Alabama News

The Los Angeles Dodgers play against the Minnesota Twins in an MLB game today. The matchup is scheduled to begin at 3:10 p.m. CT on MLB Network. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV and Fubo TV.

The Dodgers enter this matchup with a 59-43 record, and they are coming off a 10-7 loss against Minnesota.

In order to bounce back today, the Dodgers will need to rely on their star player Shohei Ohtani. He leads the Los Angeles offense with 36 home runs and 69 RBI, which showcases his offensive prowess.

Notably, Ohtani has hit a home run in four consecutive games.

The Twins enter this matchup with a 49-52 record, and they have won two of their last three games.

In order to win today’s game, the Twins will need a great performance from their star player Byron Buxton. He leads the Minnesota offense with 23 home runs and 58 RBI, so he will look to continue his offensive success this afternoon.

Buxton also leads the team with a .290 batting average this season.

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

Wahlburgers has closed multiple locations nationwide.

The burger chain, owned by Paul, Donnie, and Mark Wahlberg, closed 79 locations so far this year, according to Eat This, Not That. The locations were inside of Hy-Vee stores, ending a franchising agreement that started in 2017.

The closures lower the total number of Wahlburgers’ nationwide to 34.

According to USA TODAY, Wahlburgers CEO Randy Sharpe told Nation’s Restaurant News that the closures weren’t a significant revenue driver for the burger chain or the supermarket company, since the locations weren’t full-service restaurants.

“When I came on board a year and a half ago, I was surprised that off-premises revenues weren’t as high as I expected them to be,” Sharpe said, according to the publication Food on Demand. “Our brand is natural for off-premises ordering. We want those orders to be treated the same as in-store orders.”

Wahlburger closed its location in Huntsville in 2024.

What burger chains are expanding?

Culver’s, the chain known for its burgers and frozen custard, is planning to open a dozen locations through the end of 2025.

USA TODAY reports the Wisconsin-based chain has recently opened restaurants in 14 cities across 8 states, including Florida, Georgia, and Illinois.

Brooks just revealed its most cushioned and comfortable running shoe to date in the “Ghost” sneaker series, the Ghost Max 3, now available to preorder on Brooks’ website.

The new men’s and women’s Brooks Ghost Max 3 running shoe is an updated version of its predecessor, the Ghost Max 2 (which also just so happens to be on sale). The Ghost Max 3 is designed to provide a smoother ride, comfier upper and enhanced orthotic fit. Not to mention, it is considerably lighter than the Ghost Max 2.

RELATED: Brooks super-soft Ghost Max 2 running shoe is now on sale for a limited time

Overall, the Brooks Ghost Max 3 is designed for both runners and walkers who need neutral support and prefer maximum cushioning and can accommodate orthotics. Featuring a 6mm midsole drop and lightweight design, it utilizes DNA LOFT v3 cushioning to provide a soft and responsive ride.

Both the men’s and women’s Ghost Max 3 come in seven colorways each, so whichever design you chose can perfectly match your individual style. Select designs are also available in extended sizes.

“The Ghost Max 3 delivers a soft, smooth, protective feeling thanks to high-stack soft cushioning, a rocker shape that helps you move from landing to toe-off, and a broad base for added stability,” Brooks states.

Those interested can preorder the men’s Ghost Max 3 here and women’s Ghost Max 3 here.

Mexican Coke sweetened with cane sugar tends to be a go-to beverage for Coca-Cola fans who want to avoid the U.S.-made version of the beverage with corn syrup.

But soon, Coca-Cola will offer a version of its classic beverage sweetened with cane sugar manufactured in the U.S., according to multiple reports.

“We’re going to be bringing a Coke sweetened with U.S. cane sugar into the market this fall,” Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey said on a conference call with analysts, reports NPR.

The announcement comes after a social media post from President Donald Trump claiming he had been “speaking” to the beverage company about using real cane sugar in U.S.-made Coke products.

NPR reports officials did note the president’s involvement in the recipe during the conference call, but didn’t go into details about the conversation.

“As you may have seen last week, we appreciate the president’s enthusiasm for our Coca-Cola brand,” Quincey said.

According to NPR, the new Coca-Cola beverage doesn’t mean traditional Coke is going away. Instead of a replacement, Quincey said the drink will be offered as an alternative in Coca-Cola’s portfolio.

Coca-Cola produced for the US market is typically sweetened with corn syrup, the New York Post reported, but cane sugar is already used in other countries, including Mexico and some in Europe.

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The National Weather Service issued a report at 1:51 p.m. on Wednesday for strong thunderstorms until 2:30 p.m. for Baldwin County.

Wind gusts of up to 40 mph and penny-sized hail (0.75 inches) are probable.

“At 1:51 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm over Daphne. This storm was nearly stationary,” according to the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible.”

The alert is for Daphne, Fairhope and Point Clear.

The weather service adds, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. 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.”

Preparing for impending lightning strikes: Expert safety recommendations

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 ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, keep these recommendations in mind:

Lightning safety plan:

• When venturing outdoors, it’s crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.
• 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 a safe place to shelter, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

• Once you’re indoors, avoid using corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing fixtures, and stay away from 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, as they expose you to greater lightning risk.
• Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In forested areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
• If you’re in a group, ensure that individuals are spaced 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. While water and metal don’t 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 rainy roads: Safety tips for wet weather

Heavy rainfall may lead to flooding if prolonged or if there is excessive runoff. Excessive runoff can be a result of saturated ground and/or rainfall intensity. Follow these recommendations from the weather service to stay safe in heavy rain:

Beware of rapid water flow:

In heavy rain, refrain from parking or walking near culverts or drainage ditches, where swift-moving water can pose a grave danger.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Adhere to the two-second rule for maintaining a safe following distance behind the vehicle in front of you. In heavy rain, allow an additional two seconds of distance to compensate for reduced traction and braking effectiveness.

Reduce speed and drive cautiously:

If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down. Take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stay toward the middle lanes – water tends to pool in the outside lanes.

Prioritize visibility

Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by activating your headlights. Be particularly vigilant for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.

Watch out for slippery roads:

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

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces your vision. Take care when passing them as well; if you must pass, do so quickly 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.

If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on 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.

A combat veteran who was president of a Huntsville molecular diagnostics company is suing his former employer, alleging he was dismissed from his position after he disclosed having post traumatic stress disorder.

Peter Carothers, the former president of Diatherix Laboratories, filed the federal lawsuit last week in Alabama’s Northern District, alleging disability discrimination.

In February, he also filed a claim against Diaxtherix’s corporate parent, Eurofins USA.

He is seeking back pay and lost benefits, compensatory damages and other relief.

Diatherix develops advanced testing for infectious diseases.

According to the lawsuit, Carothers was president of the company from 2021 to January of this year. He was decorated for service in Afghanistan and diagnosed with a severe form of PTSD in the summer of 2024.

Carothers says he disclosed his diagnosis to the company’s senior leadership and that he was in the early stages of therapy.

He did so because of his “increasing need to carve out time for clinical visits” to the Huntsville VA medical facility.

Four days later, he was terminated on “vague performance based grounds,” the suit alleges.

“Prior to that date, Carothers had never been subjected to any verbal or written counseling much less placed on any improvement plan and had been given no indication that his job was in jeopardy,” the lawsuit states.

Attempts to contact Diatherix Laboratories for comment were not immediately successful.

 

Alabama pitcher Riley Quick has signed with the Minnesota Twins after the American League team chose him with the 36th selection in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on July 13.

Quick joined Minnesota for a $2.692 million signing bonus, mlb.com reported.

Quick announced his signing on Wednesday.

“A dream come true!” Quick posted on his Instagram account. “Thank you to everyone who helped me get to this point! Let’s get to work! Go Twins!”

Since Major League Baseball instituted the one-draft system in 1987, the 6-foot-6 right-hander is the third-earliest pitching selection from the Crimson Tide. The New York Yankees chose Ben Hess at No. 26 in last year’s draft, and the Florida Marlins picked Taylor Tankersley at No. 27 in 2004.

Entering the 2025 season, Quick had a 2-1 record in 17 games, including one start, for Alabama. But this season, Quick started 14 games, posted an 8-3 record. In 62 innings, he had a 3.92 earned-run average and 70 strikeouts while yielding 62 hits and 24 walks.

The 2025 campaign was a comeback for Quick, who had elbow surgery after his lone start of the 2024 season.

Quick starred at Hewitt-Trussville High School before going to Alabama. He was a two-time All-State selection, the Class 7A Pitcher of the year in 2021 and 2022 and Alabama’s Mr. Baseball for 2022.

As a junior for the Huskies, Quick had a 9-2 record, two saves and an 0.99 ERA. In his senior season at Hewitt-Trussville, Quick went 13-1 with an 0.92 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 82.2 innings.

Quick also was a second-team All-State selection in 2020 and a first-team All-State selection in 2021 as an offensive lineman for the Hewitt-Trussville football team.

The Twins’ minor-league system includes the FCL Twins in the rookie-level Florida Complex League in Fort Myers, Florida; the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels of the Single-A Florida State League, the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the High-A Midwest League, the Wichita Wind Surge of the Double-A Texas League and the St. Paul Saints of the Triple-A International League.

Minnesota chose Quick in Competitive Balance Round A. But because he was chosen before the start of the second round of the 2025 draft, he is considered a first-round selection.

His signing means all three of the first-round picks in the 2025 draft with Alabama baseball roots are under contract.

The Cincinnati Reds picked Steele Hall at No. 9 and signed the Hewitt-Trussville shortstop for a $5.75 million bonus.

The Baltimore Orioles picked Ike Irish at No. 19 and signed the Auburn catcher/outfielder for a $4.418 million bonus.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

The Birmingham Stallions are holding a free youth football camp on Wednesday at Legion Field. There’s a flag-football clinic for youngsters in the fifth- through 12th-graders from 2 to 4 p.m. CDT, and a football-skills clinic for seventh- through 12th-graders from 5 to 7 p.m.

Will it be the last thing the Stallions do in Birmingham?

On Tuesday night, UFL News Hub and Pro Football Newsroom reported the United Football League was planning to relocate four of its eight teams, including the Stallions. The other teams slated for relocation, the reports said, were the Houston Roughnecks, Memphis Showboats and Michigan Panthers. The four teams form the United Football League’s USFL Conference.

The UFL reacted to Tuesday night’s reports with a statement: “The league office is in the planning stages for next season and beyond. At this point, we have nothing to report on any unauthorized speculation.”

The reports said the teams could wind up in Columbus, Ohio; Boise, Idaho; Louisville or Lexington, Kentucky; and an unspecified Florida city.

But during an appearance on WJOX-FM’s “Three-Man Front” on Monday, Birmingham coach Skip Holtz addressed rumors about the team’s future and said the Stallions weren’t going anywhere.

“There has not been anything to let me know that it’s on shaky ground,” Holtz said. “I was told when I asked the question, because I hear the rumors just like everybody else, and I just went to the horse’s mouth and was told, ‘Absolutely not. Birmingham’s not going anywhere.’ That’s what I was told, and I feel comfortable with it, and we’re moving forward and business as usual.

“When you look at it, there have been some criticisms, maybe the way some of the markets have drawn and potentially looking to re-establish those maybe in new markets. But everything I have heard, Birmingham is not in that conversation. But I would also say to make sure we’re never in it in the future, let’s continue to grow attendance. Let’s continue to grow it and put people in that stadium, because that’s the excitement and the energy. The more the merrier. The more that are there, the more good time everybody’s to have.

“And I think as these players have built a product on the field that deserves to be one of the most heavily attended programs in the league. And so that’s the thing. I would love to see it continue to grow. The people of Birmingham have been awesome. I loved having the opportunity to live there for two years, but unfortunately now we’re only there on the weekends. I just want to see it continue to grow because the Birmingham Stallion name, I mean, it’s synonymous with spring football. When you look at all the different leagues going all the way back to the ’80s, have had the Birmingham Stallions. And right now for us to have this success that we’ve had – there’ve been four seasons that we played – two in the UFL and two in the USFL – and the Birmingham Stallions are the only team that have been in all four playoffs. And so I think we’ve created a product on the field, I just want to see it continue to grow. But I am looking forward to being back in Birmingham in the 2026 season.”

Birmingham’s average attendance for its six home games, including a playoff contest, for the 2025 season was 9,149. The only teams with lower averages were Memphis at 3,992 and Houston at 5,712. Michigan had an average attendance of 11,681, the third-best in the UFL in 2025.

The United Football League completed its second season in June. The league has had the same eight franchises for both seasons but was born by disbanding eight teams. The USFL and XFL merged their eight-team leagues into a single eight-team league in 2024 to form the United Football League.

The UFL is owned by FOX Sports, RedBird Capital Partners, Dany Garcia and actor/wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

With four seasons, the Stallions have had a longer tenure than any of Birmingham’s spring-football entries. The original USFL also fielded a Birmingham Stallions franchise in 1983, 1984 and 1985. The original Stallions had been preceded in Birmingham by the World Football League’s Americans in 1974 and Vulcans in 1975 and were followed in the Magic City by the World League of American Football’s Fire in 1991 and 1992, Canadian Football League’s Barracudas in 1995, the original XFL’s Thunderbolts in 2001 and the Alliance of American Football’s Iron in 2019.

The Stallions won the USFL championship in 2022 and 2023 and the UFL championship in 2024 before being eliminated in the UFL semifinals in 2025.

In 2022, the USFL played its entire regular-season schedule in Birmingham. In 2023, the USFL moved its teams into four hubs, with Birmingham hosting the Stallions and the New Orleans Breakers.

The UFL centered its spring operation in Arlington, Texas. The teams train and practice there during the week before traveling to home-team cities to play the games.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

Three more people – a man and two women – are now charged in the horrific sex trafficking ring uncovered in Alabama, according to court records.

The allegations against the latest suspects – one of whom is the mother of some of the victims – include them using an animal shock collar on the children’s genitals, both as a form of punishment and for sexual pleasure, according to court documents made public Wednesday.

Bibb County Sheriff Jody Wade is holding a press conference today to discuss the crimes.

Rebecca Brewer, 29, Sara Louise Terrell, 41, and Ricky Terrell, 44, are facing multiple charges ranging from sexual torture and abuse to rape and human trafficking.

Previously charged are Andres Velazques-Trejo, 29, William Chase McElroy, 21, Dalton Terrell, also 21, and Timothy St. John, 23.

Trejo and Brewer have three children together, and Brewer has at least one child from another previous relationship.

It is not clear if the three suspects named Terrell are related.

Brewer is charged with three counts of sexual torture, eight counts of kidnapping and eight counts of human trafficking.

Ricky Terrell is charged with first-degree rape. He is alleged to have raped a 10-year-old girl.

Sara Terrell is charged with sexual torture and abuse. Charging documents state she used an animal training collar with shock capability on a child or children.

Their children are among the six victims between the ages of 3 and 10 that were victimized between Jan. 1, 2023, and earlier this year.

Wade announced the indictments over the weekend, saying the abuse took place in an underground bunker.

Assistant District Attorney Bryan Jones on Tuesday described the underground bunker as the basement of an old house at or near the home of a family member of McElroy.

The basement had been converted, at some point, to be used as a storm shelter and that’s where the repeated abuse took place.

Jones said the bunker had a concrete floor, an old bed, a couple of chairs and concrete pilings holding up the ceiling.

Wade’s weekend statement said the investigation began Feb. 4 of this year “following concerns regarding the sexual abuse of children in an underground bunker located in Brent.”

Two of the victims were found to be performing sex acts on each other.

When discovered, they reported that McElroy had done to them, or taught them to do, the things they were doing to each other, Jones said.

The accusations alleged the children were forced to endure vaginal intercourse, anal intercourse, and oral sex.

Records state one of the suspects “sold” children “to various clientele for sexual pleasure.”

Jones said the children were reportedly drugged by Velazques-Trejo pouring some type of white powder into their drinks.

“It’s hard to hear their stories and it’s hard to see pictures of this bunker where, according to some of the witnesses, they were drugged,” Jones said.

The victims are in DHR custody.

“As bad as it sounds with (Velazques-Trejo) drugging them, it may be a blessing in disguise because they don’t remember a lot of things,” Jones said.

“I’m hopeful through that they won’t have near the trauma they would have had if they had not been drugged.”

“I have a feeling as this story gets out, I feel like there are going to be more victims,” Jones said.

A fourth person, Timothy St. John, a 23-year-old Bibb County resident, was later arrested in Chilton County on charges of rape, sodomy, human trafficking, kidnapping, bestiality and cruelty to animals.

Court documents allege he had sex with a dog.

“He would tie one child to the bed, one child to a chair and one to one of the support poles,” Bibb County Assistant District Attorney Bryan Jones said of Velazques-Trejo.

“Then he would allow people to pay to have sex with the children,” Jones said. “It’s hard to fathom that someone can do this to a child.”

Authorities also believe there are many more suspects. He said there are allegations of up to another 12 men who may have paid to have sex with the children.

“We have no way of identifying these people unless somebody in the community comes forward and says this person told us they did this,” Jones said.

“The children wouldn’t know who they are.”

The grand jury on July 11 indicted McElroy on four counts of first-degree rape, six counts of first-degree human trafficking, six counts of first-degree sodomy and four counts of first-degree kidnapping.

He was initially arrested Feb. 11 on multiple counts of child sex abuse.

Charging documents from his initial arrest state he admitted to fondling the male victim and raping at least one of the young girls.

On April 25, investigators identified Dalton Terrell as another suspect and he, too, admitted to sexual intercourse with a minor, according to court records.

The grand jury indicted Dalton Terrell with six counts of first-degree rape, 12 counts of first-degree sodomy and five counts of human trafficking.

Dalton Terrell, records state, paid at least two adults to use the children – who are now ages 8,6, 10 and 3 – for sexual purposes, including rape and sodomy.

After more investigation, Velazquez-Trejo was arrested on April 29. He is charged with six counts of human trafficking.

The criminal complaint states he sold nude images of the victims to multiple people and sold the children themselves.

The suspects, all from Brent, will be arraigned on the indictments in August.

Court records indicate they all lived in mobile homes approximately a mile from each other at the time of their arrests.

Multiple agencies worked with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office on the investigation including Homeland Security Investigations, the Alabama Fusion Center, the Bibb County Department of Human Resources, the Child Advocacy Center Forensic Interview in Centreville and the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information is available.