Alabama News

If you’ve ever wanted to have your own personal waterfall and cave-like alcove for outdoor entertaining, this listing on Lake Tuscaloosa could be what you’re looking for. This 3,820 square-foot home is located on a secluded lot in Crown Pointe.

The alcove features a small outdoor dry bar and stools tucked into a cave-like outcropping overlooking the natural waterfall.

Click the gallery at the top of this story for additional photos or click the original listing here.

The waterfall “flows all the way out into Lake Tuscaloosa,” said owner Kathleen Nance. In addition, “the city said a dock would be permitted on the lake.”

Listing details

Address: 6803 Emerald Lane, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Price: $849,000

Built: 1991

Size: 3,820 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms

Lot Size: 1.55 acres

Agent: Iris Hinton, 205-799-4636, Re/Max Achievers

The home, situated on 1.55 acres, has “floor-to-ceiling windows, streaming sunlight into main living areas and a cathedral ceiling in the family room,” according to listing agent Iris Hinton.

The kitchen is open to the family room and feature a “large island for seating and entertainment,” as well as a walk-in pantry, spacious laundry room and wet bar.

Hinton said the primary bedroom is on the main floor and has an ensuite bath. “Upstairs provides three spacious bedrooms, two full baths and a playroom,” she said.

Nance said whoever buys the property will enjoy a “bit of a mystery.”

“We’re unsure of the history of the unique waterfall feature,” she said. “I’ve tried looking into it without any luck.”

Dear Eric: My older sister and I are in our 40s. Our still-married parents have been fighting since the late 1980s.

A few years ago, I wrote to an advice columnist about our difficult relationship. He responded to the letter.

I emailed my sister the column and said, “We should talk.” She responded, “No! Not interested!” Then she cut me out of communication.

I did not comment on the column, but I did comment on subsequent articles, identifying myself as the letter writer. I wrote that my sister takes after my mother, screams at my father, and I don’t know why either husband tolerates it.

Earlier this year, I was at my cousin’s wedding where I saw my sister for the first time in years. She was cordial but cold to me. When I asked my brother-in-law what the deal was, he said that I had been “rude to them for years and that this might be irreparable.” I didn’t realize they had been following the column and reading the comments.

I don’t understand why the initial advice column made her cut me off. I am unsure what exact comments she did not like, and why she didn’t just contact me to have a conversation?

My mom is unaware of the reasons for the rift, but says, “It is a shame you two do not talk, but it is probably her fault as nobody likes her.” I wrote to my sister, trying to repair this, saying I want her back, but she has not responded. What should I do?

– Sad Brother

Dear Brother: It’s probably jarring to read about oneself in an advice column to which one did not write, even if the intention is good. It’s likely even more jarring to read an on-going comments section detailing one’s faults. So, part of the issue is a feeling of public shaming. I wouldn’t send this one to her.

Your sister has a narrative about your relationship that’s totally different from yours. Some of this is natural, of course. We’re all the stars of our own shows. But it’s clear that your sister has something in her mind that you’ve done wrong. It likely predates the column.

And, from your telling, you have things in mind that she’s done wrong. The berating, for one. And whatever it is that you wrote to the initial advice column about.

So, your sister may be intuiting judgment from you, even though you’re trying to extend an olive branch. The best thing you can do is apologize and respect her boundaries.

Read more Asking Eric and other advice columns.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.

Just in time for the hundreds of anglers about to hit coastal waters for the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo, a new smartphone app can provide up-to-date information about conditions on (and in) Mobile Bay and nearby waters.

For years, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab has operated a sensor network called the Alabama Real-time Coastal Observing System, or ARCOS. Data from ARCOS sensors includes water temperature, salinity and oxygen content as well as wind speed and air temperature.

The information has been available online, but the lab has now announced the launch of a free smartphone app for iOS and Android devices. It says it sees the app as “an excellent tool for anyone who works or plays on the water to make informed and safe boating decisions.”

Like the website, the app incorporates a three-day National Weather Center forecast and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s tide predictions for Dauphin Island. It also features data from a new station at the Gulf State Park Pier and wave measurements from a Sofar Spotter buoy positioned just off the coast of Dauphin Island.

“ARCOS is an excellent example of how DISL takes data collected for scientific research purposes and then repackages it for consumers’ use,” said John Valentine, executive director of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. “In this instance, we want to help the local community make informed and safe decisions for boating. In the last year, our coastal community has faced several water-related tragedies and DISL felt sharing our scientific data in a user-friendly format could help save lives if boaters have a real-time picture of water conditions before they go out.”

If it helps them make informed decisions about where to fish, so much the better.

The annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo runs Friday-Sunday after preliminary festivities Thursday evening. For full information, visit adsfr.com.

The new Dauphin Island Sea Lab ARCOS app can be found at Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Every day until Aug. 29, Creg Stephenson is counting down significant numbers in Alabama football history, both in the lead-up to the 2025 football season and in commemoration of the Crimson Tide’s first national championship 100 years ago. The number could be attached to a year, a uniform number or even a football-specific statistic. We hope you enjoy.

It was a rather routine 24-point home victory during a national championship season, but it led four years later to an all-time Nick Saban rant.

Alabama beat Georgia Southern 45-21 at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nov. 19, 2011, the final home game of the year. It was the only time all season the Crimson Tide allowed more than 14 points in a game, and the Eagles’ triple-option attack rang up 302 yards rushing and averaged 7.7 yards per carry.

Still, Alabama was never in danger of losing, jumping out to a 17-0 lead early and outscoring Georgia Southern 21-7 in the second half. Afterward, Saban was more than complimentary toward the Eagles while still praising his team.

“Those guys played hard and played with a lot of toughness,” Saban said. “They really did a good job of running their offense. It’s a tough offense to get prepared for. It’s totally different than what we do all the time. We obviously didn’t execute the way we wanted to on defense all the time.

“We did a better job in the second half. That was really important. I think it was really important that our offense did a fantastic job of controlling the ball. They were always able to answer the bell and do a really a good job of not allowing them to have the ball. The time of possession was really good for us. I was really pleased with the way we competed.”

Alabama beat Auburn 42-14 a week later in the Iron Bowl and then blanked top-ranked LSU 21-0 in the BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 9, claiming its second title in three years (and first of two straight). The Crimson Tide’s defense finished the season ranked No. 1 nationally in scoring defense (8.2 points per game), total defense (183.6 yards per game), rushing defense (72.2 ypg) and passing defense (111.5 ypg).

The 2011 Georgia Southern game looked like just a momentary blip, until four years later. As Alabama prepared to face another FCS team with “Southern” in its name — Charleston Southern — Saban used the moment to remind the public — and his players — that they’d better not overlook their opponent, doing so in both profane and hilarious fashion.

“You all might be taking the week off this week,” Saban told reporters. “But I’m not.”

The tension built from there. Saban dismissed the idea that Alabama’s third- and fourth-string players might see the field against Charleston Southern, even though no one had asked him about that topic.

Saban then reminded the room about the 2011 game vs. Georgia Southern, when his all-timer of a defense was left searching for answers at times.

“I don’t think we had a guy on that field that didn’t play in the NFL and about four or five of them were first-round draft picks,” he said. “And I think that team won a national championship, but I’m not sure.

“And they ran through our ass like s*** through a tin horn, man. And we could not stop them. Could not stop them. Could not stop them because we could not get a look in practice. We couldn’t practice it right? And everybody said the same thing in that game. Y’all took a week off. This wasn’t important, so it’s not important to anybody else. It has to be important to the players and it has to be important to us.

“Everybody gets excited for the beginning of the season and you get excited about getting married. But after you’re married for a while, you’ve got to have a process to make it work. And no matter what happens, we need to have a process to make it happen in every game we play. Every game that we play. Can’t assume anything.”

Saban then paused briefly before adding, “I don’t even know what you asked me. I just wanted to say that.”

Here’s video:

Alabama beat Charleston Southern 56-6 the following Saturday, and went on to win another national championship that season. But in the decade since, Saban’s “tin horn” line has become the stuff of legend.

Georgia Southern — now an FBS program and a member of the Sun Belt Conference — is often referred to as “Team Tin Horn,” and there is a popular fan-run social media channel called “Tin Horn Productions.” Saban repeated the analogy during his 2024 debut season as an analyst on ESPN’s College GameDay, when discussing Alabama’s 2018 game with LSU.

This time, fellow GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit stopped Saban and asked him for an explanation.

“You’ve used that tin horn thing before and I’ve always wanted to ask you what it means,” Herbstreit said.

 “I can’t explain what it means,” Saban replied.

But you know it when you see it.

Coming Thursday: Our countdown to kickoff continues with No. 44, a type of opponent Alabama hasn’t faced in a while.

Kane Brown revealed recently he’s had to deal with racism in the country music industry.

Brown, the “Heaven” singer, told Jake Paul on the “Impaulsive Podcast“ about instances without giving names.

“I remember — I ain’t gonna say a name because I don’t want to throw him under the bus — but there was one writer that said he wouldn’t write with me because I’m black,” Brown said.

“I confronted them and everything and they apologized to me at the bar.

“There’s another big writer who had like 30 No. 1s that said the same thing.”

Brown said the writer had a different tune when the singer became more popular.

“He apologized whenever we blew up and was trying to write with me and I said no.”

Both incidents happened early in his career.

“Nobody believed it,” he said.

Check out the full interview above.

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.

This is an opinion column.

_____________________

Hugh Freeze, legendary golfer, couldn’t sandbag forever.

Auburn’s football coach talked about making the playoffs during his time in front of the cameras at SEC Media Days. He also said the Tigers shoulda/coulda won more games last season if only they had better players.

And better coaching.

It’s not hard to read between those lines.

He was talking about quarterback Payton Thorne and an overmatched group of offensive linemen.

But let’s forget about last season.

It was never about Year Two at Auburn for Freeze. Since the beginning of Freeze’s time down on the Plains, everything has been building towards this season: Year Three, the make or break moment for every coach trying to rebuild a contender.

It took Nick Saban three years at Alabama.

Paul Bryant, too.

Same for Pat Dye at Auburn and Steve Sarkisian at Texas.

Kirby Smart won 13 games in his second season at Georgia, but he took over a team that won 10 games in 2015. Things weren’t exactly broken in Athens with coach Mark Richt. His players just needed a little more motivating.

We could pick through the record books until the beginning of fall camp. The point is this. It’s a critical season for Auburn, which is an afterthought these days in a loaded down super conference.

It’s time for Auburn to be relevant again in football and the window is here … but it’s closing fast.

If Freeze misses on this moment, well, let’s just be clear. It might be time to move on to a different coach with a better plan.

On paper, I agree with Freeze that the Tigers have the potential to be an 11-win team. It’s time for Auburn fans to be excited about football again. That’s the good news, and Freeze deserves credit for building this team. The receiver room is loaded, the quarterback started for Oklahoma last season and the offensive line received some major upgrades via the transfer portal.

If not in 2025 for the Auburn Tigers, then when?

Freeze was a controversial hire, but the reasoning and the vision was that Auburn would have its most talented team in years at the precise moment that Alabama was vulnerable. That projection has played out perfectly.

Saban has been retired from Alabama going on two seasons. The Tide transitioned to new coach Kalen DeBoer last season, and Alabama missed the playoffs, lost to Vanderbilt and looked awful at Oklahoma.

So how did Freeze take advantage of Alabama’s clumsy finish to the 2024 season? Smartly, Freeze went into the portal and recruited the same OU quarterback who gutted it out against the Tide.

Give Freeze credit for the strategic move. Auburn now goes to Oklahoma for its season opener with the Sooners’ previous starter at quarterback who also happened to take down Alabama.

I asked Freeze about his chess moves with new quarterback Jackson Arnold, but Freeze didn’t want any credit for his gambit.

“I hadn’t even thought about that,” Freeze said, “so I can’t say that played any factor into it at all … but it does make for an interesting week when you start thinking about, oh, heck, if it’s the same system and verbiage, that’s something you do have to think about.”

Everything is falling into place for a major turnaround. Even the things Freeze apparently didn’t consider until asked at SEC Media Days.

Freeze set the bar hire on Tuesday. Does he need to make the playoffs this season to keep his job? I’m not convinced of that, but Auburn should be considered an underrated sleeping giant going into fall camp. It’s winning time on the Plains.

“We have built this fairly fast,” Freeze said. “We should have won or could have won some games last year, and we’ve done everything in our power to evaluate why that happened and what we can do better as coaches and then get more pieces to the puzzle with more and more players. We feel very confident we’ve done both.

“We embrace the high expectations that Auburn brings, and we believe this team’s potential is limitless.”

But the time for resurrecting the Tigers is fleeting.

BE HEARD

Got a question for Joe? Want to get something off your chest? Send Joe an email about what’s on your mind. Let your voice be heard. Ask him anything.

Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of the book “We Want Bama: A Season of Hope and the Making of Nick Saban’s Ultimate Team.”

ICE raids Alabama restaurants

Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies executed search warrants at 14 locations across six Alabama counties Tuesday, targeting alleged drug trafficking, human smuggling, document fraud, and financial crimes.

Authorities are searching for Cesar Campos Reyes, a restaurant owner accused of $225,000 in fraudulent federal loans, while more than 40 suspected undocumented workers were detained pending deportation,reports AL.com.

Alabama Parole Board Leadership Change

Hal Nash, the new head of Alabama’s parole board, observed his first day of hearings without voting, stating “this board’s going to strive to be very fair.”

Sarah Whites-Koditschek reports that Nash, appointed by Gov. Kay Ivey to replace controversial chairperson Leigh Gwathney, brings a law enforcement background to a board that granted parole to just 8% of eligible inmates in 2023 but has increased to about 20% this year.

Independent autopsy of Jabari Peoples

An independent autopsy shows 18-year-old Jabari Peoples was shot in the lower back during a fatal encounter with Homewood police, but attorneys say key questions remain unanswered without body camera footage.

The bullet wasn’t found in Peoples’ body, raising questions about the trajectory and cause of death.

Attorney Eric Hertz said at Tuesday’s press conference, “We need the bullet,” reports Carol Robinson.

Mobile Council Candidate’s Residency Questioned

Samantha Ingram, running for Mobile City Council, hasn’t voted in Alabama since 2006 and cast her last ballot in Georgia, raising questions about her eligibility.

While Ingram claims she’s lived in Mobile since 2023, records show she remains registered in Georgia.

The controversy highlights residency requirements for local elections, reports John Sharp, as the August 26 election approaches.

More Alabama news

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On Wednesday at 1:13 a.m. the National Weather Service released a rip current statement valid from Thursday 7 a.m. until Saturday 7 a.m. for Mobile and Baldwin counties.

The weather service states, “Dangerous rip currents expected.”

“Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water,” explains the weather service. “Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don’t swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.”

What to do if you get caught in a rip current?

Rip currents, those swift-moving channels of water flowing away from the shore at surf beaches, can pose a serious threat to beachgoers. These currents vary in speed and can swiftly become perilous for anyone venturing into the surf. Even strong swimmers can find themselves overpowered by the force of a rip current. It’s essential to know how to respond if you’re caught in one. Here’s what you need to do, based on guidance from the weather service:

Keep your cool – they won’t drag you under:

Your first rule of thumb: Keep a clear head. Rip currents won’t pull you beneath the water’s surface. Panic is your enemy; it depletes precious energy needed for your survival.

Don’t swim against the current:

Don’t swim towards the beach against the rip current. Instead, swim parallel to the beach and out of the rip current.

Call for help if necessary:

If you find yourself unable to make it back to shore, stay calm. Turn to face the shore, tread water, and signal for help by calling out or waving your arms. Rescuers are more likely to spot you.

Seek lifeguarded beaches for added safety:

Whenever feasible, choose beaches with lifeguards on duty. Their trained eyes and rapid response can be a lifesaver in water emergencies.

Never brave the waves alone on unguarded shores:

If you choose to swim on beaches without a lifeguard, never swim alone. Take a friend and have that person take a cell phone so that person can call 911 for help.

Rip currents are formidable natural forces, but knowing how to react can significantly increase your chances of safely navigating these challenging waters. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and prioritize safety when enjoying the surf.

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.

The sixth inning turned out to be Alabama’s time to shine at the MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday night. In that frame, the two 2025 all-stars from the state were in the spotlight and, at the end of the inning, Major League Baseball honored Mobile’s favorite son with a video tribute to Hank Aaron’s 715th home run.

The two players with Alabama baseball roots at the game were St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan and Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize. Donovan played at Enterprise High School and South Alabama on his way to the big leagues. Mize is an alumnus of Springville High School and Auburn.

Each player earned his first All-Star Game selection this season.

RELATED: NEW PICKS BRING ALABAMA’S TOTAL TO 56 MLB ALL-STAR GAME PLAYERS

Donovan took the field in the fifth inning as he replaced starter Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks at second base for the National League.

Donovan came to bat after outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres had singled and stolen second to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Donovan legged out an infield single off Kansas City pitcher Kris Bubic, setting the table for New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso to unload a three-run homer as the next batter. That gave the National League a 5-0 lead.

Bubic retired the next NL batter before Mize came in from the American League bullpen.

Mize got catcher Hunter Goodman of the Colorado Rockies to pop out to center fielder Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins, yielded a home run to Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll and struck out Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz to end the inning.

That was it for Mize, as the American League used 11 pitchers in the game.

In the bottom of the seventh, Donovan singled to center with two outs off Kansas City pitcher Carlos Estevez to put runners on first and second, but the Royals reliever got out of the jam by striking out Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson.

The American League rallied for four runs in the seventh and two runs in the ninth to tie the score at 6-6.

Donovan made the final out in the bottom of the ninth inning on a bad-luck play. He clipped a pitch from Aroldis Chapman of the Boston Red Sox practically straight down. The ball landed behind the plate, but catcher Alejandro Kirk of the Toronto Blue Jays waited to pick up the baseball after it had spun into fair territory. Kirk then tagged out Donovan.

That left the score at 6-6 and triggered for the first time Major League Baseball’s plan for deciding an All-Star Game tied after nine innings with a home run derby-style swingoff. The National League hit four home runs to the American League’s three to win the game.

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

The cosmic clouds gather around a concept that’s both emotionally liberating and strategically wise: nonattachment to form. Take your dreams, for instance. They’re often not about what you’re chasing, rather about why you’re chasing them — the feeling and experience you’re actually seeking, such as love, freedom, autonomy, respect, creativity, belonging, adventure or peace.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). There’s a rhythm to endurance — a beat that doesn’t always call for brilliance, just consistency. When the stakes aren’t sky-high and your reserves are low, coasting can be a smart strategy.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your ideas are ahead of the curve, which can be thrilling or isolating depending on who’s listening. Find the ones who get it or who want to. Don’t waste time convincing anyone who just isn’t ready or will never be ready for what you can offer.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Some people expect you to lead emotionally, to make the vibe better, softer, sweeter. You can — but only if you want to. Today, you have permission to receive care instead. Let someone else read the room and show up for you.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You don’t just go through the motions of friendliness — you actually see people. You notice tone shifts, unspoken needs, who’s being left out and who might need a moment of grace. Your way of being shapes the emotional climate around you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your loyalty will figure in and sway the action. Led by the dictates of your true-blue heart, you’ll wind up doing things you didn’t expect. What others think of as an option, you think of as a duty.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You welcome critique and will process it well, finding what’s useful. Those who poke holes in the plan are doing the plan a great service. Those holes are what aerate it so something truly strong and vibrant can grow there.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Our judgments of others generally are about an unacknowledged part of ourselves — what Carl Jung called the shadow. Just like we admire traits that reflect our light, we often resist traits that represent our shadow. Notice what you feel. Turn toward your aspirations.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Relationships are like suitcases where you keep a collection of thoughts. Whether it’s your relationship with a person, idea, animal or endeavor, your connection to it mostly lives in your mind. You’re the one who gets to decide its usefulness, health or meaning.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You can absolutely finish what you started. You may be tired, but your fire is intact. You’re creatively flying in moments. And the meetups you have with others will be fuel, not just output.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’re not drawing a lot of attention today, and there’s something glorious about this — it gives you a chance to work under the radar. Ah, the freedom to figure things out and do things the way you like without worrying about pleasing anyone else.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). How do you gain perspective while staying emotionally present? The high-flying bird has the best view, but who can hear its song? The answer is to stay fluid. Rise above for insight. Zoom in and out, go wide and narrow, return to ground for expression and connection.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You have so many good ideas today, it would be a shame to waste this creative energy sitting in a meeting that will only accomplish half of what it set out to or maybe accomplish nothing. Go solo. Make a list and tackle all you can before you meet with others.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (July 16). You will know a new level of drive as you strike on exactly what you want. You’ll find yourself in a room you used to only dream of entering and realize with pride that your route there was completely your own. More highlights: You’ll attract someone who’s not just compatible but deeply curious about you. You’ll speak and perform to wildly positive reviews. Scorpio and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 5, 2, 33, 39 and 10.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Will Ferrell embodies the Cancer paradox — wildly silly on the surface, deeply sensitive underneath. His comedic genius lies in portraying characters who are ridiculous yet oddly vulnerable — anchored in emotional truth, a signature Cancer strength. From “Anchorman” to “Elf,” his roles reveal a childlike wonder and protective loyalty that resonate across ages. Ferrell’s success as a producer and co-founder of Funny or Die shows the Cancerian knack for building lasting creative homes. Lately, he’s stretching into more dramatic territory and continues to surprise with layered performances that charm and disarm.

Holiday Mathis’ debut novel, “How To Fail Epically in Hollywood,” is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.