Alabama News

The season one finale of the hit reality series Virgins premieres on TLC Monday, July 14 at 9/8c.

Those hoping to tune in for this season’s finale can find it available for streaming through Philo (free trial), DirecTV (free trial) or Sling (50% off first month).

Previous episode recap

Last week’s episode saw the Virgins season one cast’s continued pursuits in their late-blooming journey into intimacy. While delving into different methods for meeting someone, the cast remained in good spirits and the episode included plenty of jaw-dropping moments.

One of the most entertaining and moving parts of last week’s episode titled “Stealing Home” was Deanne’s participating in a comedy show dating event. During her involvement, she was blindfolded on stage and found herself opening up to the audience about her lack of intimacy at the age of 35.

During Deanne’s tell-all, another contestant named Conrad was moved by Deanne’s stark vulnerability and agreed to go on a date with her.

Other major breakthroughs in last week’s episode include Sonali getting more comfortable with her therapist Wayne, Rhasha accepting a friend’s invitation to an adult resort, and Alex attending speed dating where he met a woman named Lauren.

On the upcoming season finale episode titled “Grand Slam” the show follows Rhasha as she arrives at the adult resort, Secrets Hideaway. Meanwhile, Deanne continues to explore her attraction to Conrad, and Alex fills Lauren in on his lack of intimacy, hoping she takes it well.

How to watch the Virgins season 1 finale

Cord cutters looking to catch the season one finale of TLC’s Virgins can stream the premiere live 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 TLC. 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).

In January of 2024, the college football world shifted.

That was when Alabama coach Nick Saban retired from the game. Since then, Saban, 73, has been an analyst for ESPN’s “College GameDay.”

However, former Crimson Tide quarterback Greg McElroy said he had heard Saban could return to the game. It has been the talk of the first day of SEC Media Days.

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin believes his former boss isn’t done coaching.

But what about the guy that broke the news that Saban was retiring? Does he see a scenario where the analyst returns to the sidelines?

“I don’t see it,” ESPN’s Chris Low told AL.com on Monday. “I guess you never say never. Nick will be 74 in October. I think probably the person who’ll make that decision is Miss Terry. I don’t think Nick makes that decision. I’m being facetious there.

Low explained – in talking with Saban – he learned how difficult it was for the former coach to hang up the whistle.

“He loves coaching,” Low said. “He loves being in the locker room, loves being with the players. He made that decision to walk away, and it was for good.

“I don’t ever see him getting back into the NFL. I know he’s not crazy about the climate right now in college football in this era of (revenue) sharing and NIL.”

That’s not to say Saban couldn’t win, Low said.

“He’s great at adapting and evolving as he has proven through his career, but I don’t see coaching horizons out there for him. He’s a competitive guy, I know that.”

Kiffin, on the other hand, called coaching an addiction for guys like Saban.

“That’s why I never thought it would last,” Kiffin said of Saban’s retirement. “It’s been two years, and I still don’t think it will last because of that addiction to it.

“He has the highest level of addiction to it because he’s the same guy that goes to a little kids camp and he is coaching it the same way because he is so into it. He’s screaming at them. He’s yelling at them. They got the helmets on like at Alabama. Half the kids don’t come back the second day.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

Homewood Mayor Alex Wyatt continues to call on the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to allow the family of Jabari Peoples to view body camera footage from the June 23 fatal shooting.

“As the Mayor of Homewood, I continue to urge the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to allow the family of Jabari Peoples to view the body camera footage from the June 23 shooting incident,” Wyatt said in a Monday statement. “Their request is completely understandable.”

Wyatt said the city legally doesn’t have the authority to release the footage because ALEA has taken over the investigation. Under the law, it controls access to evidence because it is the custodian of the footage.

“We know this is an incredibly difficult time for everyone involved,” Wyatt said in his statement, “and want objective results made available to the family and the public as quickly as possible.”

Also Monday, the family’s attorneys – including Ben Crump and Leroy Maxwell – announced they will hold a press conference Tuesday to announce the findings of an independent autopsy they had done.

Read full coverage of the case here

Peoples, 19, was a 2024 graduate of Aliceville High School where he was standout track athlete and football player.

Peoples had just finished his freshman year at Alabama A & M where he was studying computer information and criminal justice with hopes of becoming a law enforcement officer, specifically a detective.

He was shot to death that Monday night in Homewood Soccer Park.

Homewood police say a veteran officer, who has not been publicly identified, approached the vehicle to investigate because of 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 attorneys 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 the release of the video would jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

Though Alabama 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.

The family’s attorneys have filed a motion in Jefferson County Circuit Court seeking to preserve critical evidence and identify parties as the family considers a potential wrong death and civil right lawsuit.

The City of Homewood on Friday filed a response in Jefferson County Court seeking to have the petition dismissed, citing ALEA as the custodian of the footage and all other investigative material.

Peoples’ funeral was held Saturday at Aliceville City Hall.

Diego Pavia was more subdued than usual. The Vanderbilt quarterback has a habit of getting excited and dropping profanity in interviews, including after he and his Commodore teammates beat then-No. 1 Alabama football in October.

By the time he appeared at SEC media days on Monday, Pavia had clearly been coached up. He never took the bait to start talking trash, even when the opportunity was offered.

When asked about facing the Crimson Tide again in 2025, he kept his answer simple.

“That stadium is electric,” Pavia said of what he was looking forward to. “I’ve heard about it. And you, just going to come down to who’s more prepared that week and who wants it more.”

To say Vanderbilt beating Alabama rattled the world of college football was underselling the response. In one game, the mighty Crimson Tide dynasty was shattered, while the perception of the Commodores went from the ultimate SEC doormat, playing in an active construction site, to the sport’s upset kings.

Pavia was a ball of energy after the game. Recalling it on Monday, he was quick to credit his teammates.

“”We had (tight end) Eli Stowers, who had a big game for us that week,” Pavia said. “And then obviously (wide receiver) Junior Sherill had a big week too. But I think it’s just who comes more prepared to the game. And I feel like that week, we were the more prepared team.”

The rematch is coming Oct. 4 in Bryant-Denny Stadium. Earlier this offseason, UA wideout Ryan Williams made headlines talking about the upcoming game against Vanderbilt, claiming the Crimson Tide will “Kill an ant with a sledgehammer.”

Pavia then shared rap lyrics to his Instagram story, laid over a photo of Williams. However, when asked about it on Monday, he remained polite.

“Obviously he’s a great competitor,” Pavia said. “The kid is naturally talent, gift from God, you know? So I’ll be excited to play him in his home stadium.”

Alabama is scheduled to open the 2025 season on Aug. 30, at Florida State. The Crimson Tide will begin preseason camp in early August.

Samford pitcher Cameron Keshock was selected in the 12th round of the 2025 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Monday, going to the Pittsburgh Pirates with the No. 353 overall pick.

The 6-foot-7 Keshock, who began his college career at Auburn, posted a 5-4 record with a 5.74 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 77 innings (15 games) for the Bulldogs this season. The former Spanish Fort High School standout pitched in a total of 10 games at Auburn in 2023 and 2024.

Samford had two players drafted in 2024, shortstop Garrett Howe by Cleveland in the 11th round and pitcher Michael Ross by Minnesota in the 18th round. The 2025 draft concludes on Monday, with 20 rounds total.

Make it two former UAB baseball players that will head to Atlanta.

The Braves drafted Blazers pitcher and Corner High alum Colin Daniel in the 11th round of the 2025 MLB Draft on Monday with pick No. 337.

The right-handed pitcher will join fellow Blazer Logan Braunschweig, who was selected by the Braves in the ninth round of the draft with pick No. 227.

A part of UAB’s starting rotation, Daniel posted a 3.15 ERA and a 6-5 record on the mound as a junior. He struck out 80 batters and walked 15 across 91.1 innings pitched, allowing a .235 opponent batting average.

An all-American Athletic Conference selection after being named the league’s preseason pitcher of the year, he was named AAC Pitcher of the Week four times and threw a complete-game shutout against Rice to claim national honors from the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

He also claimed all-conference honors as a sophomore after posting a 3.13 ERA in 14 starts with 76 strikeouts and 18 walks.

A former star at Corner High School, he was a Class 5A all-state pick in 2022 after going 8-0-1 on the mound with a 1.63 ERA and 99 strikeouts as a senior.

He also batted .505 with 49 hits, 27 RBIs, 22 runs scored and 8 stolen bases, being named to AL.com’s Birmingham Terrific 20 as a junior and senior.

Walmart is offering a ton of new Rollbacks and Flash Deals this week on select patio furniture sets, including a major discount on the highly-rated Costway 4-Piece Outdoor Rattan Patio Furniture Set.

The Costway Patio Furniture Set usually sells for $439, but is now on sale for only $169 and includes free shipping. The outdoor conversation set comes with one love seat, two single chairs and a glass-top coffee table. It features a black rattan frame with white weather-resistant cushions.

RELATED: Brooks softest running shoe is now on sale for a limited time

A standout feature of the Costway Patio Furniture Set is the zippered cushion covers, offering easy removal and cleaning. This adds convenience for maintaining a fresh and inviting patio set, especially in outdoor environments. Meanwhile, the patio set features a combination of comfort and support provided by the “humanized seat design.” This includes soft cushions combined with slightly tilted backrests and armrests, enhancing the seating experience for extended periods of relaxation and conversation.

The Costway 4-Piece Patio Furniture Set is also a top-rated item with a 4.6 star rating overall on Walmart’s website.

One promising review reads, “I can’t begin to stress enough how much I enjoy this set, especially for the price! The only downside I’d say would be the build time. It took about 90 minutes total. They have not faded in all day direct sunlight for months. Durable too! Funky cushion smells went away after a week of being outside.”

Those interested in this deal can checkout the full listing on Walmart’s website here.

This is an opinion column.

Greg McElroy is no dummy.

The guy was a finalist to be a Rhodes Scholar at the end of his time as Alabama’s quarterback.

So he’s not your average media guy.

That’s what made Monday morning’s headline moment so interesting.

Or confusing.

He made himself the SEC Media Days main character and then seemed annoyed by the response.

Nick Saban might not be done coaching?

That’s the nugget he dropped at the end of a segment with Paul Finebaum on the WJOX radio show he does daily, along with Cole Cubelic.

“A very much in the know person that I have a lot of respect for and have spent a lot of time around and just really, really admire, they seem to think Nick Saban is not done coaching,” McElroy said. “He’s pretty adamant that he thinks Nick Saban will be coaching again.”

Uhhh…

What?

That would be the biggest news bomb at media days since the Texas/Oklahoma move to the SEC dropped at the 2021 event.

“If it wasn’t someone notable, I would never say a word,” McElroy said when the initial statement was met with skepticism.

The story spiraled from there as it became the topic of the day.

A year ago, Saban was still the star of the show as he made one of his first TV appearances in his new job with ESPN. Now he’s the center of attention again because of his genius former quarterback’s radio show.

And it’s almost like McElroy didn’t realize the hornet’s nest he kicked.

As the story grew legs, McElroy was asked about it on the SEC Network later Monday morning. He tried to explain he didn’t think Saban would return to coaching but was simply relaying the fact that somebody or somebodies important who are telling him this.

“Interpret that however you will,” McElroy said before explaining they are “people who would be somewhat knowledgeable about something like this” when Finebaum asked him to name his sources.

Maybe this was Deep Throat blowing the top off Watergate.

Or McElroy, though smart, is no Woodward nor Bernstein.

As Finebaum and others on the SEC Network continued to needle McElroy about the news he made, the level of frustration rose.

“You want to talk about a nothingburger,” McElroy said rolling his eyes as Finebaum joked about breaking news about to drop. “Unbelievable.”

Finebaum zinged him again a little bit later as they went to commercial.

“What is wrong with you?” McElroy said with a grin but unmistakable frustration. “You are getting us in trouble just saying it. Everyone is overreacting. Goodness gracious.”

Right, well there’s a good rule of thumb to consider here for McElroy.

You can’t drop a bomb and then be surprised it blew up.

You really can’t do that at a media beehive like the one buzzing Monday in Atlanta.

This story went viral at the speed of light because of course it did. This conference could use the star power that has been lacking since Saban retired from coaching in January 2024.

Nobody credible has even hinted at the idea of Saban trading his ESPN College GameDay headset for one he’d likely throw on a sideline.

So to suggest the 73-year-old could be even considering trading the golf course for August grass drills, it’s going to be seismic.

Of course this happened the same day Lane Kiffin made the media day rounds. And the former Saban OC didn’t miss the opportunity to go full Gramatica on McElroy’s hornet’s nest.

“I have thought that,” Kiffin said on the SEC Network set. “I have thought that it would be one year in the media, then back. And I kind of thought it might be the NFL just because he’s so sharp still.”

This story had all the elements of an SEC Media Days mini-drama.

It was dismissed by almost everyone who discussed it — even by the former QB who launched it — but it still dominated the day.

This event always crowns a main character.

A decade-and-a-half after striding into SEC Media Days as Alabama’s national championship-winning quarterback, Greg McElroy became the star of the show.

He planted a seed on Birmingham radio that grew like a weed, whether he liked it or not.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.

Diego Pavia might be the new boogieman for Auburn football.

The gritty Vanderbilt quarterback is now 2-0 inside Jordan-Hare Stadium, beating the Tigers with Vanderbilt and New Mexico State. Last year’s win with Vanderbilt was a 17-7 slugfest and the win made the Commodores bowl eligible for the first time since 2018.

The game was big for Vanderbilt and painful for Auburn in numerous ways. When asked what he remembers about the 2024 contest, one of the first things Pavia pointed out didn’t have to do with the result.

“I remember one of their linebackers kinda talking crazy before the game, saying we weren’t gonna be able to put up points or something like that,” Pavia said. That just added fuel to the fire, and I really enjoy that kind of stuff.”

Pavia said he didn’t remember who the specific player was, but talked more about how those situations fuel him.

“I love competition. When someone talks, maybe I talk some or something like that,” Pavia said. “It’s what fuels me and it’s always a good time to step onto that field.”

Pavia had one of his worst games of the season against Auburn last year, but a few big plays, along with a stifling defense, propelled Vanderbilt to the win. Pavia finished the contest 9-for-22 with 143 passing yards and just 26 rushing yards, but added two important touchdown passes.

Now 2-0 against Auburn, Pavia will finally get a chance to face the Tigers on his home field in 2025. The Tigers will meet the Commodores on Nov. 8 in Nashville, and the veteran quarterback is excited for the matchup.

“They run a well-ran program and they’ve got some good talent there too,” Pavia said. “It’ll be a fun game in Nashville this year.”

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

Alabama has sent rescue teams from six more cities to help find people still missing from the July 4th floods in Texas, Gov. Kay Ivey announced.

Emergency responders from fire departments in Mountain Brook, Hoover, Guntersville, Vestavia Hills, Decatur and Fort Payne left for Texas on Saturday.

They include two swift water teams specially trained and equipped to operate in large-scale flood zones, the governor’s office said.

“We are sending more boots on the ground from Central and North Alabama, and these brave men and women are trained, prepared and committed to making a difference,” Ivey said.

“Our state is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with Texas in this critical hour. As long as there’s help to be given, Alabama will be in the fight.”

The deployment follows a 40-person team – Task Force I – sent to Texas on Thursday. That team included responders from the Mobile, Tuscaloosa, and Saraland fire departments.

The two newly-deployed task forces operate separately from Task Force I. All the teams will be engaged in 12-hour periods for up to 14 days.

The July 4th flooding along the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country has claimed at least 132 lives, the Associated Press reported, including members of at least two families in Alabama.

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On Sunday, a new round of heavy rains led to more high water rescues and prompted fears of more flooding along the Guadalupe River.

Rescue efforts were paused but resumed on Monday, the Associated Press reported.