Alabama News

Target just slashed the price of the super-sleek Simzlife Mini Fridge, perfect for dorm rooms, offices or small spaces. This compact mini fridge features an adjustable temperature control, reversible door hinge, internal wire shelving and super‑quiet operation great for chilling drinks, snacks or skincare products.

Originally listed around $140, you can score the Simzlife Mini Fridge for just $89 when purchased online at Target, a $50 discount overall. Free shipping is also included with this purchase.

RELATED: Walmart’s $170 fire pit is on sale for only $79 this week

According to Target, the Simzlife Mini Fridge can fit up to 24 cans and features a reinforced acrylic door that is more flexible than glass, resistant to impact, abrasion, heat and chemical agents. The seal also helps maintain the ideal humidity level, providing you with a compact and modern design that fits perfectly in any space.

“This mini fridge comes with a 7-position knob with a temperature adjustment range of 40-61°F, allowing you to customize your cooling experience. This beverage fridge is equipped with a high-performance R600a compressor to ensure efficient cooling. [It also] operates at 40dB or less, ensuring a quiet environment so you can sleep peacefully,” Target’s product description states.

Those untested in this deal can checkout the full listing on Target’s website here.

An updated report was issued from the National Weather Service on Friday at 2:56 p.m. for strong thunderstorms until 3:30 p.m. for Henry County.

Residents can be ready for wind gusts of up to 40 mph.

“At 2:56 p.m., Doppler radar tracked strong thunderstorms along a line extending from near Fort Gaines to Arlington. Movement was north at 30 mph,” states the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.”

Locations impacted by the alert include Fort Gaines, Blakely, Edison, Arlington, Douglasville, Bellville, Bluffton, Shorterville, Walter F. George Lock And Dam, Walter F George Lake, Standleys Store, Parksville, Carnegie, Watson Crossroads, Double Bridges, Hayes, Ricks Place, Pecan, Thomas Mill Creek and Early Co A/p.

The weather service states, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with these storms. 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

Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these electrifying events occurring during the summer months. Unfortunately, lightning is responsible for claiming the lives of approximately 20 people annually, as reported by the weather service. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.

To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, consider the following recommendations:

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 a safe place to shelter, 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.
• These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways.

Wait for the all-clear:

• After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
• Lightning can strike even when a storm has seemingly 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 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. 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.

Rainy roadways ahead: Essential safety tips for heavy rain

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 swollen waterways:

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:

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.

Slow down and drive with care:

On wet roads, reducing your speed is crucial. Ease off the gas pedal gradually and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stick to the middle lanes on multi-lane roads to minimize the risk of hydroplaning, as water tends to accumulate in outer lanes.

Prioritize visibility

Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by turning on your headlights. Watch out for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.

Watch out for slippery roads:

Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.

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:

Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely limits your sight, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or protected spots.

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.

In the face of heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road. Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey.

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.

July is coming to an end, but more fantastic online sweepstakes casino bonuses continue to roll in. These bonuses come in all shapes and sizes but almost always provide players with a huge number of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins.

I have narrowed down five of the best sweepstakes casino bonuses to claim this weekend. Each is provided by one of the best sweepstakes casinos in the country.

Competition is fierce among sweepstakes casinos, and these unique bonuses provide players with some amazing perks.

The 5 best sweepstakes casino bonuses this weekend

Playing casino games is incredibly easy. Of course, this wasn’t always the case.

Not long ago, the only way to legally play popular casino games online was to be located inside one of the small number of states that regulate real money online casinos.

Online sweepstakes casinos have emerged and completely changed this. These platforms can easily be mistaken for traditional online casinos. Sweeps casinos provide many of the same games, along with a variety of bonuses for new and existing players.

They are also legal throughout most of the country.

Every online sweeps casino is working hard to stand out. Offering incredible bonuses has proven to be an effective strategy to do so. Below, I highlight five of the best sweepstakes casino bonuses this weekend.

Exclusive SweepNext offer: 250,000 Gold Coins + 25 free Sweeps Coins + 3 free spins for $9.99

SweepNext is one of the newest sweeps casinos. It has found some major success right away and boasts a huge number of players throughout the country.

This weekend, we have an exclusive SweepNext welcome offer: 250,000 Gold Coins, 25 free Sweeps Coins and three free spins with a purchase of $9.99.

This is a massive number of coins that players can earn for a relatively small purchase. You need to hurry, however, because this deal ends Sunday.

With the coins earned from this promotion, players have access to more than 500 games, including slots and live-dealer games.

Crown Coins: 200% purchase bonus + wheel spin to win up to 2M Crown Coins, 100 SC

Crown Coins is a far more established brand in the US online sweepstakes casino industry.

It went live in 2023, offering players nearly 300 slot games with an extremely modern UX. Interestingly, this platform has not chosen to provide additional types of games.

While it would be nice to see some additional gaming options become available, there is no denying that Crown Coins provides one of the best welcome offers available to claim today.

The Crown Coins welcome offer features a 200% bonus on all new players’ first purchase. In addition, players can spin a mystery wheel that offers a max prize of 2 million Crown Coins and 100 free Sweeps Coins.

Real Prize: Up to 625,000 Gold Coins + 125 free Sweeps Coins + 1,250 VIP points

Real Prize is another online sweepstakes casino that is extremely established and popular throughout the country.

It has earned favorable reviews from the majority of players, most of whom praise its varied game collection and fantastic bonuses.

Players at Real Prize have the ability to make a large variety of Gold Coin purchases. Those looking to maximize their earnings may want to make a purchase of 625,000 Gold Coins, 125 free Sweeps Coins and 1,250 VIP points with one purchase of $100.

That is more than enough coins to play the different high RTP slots, video table games and live-dealer games available at Real Prize.

McLuck: 57,500 Gold Coins + 27.5 free Sweeps Coins

It’s difficult to argue that any sweepstakes casino is more well-known and beloved than McLuck.

This platform is a true powerhouse among sweepstakes casinos, providing players with more than 1,000 games, many of which are also considered the best real money slots offered by the country’s biggest online casinos.

McLuck’s welcome offer is one of the more unique available to claim today. It can be described as a two-part bonus.

First, all players will receive 7,500 Gold Coins and 2.5 free Sweeps Coins as a free sign-up offer. To earn the full bonus, players can make one additional purchase of $9.99 to earn another 50,000 Gold Coins and 25 free Sweeps Coins.

Mega Bonanza: 150% first purchase bonus up to 600,000 Gold Coins + 303 free Sweeps Coins

The final addition to this list of the best sweepstakes casino bonuses this weekend is the welcome offer from Mega Bonanza.

This is a great bonus that can provide players with up to 600,000 Gold Coins and 303 free Sweeps Coins. To earn this amount of coins, players need to make one purchase of $299.99.

I love just about every feature of Mega Bonanza. It looks great and provides enough games to keep just about every type of casino fan happy.

A variety of good promotions are available to existing players, too.

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.

Tulane coach Jon Sumrall knew plenty about Jake Retzlaff before he joined the Green Wave.

Before taking his job in New Orleans, the Huntsville native made a huge push for the former BYU quarterback to join his program while he was the head coach at Troy.

Sumrall again confirmed the addition of Retzlaff to his Tulane squad on Friday at American Conference media day in Charlotte following the quarterback’s departure from BYU.

ESPN reported the move from Retzlaff, who announced his withdrawal from BYU on July 11 after the program reportedly dealt him a seven-game suspension.

He was accused of sexual assault in a later-dismissed civil case, but was penalized by the school for including actions that violated the school’s honor code in his response.

“The situation with Jake presented after doing our due diligence on the university side of things with everything around Jake,” Sumrall told reporters. “We got the green light to move forward, then you check to make sure that academically things are fit and that worked. Then the football component, you have to make a decision on.”

As the primary starter at BYU last season, he completed 57.9% of his passes for 2,947 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in the air across 13 games.

He also ran for 417 yards and six touchdowns with the Cougars, who finished 11-2 last season and won the Valero Alamo Bowl with a 36-14 rout of Deion Sanders’ Colorado team.

Sumrall recalls he and his Troy staff being the earliest offer in Retzlaff’s recruitment out of Riverside City College, where he was ranked No. 1 in ESPN’s Junior College 50 for 2023 after throwing for 4,596 yards and 44 touchdowns in 2022.

“We won our conference championship game at Troy that year, played a game against Coastal Carolina, and two days later, I went on a flight to go see Jake,” said Sumrall, who compiled a 23–4 record and back-to-back Sun Belt Conference titles across two seasons with the Trojans. “He was the guy we wanted to come add to our program as a transfer quarterback out of the junior college ranks, and then BYU came in; proximity to home and several other factors came into play, he ended up going to BYU.

“In 2023, he was the backup there. In 2024, he was the starter and had a really good year. We felt like when it was presented, we vetted every angle of it, like I said, the entire scope of adding a new player. As we went through that process, it checked all the boxes to, ‘let’s to this.’”

Previously serving as an assistant at Kentucky, including the 2019 season as co-defensive coordinator, he pointed to his final season with the program as one that has made him more inclined to add more quarterbacks on his roster.

“We had all of our quarterbacks get injured one year, and Lynn Bowden played quarterback for us, who was a receiver, and we had to get really creative with how we play the game,” Sumrall said. “I like to play quarterbacks at quarterback if at all possible. So, having more good players is a good thing, not a bad thing.”

Sumrall added that he told his quarterback room of the move, encouraging them that the best man will still win the starting job for the Green Wave.

Tulane will open the season at home against Northwestern on Saturday, Aug. 30, before facing South Alabama on Saturday, Sept. 6, in Mobile.

“I’ve said this a few times, like the old adage, a lot of people like to say less is more. I don’t prescribe that theory: I think more is more,” Sumrall said. “I want more good players on our team all the time, and if we have an opportunity to add a capable player that can help us win, we’re going to do it.”

Three Limestone County women are behind bars on sexual violence charges involving a child.

Crystal Lee McCart, 38, Gayla Michelle Kyle, 50, and Monica Anne Campbell, 40, are facing charges of either sexual abuse of a child less than 12 or sodomy charges.

“This case is deeply disturbing, and we are committed to ensuring justice is served for the victim involved,” Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin said in a statement. “I commend the diligent work of our investigators and the support of the Limestone Child Advocacy Center for their role in this ongoing investigation.”

McCart is an Athens resident charged with sexual abuse of a child less than 12. She’s being held on a $250,000 bond.

Kyle, of Athens, and Campbell, of Elkmont, were both charged with sodomy in the first degree.

Kyle was denied bond because of Aniah’s Law. However, Campbell is still awaiting an Aniah’s Law hearing.

Aniah’s Law is a relatively new policy that permits judges to deny bail for people who commit non-capital crimes against a child under age 6.

The initial report was completed on July 12 by Limestone County Sergeant Cary Moore. Investigator Kandace Wilson worked with the Limestone Child Advocacy Center to finish the case.

In the run-up to the 2025 season, AL.com featured some of the best 6A defensive linemen in Alabama high school football.

Now, we want to hear from you: Which 6A defensive lineman will be the best of the best in 2025?

Read the write-ups on every defensive lineman here, and then vote in the poll at the bottom of this page.

Best players at each position: QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

The voting will conclude Sunday, August 17, at 11:59 p.m. Central. Later, we will publish the “fans’ all-star team” based on the vote of the readers.

Note: AL.com’s polls are intended to be fun. You can vote as many times as you want, but we discourage the use of script, macro or other automated means. AL.com reserves the right to adjust the voting based on irregularities. Email [email protected] with concerns.

THE CANDIDATES

(Candidates were selected based on information provided by coaches. Some coaches declined to respond to our requests for information about their team. Read more about each of these players here.)

Courtney Acoff, jr., Bessemer City

Carson Ashley, sr., Gadsden City

Uriah Barginere, sr., Pelham

Bryson Brooks, jr., Pike Road

Dalton Buntain, sr., Hartselle

Kenderious Byrd, jr., Benjamin Russell

Jackson Carlisle, sr., Central (Tuscaloosa)

Mason Chandler, sr., Fort Payne

Vodney Cleveland, sr., Parker

Boyd Cooper, sr., Mountain Brook

Char-zale Davis, so., Benjamin Russell

Kristopher Dotson, sr., St. Paul’s Episcopal

Blair Evans, sr., Saraland

Elijah Foreman, jr., Woodlawn

Keegan Horn, sr., Hueytown

Kamhariyan “Mhari” Johnson, sr., Muscle Shoals

Anthony “Tank” Jones, sr., St. Paul’s Episcopal

Jaylon Lee, sr., Calera

Jamaine Lewis, jr., Hueytown

Brandon Marinho, jr., Spanish Fort

Logan McDowell, sr., Spanish Fort

Colton McIntyre, jr., Clay-Chalkville

Donivan Moore, jr., Hueytown

James Newby, jr., Athens

Avrian “AJ” Pauley Jr., jr., McGill-Toolen

Keith Richmond, jr., Clay-Chalkville

Gavin Rodriguez, sr., Athens

Emanuel Ruffin, sr., Bessemer City

Vincent Savage, jr., Pike Road

Devin Smith, sr., Muscle Shoals

Jhaylon Smith, jr., Pike Road

Keoni Snipes, so., Saraland

Robert Taylor III, jr., Parker

Demetrius Terrell, jr., Parker

Isaiah Thomas, sr., Russell County

Steven “Stevo” Thomas, jr., Gadsden City

Keldin Tinkerhayes, sr., Brookwood

Sam Wilder, jr., Spanish Fort

Jordan Woods, sr., Pell City

Davon Young, sr., Theodore

For complete coverage of Alabama high school football, including schedules, scores, recruiting news and additional player spotlights, visit AL.com’s high school sports section throughout the season.

A Birmingham civil rights lawyer said this week’s arrests of protesters in Homewood echo what happened in Hoover five years ago following the death of a fatal police shooting in the Riverchase Galleria.

It’s important, said attorney Richard Rice, to remember not only about the right to protest but also about what Alabama has learned before and risks forgetting again.

“It’s hard not to see echoes of 2020 in what’s happening now,” Rice said, referring to the protests in Hoover where nearly 100 people were arrested following the police killing of E.J. Bradford.

“Back then, young people took to the streets to demand answers. Instead, they got handcuffed.”

Rice, who defended those protestors, said he worked to decriminalize their actions by negotiating alternatives to prosecution.

In many cases, charges were dropped in exchange for completion of a civic education program.

“That experience taught us that protest doesn’t have to lead to punishment,” Rice said. “It can lead to dialogue and even policy change.”

Five women – two Black, two white and one Asian – were arrested during a protest Wednesday night. Four of them were charged with disorderly conduct.

The fifth, Celida Soto who posted a video as she was handcuffed in a police car, was charged with disorderly conduct, inciting to riot and resisting arrest.

Under Alabama law, a person commits the crime of inciting to riot if he or she commands, solicits, incites or urges another person to engage in tumultuous and violent conduct of a kind likely to cause or create a grave risk of public terror or alarm.

Multiple protests have been held in the month since 18-year-old Jabari Peoples was fatally shot by police at Homewood Soccer Park.

Homewood police say a veteran officer, who has not been publicly identified, approached the vehicle to investigate because of what police say was a recent increase in criminal activity in and around the city’s athletic complexes.

The officer, police say, smelled marijuana and ordered Peoples and his female friend out of the vehicle.

Police say the encounter ended with Peoples resisting, breaking away from the officer as he tried to handcuff him, and grabbing a gun from the driver’s side door pocket.

The officer shot Peoples, who was pronounced dead a short time later at UAB Hospital.

Peoples’ family and attorney Leroy Maxwell and Ben Crump disagreed with that narrative, saying that Peoples wasn’t armed and didn’t resist.

The Homewood Police Department turned the investigation over to ALEA, which is standard policy for many officer-involved shootings.

ALEA denied the family’s request to see the footage, saying release of the video footage would jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

Though Alabama state provides a way for families to view body camera and dash cam videos, the same law also allows law enforcement to withhold the footage for investigative purposes.

There have been several protests following the fatal shooting, including at the Homewood Police Department, ALEA’s office in west Homewood, Homewood City Hall and during the World Police and Fire Games in the Birmingham area.

On Wednesday night, roughly 30 to 40 people gathered at Homewood Soccer Park at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday as part of ongoing demonstrations.

The protesters met at the park and then caravanned in vehicles to the nearby Circle K convenience store at the Intersection of Columbiana Road and Lakeshore Parkway.

The group carried out a peaceful demonstration at the intersection for about 20 minutes when, police say, one of the demonstrators walked into eastbound traffic, followed by multiple other protesters.

Once they began to obstruct traffic, police said, five people were taken into custody.

“Protestors are once again being arrested for demanding the release of footage connected to a police shooting that left a young person dead,” Rice said.

“The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency…has said the video cannot be made public at this time. Community members say that delay erodes trust.

Rice warns that the pattern is too familiar.

“A young Black man, only a teenager, is killed under questionable circumstances. There’s no transparency,” he said. “People gather peacefully to demand accountability. And the response is arrest and silence.”

Rice argues that both the legal and law enforcement systems need to do better.

“The power to take a life is the most serious authority we grant the state. It has to come with transparency, independent oversight, and immediate answers, especially when the incident doesn’t involve a violent crime,” he said.

“We’re talking about someone’s child.”

Timely release of video evidence and swift, independent investigations into use-of-force incidents reduce public tension and ensure that justice is both done and seen to be done, Rice said.

Rice also points to the responsibilities of protestors: to remain nonviolent, organized, and committed to civil discourse.

“But let’s be clear,” he said, “it’s not the protest that creates the crisis, it’s the system’s refusal to be accountable.”

Transparency and accountability are foundational to restoring and maintaining public trust.

The issue, he says, isn’t just about what happened in Hoover or Homewood. It’s about whether the institutions sworn to protect the public are willing to listen when the public demands to be heard.

“A just society cannot exist without the protection of protest rights and the commitment to ethical, transparent law enforcement,” Rice said. “This is how we uphold the rule of law. This is how we move forward.”

Zappos just slashed the price of the super sleek men’s and women’s Nike Defy running shoe just in time for back-to-school season. Whether you’re heading to the gym, going to class or just running errands, these sneakers offer the perfect mix of comfort and performance, and now they’re available at a fraction of the cost.

Originally priced at $60, you can now get the men’s and women’s Nike Defy sneaker for just $48, the lowest price we’ve seen the sneakers sell for. Several styles are included in the sale, with seven women’s styles and five men’s styles currently marked down.

RELATED: Zappos is offering an insane deal on the Brooks Ghost 16 running shoe

All product features included in the Nike Defy running shoe are as follows:

• Mesh on upper adds breathability.
• Synthetic rubber lining and synthetic insole.
• Foam midsole delivers a soft ride.
• Flex grooves create a cushioned effect for your run.
• Lace-up closure in a round toe silhouette.
• Waffle outsole is a made of a durable, flexible material that helps keep you on the move.

“Run by your own rules in the all-new Nike Defy. A foam midsole, breathable upper and reliable traction combine to make a shoe that’s raring for runs of all lengths and paces,” Zappos product details state.

Those interested can checkout more Nike shoes on sale at Zappos here.

The season seven finale of the hit reality series Mama June: Family Crisis premieres on We TV Friday, July 25 at 8/7c.

Those hoping to catch the last bit of drama in this season can stream the finale through Philo (free trial), DirecTV (free trial) or Sling (50% off first month).

Previous episode recap

Last week’s episode proved to be one of the most explosive this season as Pumpkin revealed to Mama June and her estranged husband, Josh, of her newfound relationship with Darrin Kitchens.

Alone, the news of Pumpkin moving on would be a hard pill to swallow, but tensions elevated even more once Pumpkin revealed that her new boyfriend is the cousin of Josh.

Another major development in last week’s episode followed Josh as he was involved in a car accident, which sent him to the hospital. As Pumpkin is still listed as his emergency contact, viewers tuning in saw her as she rushed to the hospital—causing panic to spread throughout the family.

Though not much is known about where things will pick up on the upcoming season finale, the We TV episode synopsis hints at Josh packing up his belongings, and Pumpkin finally finding out who snitched on her—leaving her shocked.

How to watch Mama June: Family Crisis season 7 finale

Cord cutters hoping to catch the final episode of Mama June: Family Crisis season seven can stream the premiere through Philo, DirecTV or 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.

Out of the three streaming services 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 We TV. Though no free trial is available to new subscribers, those who commit to a paid plan get half off the first month.

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).

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked a lower-court ruling in a redistricting dispute in North Dakota that would gut a landmark federal civil rights law for millions of people.

The justices indicated in an unsigned order that they are likely to take up a federal appeals court ruling that would eliminate the most common path people and civil rights groups use to sue under a key provision of the 60-year-old Voting Rights Act.

The case could be argued as early as 2026 and decided by next summer.

Three conservative justices, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas, would have rejected the appeal.

The court also has a separate redistricting case over a second majority Black congressional district in Louisiana. The justices heard arguments in March, but took the rare step of calling for a new round of arguments in their term that begins in October. They have yet to spell out what issues they want discussed.

In the North Dakota case, the Spirit Lake Tribe and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, with reservations 60 miles apart, argued that the state’s 2021 legislative map violated the act by diluting their voting strength and ability to elect their own candidates.

The case went to trial in 2023, and a federal judge later ordered the use of a map of the area, including the reservations that led to the election last year of three Native Americans, all Democrats, to the Republican-supermajority Legislature.

But in a 2-1 ruling issued in May, a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that only the Justice Department can bring such lawsuits under the law’s Section 2.

The 8th Circuit also had ruled in an Arkansas case in 2023 that private individuals can’t sue under the same provision.

More than 90 percent of Section 2 cases have been brought through private enforcement, UCLA law professor Richard Hasen wrote on the Election Law blog.

The 8th Circuit rulings conflict with decades of decisions by appellate courts that have affirmed the rights of private individuals to sue under Section 2.

The Supreme Court often will step in when appeals courts around the country come to different decisions on the same legal issue.

In a statement, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians Chairman Jamie Azure said, “We are relieved that Native voters in North Dakota retain the ability to protect ourselves from discrimination at the polls. Our fight for the rights of our citizens continues. The map enacted by the North Dakota legislature unlawfully dilutes the votes of Native voters, and it cannot be allowed to stand.”

North Dakota Secretary of State Michael Howe, a Republican, who is named in the lawsuit, said his office “will continue to follow election laws set by the North Dakota legislature or as directed by any final decisions by the courts.”

The 8th Circuit covers seven states: Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. In the wake of the Arkansas decision, Minnesota and other states moved to shore up voting rights with state-level protections.