The No. 8 Memphis Grizzlies play against the No. 1 Oklahoma City Thunder in game 3 of their NBA Playoff series tonight. The matchup will begin at 8:30 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 Thunder enter this matchup with a 2-0 series lead, as they defeated Memphis 118-99 last game. During the victory, three Oklahoma City players scored at least 20 points: Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. These three players combined to score 71 points last game, so they will try to perform similarly tonight.
Notably, Gilgeous-Alexander led the NBA in points during the regular season.
In order to bounce back tonight, the Grizzlies will need a great performance from their star guard Ja Morant. He scored 23 points last game, but he only shot 40% from the field. With this in mind, Morant will try to improve his offensive efficiency this evening.
Fans can watch game 3 of this NBA Playoff series for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.
Read MoreThe fiancée of an Iranian-born University of Alabama doctoral student facing deportation said she is saddened by news that President Donald Trump will deliver a speech prior to the university’s spring commencement ceremonies.
“I just can’t believe what my eyes are seeing,” Sama Bajgani said.
Trump’s announcement came less than a week after Alireza Doroudi was denied bond after he was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Doroudi has been in federal custody since ICE agents showed up at his Tuscaloosa apartment around 3 a.m. on March 25.
He was first held at the Pickens County Jail and then transferred to federal custody in Jena, La.
Judge Maithe González said last week Doroudi failed to meet the burden of showing that he was not a threat to national security.
González also ruled Doroudi was a flight risk due to being in the country with a revoked F-1 visa, no family in the country and what she said were scarce ties to the community.
“I’m flabbergasted,” Doroudi’s attorney, David Rozas, said after the ruling.
“She said it would be our duty to show he is not a national security risk but the government has out forth no evidence in the record that my client is actually a national security risk,” Rozas said.
“They’re asking us to prove a negative, which is impossible to do because I don’t, I’m not part of the government,” Rozas said.
If he is deported, Doroudi will be sent to Iran, the judge said.
“I’m just really ashamed that the University of Alabama can be so silent about Alireza and at the same time celebrate all the other things that are just very minimal compared to what happens to Alireza and what happens to the community around him,” said Bajgani, who is also a doctoral student at UA.
“They don’t care at all. And at the same time, they just are ready to celebrate anything else.”
She said the response from the Tuscaloosa community and the nation had been an unexpected additional devastation.
“I really feel like we don’t belong here when everything around us seems to be OK, and we are the only people who seem to not be OK and not part of this community,” she said.
“It’s just really sad what they think about us and what they say in court.”
She said the university’s celebration of Trump’s upcoming visit proved to her that she and Doroudi “don’t have any ties to the community as something real because they don’t care about how we feel.”
“When they invite Trump or they do other stuff in the town they don’t consider that people are grieving,” she said.
The state Republican Party has said the Trump administration reached out to the university to arrange the president’s visit.
The University’s Governmental Affairs team and members of Trump’s administration then worked together to coordinate the details to “make this historic event possible.”
Over the course of the last four months, the Trump administration has also been working to fulfill his campaign promise to enact the biggest deportation effort in American history.
A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told Newsweek earlier this month that over 113,000 illegal immigrants had been detained by ICE and other federal agencies since January 20, while “north of” 100,000 deportations had taken place.
While some experts question how accurate those numbers are, Bajgani said the impact it has had on her family is beyond comprehension.
“Some people have really been devastated because of the things that have happened in this town and because of the silence of everyone about what has happened,” Bajgani said.
“I really wish the community understands that this is a very sad time for Tuscaloosa.”
“This town that is known for partying and being happy and jolly all the time…has experienced something this dark and terrifying,” she continued.
While she has been largely disappointed in the public response, Bajgani did praise those who have come forward in support of Doroudi over the last month.
On March 31, more than 100 people protested Doroudi’s detainment outside of the Richard Shelby Federal Courthouse in Tuscaloosa with chants like, “Say it once. Say it twice. Free Doroudi. No more ICE!”
But the university’s decision to host Trump on campus confirmed to Bajgani that not everyone in the community feels the same way, she said.
“It seems the culture of the town is OK this international student and the foreign community in Tuscaloosa just aren’t part of the culture of Tuscaloosa and they won’t hurt the culture if they leave,” she said.
“They’re just insignificant.’”
As she waits to see what the future will hold for her fiancé, Bajgani said she will be leaving the university to go stay with her sister in Massachusetts this summer.
“I’ve felt insignificant a lot of the time from the culture and from the university,” she said.
“I feel like we’re very negligible…objects, not human beings.”
Read MoreThe Winnipeg Jets play against the St. Louis Blues in game 3 of their NHL Playoff series tonight. The matchup will begin at 8:30 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 Jets enter this matchup with a 2-0 series lead, as they defeated St. Louis 2-1 last game. During the victory, Mark Scheifele led the Winnipeg offense. He ended the game with one goal and one assist, so he will try to perform similarly this evening.
Notably, Scheifele leads the team with two goals and three assists in the postseason.
In order to bounce back tonight, the Blues will need a great performance from their star forward Jordan Kyrou. He led the team with 36 goals during the regular season, but he has struggled to find offensive success in the postseason. Kyrou did not record a point last game, so he will look to improve his play tonight.
Fans can watch game 3 of this NHL Playoff series 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.
Read MoreThe 2025 NFL Draft is here, as the first round will kick off on Thursday night.
The Cleveland Browns are slated to pick at No.2 overall, barring any trades. There’s been plenty of speculation of who the Browns will select, the top two choices being either Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter.
New Era released their 2025 Draft collection on Fanatics, with the Browns’ line available here. Here’s a look at some of the best Browns gear:
Browns fans can get free shipping with code “SHIP35″ at checkout.
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Read MoreTwo men have been acquitted in a 2021 shooting at an Ensley nightclub that killed one man and injured three others.
A Jefferson County jury on Thursday found Tavarus Rodricus Barnes, 40, and Tyran Lee Walker, 39, were found not guilty in the slaying of 35-year-old Jeremy Managan.
The jury also acquitted both men, who now live in Georgia, of attempted murder charges for the wounded victims.
Jury selection began Monday before Jefferson County Circuit Judge Shanta Owens.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Julie McMakin and Canisha Freeman.
Barnes was represented by attorney Roger Appell, and Walker was represented by attorney Max Pulliam.
The shooting happened about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, at the GMV Club at 1710 Avenue D.
A disagreement began inside the club and spilled out into the streets where gunfire erupted.
Police arrived to find three people suffering from gunshot wounds.
The victims – all males in their 30s – were taken to UAB Hospital.
Managan was later pronounced dead.
Defense attorneys contended it wasn’t Barnes and Walker that fired the shots, and the jury agreed.
Both men were already out of jail on bond pending trial.
Read More
A brand new episode of the hit Law & Order franchise series Law & Order: Organized Crime premieres exclusively on Peacock Thursday, April 24.
Following the season five premiere on NBC last week, the show migrated over to Peacock, making it the first Law & Order series to exclusively stream on the platform. Each week, a new episode of the series will release on Thursdays only on Peacock.
On this week’s episode, one of Carisi’s trials is attacked, and signs of a new player in the New York City gang scene drives Stabler to contact an old confidential informant to question the motives of their current ones.
Those interested in catching the newest episode and the remaining seven episodes left in this season, can steam the show exclusively through Peacock every Thursday.
Peacock is considered one of the leading streaming services dominating the entertainment industry right now. Users can stream hit movies and TV shows or explore a plethora of popular 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.
Longtime detective Elliot Stabler returns to the NYPD to battle organized crime after a devastating personal loss. Since his departure a decade ago, the city and the police department have changed dramatically. Stabler must adapt to a criminal justice system during its own moment of reckoning.
Throughout the series, viewers follow Stabler’s journey to find absolution and rebuild his life, while leading a new elite task force that is taking apart the city’s most powerful criminal syndicates one by one.
Read MoreKendra Scott has a beautiful gift with purchase that’s just in time for Mother’s Day.
The super-popular jewelry line is offering a free Blair Necklace or Studs when you spend more than $100. The sparkly jewels mean you can get something for mom – and something for yourself.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs play against the Ottawa Senators in game 3 of their NHL Playoff series 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 Maple Leafs enter this matchup with a 2-0 series lead, as they defeated Ottawa 3-2 in overtime last game. During the victory, John Tavares led the Toronto offense. He ended the game with one goal and one assist, so he will look to perform similarly tonight.
Notably, Tavares leads the team with four points and two goals in the postseason.
In order to bounce back this evening, the Senators will need a great performance from their star forward Brady Tkachuk. He led the Ottawa offense with 29 goals during the regular season, but he has only scored one goal in this series. With this in mind, Tkachuk will try to improve his play tonight.
Fans can watch game 3 of this NHL Playoff series 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.
Read MoreA Land Trust of North Alabama trail on Huntsville’s Green Mountain.Lauren Sanderson/Land Trust of North Alabama
When blasting began to take place to pave the way for a new subdivision on Monte Sano Mountain, Huntsville residents voiced concerns about a scar that was visible from Interstate 565.
When another subdivision was proposed on Green Mountain, other residents complained the developers were clear cutting trees off the mountain.
The city has an ordinance officials said is designed to help preserve the character of the mountains in the Rocket City. Most developers follow the rules, but city officials acknowledge there are a few bad actors.
City Manager of Planning and Zoning Services Thomas Nunez said the city has cited developers who violated Huntsville’s slope development ordinance.
The repercussions for not following the rules can range from a hefty penalty plus court costs to an appearance before the Zoning Board of Adjustments to come up with a remediation plan.
Developers can be charged $500 according to state law for each ordinance violation, and each day the violation occurs counts as a separate offense.
The ordinance provides greater leverage for the totality of violations. In the past, each violation constitutes a separate offense. For example, the removal of a single tree could involve multiple violations for size, girth, species, age, location, value of wood, etc. There is also potential for additional penalties until the property is determined to be restored.
One developer had to pay a six-figure penalty.
There’s even a provision in state law that includes up to six months jail time, but city officials are not aware of anyone receiving that punishment.
Land Trust of North Alabama Executive Director Marie Bostick, whose organization works with the city on preservation of places like the mountains, said she has heard from residents that “there have been tree cuttings on properties in certain areas.”
“But I don’t have any first-hand knowledge,” she said. “But I have talked to several neighbors and a community group up there (on Green Mountain) about tree removal that shouldn’t have occurred.”
Huntsville has a slope development ordinance that spells out just how much property can be “disturbed” for the clearing of the land for homes depending on the elevation of the mountains within the city limits. Developers are not supposed to do geological harm to the terrain.
Lot sizes are required to be larger – 40,000 square feet in the upper slope, 25,000 in the lower slope.
Developers not following the ordinance were among complaints at a Huntsville Planning Commission meeting about a proposed development on Green Mountain in 2023.
See story: Developers are endangering the character of Green Mountain, Huntsville residents say – al.com
Monte Vedra resident Anita Reck – who frequently spoke out at the commission’s meetings about Green Mountain issues – was one of the residents voicing concerns.
“Twenty acres, not one tree left,” she added. “Please go up there and look, not one tree. It’s clear cut. Total destruction.”
Reck provided AL.com with photos at the time backing up her concerns.
An area where trees have been clear cut for development on Green Mountain. (Photo courtesy of Anita Reck).
Nunez said there are exceptions to the slope development ordinance. There are property owners who were grandfathered in who are allowed a significant amount of tree cutting.
And Summit at Monte Sano – which faced stiff opposition from residents of an adjacent subdivision – is zoned as a planned development, which allows for smaller lot sizes than the others on the mountain.
Nunez said updates to the slope development ordinance could contain a different approach to addressing violations, as well as contain clearer language making developers aware of the native vegetation, including trees, on the mountains.
Bostick said development on Monte Sano dates as far back as 100 years. She said many people purchased land on both mountains in the 1960s, although some of that land has not been developed.
Development has been more frequent in recent years on Green Mountain.
According to City Communication Director Kelly Schrimsher, who is also a member of the Planning Commission, there are 568 housing units on Green Mountain as of April 1. She said there were approximately 25 homes under construction.
“Green Mountain has seen consistent development over the last 15 years,” Nunez added. “… , We’ve seen on average 60 lots or homes or more created a year. Some years have been more aggressive than others.”
Currently on Green Mountain, there are three active subdivisions, according to Nunez, Inspiration on Green Mountain, the Bluffs at Green Mountain and Mountainside Cove – formerly The Cove at Green Mountain – which received re-preliminary approval in January of this year for 38 lots, but those lots have not received final approval.
Green Mountain is in one of the parts of the city that is seeing tremendous growth. According to Huntsville’s 2024 Development Review, 204 building permits were issued on the mountain last year, ranking it fourth among census tracts in the city. More homes (208) were sold on Green Mountain last year than any other part of the city.
Because development dates back much longer on Monte Sano, there is not as much new development there. Summit at Monte Sano is the lone active subdivision where 56 lots are proposed, with 26 receiving final approval earlier this year.
Much of the development there, Nunez said, is in the redevelopment of existing property and homes. According to the development review, Monte Sano tied Hampton Cove for the most permits issued within the city limits last year for additions and alterations with 49.
Monte Sano is prime real estate in the city. Homes there sold for an average price of more than $652,000 last year, ranking fifth among census tracts in the city.
Land Trust of North Alabama trail on Huntsville’s Monte Sano Mountain.Land Trust of North Alabama
While the slope development ordinance is one of the ways the city is trying to preserve the natural parts and character of both Monte Sano and Green Mountain, collaboration with the Land Trust of North Alabama is another.
Nunez said the city works with the Land Trust to improve trails. He also said the city helps the Land Trust in efforts to purchase land or have land deeded to it to keep it in its natural state.
Bostick said the Land Trust works with the city on its greenway system. She said the city also tries to keep the organization in the loop on where development is occurring and what the trends are.
“We contact property owners when we can,” she said. “We talk with them about opportunities for preservation. Quite often, we actually work with the developers who are developing their properties.”
She said the Land Trust will work with developers on what can be done to preserve land that isn’t appropriate for housing or other development “either because of slope or hydrology.”
“It could be just difficult to access,” she said. “Then it could be appropriate for both the Land Trust as a preservation organization and the developer from a tax incentives standpoint to work together so that the development can occur on the more appropriate properties and then preservation can occur on the inappropriate development of the properties.”
Bostick calls that a “win-win situation.”
“We’ve been able to do that on Monte Sano a good bit,” she said. “We’ve done a little bit of it on Green Mountain, but not quite as much in the developer realm. We’ve done more of it on Green Mountain with individual property owners, people who have held property for many, many years.”
One developer the Land Trust has worked with is Colorado-based See Forever, which is developing the Summit at Monte Sano. See Forever pledged during Planning Commission meetings to donate the undevelopable property around the proposed subdivision to the Land Trust.
See Forever has donated about six acres south of Bankhead Parkway to the Land Trust just ahead of the Bankhead Trailhead that has helped Monte Sano Nature Preserve keep continuity for its trail network.
“They have not donated anything on the opposite side of the Bankhead Parkway yet,” Bostick said. “We are in discussions of what that might look like once they actually get the footprint of the development area completed. None of that has taken place yet.”
The Land Trust owns 1,120 acres in the main part of the preserve on Monte Sano but also has property on the east side of the mountain that is not contiguous. It also has 630 acres at its Green Mountain South preserve and another 187 at Green Mountain North.
Bostick said the Land Trust also has 800 acres on the north side of Green Mountain all of the way to Blevins Gap that most people don’t think of as part of the mountain. The acreage is part of the Land Trust’s River to Gap Project that seeks to connect Blevins Gap with the Tennessee River.
But the Land Trust’s preservation effort isn’t just limited to the mountains. It has 10 nature reserves open to the public, nine of which are in Madison County. The other is in Colbert County. They have trails people can access by hiking or biking but are not for motorized vehicle use.
“Some property we get, we just leave it in its natural state,” Bostick said. “We don’t open it to the public. It’s just conserved as habitat for certain species. Sometimes, that’s because it has very sensitive species on it and sometimes because of capacity and just not being able to open another preserve, and sometimes it is just the remoteness of the property and inaccessibility for people to be able to get there safely.”
Bostick said the Land Trust has never been anti-growth, anti-development.
“It’s just not in our DNA,” she said. “But we’re very much in favor of making sure that the development occurs correctly. So that wherever that development occurs, it’s the right place, it’s the right way. And if there is an ability to develop a portion of the property and conserve a portion of the property, then that’s obviously the best thing that can happen for both conservation and the city’s growth.”
Read MoreThe Florida Panthers play against the Tampa Bay Lightning in game 2 of their NHL Playoff series tonight. The matchup will begin at 5:30 p.m. CT on TBS. 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 Panthers enter this matchup with a 1-0 series lead, as they defeated Tampa Bay 6-2 in the series opener. During the victory, Matthew Tkachuk led the Florida offense. He ended the game with two goals and one assist, so he will look to perform similarly tonight.
In order to win game 2, the Panthers will need to rely on their star forward Sam Reinhart. He led the team in points during the regular season, and he was able to accrue two points last game.
In order to bounce back tonight, the Lightning will need a great performance from their forward Nikita Kucherov. He led the NHL with 121 points in the regular season, which highlights his offensive prowess.
Fans can watch game 2 of this NHL Playoff series 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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