Alabama News

General News

General

Patel at Redstone, chronic wasting disease, Sun Ra: Down in Alabama

Are you one of the millions who’ve viewed comedy videos from “It’s a Southern Thing”? On the podcast today (see the player below), we welcome producer/writer/actor Adam Schwartz, who’s been with IAST since its inception.

The rest of today’s report follows.

Patel at Redstone

FBI Director Kash Patel toured the FBI facility at Redstone Arsenal on Wednesday, reports AL.com’s Patrick Darrington. Patel said “We’re going to put more and more and more people here on a permanent basis from the FBI.”

More specifically, he said that by the end of the year they’ll bring 500 more FBI employees to Redstone.

During a confirmation hearing in January, Patel told U.S. Sen. Katie Britt that he wanted to send 4,000 more FBI workers to Huntsville. That would raise the total to 6,000.

Britt and U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville joined Patel on his tour.

More chronic wasting disease

The State of Georgia has now confirmed two cases of chronic wasting disease in whitetail deer.

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division this week announced another case in Berrien County, just 400 yards away from where the first CWD-positive deer was taken.

Several cases have already cropped up in Alabama — in the far northwestern corner of the state in Lauderdale and Colbert counties.

While Berrien County, Ga., is more than an hundred miles from the Alabama-Georgia line, it is closest to the southeastern corner of Alabama. CWD has also been found in the Florida Panhandle and along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, so it’s obviously spread to Alabama’s surrounding areas in all directions, even if it hasn’t been detected throughout our state.

CWD is a neurological disease that kills deer and elk. So far there are no treatments.

There’s no indication that it can spread to humans, but health officials, wildlife officers, Guy Fieri and your grandparents probably would all agree that you should not eat the meat of a deer with CWD. Right now, Alabama’s CWD Management Zone includes Lauderdale, Colbert and Franklin counties.

For more information, check out the Outdoor Alabama site.

Remembering Sun Ra

A jazz festival is scheduled for May 21-24 in Birmingham to honor the late Sun Ra, reports AL.com’s Mary Colurso.

Plans are still tentative, but organizers expect to offer concerts, movies, art shows, food and roundtable discussions at venues such as the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, Sidewalk Cinema, The Nick, Seasick Records, Southern Music Research Center, East Village Arts and Saturn.

That’s Saturn the club, not Saturn the planet, which is where Ra indicated he was from. Our sources, however, suggest he was from Birmingham.

Ra was a pioneer in jazz, experimenting with his music and expressing philosophies that crossed over religions and galaxies.

He was a unique artist, so it should be a unique festival. May 22, Ra’s birthday, will be Sun Ra Day. He was born in 1914 and died in 1993.

More Alabama News

Born on This Date

In 1947, singer Ann Kelly of Fairfield. She was an original member of The Hues Corporation.

In 1994, actor/singer/dancer Jordan Fisher of Birmingham and Trussville.

The podcast

General

Former Alabama All-American endorses Crimson Tide draft prospect

Will the Houston Texans’ overhaul of their offensive line continue in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday night?

If so, Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. has a recommendation – his former Alabama teammate Tyler Booker.

“Tyler Booker, man, I speak very highly of him,” Anderson said on Monday. “Great character guy. I think he has all the attributes you need to play the offensive-line position — he’s a mauler, he loves to finish blocks, his leadership skills, his mentality. He wants to be the best, and he’s really hard on himself. I’m kind of the same way. That’s what builds you up. That’s what makes you who you are. And he has all those things, man, and I can’t say enough good things about him. And wherever he ends up, he’s going to change that team, change that program and change the offensive line, for sure.”

Three of the five offensive linemen who played the most snaps for the Texans last season are no longer on the team after Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud got sacked 52 times in 2024.

The Texans traded tackle Laremy Tunsil and Kenyon Green and cut Shaq Mason. Houston signed former Alabama All-American Cam Robinson and Laken Tomlinson as the Texans added two veteran offensive-line starters in NFL free agency this offseason.

Houston has the 25th selection in the first round on Thursday night, and Booker is considered a first-round possibility.

Anderson said he has been in contact with the Alabama guard and Crimson Tide linebacker Jihaad Campbell, another first-round candidate, during their draft preparation.

The three players were teammates at Alabama in 2022, which was Anderson’s second straight season as a unanimous All-American as a Crimson Tide outside linebacker.

“Those are two of the guys I was really close to when I was at Alabama,” Anderson said, “and both of those guys have been doing really well – just talking to them – in their meetings and stuff with coaches and other teams and stuff like that, so I’m excited and I can’t wait to watch them get drafted.”

Anderson joined the Texans as the third selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. He earned the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award as a defensive end, then increased his sack total by four to reach 11 in his second season.

“Block out the noise,” Anderson said of his advice to the Alabama draft prospects. “The media’s going to say whatever they want to say. Everybody’s going to have an opinion about your game, but just remember who you are and what you put on tape. God has blessed you tremendously with the gift that you have. He’s brought you this far. Nobody else has brought you this far. You’ve put in the work; he’s given you the gift. And just lean on yourself, lean on your abilities and know that you can go out there and play with the best of the best.”

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

Miss Manners: Weekend visit ruined after friend’s partner drove recklessly

DEAR MISS MANNERS: We visited a friend and her new partner for a weekend visit. Her partner drove us to an outing about 20 miles away and went 95 mph on the highway. Despite fearing for our lives, we said nothing. On the way back, however, I politely asked the partner if he could please keep his speed under 80 mph.

He immediately turned indignant, got out of the car and told me I should drive and that he would sit in the back with my wife. I told him I would not drive and to just please obey the speed limits.

After a heated exchange, he coldly got back in the car, drove more slowly, and never said another word for the rest of the trip. It was very uncomfortable. Was I right to speak up?

GENTLE READER: If a reasonable person would feel that the alternative to speaking up would have been to be found dead by the side of the road when the local constabulary made their rounds Monday morning, then this is not an etiquette question.

The etiquette question is: What to do after everyone got back in the car? Miss Manners’ answer is: Play dumb. After enough time has passed to allow everyone to recover their bearings, resume as normal an interaction with your friend as you can muster — speaking about other things for the rest of the weekend.

It won’t fool anyone, but you have to pass the time some way, you are not likely to accept a second invitation, and it is better than playing dead.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at missmanners.com, by email to [email protected], or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

General

Today’s daily horoscopes: April 24, 2025

It takes work to keep relationships exciting. But a relationship that constantly demands excitement to stay afloat might keep a person on edge rather than helping them evolve. The best kind of love challenges us to grow while still offering a foundation of ease and acceptance — where you’re inspired to be your best self, not exhausted trying to keep up.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Remember when you tried to hide the very thing that makes you stand out? Now it will seem silly. This circumstance or trait can be showcased with pride. Doing so will positively impact others and be rewarding for you in various ways, including financially.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The day is open with endless possibilities, like a blank sheet of paper ready to be filled with your thoughts, experiences, choices and hopes for the events yet to unfold. Your adventurous outlook shapes the story as you go.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ll consider keeping something wonderful to yourself. When the extraordinary is shared, it can feel less unique — like a quiet beach turning into a tourist hotspot. But if you had to share, who would be the special one to receive the honor?

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ll learn more and have more fun in diverse social environments. Just remember, one culture’s taboo is another culture’s norms. An open mind, sensitivity to differences and a willingness to adapt are key to navigating successfully.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Here come intuitive nudges toward a new interest. This is no random pull; there’s something valuable in this pursuit, and you’ll find you have a natural talent for it. However small your curiosity is at this stage, it’s worth exploring!

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Emotional courage is commendable. Because you’re willing to have a raw, fierce and beautiful reckoning with everything you’re feeling, you’ll have the benefits too — the energy to do what needs to be done — processing, reframing and finding your power.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll take what happens and turn it into something valuable. It doesn’t mean it’s easy and painless all the time. But you’re building yourself up regardless of your comfort level. You move through and build on every new realization.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Life loves a pattern, but you’re not a fan of some of the patterns that are playing out now. You want to be new and different in some way, and you can be. There’s a habit to establish.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You prize love, depth and emotional maturity and cultivate relationships of connection. Those who cannot meet you there are not going to suddenly wake up with the capacity to. People can still be in your life without playing a central role.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’re attracted to people for various reasons. Let one of those reasons be because they love you back. Invest where love flows both ways. You’ll feel more open to receiving good fortune in multiple areas of life when you nurture relationships of reciprocity.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). If a relationship feels unbalanced, an honest conversation can sometimes shift it, but more often it’s the people who already show up for you consistently who will continue in kind, no conversation needed. Add more of those to your circle.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ll distinguish your own desires from those of your people and try to balance both. Sometimes, it’s fine to focus mostly on them — but to avoid resentment, you’ll need to bring the focus back to yourself eventually.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (April 24). Your presence changes the atmosphere, and it’s wonderful to know the impact you have. You’ll set something into motion that grows beyond your wildest dreams. More highlights: A daring leap kicks off a relationship. You’ll have a fortress of support. A daunting challenge ultimately brings fresh energy, and you’ll make the most of each sparkling potential. Cancer and Aquarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 3, 30, 1, 11 and 50.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Kelly Clarkson is set to exercise greater creative freedom by releasing new music under her own label. The master of musicality has suggested it’s the first time since her youth that she can make autonomous creative decisions. Clarkson’s natal sun, Moon and Mercury are all in Taurus, and her Venus-ruled roots show in every aspect of her life and career — a down-to-earth Taurus with the vocal chords that set the standard. She shares a birthday with the legendary Barbra Streisand.

Holiday Mathis’ debut novel, “How To Fail Epically in Hollywood,” is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.

General

Birmingham man charged after police say he and another man shot each other

One of two men who shot each other during a dispute in east Birmingham has been arrested.

Micah Buchanan, 42, is charged with attempted murder and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm, Birmingham police announced Wednesday.

East Precinct officers responded just before 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17, to the 6400 block of Georgia Road.

Investigators determined the two men were involved in a physical altercation that escalated to shots fired.

“We believe the males shot each other during the altercation,” said Officer Truman Fitzgerald, “and Buchanan was the aggressor.”

Both men suffered serious injuries,

Buchanan is in police custody at the hospital.

Once released he will be taken to the Jefferson County Jail. Bond is set at $76,000.

Buchanan, who has a lengthy arrest record, is prohibited from having a gun because of a prior felony drug conviction, court records show.

Just two days before the shooting, Buchanan had a court date on a separate charge of certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm stemming from an incident in January.

General

Did Jalen Milroe’s departure prevent transfer portal exodus at Alabama?

Some NFL coaches and scouts are completely sold on former Alabama football quarterback Jalen Milroe. However, according to a report from the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, some are taking an extremely opposite approach into the 2025 NFL Draft.

The report quotes an anonymous coordinator in the AFC, who claimed that Milroe’s departure prevented a transfer portal exodus in Tuscaloosa.

“He’s a 22 mph-on-the-ground guy,” the coach said according to the report. “He’s got a fastball that’s not very accurate. He doesn’t know when to take it off the ball. We heard out of Alabama all the skill [players] would’ve transferred if he came back. He wants to be known as a pocket quarterback and your best skill is you’re frickin’ fast.”

Milroe is attending the draft on Thursday in Green Bay, but is by no means a guaranteed first-round pick. Consensus among draft experts is that the Texas native could be the third quarterback off the board, behind Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.

He spent the past two seasons as Alabama’s starter. Milroe’s arm strength and athleticism are his strengths entering the draft.

“He has a lot of accuracy issues,” the Pelissero story quotes another anonymous AFC coordinator as saying. “But he’s a freak. He’s the best running quarterback I’ve ever evaluated. He’s like Cam Newton’s power with Lamar’s speed. He can throw the ball down the field — his numbers over 20 yards are good. And he’s a true developmental-type player. He’s electric.”

Milroe threw for 2,844 yards and 16 touchdowns last season, completing 64.3% of his throws, but also tossing 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 726 yards and another 20 touchdowns.

The upside is there for Milroe. The question during the draft will be whether the drawbacks scare teams off.

“This is the fastest guy on the G—— field.” Pelissero quoted an NFL executive as saying. “He was outrunning angles. He’s just so f—ing erratic. He’s a smart enough kid, but not a fast processor. He’s into all these f—ing mental coaches. Has to see it open. Doesn’t have anticipation. He’s the typical big, rifle-armed f—er who throws everything f—ing hard and fast and will throw a good pass and then the next five, you don’t know where the f— they’re going to end up.”

The NFL Draft is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. CT Thursday. It will be aired across ESPN’s networks and on the NFL Network.

General

Former Tulane defensive back commits to Auburn football out of transfer portal

Auburn football’s already talented cornerback room added another piece on Wednesday.

Former Tulane corner Rayshawn Pleasant announced his commitment to the Tigers on Instagram, becoming Auburn’s first incoming defensive back transfer of the spring portal window.

His commitment helps with Auburn’s numbers in the secondary after it lost reserve corners JC Hart and Tyler Scott to the portal. Starting corners Jay Crawford and Kayin Lee are still returning, meaning Pleasant will likely battle for a rotation spot with players like Raion Strader and Blake Woodby.

Pleasant spent two seasons at Tulane, playing a significant role for the Green Wave in 2024. He made 35 tackles, three pass deflections and one interception last season. He’s expected to have two years of eligibility remaining.

Pleasant was also dangerous in the return game, returning two kickoffs for touchdowns in 2024 and tallying 449 yards on 13 kick returns.

With Pleasant’s addition, Auburn has added four scholarship players out of the portal this spring. The three others all play up front, including former Maryland linebacker Caleb Wheatland and defensive linemen James Ash and Jay Hardy.

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

General

Judge delays $2.8 billion NCAA settlement to address roster limit concerns

The judge overseeing the sprawling $2.8 billion antitrust lawsuit settlement involving the NCAA and the nation’s five largest conferences delayed final approval of the plan Wednesday until it is modified to address concerns about roster limits.

U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken signaled she is ready to approve the rest of the settlement but wants both sides to come up with a way to not harm current athletes who will lose their spots on teams. The settlement calls for scholarship limits to be replaced by roster limits.

“With the exception of the immediate implementation of the roster limits provisions that will cause harm to certain members of the Injunctive Relief Settlement Class … the Court tentatively finds that it can grant final approval of the remainder of the settlement agreement as fair, reasonable, and adequate,” Wilken wrote in her five-page order.

One of the attorneys who hashed out the settlement proposed last year reacted with cautious optimism.

“We appreciate the court’s guidance and thoughtful review of this monumental case,” plaintiffs attorney Steve Berman said. “We are pleased that the court has rejected all of the objections but the roster issue, and we will work hard to convince the NCAA and the conferences to address the court’s concerns. If we are unable to do so, then we are off to trial and we will return to fighting the NCAA in court with next steps.”

The NCAA did not immediately comment. After a hearing earlier this month, NCAA attorney Rakesh Kilaru told Wilken it had been “a long road to get to this point” and made no promises that her concerns about roster limits would be addressed — and that’s what happened. when the plan was resubmitted a week later.

Wilken took issue with that choice, saying the immediate implementation of roster limits “will result in harm to a significant number” of athletes in addition to those who were on a roster but were removed in the last several months because of the “premature implementation” of the agreement.

The effect of the proposed roster limits would be to allow every athlete to be eligible for a scholarship while cutting the number of spots available. During an April 7 hearing, Wilken told attorneys that the cuts could be phased in initially and even suggested grandfathering in current athletes. Both sides responded by saying such moves were not practical and would lead to chaos, but Wilken was not moved.

“Any disruption that may occur is a problem of defendants’ and NCAA members schools’ own making,” she wrote in Wednesday’s order.

Roster limits could signal the end of the walk-on athlete in college sports and, as Utah freshman swimmer Gannon Flynn noted in his testimony as an objector, also imperil smaller sports programs that feed the U.S. Olympic teams. It is not clear how many roster spots across hundreds of schools will vanish under House, though it it is estimated to be in the thousands.

Steven Molo, an attorney for a group of athletes objecting to the plan, told the judge that roster limits would unnecessarily restrict opportunities. He noted that football teams would be capped at 105 players. The average roster size in 2024 was 128.

General

20-year-old man shot to death in Mobile County was ‘the absolute best truly,’ loved ones say

A GoFundMe has been organized to help with funeral expenses for a young man killed in Mobile County on Monday night.

According to the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, Landon Phillips, 20, was found in his vehicle after being shot at 111201 Trace Lane.

Phillips’s aunt, Mikka Jones, said in the GoFundMe description that her nephew was loved by many and was the “absolute best truly.”

“We all loved Landon more then word’s can begin to say if you needed him he was just a call away,” Jones said. “He’d help anyone. He was such an amazing son amazing nephew amazing boyfriend, amazing grandson he was the absolute best truly.”

The sheriff’s office said the shooter, Jason Covington, allegedly admitted to shooting at Phillips’s vehicle.

Witnesses said that Phillips was arguing with another individual when Covington came out of the house with a shotgun and told Phillips to leave, according to the agency.

That is when Covington is said to have fired two shots at Phillips’s car, striking Phillips and killing him.

Covington was arrested and charged with murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle/building and certain persons forbidden for possessing a pistol.

Jones said that Landon leaves behind many including his mom, dad and eight siblings.

Jones said that all donations to assist in Phillips’s burial were appreciated and the funds would go directly to the funeral home.

“We’ve never been the type to ask for help ever but, God we sure do any an everyone’s help so we can lay Landon to rest properly,” Jones said.

“If you’re able to donate please do a thank you in advance truly from the bottom of our hearts if your, not please pray we need all the prayers we can get truly to. Me an my husband loved Landon like he was our very own and, we called him that to so, this pain were feeling of (losing) a child we wouldn’t wish this on our worst enemy not even the devil himself this is the worst.”

General

Iconic wrestler, Hall-of-Fame member of 1985 Bears dies at 67 after ALS battle

Steve McMichael, a Hall-of-Fame defensive tackle with the Chicago Bears who later enjoyed a second career as a celebrated professional wrestler, has died. He was 67.

McMichael had since 2021 been suffering from ALS, which left him unable to speak and requiring around-the-clock care. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

Longtime friend Jarrett Payton, son of McMichael’s legendary Bears teammate Walter Payton, announced McMichael’s death via social media.

“With deep sorrow, I share that Steve McMichael passed at 5:28 PM after a brave fight with #ALS, surrounded by loved ones,” Payton wrote. “I’m grateful to have been with him in his final moments. Please keep Steve and his family your prayers.”

Born Oct. 17, 1957, in Houston, McMichael was a two-time All-Southwest Conference selection at Texas, earning and a unanimous All-America honors as a senior in 1979. He was selected in the third round of the 1980 NFL draft by New England, but was released after just one season.

McMichael latched on with the Bears in 1981 and started 101 consecutive games at one point. A strapping 6-foot-2 and 270 pounds, he was a key member of Chicago’s 1985 Super Bowl championship defense, considered by many to be among the best in NFL history.

Nicknamed “Mongo” after the brutish character from the classic comedy Western film Blazing Saddles, McMichael was twice selected first-team All-Pro and three times made the second team, and also played in two Pro Bowls during his 13 seasons with the Bears. He retired after spending the 1994 season with the Green Bay Packers, finishing his career with 95 sacks, an extraordinarily high total for an interior defensive lineman.

McMichael then transitioned into professional wrestling with first WWE and then WCW, beginning as an announcer and guest commentator who would often “brawl” with the in-ring talent. After becoming a full-time performer, he had memorable turns as a tag team partner with fellow football-player-turned-wrestler Kevin Greene and also as a member of one iteration of the legendary “Four Horsemen” team with Ric Flair, Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko.

McMichael left wrestling in 1999, save for a brief return as a guest referee with the Total Nonstop Action promotion in 2008. In later years, he worked in radio, coached an indoor football team, unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Romeoville, Ill., sang in an oldies rock n’ roll band and made numerous appearances at reunions and special events with other members of the 1985 Bears.

Due to his ALS diagnosis, McMichael was unable to travel to Canton, Ohio, for his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction last summer. Several former teammates — including fellow Hall-of-Famers Richard Dent, Dan Hampton and Mike Singletary — delivered McMichael’s Hall-of-Fame bust and gold jacket to him at his home on the day of the ceremony.

McMichael is survived by his wife, Misty, and teenage daughter, Macy.