Alabama News

The second installment of the Unwrapping Christmas collection, Unwrapping Christmas: Mia’s Prince premieres on the Hallmark Channel as part of the network’s Christmas in July event on Saturday, July 12 at 8/7c.

Those hoping to keep up with the regular Christmas in July releases can access the Hallmark Channel even without traditional cable through Philo (free trial), Fubo (free trial), DirecTV (free trial) or Sling (50% off first month).

What is Unwrapping Christmas: Mia’s Prince about?

The second installment of the four-movie collection stars Kathryn Davis and Nathan Witte and follows Mia (Davis), an accountant at All Wrapped Up, who is stunned when local celebrity Beau Cavannagh (Witte), who looks like her favorite romance novel hero, enters her life.

Despite her doubts, Beau, an heir to a wealthy family, proves his feelings for her are real, even as his family disapproves. After his fierce declaration, Mia finds herself swept up in a fairytale romance that’s straight out of her dreams.

How to watch Unwrapping Christmas: Mia’s Prince

Those interested in catching this week’s big Christmas in July premiere can stream Unwrapping Christmas: Mia’s Prince through the streaming services listed below.

Philo: 7-day free trial ($28 a month after free trial ends)

Fubo: Free trial ($84.99 a month after free trial ends)

DirecTV: 5-day free trial ($86.99 a month after free trial ends)

Sling: 50% off first month and one month free of AMC+ ($45.99 a month after first month)

What is Philo?

Philo is considered one of the most affordable streaming platforms on the market. Known as an entertainment-focused streaming service, Philo offers its subscribers access to over 70 top-rated TV channels such as TLC, MTV, BET, AMC, CMT, Investigation Discovery and more.

New users can enjoy Philo’s 7-day free trial and continue to stream top channels, hit TV shows and movies on-demand for just $28 a month once the free trial expires.

Those looking to customize their flow of content even further on Philo can consider including add-ons such as MGM+, STARZ, and AMC+ in their subscription.

What is Fubo and DirecTV?

Fubo and DirecTV are two of the top streaming services steadily replacing traditional cable services. Both offer free trials to new subscribers, a plethora of popular live TV channels, on-demand streaming options and helpful features such as unlimited DVR storage.

Fubo considers itself a sports-focused live streaming service, but with over 100 live TV channels available through its base package at just $84.99 after its free trial, it offers much more to its subscribers.

Popular TV channels available through Fubo include ABC, FOX, BET, MTV, CNBC, MSNBC, USA and much more.

DirecTV mirrors Fubo by offering many of the same live TV channels and useful features. The base package starts at just $86.99 a month after its 5-day free trial and includes popular channels such as HGTV, ESPN, Bravo, CMT, CNN, BET and much more.

Two other DirecTV packages are the Choice package (original price $114.99) and the Ultimate package (original price $129.99), both of which are part of an ongoing promotion that offers new subscribers $10 off the original price for the first three months of their subscription.

Those interested in comparing all DirecTV’s channel packages can check them out here.

What is Sling?

Sling is another streaming service to consider if you want to access top rated TV channels like the Hallmark Channel. Though no free trial is available to new subscribers, those who commit to a paid plan get half off the first month and one month free of AMC+.

Both the Sling Orange plan and the Sling Blue plan are normally $45.99 a month, but with the current promotion, Sling users will pay just $23 a month for the first month.

For those who wish to access channels from both the Sling Blue and Sling Orange plans can do so by signing up for the Orange + Blue plan, which combines the best of both plans for just $60.99 a month ($30.50 for the first month).

The National Weather Service issued a weather alert at 3:51 p.m. on Friday for strong thunderstorms until 4:30 p.m. for Bibb County.

The storms may bring wind gusts of up to 40 mph and marble-sized hail (0.5 inches).

“At 3:50 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm near Talladega National Forest, or near Centreville, moving east at 10 mph,” says the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.”

Locations impacted by the alert include Brent, Centreville, Talladega National Forest, West Centreville, Trio, Six Mile and Bibb County Airport.

According to the weather service, “Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle.”

Lightning on the horizon: Expert safety measures for thunderstorms

Lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times each year, with the bulk of these electrical discharges occurring during the summer months. Tragically, lightning claims the lives of about 20 individuals annually, as reported by the weather service. The risk of lightning-related incidents escalates as thunderstorms draw near, reaching its peak when the storm directly looms overhead. However, it gradually recedes as the tempest moves away.

To protect yourself during a thunderstorm, take these recommendations into consideration:

Lightning safety plan:

• When venturing outdoors, it’s vital to establish a clear plan for seeking shelter in case of lightning.
• Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s an indication that lightning is nearby.
• Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

• Once you’ve found shelter indoors, abstain from using corded phones, electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures, and refrain from approaching windows and doors.
• Lightning can follow conductive pathways, and these precautions reduce the risk of electrical surges.

Wait for the all-clear:

• After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
• It’s important to remember that lightning can strike even when a storm seems to have passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn’t available:

If you find yourself outdoors without access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

• Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, which expose you to greater lightning risk.
• Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In wooded areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
• If you’re with a group, ensure individuals are spread out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
• Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If you have no alternative, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. It’s crucial to note that a tent provides no protection against lightning.
• Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, vigilance and preparedness are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the chances of lightning-related accidents and prioritize your safety.

Navigating heavy rain: Essential safety measures for wet roads

When heavy rain pours, the risk of flooding and treacherous roads rises. Here’s your guide from the weather service to staying safe during downpours:

Beware of swollen waterways:

During heavy rain, avoid parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a serious risk.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Use the two-second rule to maintain a safe distance from the car in front of you and allow an extra two seconds in heavy rain.

Reduce speed and drive cautiously:

On wet roads, slowing down is paramount. Gradually ease off the accelerator and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stick to the middle lanes to minimize the risk of hydroplaning. Outer lanes are more prone to accumulating water.

Prioritize visibility

Turn on your headlights and be careful of other vehicles to the rear and in blind spot areas as they are especially difficult to see through rain-spattered windows.

Watch out for slippery roads:

The initial half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mixture of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid tailgating and pass them swiftly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas.

When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Keep your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.

By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed advice from local authorities to make your journey safe and sound.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

An employee of a south Alabama city was arrested Friday morning on charges of child pornography and voyeurism.

According to jail records, Jeff Phillips was arrested by the Baldwin County Sheriff‘s Office and booked into jail on a $30,000 bond.

According to the City of Foley’s website, Phillips is a construction project manager on the city’s engineering department staff.

According to Fox10 News, the City of Foley put out a statement following Phillips’ arrest.

“These allegations are deeply concerning and do not reflect the values or standards of our city and community,” the statement said.

“Phillips has been placed on administrative leave. We recognize the impact this news may have on our community and our team. Our priority is to ensure transparency, accountability, and to uphold the integrity of our City as we learn more.”

The city stated it would not be commenting further due to an ongoing active investigation by the sheriff‘s office.

Despite Alabama football star Ryan Williams gracing the cover, Crimson Tide fans might take umbrage with EA Sports’ new College Football 26 video game. The makers of the game evidently disagreed with two of UA’s national championship claims.

In the new college football history screen available in certain game modes, the Crimson Tide is not listed as the national title winner for the 1934 and 1941 seasons. Alabama claims both of those seasons in its official history books.

For both seasons, Minnesota is listed as the lone national champion. The two years were among several controversial title claims by the Tide, perpetuated by UA staff in the 1980s.

The 1934 team, coached by Frank Thomas (and featuring Paul “Bear” Bryant as a starting end), went 10-0 overall, 7-0 in SEC play. It capped the year off with a win in the Rose Bowl, and was made a national champion by several math-based systems, including Houlgate and Dunkel among others.

1941 is a much more hotly contested claim by Alabama. That year’s Crimson Tide, also coached by Thomas, finished No. 20 in the Associated Press poll, after going 9-2, 5-2 in SEC play.

Alabama finished third in the SEC standings that season. However, due to its selection by the Houlgate System, which was largely based on strength of schedule, UA began claiming the national championship in the 1980s.

As many fans know, UA has several potential championships that it does not claim. None of them, including the undefeated 1945 team, are recognized in the video game.

Overall, EA gives the Crimson Tide credit for national championships in 1925, 1926 (shared with Stanford), 1930 (shared with Notre Dame), 1961 (shared with Ohio State), 1964 (shared with Notre Dame and Arkansas), 1965 (shared with Michigan State), 1973 (shared with Notre Dame), 1978 (shared with Southern Cal), 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017 and 2020.

The Alabama claims aren’t the only contested national championships not included by EA Sports. The game also does not recognize Central Florida’s 2017 claim, when the Knights were left out of the College Football Playoff despite going undefeated with a bowl win over Auburn, which had beaten both national championship game participants (Alabama and Georgia) that year.

A Huntsville man attempting to sell puppies was instead confronted by two men who took them at gunpoint, according to Huntsville police.

The incident happened Thursday at James Madison Place at 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

Huntsville police were called to the area, where a man said he had arranged to meet someone to sell puppies.

He was leaving his house when instead, he was accosted by two men armed with handguns who demanded the puppies.

The two took the puppies and pepper-sprayed the man as they left.

Police were able to obtain a vehicle description, and the vehicle was stopped by the department’s Anti-Crime Team at about 3:30 p.m.

According to police, evidence linked to the robbery was found in the vehicle.

Alan O’Brian Lewis Jr., 22, and Ja’Queze Marquise Williams, 21, were questioned and later charged with first degree robbery. Williams and Lewis are being held in the Madison County Jail without bond,

The puppies were later returned to the owner. Additional arrests are expected, police said.

The Indiana Fever play against the Atlanta Dream in a WNBA game tonight. The matchup will begin at 6:30 p.m. CT on ION. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV.

The Fever enter this matchup with a 9-10 record, and they are coming off an 80-61 loss against Golden State.

In order to bounce back tonight, the Fever will need a great performance from their star player Caitlin Clark. She averages more than 17 points per game, and she leads the team with nearly nine assists per game.

Notably, Clark has only played in 10 games this season due to injury.

The Dream enter this matchup with a 12-7 record, and they have won two of their last three games. In their most recent game, the Dream defeated Golden State 90-81.

In order to win tonight’s game, the Dream will need to rely on their star player Allisha Gray. She leads the Atlanta offense in scoring, as she averages nearly 20 points per game. In her last game, Gray scored a team-high 24 points.

Fans can watch this WNBA game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV.

Another weekend has arrived and several of the country’s best sweepstakes casinos have rolled out some incredible new offers for players. Here, I highlight three new sweepstakes casino bonuses that can be claimed in just a few minutes.

These bonuses come from some of the top sweeps casinos in the country. Learn exactly what each one has to offer here.

Breaking down the three best new sweepstakes casino bonuses available this weekend

The online sweepstakes casino is constantly evolving. Competition is higher than ever and sweeps casinos are doing everything they can to stand out. Oftentimes, this means providing some incredible new bonuses for players.

With real money casinos legal in just a handful of states, sweeps casinos serve as the best legal alternative for the majority of Americans.

Three of the country’s best sweeps casinos have recently launched new welcome offers for players. Below, I highlight exactly what these bonuses provide.

Dara Casino: 300% first purchase bonus offering 300,000 Gold Coins + 30 free Sweeps Coins for $9.99

Dara Casino went live in late 2024 and has been consistently ranked as one of the best sweepstakes casinos in the country. It’s a well-rounded platform, offering a solid game selection, a modern design and many unique bonuses for new and existing players.

This sweeps platform has just launched an incredible new offer that is making major headlines. The first 100 players to sign up using our promo code LIVE30 will earn a 300% bonus on their first purchase offering 300,000 Gold Coins and 30 free Sweeps Coins for just $9.99.

This is one of the largest bonuses offered by Dara Casino to date. With the coins earned from this promotion, players can access all of the more than 100 games available, including slots, shooting games, scratch cards and table games.

SweepNext: 400,000 Gold Coins + 40 free Sweeps Coins for $9.99

One of the latest online sweepstakes casinos to launch in the country is SweepNext. It’s only been live for a couple of months, yet it boasts a massive user base thanks to its great design and unique bonuses. This platform decided it needed to ramp things up and recently launched a fantastic new bonus for players.

This particular bonus allows players to earn 400,000 Gold Coins and 40 free Sweeps Coins with one purchase of just $9.99. It’s one of the largest welcome bonuses offered by any sweeps casino and can be earned by all first-time members of Dara Casino in 10 minutes or less.

Dara Casino is a unique sweeps casino, offering a slightly limited selection of games. It’s growing quickly, however, and amazing new high RTP slots are becoming available every single week.

Jackpota: 100% first purchase bonus offering 80,000 Gold Coins + 40 free Sweeps Coins + 75 free spins for $19.99

Jackpota is another one of the best online sweepstakes casinos in the country. It went live in 2024 and has continued to expand. Members of this platform now have access to more than 700 games including slots (many of which are offered as real money slots from the country’s best online casinos) and live dealer games.

The new welcome offer from Jackpota provides new players with a 100% first purchase bonus of 80,000 Gold Coins, 40 free Sweeps Coins and 75 free spins for just $19.99. It’s a well-rounded offer and, while slightly more expensive than the others listed on this page, provides players with a huge variety of coins and spins to use.

Jackpota provides nearly everything that a casino fan could ask for. The game variety is world-class and the design is one of the best players will find today. Even those completely new to sweeps casinos will have no issues navigating between pages. A great customer support system is set in place to answer any questions players have, as well.

Learn more about our gaming editorial staff.

If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.

The brand new thriller Little Girl in the Woods premieres on Lifetime Saturday, July 12 at 8/7c.

Those hoping to catch the latest thriller to join the Lifetime lineup can stream the premiere of Little Girl in the Woods through Philo (free trial), DirecTV (free trial) or Sling (50% off first month).

What is Little Girl in the Woods about?

Starring Alana Hawley Purvis, Camille Atebe, Caitlyn Stryker, Amy Trefry and Juliette Hawk, Little Girl in the Woods follows a women’s bereavement support group who are backpacking deep in the woods when they stumble upon a teen girl being held captive in a cabin. Now the group must band together to save her from her survivalist abductors.

How to watch Little Girl in the Woods without cable

Cord cutters interested in watching Little Girl in the Woods can still access Lifetime through Philo, DirecTV and Sling.

Both Philo and DirecTV offer free trials for new subscribers to enjoy before committing to a paid plan while Sling offers those that commit to a paid subscription half off their first month and one month free of AMC+.

Out of the three watch options listed above, Philo is the cheapest at just $28 a month after its 7-day free trial concludes.

What is Philo?

Philo is considered one of the most affordable streaming platforms on the market. Known as an entertainment-focused streaming service, Philo offers its subscribers access to over 70 top-rated TV channels such as TLC, MTV, BET, AMC, CMT, Investigation Discovery and more.

New users can enjoy Philo’s 7-day free trial and continue to stream top channels, hit TV shows and movies on-demand for just $28 a month once the free trial expires.

Those looking to customize their flow of content even further on Philo can consider including add-ons such as MGM+, STARZ, and AMC+ in their subscription.

What is DirecTV?

DirecTV is a top streaming service perfect for those looking to access a plethora of live TV channels and enjoy helpful features. The base package starts at just $86.99 a month after its 5-day free trial and includes popular TV channels such as HGTV, ESPN, Bravo, CMT, CNBC, BET, CNN and more.

DirecTV has also recently introduced a lineup of genre packs, which allows subscribers to choose their favorite viewing options based on what genre they watch the most. With genre packs, users can get the channels and content they want without filler channel overload. Packs start at just $34.99 a month.

Those interested in comparing all DirecTV’s channel packages and the new genre packs can check them out here.

What is Sling?

Sling is another streaming service to consider if you want to access top-rated TV channels like Lifetime. Though no free trial is available to new subscribers, those who commit to a paid plan get half off the first month and one month free of AMC+.

Both the Sling Orange plan and the Sling Blue plan are normally $45.99 a month, but with the current promotion, Sling users will pay just $23 a month for the first month.

For those who wish to access channels from both the Sling Blue and Sling Orange plans can do so by signing up for the Orange + Blue plan, which combines the best of both plans for just $60.99 a month ($30.50 for the first month).

Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino is considering resigning from his post over disagreement with how Attorney General Pam Bondi handled the memo on the Jeffrey Epstein case, according to reports.

“Multiple sources said Bongino did not come to work Friday, fueling speculation he had quit over the issue,” CNN reported. “One source said as of Friday afternoon he had not left his position.”

On Sunday night, the Department of Justice and the FBI issued a joint memo saying 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.

On Wednesday, FBI Director Kash Patel and Bongino were confronted about whether they were behind a news story that the bureau wanted more information on the Epstein case but were turned down by DOJ, according to CNN.

Bongino denied being behind the story, the outlet reported.

The joint memo, which contradicted Bondi’s statement to Fox News in February that the client list was sitting on her desk, stirred backlash from several high-profile MAGA influencers who want the Epstein files and the client list to be released.

The memo spurred speculation that the Trump administration is protecting Epstein’s clients.