Alabama News

As tourists swarm beach towns on the Gulf Coast, a few photographers have discovered other, lesser seen visitors.

Gulf Bay Photography on Thursday morning captured footage of what appears to be a shark off the coast of Pensacola Beach.

This isn’t the first time in the past week beachgoers got a surprise visit.

On July 3, Arkansas couple Jodi and Andrew Jobe captured another video of what appears to be a shark just off the shore of Orange Beach.

While scientists say shark numbers are back on the rise after the population fell rapidly due to overfishing in the 1960s, the rise of video footage of shark sightings, often captured on people’s cell phones or other technology like drones, is also altering people’s perception.

“Everyone having a phone with a camera now … what was once just a fish story, is now broadcast through social media, inflating public perspective,” Robert Hueter, a shark researcher based in Sarasota, Fla., told AL.com previously.

The state lawmaker wife of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Thursday she filed for divorce “on biblical grounds,” cryptically saying she is ending the marriage “in light of recent discoveries.”

“Today, after 38 years of marriage, I filed for divorce on biblical grounds,” state Sen. Angela Paxton, a Republican, posted to X.

“I believe marriage is a sacred covenant and I have earnestly pursued reconciliation. But in light of recent discoveries, I do not believe that it honors God or is loving to myself, my children, or Ken to remain in the marriage,” Angela Paxton continued.

She did not say what those “recent discoveries” entailed.

 “I move forward with complete confidence that God is always working everything together for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.”

Angela Paxton hold the north Texas Senate seat once occupied by her husband before he ascended to statewide office.

Ken Paxton tenure as attorney general was stained when he was impeached in 2023 by the Texas House of Representative amid allegations he improperly used the powers of his office to protect Austin real estate developer Nate Paul, who was indicted on federal charges of making false statements to banks, the Associated Press reported.

Most of the roughly 20 witnesses at Paxton’s impeachment trial were former aides who were suspicious of his business relationship with Paul and his romantic one with Laura Olson, who worked for Paul, according to the AP.

They told of taking their concerns to the FBI and how Paxton’s extramarital affair might explain why Paxton seemed so determined to help Paul fend of the federal investigation that would eventually lead to Paul’s indictment on fraud charges.

Defense attorneys called four of Paxton’s current employees who testified they have seen Paxton do nothing wrong and are proud to work for him.

The Texas Senate acquitted Paxton of the charges.

The divorce filing comes as Ken Paxton is running in the GOP primary for Senate against Sen. John Cornyn in 2026.

Trump, who has praised both Paxton and Cornyn, has not made an endorsement in the race.

An historic landmark in Birmingham’s history – and a prime piece of downtown real estate – has a new owner.

Non-profit organization KultureCity has purchased the Powell Avenue Steam Plant for $11 million.

“This transformational move marks a bold new chapter for the organization and a historic investment in the city where its global mission first began,” the organization announced in a news release.

And the entity has sweeping plans for what was once the Magic City’s first electrical power plant, saying it intends to make a “national landmark of accessibility, creativity, and community transformation.”

Founded in 2013, KultureCity provides services to assist those with sensory processing disorders.

In April, actress Ming-Na Wen, a KultureCity board member, shared images of possible development for the property.

KultureCity CEO Julian Maha said there are no immediate plans for construction to begin, but the group sees the tract “as, really, two pieces of property.”

There is the steam plant building, which has 80,105 square feet, and the adjoining 1.5-acre outdoor parking lot area.

Maha said the lot can be a “space for the City of Birmingham.”

“That would include a water play area, which the City of Birmingham doesn’t have,” he said. “A place for an inclusive playground, which the city doesn’t have. But on top of that, also developing an amphitheater with our partnerships nationally, to develop and push the boundaries of accessibility.”

KultureCity’s announcement also mentions “green gathering zones, all designed to prioritize accessibility from the ground up.”

“We also envision that front space being used as a common area where we can hold events, Christmas markets, Fourth of July events. Imagine a New Year’s Eve party where you’ve got those two beautiful spires (the smoke stacks) that can be used for ball drops,” Maha said.

For the power plant building itself, Maha said it can serve as a central meeting location, not only for KultureCity but its partner organizations.

“Inside the building, we’re still in talks,” he said. “Whatever it is, it’s going to be something very revolutionary, not just for the population we serve, but for the city, the State of Alabama and beyond.”

Maha said the organization plans a national RFP for design work.

“When finished, it will be the oldest repurposed power plant in the entire world,” he said. “I think there’s going to be a lot of interest from that standpoint in how it could serve.”

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said the restoration project will “not only preserve a part of our city’s history, but it will also shape a national future we can all be proud of.”

“With KultureCity planting even deeper roots in our city, we are becoming the epicenter for accessibility, innovation, and leadership in the disability space,” he said.

The Powell Avenue Steam Plant, which once provided electricity for downtown and powered the city streetcar system, was listed in January for sale with an asking price of $10 million.

Situated at 1830 Powell Ave. S. the plant was built in 1895 by the Consolidated Electric Light & Power Co.

While the building has a long history, it also has been the subject of at least three stalled attempts to redevelop it in recent years. Alabama Power acquired the plant in 1952.

It was later added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

However, after several plans by Alabama Power and Orchestra Partners, the utility announced it was withdrawing late last year from a planned redevelopment of the plant.

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to get the iconic Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, Walmart Deals Week is it.

Walmart has a restored Premium Dyson Supersonic Origin Hair Dryer on sale for $179, a savings of $140 off the regular price of $319. It’s the lowest price on a Dyson hairdryer we’ve seen in a while. You can read more about Walmart’s restored products here.

The iron and fuchsia hair appliance has a powerful V9 digital motor that’s made for fast-drying. It has three precise speed and four heat settings.

The best thing about the dryer is that it helps prevent extreme heat damage to protect your hair’s natural shine. The dryer measures air temperature every 40 seconds, keeping the temperature under control with high-velocity airflow.

Dyson’s Supersonic hairdryer comes with magnetic attachments that can be quickly and easily adjusted. One of the most useful is the styling concentrator that allows for precise styling without disturbing other sections. Best of all, the heat shield technology ensures the surfaces of the attachments stay cool during use.

The dryer has a lightweight design thanks to a motor that’s positioned in the handle.

You can order yours here.

You can now achieve salon-grade blow outs at home with Dyson’s all new Supersonic r™ professional hair dryer, and it’s already on sale for a rare $50 discount. This steal is perfect for beauty enthusiasts who want to score this new Dyson technology for less than its normal retail price.

Initially released in early 2024, the Supersonic r™ hair dryer was only available to professional hair stylists, but is now available for anyone to purchase. The new hair dryer is not only more efficient than Dyson’s original Supersonic hairdryer, but incredibly lightweight.

RELATED: Sol De Janeiro’s viral Bum Bum Cream is on sale during Prime Day

A notable feature of the Dyson Supersonic r™ hair dryer is its intelligent attachments. Each attachment is designed to be preset with the optimal temperature and airflow tailored to various styling needs, including reducing frizz and enhancing shine. Meanwhile, the innovative RFID chips in the attachments remember the last used settings, ensuring a personalized experience every time you use the dryer.

The Supersonic r™ hair dryer is also equipped with ten heater foils positioned strategically within its design to distribute heat uniformly. This allows for precision styling without the risk of extreme hot or cold spots, which can cause heat damage. The ability to maintain a consistent temperature leads to faster drying times and healthier-looking hair.

Lastly, the new Dyson hairdryer is designed to be 30 percent smaller and 20 percent lighter. Overall, it weighs about 0.7 pounds, making it Dyson’s lightest hair dryer to date.

Those interested can checkout the full listing on Dyson’s website here.

Generative AI was used to provide product description for this story, based on data provided by Dyson. It was reviewed and edited by AL.com.

Donald Trump considered pardoning Jeffrey Epstein’s co-conspirator during his first term after becoming “very wary” about what information she could reveal, according to journalist and Trump biographer Michael Wolff.

Trump “became very wary about the arrest of Ghislaine Maxwell, and asked whether or not: ‘what could she say?’ ‘what would she say?’ And should he pardon her,” Wolff said on the Daily Beast podcast Wednesday.

Trump was a longtime friend of Epstein, whom he once called a “terrific guy.”

“He’s a lot of fun to be with,” Trump said in a 2002 New York magazine profile on Epstein, according to the Associated Press.

“It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it – Jeffrey enjoys his social life.”

In 2019, then-counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway claimed Trump had not talked to Epstein, who later killed himself while in federal custody, for 10 or 15 years.

Maxwell was found guilty in December 2021 of luring young girls to Epstein so he could molest them, between 1994 and 2004. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022, the Associated Press reported.

Epstein sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, exploiting vulnerable girls as young as 14. Prosecutors said Maxwell, his longtime companion, helped him and made the abuse possible.

A federal three-judge panel upheld Maxwell’s sentence in September.

Trump ultimately did not pardon Maxwell.

Trump insiders were uneasy about a possible pardon for Maxwell, according to Wolff, who has written several books about the Trump presidency.

“Behind the scenes, this was a discussion. Everybody around him was kind of like, ‘oh God, we hope she won’t say anything but we really hope he doesn’t pardon her,’” Wolff said.

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 Epstein blackmailed co-conspirators who sexually abused underaged girls provided by him, Axios first reported.

The administration’s stance rankled high-profile MAGA influencers who demand the so-called “Epstein list” be revealed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Windows users have all been there– the dreaded error message, otherwise known as the “Blue Screen of Death.”

After 40 years, Microsoft is changing the design of the error screen, including the color. The software maker has announced the screen will be replaced by a “Black Screen of Death.”

The change to the black screen, reports The New York Times, comes the wake of last year’s CrowdStrike outage, a major internet outage that disrupted banks, media outlets and companies across the world.

The Verge reports , Microsoft will finalize the transition to the new Black Screen of Death for current Windows 11 users “later this summer.”

More Microsoft changes

In May, Microsoft officially discontinued Skype, its internet-based phone and video service.

Microsoft first announced it would discontinue Skype in February.

“Skype has been an integral part of shaping modern communications and supporting countless meaningful moments, and we are honored to have been part of the journey,” Jeff Teper, president of collaborative apps and platforms at Microsoft, said in a blog post at the time.

Little Caesars is launching a new value menu.

The pizza chain is launching a nationwide “More for $9.99″ menu with six mix-and-match options.

“As the value leader in pizza, we don’t follow trends—we set them. Our new $9.99 menu is a bold move that provides unbeatable variety and flavor at a price that speaks for itself,” said Greg Hamilton, CMO at Little Caesars, in a press release. “We know our customers expect more from Little Caesars, and this menu proves what most people already know – that Little Caesars consistently gives guests more for their money.”

Guests can choose between six combinations for $9.99:

• Two Large Classic Pepperoni or Cheese Pizzas, or one of each flavor
• One Classic Pepperoni Pizza and one order of Crazy Puffs
• The new Fantastic Four-N-One pizza with a Crazy Combo that includes Crazy Bread and Crazy Sauce
• One Pretzel Crust Pizza with a Crazy Combo that includes Crazy Bread and Crazy Sauce
• One Crazy Puffs Party Pack with twelve Pepperoni or Cheese Crazy Puffs, or a combination of both flavors

People across Madison County have expressed interest in an IKEA furniture store for well over a decade.

Rumors of the Swedish warehouse building its first full;-size Alabama store started swirling this week when a Facebook user posted a supposed chat with the IKEA help bot.

The chat wrote that while the furniture giant hasn’t “officially announced” a location in Huntsville, the “store format and opening date are still being finalized.”

This sparked excitement across social media about the possibility of an IKEA furniture store in the Rocket City. But…

IKEA responds

IKEA has since responded to AL.com’s request for comment.

“At IKEA, we are always looking at new opportunities for expansion and growth. As we continue to transform our business, we are considering new ways to meet our customers needs across the U.S. However, IKEA has not announced any plans for a new location in the Huntsville area.”

IKEA a sought-after store

It’s landed on Huntsville’s list of most-wanted retailers since 2011. Locals want access to its large showrooms, buildable furniture and Swedish meatballs.

It’s possible that the Rocket City could land a full-size IKEA or a “Plan & Order Point,” which allows customers to work with IKEA specialists to plan their spaces and order the pieces necessary to build their rooms.

IKEA already has Plan & Order Points in Nashville and Birmingham. The closest full-size store is in Atlanta.

The season two finale of the hit comedic mystery series Poker Face releases exclusively on Peacock Thursday, July 10.

What is Poker Face?

For those unfamiliar with the hit Peacock original series, Poker Face follows Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne), who has an extraordinary ability to determine when someone is lying. After a swift departure from her real life, she hits the road in her Plymouth Barracuda and with every stop encounters a new cast of characters and strange crimes she can’t help but solve.

Previous episode recap

Last week’s episode “Day of the Iguana” showcased Charlie’s need to solve crimes reach an all-time high as her friend, Alex (Patti Harrison) is at risk for being pinned for a murder she didn’t commit.

The episode opens with Todd (Justin Theroux) as he’s prepping to attend Kirby and Victoria’s wedding when suddenly, a man shows up at his door claiming to be a chauffeur. Unfortunately for Todd, the man ends up killing him before setting his sights on the wedding itself to kill his second target, Kirby.

Posing as Todd himself, the killer assumes the guest role at the ceremony and notices Luca (Simon Helberg) present at the wedding. Surprised by the attendance of the feds, he abruptly leaves the ceremony to convene with his boss who ultimately tells him to finish the job.

With no other option, he stays the course and kills Kirby, but not before finding the perfect person to pin it on—Alex.

Alex is later found with the corpse and panic ensues, but luckily for her, Charlie realizes she’s telling the truth and aids Alex in an escape plan before announcing her friend’s innocence to Luca.

Agreeing to hear Alex out, Luca asks Charlie to bring her back for questioning. Charlie, needing more proof of her friend’s innocence, scoops up Alex before making their way to Indiana for help from Beatrix (Rhea Perlman).

What to expect from Poker Face season 2 finale

Unlike the typical hour-long episodes where Charlie solves the crime within the hour timeline, last week’s episode introduced a significant storyline worthy of a two-episode dedication, meaning last week’s crime is set to stretch into the finale.

As Charlie and Alex are racing to Beatrix in Indiana, she begins to question everything she believes in as she races to warn Beatrix of the unfortunate arrival of the most notorious season two killer, the Iguana.

How to watch the Poker Face season 2 finale

Those interested in catching the dramatic conclusion of Poker Face season two can stream the release exclusively through Peacock. Plans start at just $7.99 a month.

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.