Alabama News

Beloved comedian Adam Sandler recently announced his new Adam Sandler: You’re My Best Friend stand-up comedy tour with over 30 show dates scheduled for the year.

Kicking off Friday, Sept. 5 at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, the tour runs through November with shows scheduled to hit major cities such as New York, Portland, Las Vegas, Detroit, Boston, Pittsburgh and more.

The Adam Sandler: You’re My Best Friend 2025 tour marks the first tour since Sandler hit the road back in 2022 and 2023 with past comedy tours—both extremely successful. The tour was also announced ahead of the highly anticipated premiere of Happy Gilmore 2, which releases on Netflix later this month.

Adam Sandler 2025 tour tickets

Those interested in snagging tickets to one of the upcoming show dates can find great tickets available for purchase through Ticketmaster or other secondary market sites such as Vivid Seats, StubHub, Viagogo and Seat Geek.

Adam Sandler: You’re My Best Friend complete tour schedule

• Sept. 5 – Jacksonville, Florida – Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena
• Sept. 6 – Tampa, Florida – Amalie Arena
• Sept. 7 – Miami, Florida – Kaseya Center
• Sept. 8 – Estero, Florida – Hertz Arena
• Sept. 10 – Columbia, South Carolina – Colonial Life Arena
• Sept. 11 – Raleigh, North Carolina – Lenova Center
• Sept. 12 – Charlottesville, Virgina – John Paul Jones Arena
• Sept. 13 – Baltimore, Maryland – CFG Bank Arena
• Sept. 15 – New York, New York – Madison Square Garden
• Sept. 16 – Albany, New York – MVP Arena
• Sept. 17 – Syracuse, New York – Upstate Medical University Arena at the Oncenter War Memorial
• Sept. 19 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Wells Fargo Center
• Sept. 20 – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – PPG Paints Arena
• Sept. 21 – Buffalo, New York – Keybank Center
• Sept. 26 – Uncasville, Connecticut – Mohegan Sun Arena
• Sept. 27 – Washington, D.C. – Capital One Arena
• Sept. 28 – Hershey, Pennsylvania – Giant Center
• Sept. 30 – Boston, Massachusetts – TD Garden
• Oct. 5 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Fiserv Forum
• Oct. 6 – Indianapolis, Indiana – Gainbridge Fieldhouse
• Oct. 12 – Toronto, Ontario – Scotiabank Arena
• Oct. 14 – Detroit, Michigan – Little Caesars Arena
• Oct. 15 – Columbus, Ohio – Nationwide Arena
• Oct. 16 – Lexington, Kentucky – Rupp Arena
• Oct. 17 – Saint Louis, Missouri – Enterprise Center
• Oct. 20 – Chicago, Illinois – United Center
• Oct. 21 – Omaha, Nebraska – Chi Health Center Omaha
• Oct. 28 – Portland, Oregon – Moda Center
• Oct. 29 – Seattle, Washington – Climate Pledge Arena
• Oct. 31 & Nov. 1 – Las Vegas, Nevada – Fontainebleau

The busy Chick-fil-A location on Parkway East in Roebuck closed on June 19 and since then has been completely demolished.

It will return, however. “We’ll be back,” the store said on its Facebook page. “Better than ever!”

Plans call for the Chick-fil-A to be rebuilt with a more accommodating drive-through set-up.

The adjacent Walgreens, which shared a parking lot with the Chick-fil-A, closed in March and won’t reopen.

Chick-fil-A Inc. bought that Walgreen’s property at 9345 Parkway East last year for $625,000 from Waltrust Properties Inc., according to Jefferson County tax records.

A sign on the door at Walgreen’s said the store closed March 20 and all prescriptions were transferred to the CVS Pharmacy at 220 Gadsden Highway.

Walgreen’s announced this year it was closing 1,200 locations nationwide, 500 of them by this year, but none were listed as closing in Alabama. Before the pandemic hit in 2020, the Roebuck Walgreen’s operated with its pharmacy open 24 hours a day. After the pandemic, hours were scaled back.

The former Walgreen’s parking lot will give Chick-fil-A more room to accommodate the long lines that sometimes backed up onto a neighboring street.

Several Chick-fil-A’s in the region underwent similar tear-downs or renovations in recent years, including the Trussville location that has since reopened with a more efficient set of drive-through lanes. The employees who worked at the Roebuck location have transferred to work at the remodeled Chick-fil-A in Trussville at Interstate 459 Exit 141

Although Chick-fil-A’s entire Roebuck building was demolished and is now a pile of rubble, the large sign facing Parkway East stayed. It carries the message: “Closed for remodel. Follow on Facebook.”

Birmingham construction firm Robins & Morton last month finished a $500 million hospital project several years in the making.

The Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital’s new 12-story Crystal Spring Tower, in Roanoke, Va., opened June 17.

Robins & Morton and Branch Builds partnered in a joint venture as the general contractor. Nashville-based ESa served as the project architect.

Spanning more than 500,000 square feet, the tower houses Carilion’s Cardiovascular Institute, the region’s only Level 1 trauma center, and an expanded emergency department.

“This marks the culmination of years of hard work to ensure that our region has access to the most modern and advanced care for decades to come,” Carillion CEO Steve Arner said.

The tower has flexible spaces, patient rooms that can accommodate various types of care, and procedure areas with expansion capacity.

It has a helipad, new trauma bays, a dedicated pediatric trauma bay, operating rooms, catheterization/electrophysiology labs and more.

“For nearly four years, our team members, in partnership with Branch Builds, have remained dedicated to delivering this state-of-the-art facility to our Roanoke community,” Robins & Morton Vice President Mark Mattox said. “To see their hard work and commitment in building this tower that will bring life-saving care to this region is a rewarding experience for our entire team, and we are grateful to Carilion Clinic for their trust.”

Midfield football coach Rod Isaac announced on Tuesday that he is retiring.

Isaac spent 15 years as the Patriots head coach.

“I still got love for the game, but I just don’t have the energy to get up and taste it like I used to,” Isaac said. “Just got that time to let it go.

“I’m just tired. I put everything into it, but everybody has so much to offer kids now that you’re constantly competing for their time. When I came up, it was just playing football.”

Assistant principal and basketball coach Courtney Jones said the school will begin looking for a new coach as soon as possible with assistant coaches taking over responsibilities.

Isaac compiled a 73-89 record in 15 seasons at Midfield, including 10 trips to the playoffs. Isaac was also head coach at Woodlawn 2000-2003 where he was 9-32 in four seasons.

Before taking over as head coach at Midfield, Isaac served as an assistant and defensive coordinator for the Patriots. He was also an assistant coach at Thompson and Anniston.

Isaac played high school football at Jess Lanier, now Bessemer City, where he was an all-state defensive back under Carroll Cox. The Purple Tigers lost the 1986 Class 6A championship to Lee-Montgomery.

He was a four-year starter at defensive back for Alabama A&M, earning all-conference.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My husband’s cousin and her husband live a few miles away from us. While their parents were fairly close when the cousins were growing up, the cousins themselves didn’t maintain contact once they became adults.

I enjoy sending greeting cards for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and so on, and this cousin is on my list. We’re also friends on social media.

She messages me and suggests that we get together for lunch sometime, but offers no specific details. I then propose a date, time and place, which she agrees to, but always cancels on the day of the meeting.

I’ve come to expect this and don’t think much of it, but it upsets my husband. Should I continue making suggestions even though I know they will likely be canceled at the last minute?

GENTLE READER: Next time the cousin proposes a get-together, give an equally vague response: “That would be great.” Breaking the pattern may or may not change her behavior, but it will give everyone something new to think about.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at missmanners.com, by email to [email protected], or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am a teetotaler. My husband and most of our friends are avid connoisseurs of wine and spirits. Normally, this is not a problem, as I can politely excuse myself from any events that are primarily about appreciating alcohol.

But an etiquette issue sometimes arises when we’re hosting dinner at our place. The first couple of hours generally go well, with good conversation and enjoyment of food and company. At some point, however, the gathering evolves from a dinner party into a drinking session.

By this I mean that after the meal is over, the guests continue to sit around the table drinking, their cups refilled by my husband. Eventually, the conversation becomes more animated than I can keep up with, as voices get a bit louder and arguments a little muddled. This can continue for a few hours.

Everyone is having a good time, no one has to drive themselves home, and I am happy for my guests to enjoy themselves. I don’t want to put a stop to the fun, even though it has left me behind.

But what I would like to do is excuse myself from the table when this happens and get started on my dishes. Is there a graceful way to accomplish this without implying that the party is over?

GENTLE READER: Curiously, the alcohol is clouding everyone’s judgment in this case — even yours, and you are not partaking.

As a host, you cannot properly leave your own party, even though Miss Manners understands both that it has become a bore for you and that the guests are unlikely to notice your absence.

The solution is to manage the time, as well as the quantity of alcohol consumed. After all, you did not keep serving the pot roast until the guests begged for mercy. So at some point, stop pouring wine and offer coffee instead. Even if your guests are not grateful in the moment, they will be so the next morning.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at missmanners.com, by email to [email protected], or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

For the last 25 years, if Alabama is around then you can certainly expect their longtime rivals from 160 miles away to be right there beside them.

While Alabama may have dominated parts of the last quarter-century, Auburn made sure to get its licks (and kick-sixes) in. Previously, the staff at AL.com presented the quarter-century team for Alabama, and now it’s Auburn’s turn.

Meet the AL.com Auburn Tigers quarter-century team:

Offense

Quarterback

• Cam Newton

Is there any other choice?

Sure, Auburn has had some good quarterbacks over the last 25 years, but there’s good Auburn quarterbacks and then there’s Cam Newton.

In the fall of 2010, Cam Newton took over the SEC and college football world with amazing plays, unforgettable moments, winning a Heisman Trophy and leading Auburn to its first national championship since 1957. It’s usually hard to take one year and use that as a case for a player to be named to a team like this. But if that player is Cam Newton, the choice is pretty easy.

Running Backs

• Cadillac Williams
• Tre Mason

Also receiving votes: Ronnie Brown, Michael Dyer

Wide Receivers

• Darvin Adams
• Emory Blake

Also receiving votes: Seth Williams, Ryan Davis, Sammie Coates

Tight End

• Philip Lutzenkirchen

He was one of the many sidekicks that showed up during the 2010 season, Lutzenkirchen is the classic cult hero for a memorable team. From 2009-12, Lutzenkirchen caught 59 passes, and a school-record 14 touchdown passes caught by a tight end.

On June 29, 2014 Lutzenkirchen and a friend were killed in a single-car accident. In the midst of tragedy, the Auburn and Lutzenkirchen families came together for tributes, and a foundation was established. The Lutzie 43 Foundation promotes highway safety and safe driving.

Tackles

• Marcus McNeill
• Lee Ziemba

Others receiving votes: Greg Robinson

Guards

• Braden Smith
• Ben Grubbs

Center

• Reese Dismukes

Defense

Defensive Ends/Edge

• Quentin Groves
• Reggie Torbor

Others receiving votes: Carl Lawson, Antonio Coleman

Defensive Tackles

• Derrick Brown
• Nick Fairley

Linebackers

• Karlos Dansby
• Dontarrious Thomas
• Travis Williams

Named an SEC Legend in 2019, Karlos Dansby is one of the most decorated Auburn defenders in school history. during his 2003 All-American season, the Woodlawn High School graduate recorded 84 tackles, 13 for a loss and 5.5 sacks.

Dansby translated a successful college career with an equally successful pro career with the Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals. Dansby was elected to the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2023.

Others receiving votes: Deshaun Davis, Josh Bynes

Cornerbacks

• Carlos Rogers
• Carlton Davis

Safeties

• Will Herring
• Junior Rosegreen

Others receiving votes: Zac Ethridge, Travarious Robinson, Roger McCreary

Special Teams

Kicker

• Daniel Carlson

Others receiving votes: Damon Duval, Wes Byrum

Punter

• Steven Clark

Others receiving votes: Damon Duval, Oscar Chapman

Following the Alabama and Auburn quarter-century teams, coming on Wednesday will be the “Iron Bowl” quarter-century team, combining the best of both schools at al.com.

Alabama school districts are missing $68 million in federal funds, putting programming and some jobs in jeopardy as state officials try to get answers.

The money, which was meant for local after-school, English learner and professional development programs, is typically sent to schools on July 1 every year. But in an email to state officials Monday, the Education Department said it was pausing disbursements for several grants until it completes a review of those programs.

“These are programs already approved and funded by Congress,” State Superintendent Eric Mackey said in a statement Wednesday morning. “They include programs integral to successful and supportive schools across Alabama, and districts have planned for the 2025-26 school year with an expectation that these formula-based funds would be flowing as normal. Since Congress had appropriated the money in the recent continuing resolution, we had no reason to believe otherwise.”

The freeze comes as schools prepare to make hires and finalize budgets for the new school year. Mackey said much of the amount is directly tied to salaries for teachers, teacher aides and other employees. Some of the funds also are tied to affordable afterschool programs.

“For our continued success, Alabama’s schools need consistency, reliability and transparency in our funding streams,” he said. “Lawmakers, policymakers and our department work together to ensure this kind of consistency, reliability and transparency with state funds.”

Jodi Grant, who heads the national Afterschool Alliance, said the holdup could impact more than 10,000 after-school programs, especially in high-poverty districts like Alabama’s Gadsden City Schools, which has built up its programming in recent years.

Grant said the district, which relies heavily on federal funds, could stand to lose all of its after-school programs by August if funding isn’t restored. Those programs serve more than 1,200 students and employ about 75 staff, she said.

The programs also serve many English learners and provide hours of specialized support to those students. Gadsden Superintendent Keith Blackwell did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.

“It’s just catastrophic for our families,” Grant said in a news conference Tuesday. “You’re going to have kids with nowhere to go at the end of the day.”

Richard Franklin, who heads Birmingham’s chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, said the pause could “undermine academic success for the entire state.” In Birmingham, funds supported academic recovery efforts and programs that help students with lots of different learning needs, he said.

“This isn’t just a budget issue—it’s a matter of justice and equity,” he said. “Our students in Birmingham deserve every opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Stripping away federal funding that supports special education, mental health, reading programs and school safety would be devastating. We cannot allow our kids to become political casualties.”

The department is reviewing the following grant programs:

• Title I-C for migrant education
• Title II-A for professional development
• Title III-A for English learner services
• Title IV-A for student support and academic enrichment
• Title IV-B for 21st Century Community Learning Centers

Alabama received about $90 million for those five programs in 2024, according to the Learning Policy Institute. The group estimates nearly $6.2 billion in disbursements are currently stalled around the country.

Earlier this year, the department froze nearly $9 million in pandemic relief funds meant for a school construction project in Selma and a statewide program for struggling readers. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon recently reversed course on that decision, allowing Alabama and other states to file for reimbursements.

“We are hopeful that the review period will be expedited, and funds will be released quickly,” Mackey said. “However, we look forward to working expeditiously with our colleagues in Washington as we are only weeks away from the beginning of a new school year and wish to avoid any disruption in services for our students and their families.”

Rome Odunze provides the best example of success of receivers under coach Kalen DeBoer as much as anyone.

Working with DeBoer and receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard at Washington, Odzune caught 167 passes for 2,785 yards and 20 touchdowns over two seasons. As a result, the Chicago Bears selected Odunze with the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Notable: Odunze is listed at 6-foot-3, 214 pounds.

Having a receiver like that worked pretty well for DeBoer. So, it’s not shocking Alabama is recruiting other tall receivers too.

The latest is Cederian Morgan, the No. 1 recruit in the state and the No. 12 recruit in the entire 2026 class, per the 247Sports Composite. The five-star recruit from Alexander City committed to the Crimson Tide on Wednesday.

Morgan is listed at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds. He’s the third receiver to commit to Alabama in this class, and each one stands about 6-foot-3 or taller.

Morgan continues a trend of tall receivers via high school/the portal to commit to or join DeBoer at Alabama. In the past two recruiting classes, both fully DeBoer classes, the average height of a receiver has been just under 6-foot-3. Take out the outlier Lotzeir Brooks, who’s listed at 5-foot-9, and the average increases to just under 6-foot-4.

That’s a noticeable increase from the last five years of receivers that Saban and company recruited via high schools and the transfer portal. The average height of a Saban receiver recruit: Just over 6 feet.

That includes the 2024 class, even though DeBoer had to re-recruit Ryan Williams and that class.

Saban hadn’t landed a receiver 6-foot-3 or taller since 2021. Both Ja’Corey Brooks and Agiye Hall were listed at that height.

This season, Alabama will have two receivers on its roster 6-foot-4 or taller in Miami transfer Isaiah Horton and freshman Derek Meadows. Then, more will be on the way for the 2026 season.

Tall doesn’t necessarily mean good or elite even, but Odunze provided a prime example of what that type of player can do in DeBoer’s offense. So it only makes sense Alabama looks to land more players like Odunze.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

Kalen DeBoer landed the top 2026 recruit in Alabama football’s home state on Wednesday. Benjamin Russell wide receiver Cederian Morgan announced he’ll be joining the Crimson Tide as part of the 2025 recruiting class.

Morgan, who announced the news in Alexander City on Wednesday, chose Alabama over a list of finalists that also included Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Clemson and Colorado. He’s the third five-star to join the Tide’s 2026 group, according to the 247Sports composite ratings.

The 247 composite ranks Morgan as the No. 2 receiver in the 2026 class. It also has him as the No. 12 overall player in the group.

Speaking with AL.com earlier this summer, new Benjamin Russell coach Kirk Johnson praised Morgan’s attitude.

“He’s a great, great kid first of all,” Johnson said. “He’s a team first guy. He was one of the first guys I met when I got here. He wants to do something special with this team and for this city, and I highly respect that. A guy with his talent could easily be like, ‘I want the ball. Who is going to get me the ball?’ That’s not Cederian at all.”

Morgan made 70 catches for 1,162 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. He joined one of the state’s other top recruits, Jackson running back EJ Crowell, in joining Alabama’s class in recent days.

“Evaluation echoes that of a luxury sports car: big, smooth, and powerful,” 247Sports scouting analyst Gabe Brooks wrote in his assessment of Morgan. “Plays with obvious horsepower, accompanied by some encouraging physical refinement and nuance in regards to fluidity and locomotion. Dominant in contested scenarios as a consistent high pointer who exploits significant physical advantages vs. smaller defenders. Owns an enormous catch radius that gives a QB a large target throughout the route tree. Immensely productive with huge receiving numbers and even some limited defensive reps”

The Crimson Tide has now locked down three 2026 wide receiver commits over the past three days. Tennessee three-star Owen Cabell joined the class on Monday, while Brian Williams Jr., a three-star from Florida, announced his pledge on Tuesday.

Alabama’s staff began finding major momentum for the 2026 class toward the end of June. The group vaulted into the top 10 nationwide, and with Morgan as the 17th commitment, still has room to further climb in the ranks.