nearly 4 million followers on X, claimed “there are other dark forces at play here.”

“To say there are thousands of ‘victims’ in a convicted sex trafficking ring and then to say there were no ‘customers’ when the operation happened right before our very eyes insults our intelligence,” he tweeted. “Trafficking women to no one? I don’t buy it. There are other dark forces at play here….”

Johnson ended his tweet by quoting the dystopian George Orwell novel 1984.

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.”

Influencer Mike Benz remarked on the memo by tweeting a photo of former Congressman Matt Gaetz, who withdrew as Trump’s pick for U.S. attorney general amid sex trafficking and drug allegations. Trump then nominated Bondi.

“All I’m saying is I don’t think today would’ve happened if this was our Attorney General,” Benz tweeted.

Robby Starbuck called Sunday night’s revelation “unacceptable.”

“Pam Bondi said the Epstein client list was on her desk to review for release to the public just a few months ago. Now the DOJ she leads claims that there’s no Epstein client list. Sorry but this is unacceptable,” Starbuck tweeted. “Was she lying then or is she lying now? We deserve answers.”

We asked y’all to tell us which Alabama barbecue restaurants you think deserve more love, and boy, did you.

Now, we want you to vote on which one you think is the best in Alabama.

As part of our Unsung Alabama series, we’re highlighting some of the state’s hidden treasures, and there are a lot of barbecue joints that fall into that category. While we all know about the more well-known and iconic restaurants throughout the state — like Dreamland Bar-B-Que in Tuscaloosa, Lannie’s BBQ Spot in Selma, Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q in Decatur, Saw’s BBQ in the Birmingham area and more — they aren’t the only ones turning out some seriously great eats.

So with that in mind, we took to social media and AL.com, asking what barbecue spots are in need of a little more recognition, and we got thousands of responses, ranging from restaurants in Gulf Shores all the way to Scottsboro, with plenty more located in the cities and small towns in-between.

Now, it’s time to vote in the poll below, made from your submissions, for which Unsung barbecue joint is the best. The restaurants featured in the poll are lesser-known eateries from all over the state that came up early and often in your responses despite not having as much notoriety as the classic spots — think Bob Sykes BAR-B-Q in Bessemer, Archibald’s in Northport, Green Top in Dora or Bunyan’s Bar-B-Q in Florence — that have been around for a long time.

We’ll announce the winner soon, and we’ll be sharing the stories of some of Alabama’s Unsung barbecue spots all this week.

Luckin Coffee, China’s largest coffee chain, has officially entered the U.S. market.

Luckin’s opened two shops last week in New York City, and the locations may mark the start of stiff competition for Starbucks, reports CNBC.

In a press release about the openings, Dr. Jinyi Guo, the co-founder and CEO of Luckin Coffee, said the coffee shop’s entry into the U.S. market was “strategically important” for Luckin’s global expansion.

“Since entering the overseas market in 2023, we have grown to over 24,000 stores globally. Now, we are excited to introduce a diverse and unique coffee experience to American consumers, powered by our strong product innovation, advanced digital operations, and global supply chain advantages,” Guo said.

Founded in 2017, Luckin focuses on catering to younger consumers with mostly takeout and cashless payments. In China, Luckin’s beverages are about 30% cheaper than Starbucks, reports CNN.

Luckin also has 24,000 locations across Asia. In 2019, the number of Luckin locations in China surpassed Starbucks. According to CNN, Luckin’s revenue in China surpassed Starbucks for the first time in 2023, marking a “significant blow” for the Seattle-based coffee chain.

Luckin’s menu has the usual coffeehouse staples as well as a line of brightly colored “Refreshers” that mix coconut milk and fruity juices and cold foams. Luckin also offers an option to add fruit to its iced coffees.

The hit reality dating series Love Island USA is gearing up for this week’s season finale, but amid the prep for the upcoming conclusion, showrunners are proving islanders aren’t safe with recent eliminations.

Episode 30 recap

Last night’s episode proved to be one of the most talked-about this season as showrunners officially dumped Cierra from the villa amid shocking discourse online revolving around a leaked video of the closed-off islander using a racial slur in a resurfaced post.

With the removal of Cierra, her partner Nic was left single—sending shockwaves throughout the villa. Despite her sudden departure, the episode featured little talk of her absence and instead focused heavily on the recoupling that happened at the end of the episode.

While most Love Island USA fans were sure of how the recoupling would go, there was some question as to who Amaya Papaya would end up choosing to couple up with. Over the past few episodes, the season 7 fan-favorite received attention from multiple guys including Bryan and Zak.

Though coupled up with Zak since their days in Casa Amor, Amaya had her fair share of problems and heated encounters with the model—leading her to explore other connections, specifically with Bryan.

In the end, Bryan won out and is now coupled up with Amaya, leaving Zak and Elan, two of the OG Casa Amor guys, single to depart the villa.

As of the recoupling last night the new couples are Chelley and Ace, Clarke and Taylor, Olandria and Nik, Huda and Chris, Amaya and Bryan, and Iris and Pepe.

Though not much is known about what to expect from tonight’s episode, voting was open following last night’s episode for viewers to pick their favorite couple. The remaining couples who receive the least amount of votes are in risk of being dumped from the island. Results will be revealed Tuesday, July 8.

How to watch Love Island USA season 7

Those interested in keeping up with the remaining bit of this season can stream the hit reality series exclusively through Peacock.

What is Peacock?

Peacock is one of the most popular alternatives to traditional cable. Users can stream hit movies and TV shows or explore a plethora of Peacock Originals.

Peacock currently offers two plans to choose from including their premium plan for $7.99 a month ($79.99 annually) and their premium plus plan for $13.99 a month ($139.99 annually).

The premium plan is the most popular package offering subscribers access to live sporting events, new and hit TV shows and movies, Peacock Originals and more.

Peacock’s premium plus plan comes with everything included in the premium plan along with the ability to download and watch select titles offline and the chance to stream your local NBC channels live at any time. Also, with the premium plus plan users can stream content without ad interruptions.

A Fultondale man was found dead Sunday inside his private cell at the Jefferson County Jail in downtown Birmingham.

Andre Eugene Hope, 43, was booked into jail on July 1 after his bond was revoked on a sexual misconduct charge from earlier this year, court records show.

At 7:45 a.m. Sunday, July 6, jail staff found Hope unresponsive in his cell. He was pronounced dead at 8:10 a.m.

Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said an autopsy found no evidence of trauma or foul play. The cause of his death is pending additional laboratory studies.

Following Hope’s arrest on sexual misconduct in February, he was arrested two new times on four charges including aggravated surveillance and third-degree burglary on the same sexual misconduct victim, as well as drug possession charges, according to court records.

Hope was sent to rehabilitation to address addiction issues, records state, but he “walked away” from rehab, a judge wrote.

On Tuesday, Hope went before Jefferson County District Judge Tanita Cain for a bond revocation hearing.

The judge revoked his bond after Hope, while handcuffed, exposed himself during the hearing to a bailiff and his female attorney, Cain wrote.

He was immediately booked back into jail at 10:04 a.m. where he remained until his death.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.

Jake’s Juke Joint, a BBQ and burger spot catered to Northport locals, is set to open for its first public service on Tuesday, July 8.

Jake French, owner of Harry’s Bar on Hargrove Road, a longtime Tuscaloosa fixture, has asked the public to “bring a pocketful of patience and good cheer” as staff works on “getting the kinks out” during its first week of service.

Eventually, Jake’s Juke Joint will offer live music and other local entertainment, including dancing nights, according to French.

Once late-night service starts, the spot will become a 21 and up establishment after 9 p.m., he wrote in a recent Facebook post.

He added that this will be adjusted on Friday nights during football season for high school students and parents.

“I’ve talked to a lot of y’all and I know y’all are hungry after the games,” French wrote.

The menu features a selection of bar food and American classics like BBQ, smashburgers, nachos, and meatloaf.

In another post to Facebook, French added that all but a handful of menu items are currently gluten free.

“We cook fatboy food, that’s what we do,” the post reads.

“But we are using the most natural, unprocessed, non-preservative ladened food we can get our hands on for y’all.”

All of the menu’s fried items will be fried in beef tallow, according to the post.

The restaurant, located on Highway 43, will be open for lunch Tuesday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

The rest of the week’s schedule is as follows:

Wednesday 5 pm-10 pm

Thursday 11 am-10 pm

Friday 11 am-10 pm

Saturday 11 am-10 pm

Sunday 11 am-9 pm

Happy hour will start on Thursday and will go from 1 p.m.-6 p.m. every day, including weekends, according to French.

“I know y’all have been waiting patiently, and I do appreciate it,” he wrote.

“This is the week y’all have been waiting for. Welcome to Jake’s Juke Joint!! A local Joint.”

There has been plenty of excitement from Auburn fans regarding the school’s recent apparel branding switch to Nike. In a social media video posted Monday morning, it’s clear the players share that excitement.

Auburn football posted a video on its various social media pages on Monday that showed the players reacting the new Nike uniforms. The reactions were as expected, filled with excitement and cheering.

“We finna be iced out,” said freshman wide receiver Sam Turner after chest bumping teammate and fellow freshman Blake Woodby.

“You gotta check us out on a Saturday on the Plains, gonna have all the drip on,” said wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr.

Most of the players who walked into the room to see the uniforms immediately let out yells and screams of excitement. The jerseys don’t look too different from the look Auburn sported with Under Armour for many years, but adding the Nike swoosh and new cleats and gloves were the biggest highlights.

“I love seeing the check, you feel me,” running back Damari Alston said.

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m

Two men were killed in separate Birmingham traffic crashes over the holiday weekend.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as Cortez Lowery, 41, and Kedric Lamon Johnson, 49. Both men lived in Birmingham.

Lowery was found dead at 1:49 a.m. Saturday in the 9000 block of Zion City Road.

Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said there were no witnesses to the crash, and it wasn’t immediately clear when it happened.

Lowery was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle.

Johnson also died following a single-vehicle wreck. That crash happened in the 200 block of Pratt Highway.

He was taken to UAB Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:02 p.m. Sunday.

Birmingham police are investigating the circumstances surrounding both wrecks.