Alabama News

The 2025 MLB season has been underway for quite a while at this point. The 95th MLB All-Star game is just a few days away, with this year’s contest being played at Truist Park in Atlanta.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the defending World Series champions after taking down the New York Yankees in five games last year. They’ve picked up right where they left off, with the second-best record in the MLB behind the Detroit Tigers.

The Dodgers recently announced a very special promotion next month, as they’ll unveil a new Kobe Bryant bobblehead on 8/8 against the Toronto Blue Jays. The first 40,000 fans in attendance will receive the bobblehead, which has Bryant in his gold Lakers ‘24′ uniform while holding a baseball bat.

Bryant tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in January of 2020, along with his daughter Gianna and seven others. The Dodgers continue to honor Bryant’s legacy, as his influence still reigns supreme in the Los Angeles area. Fans looking to purchase tickets can do so here:

• Gametime – Prices starting at $158 (cheapest)
• Seatgeek – Prices starting at $159
• Vivid Seats – Prices starting at $168
• Stubhub – Prices starting at $170

It could be your home away from home, all for $25 million.

That’s what a 40-acre Colorado estate is for Gus King, a Guntersville businessman and founder of an Alabama-based flexible packaging company.

You may remember King, 77, who owns the racehorse Publisher, which came in 14th place in the Kentucky Derby in May.

Now King is selling the home he and his wife Tobie bought to be closer to their daughter while she was in law school, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Situated in Longmont, its 20 minutes from downtown Boulder and less than an hour from Denver. The 10,801-square-foot home has 6 bedrooms and eight bathrooms.

The Kings bought the home for $10 million two years and completely gutted and remodeled it.

The house already had a lot going for it, with panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains and the Flatirons.

The main residence has high soaring ceilings, exposed wood beams, custom lighting, and expansive windows for those postcard views.

The main floor includes a sunlit great room with a stone fireplace, as well as a chef’s kitchen outfitted with a waterfall island. There’s also a walk-in butler’s pantry with custom shelving and a breakfast area – with a view, of course.

The primary suite has a spa-style bathroom with a zero-entry steam shower and soaking tub. There’s a balcony with a gas fireplace. The next owner can enjoy an office, formal dining room, lounge area, mud room, laundry room and four-car garage with an adjacent pool equipment room.

The upper level offers three spacious bedrooms and a second laundry room. A wet bar adjoins the movie theater.

There’s also a wine cellar, exercise room and an additional bedroom, as well as a separate suite with its own kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom, and patio access.

On the grounds are two barns, with one for hosting featuring a commercial-grade kitchen, expansive entertaining area, fireplace, bathroom, and oversized garage doors. The second barn is partially unfinished and can be used for horses, storage or workshops.

Need to relax? There’s a swimming pool and spa, tennis court, fire pit, outdoor kitchen, pond, and a covered patio with fireplace.

“I’ve never seen the sun hit the clouds like I’ve seen at that property,” Gus told the Journal. “The sun turns the clouds golden there.”

Mattel’s newest Barbie doll dons a stylish ensemble: a blue polka skirt and crop top set, and a baby blue purse with matching platform boots. But her standout accessories? A bright-pink insulin pump and glucose monitor.

She’s Mattel’s first Barbie doll representing people with Type 1 diabetes.

In an announcement, the dollmaker said the newest edition encourages more children to see themselves reflected in Barbie.

“Introducing a Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes marks an important step in our commitment to inclusivity and representation,” said Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls, in a press release. “Barbie helps shape children’s early perceptions of the world, and by reflecting medical conditions like T1D, we ensure more kids can see themselves in the stories they imagine and the dolls they love.”

Mattel partnered with Breakthrough T1D — a Type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization formerly known as Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation- to design a Barbie that accurately reflected people with diabetes, from medical equipment to symbols that represent diabetes awareness.

The doll is part of the Barbie Fashionistas line, a collection of more 175 looks across various skin tones, eye colors, hair colors and textures, body types, disabilities, and fashion styles, including a Blind Barbie doll, a Barbie doll with Down Syndrome, and a Barbie doll with Hearing Aids and Barbie dolls with wheelchairs and vitiligo.

A contract healthcare worker for the Alabama Department of Corrections was arrested Friday a drug checkpoint at a north Alabama prison.

Monica Tara Bishop, 44, was taken into custody after a brief chase.

ADOC drug-sniffing dogs and narcotics officers were conducting a vehicle checkpoint at Limestone Correctional Facility.

Shortly before 5:30 a.m., a red SUV was spotted turning around about 150 yards from the drug checkpoint, spokeswoman Kelly Betts.

The driver – later identified as Bishop – fled when officers tried to stop her on the access road. She finally stopped after a brief pursuit, Betts said.

A search of the SUV turned up 195 grams of methamphetamine, almost 160 grams of marijuana and 290 grams of chemically altered paper.

Bishop was booked into the Limestone County Jail on charges of methamphetamine trafficking, first-degree promoting prison contraband, first-degree possession of marijuana and unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

Betts said Bishop is an employee of YesCare, the contract healthcare provider for ADOC. She has been banned from any future admittance to ADOC property.

The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges could be filed.

The fire chief in a small town near Birmingham has been fired after an investigation into workplace harassment.

Chief Jason Rickels was accused of swatting at a firefighter’s groin, using demeaning language and trying to stop the employee from filing a complaint, according to an investigative report prepared by J.W. Furman, a lawyer in Birmingham.

“…all the interviewees offered that they or some of their coworkers were uncomfortable or fearful around Chief Rickels,“ according to the report. ”All said he is constantly offensive in his speech and demeanor. More mentioned his anger and their concern over retaliation.”

Rickels has said the allegations are unfounded. He also called the public hearings inappropriate.

The Tarrant City Council responded to the report at a special called meeting Thursday evening and voted to fire Rickels. Four of the five members agreed to the termination with Councilman Tommy Bryant abstaining.

“The council had to do what we had to do,” said councilwoman and mayor pro-tem Tracie Threadford after the vote.

She told AL.com the report was troubling and said it required action.

Scott Morro, attorney for Rickels, was not at Thursday’s meeting and could not be reached for comment for this article.

But he has previously said the investigation was designed to embarrass and disparage his client. Rickels and the city have remained at an impasse over a previous legal dispute.

It’s the second time Rickels has been fired from the chief job in the town of 6,000 just east of Birmingham.

In 2021, Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton fired Rickels following a property dispute near Atlanta where Rickels brandished a gun but was later cleared.

Back then, the chief then won an appeal and was allowed to go back to work. The Jefferson County Personnel Board ruled that Rickels had been improperly fired because the mayor didn’t follow notification rules to do it. The board ordered the city to give Rickels back pay for the time he was off work.

That meant the small city had two fire chiefs with Rickels and his replacement both claiming command.

Rickels had previously agreed not to return to the fire station if the city settled and paid him back pay and legal fees.

Instead, Rickels began coming to work and asserting his disputed role as fire chief.

His lawyer has argued that Rickels is owed pay and salary through retirement which could exceed $368,000.

The mayor in May passed out a letter accusing Rickels of harassing another firefighter and recommended placing him on administrative leave with pay.

Rickels responded to the allegation by email but did not speak during disciplinary hearings. He also attended Thursday evening’s meeting but did not speak.

The firefighter alleged that Rickels had used demeaning language but more importantly swatted at the man’s groin during a conversation. Rickels in the report said he did not know if actual physical contact was made. Rickels defended himself in an email to the city.

“The sexual harassment complaint, in particular, is completely unfounded,” he wrote.

Instead, Rickels said his response was a reaction to the firefighter harassing him.

“My response, which was a moment of frustration, was not intended to be harassment and was far from the behavior described in the allegations,” he wrote. “This situation was more about one individual pushing boundaries and another person finally reaching a breaking point.”

However, the firefighter and witnesses alleged otherwise, calling it unwanted sexual touching and further accused Rickels of threatening retaliatory action to stop the complaint. Other allegations of harassing speech, bulling and creating a hostile work environment were also alleged in the report. Ten other fire fighter employees were interviewed during the investigation.

Rickels’ termination vote was a rare display of agreement between the mayor and the city council.

Newton and the council frequently battle and disagree on issues both major and minor, including the fate of city employees and department heads. While Newton did not vote Thursday evening, he supported the termination.

Newton, who has previously sparred with Rickels also made his feelings about the former fire chief clear in a videotaped encounter earlier this year.

“The city council made the right decision based on the actions of former Fire Chief Jason Rickels,” Newton told AL.com. “Accountability matters, and the people of Tarrant deserve a fire chief they can trust.”

Hugh Freeze has long been known as an offensive coach, but in his two years at Auburn, that reputation has slipped a little bit.

Auburn’s offense was one of the worst in the SEC in 2023, highlighted by poor quarterback play and a lack of wide receiver talent. In 2024, the talent at receiver improved, but shaky quarterback play and turnovers defined another disappointing season.

Going into the 2025 season, Auburn has on paper, its most talented roster of Freeze’s tenure. Whether or not the offense increases its production to match that talent remains to be seen.

In an episode of David Pollack’s “See Ball Get Ball” podcast, Freeze talked about how he likes to run offense, referencing examples from earlier in his career to point out when it’s at its best.

“I’m not a big concept guy. I know it’s good, but that ball needs to come out pretty fast in this league,” Freeze said. “The D-line is just better athletes than most O-lines…

“I’ve been fortunate to win 10 football games at four different universities and those years that we did that, we were RPO, quick game, seven-man protection shots and run the football.”

One example Freeze referenced was when he was the head coach at Ole Miss and led the Rebels to back-to-back wins against Alabama in 2014 and 2015.

“That second year we beat Alabama in their stadium, I called five drop back passes that game,” Freeze said. “I think we still threw for like 368, but that’s when I think we’re our best when we can operate in that manner and I think [Jackson Arnold] has that capacity for us.”

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

A businessman who led the world’s first all-civilian space mission to orbit the earth and had been nominated to lead NASA by President Donald Trump has donated $15 million to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

Jared Isaacman, who led the Inspiration4 and Polaris Dawn missions to space, announced the donation at the space center on Friday. It is his second significant donation to the center.

In 2022, he made a $10 million donation to begin the Inspiration4 project, which is named for the world’s first all-civilian mission to orbit. The Inspiration4 three-day mission flew in September 2021.

The current donation is for the Inspiration4 Skills Training Complex, currently under construction, and seed money for a fourth dormitory for Space Camp students.

Isaacman is the founder and Executive Chairman of Shift4 and co-founder of Draken International, a defense and aerospace company. He attended the Rocket Center’s Aviation Challenge program when he was 12, an experience he credits with furthering his interest in becoming a pilot.

The White House pulled his nomination to lead NASA in May, shortly after proposing historically large cuts to NASA, including to flagship systems related to the Artemis moon program that are managed from Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.

Administration spokeswoman Liz Huston told NBC News at the time, “it’s essential that the next leader of NASA is in complete alignment with President Trump’s America First agenda.”

He was a close ally of Elon Musk, having twice purchased flights into space aboard the latter’s SpaceX rockets. Trump withdrew Isaacman’s nomination shortly after the president had a public falling out with Musk as well as revelations that Isaacman had previously donated to causes related to both Democrats and Republicans.

The current donation will fund the training complex’s mission operations for Space Camp, and activities for Space Camp Robotics and U.S. Cyber Camp students. These activities, named for the five-day Polaris Dawn mission that took place in September 2024, Isaacman’s second space mission, include:

• Simulated space missions to Mars and the Moon
• A realistic space station mission including all onboard operations
• A Mission Control Center
• An AI-powered mission support specialist
• A full-motion interactive Mars and lunar rover
• Futuristic spacewalks
• Science laboratories, robotics, 3-D printing systems, and holographic displays visualizing planetary environments, spacecraft systems, and mission data.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving scenarios

In addition to the mission operations area, the 50,000-square-foot training complex includes a two-story ropes course and an aviation wing where Aviation Challenge campers will train with state-of-the art night vision simulations, experience a virtual reality parachute landing, and explore flight dynamics through a spatial disorientation simulator.

“The Inspiration4 Skills Training Complex and the Polaris Dawn mission activities will transform Space Camp,” Robin Soprano, vice President of Space Camp, said. “Through this extraordinary investment, we are building cutting-edge experiences to take our programs and our students into the future.”

The Inspiration4 complex is scheduled to open for the 2026 summer camp season. Further fundraising will be needed before construction on the dormitory begins.

HONOLULU (AP) — A Native Hawaiian man who was convicted of a hate crime against a white man must be re-sentenced, a U.S. appeals court ruled Thursday, and the result could be several more years in prison.

Kaulana Alo-Kaonohi was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in 2023 by a judge in Honolulu after a jury found him and another Native Hawaiian man guilty.

The jury found that Alo-Kaonohi and Levi Aki Jr. were motivated by Christopher Kunzelman’s race when they punched, kicked and used a shovel to beat him in 2014 for trying to move into their remote Maui village.

Alo-Kaonohi appealed the conviction, and prosecutors cross-appealed, challenging the judge’s conclusion that he could not apply the hate crime enhancement to the sentence.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel also ruled Thursday to affirm Alo-Kaonohi’s conviction.

It was unclear exactly how much more time Alo-Kaonohi could get, but based on sentencing guidelines and the judge’s previous sentence, it could be up to three additional years, said Alexander Silvert, a retired federal defender in Honolulu who was not involved in the case.

Alo-Kaonohi’s attorneys and prosecutors did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment on the ruling.

Aki’s appeal, along with prosecutors’ cross-appeal of Aki’s sentence of about four years, were voluntarily dismissed, according to court records.

Kunzelman’s wife, Lori Kunzelman, told AP Thursday that she is glad prosecutors pushed for a lengthier sentence.

The Kunzelmans purchased a dilapidated, oceanfront house there sight-unseen for $175,000 because they wanted to leave Arizona after Lori Kunzelman’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis.

“We had vacationed on Maui year after year — loved, loved, loved Maui,” she said, adding that they saw the home as an affordable opportunity that her husband could fix up.

She said the beating of her husband “destroyed my marriage” and his brain injuries led them to go through a divorce. She said her husband was traveling in Europe and unavailable to comment on the ruling.

They still own the property, she said, and do not know what to do with it. “The families there won’t allow anybody to step foot on that property,” she said. “There’s so much animosity.”

The case highlighted struggles between Native Hawaiians who are adamant about not having their culture erased and people who move to the islands without knowing or considering its history and nuanced racial dynamics.

Central to the case was the use of the word, “haole,” a Hawaiian word with meanings that include foreigner and white person. Dennis Kunzelman testified that the men called him “haole” in a derogatory way.

Attorneys for Aki and Alo-Kaonohi said it was not Kunzelman’s race that provoked them but his entitled and disrespectful attitude.

The Hawaii Innocence Project plans to take up the case, according to Kenneth Lawson, the organization’s co-director. It intends to argue that an ineffective defense did not present for the jury the history of the word “haole” in Hawaii and show it is not a derogatory term.

“I just don’t believe that it’s a hate crime,” Lawson said.

He also said the defense should have called as witnesses white, non-Hawaiian residents who would have testified that they lived in the village without any racial problems.

After Payton Thorne exhausted his college eligibility following the 2024 season, Auburn football found itself in need of a new starting quarterback.

After a brief search in the transfer portal, head coach Hugh Freeze and the Tigers landed on former Oklahoma signal caller Jackson Arnold, who was coming off a difficult redshirt freshman season in 2024.

Despite Arnold’s struggles last year, Freeze has talked about his confidence in him throughout this offseason, consistently claiming that Arnold just needs a reset.

In an episode of David Pollack’s “See Ball Get Ball” podcast, Freeze explained what he liked about Arnold when evaluating him, and it didn’t have much to do with his time at Oklahoma.

“Truthfully, it comes back to what I saw from him out of high school,” Freeze said. “I just thought he was elite. He was Gatorade Player of the Year and maybe the No. 1 quarterback in the country coming out of high school.”

Freeze added that he thought Arnold had all the tools necessary to run his offense at Auburn. He also made the case that even Oklahoma must have been high on Arnold, based on how he got the starting job.

“Even at Oklahoma, when you let a guy like Dillion Gabriel walk out the door believing you have, I would assume that was the feeling, you’ve got a guy here that’s the heir apparent,” Freeze said.

Freeze also said that Arnold dealt with difficult circumstances at Oklahoma, highlighted by having three different offensive coordinators during the season and a receiving corps that was battered by injuries.

Arnold finished the 2024 season with 1,421 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions, and was briefly benched during the middle part of the season.

He’ll be one of Auburn’s three player representatives at SEC Media Days, joined by Connor Lew and Keldric Faulk. Auburn’s day on the stage is July 15.

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

Several Holly Pond residents of the four-legged variety will soon make their silver screen debut as part of an upcoming Hallmark movie set to air next month.

Stephanie Fortner, who co-owns Fortner Farm in Holly Pond with her husband, Benny, said several of the animals that serve as part of the farm’s petting zoo will make an appearance during a festival scene in the upcoming Hallmark flick “Double Scoop”.

The movie, which was filmed in Harpersville in May, stars Taylor Cole and Ryan McPartlin as two marketing professionals who compete to land the same dairy farm as their client. (And, we’re guessing, fall in love in the process.)

Fortner said that originally, a Hallmark representative reached out to Fortner Farm to see if it would be a good setting to film the dairy farm scenes, and while ultimately it wasn’t, the farm’s petting zoo animals made a big enough impression to land the gig on their own.

Ultimately, several animals from the farm, including a goat, calf and mini-donkeys, were included in the festival scene as well as Fortner herself. She said it all was a surreal experience given that they opened the petting zoo in 2020 after she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer, never expecting it would someday be a part of a movie set.

“I wouldn’t get out of bed, so my husband pretty much started the petting zoo so that I’d have to get out of bed,” said Fortner. “One goat led to another, but we would have never thought in a billion years we’d be doing a movie with actors that live in L.A. and getting texts from producers and executive producers and everybody. It’s just really surreal.”

Fortner said it was interesting to see how detailed the filming process could be, with them arriving early in the morning and not leaving until the evening hours despite only being a part of one scene.

“It was crazy,” said Fortner. “We got there about 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. and didn’t leave until 7 p.m. Every shot was done almost 10 times. It’s something to see with all the big cameras and the big screens. My husband got to do the little ‘Action’ part. That’s all he wanted to do, he said. I want to do the ‘take action’.”

The Fortner family is looking forward to watching “Double Scoop” when it premieres on the Hallmark channel at 7 p.m. CST on Aug. 23.

“It’s going to be really fun just to see what they used and to see our name at the end in the credits. We never thought cancer would have brought us, you know, things like this, but we enjoyed it.”

To find out more about Fortner Farm and how to schedule a tour, visit their website.