Alabama News

WWE Friday Night SmackDown heads to San Antonio, Texas this week following an exciting show last weekend. This show was originally scheduled for early June. The rescheduled date was announced back in March. This rendition of SmackDown will take place just a few days after AEW’s All In Texas event.

Last week, a Fatal 4-way match between Alexa Bliss, Roxanne Perez, Kairi Sane and Sol Ruca. Bliss would come out victorious.

In the WWE Tag Team title match, the Wyatt Sicks defeated the Street Profits to become the new set of champions.

Fans looking to watch SmackDown this week can do so for free using a free trial offered by DIRECTV. Also, Sling offers a solid first-month discount to new users.

With last week’s show being in Nashville, Grammy-winning artist Jelly Roll had a segment, which was eventually interrupted by Logan Paul. Jelly Roll would then save Randy Orton from Paul.

R-Truth (Ron Killings) also got back into the win column with an upset win over Aleister Black.

Fans looking to watch SmackDown this week can do so for free using a free trial offered by DIRECTV. Also, Sling offers a solid first-month discount to new users.

SmackDown will take place on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET.

The Alabama Department of Transportation will close lanes on the Tennessee River Bridges for a few nights.

ALDOT is working to rehabilitate bridges on I-65.

Workers will close one lane at a time to work on bridge rails and guardrails. They will be closed from 6 p.m. Thursday, July 17, to 5 a.m. Friday, July 18, and 6 p.m. Sunday, July 20, to 5 a.m. Monday, July 21.

Subcontractors will begin on the northbound bridge first and then shift to the southbound bridge.

Contractor Cekra, Inc. is set to complete the $23.7 million bridge rehabilitation of the 50-year-old bridge in the fall. It consists of repairing concrete and cleaning, painting and repairing the structural steel.

The project is ahead of schedule. It was originally set to be completed in Spring 2026.

Drivers should expect delays while the lanes are closed. According to WHNT, Highway 31 is expected to experience increased traffic. Drivers can take alternative routes like Somerville Road, 4th Avenue SE or Central Parkway to avoid congestion.

Veterans of the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo often throw around the phrase “rodeo weather.” If you know, you know.

“It ain’t gonna be a rodeo without a little rain,” said Jay Loper, vice president of publicity for the 2025 event, spelling it out for those who don’t know.

The 92nd ADSFR runs Friday through Sunday, and there’s certainly a chance of rain in the forecast, thanks to a wobbly tropical system that might or might not develop into a depression and a major rainmaker for some portion of the central Gulf Coast. But, as of Thursday morning, it seemed unlikely to put much of a damper on an event that regularly draws thousands of anglers to the waters of coastal Alabama.

One thing that distinguishes this particular fishing rodeo is that it also tends to draw thousands of spectators. Some come to see whether record-breaking fish or sharks are weighed in (and based on recent years, odds are good).

Some bring the kids for a rare look at the marine life of the Gulf. Thanks to a partnership with scientists from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, who harvest samples and data from the catch, one of the central attractions for visitors is a display area where dozens of fish, including some weird ones, are displayed on ice. And there’s always someone on hand to explain what you’re looking at.

Many come for a festival atmosphere that includes vendors, sponsor displays and live music. Another attraction: for spectators, admission is free.

Back to the subject of records. The 2024 rodeo got off to a slow start thanks to stormy weather, but things picked up fast: by the end of the opening day, observers had gotten to see a 432-pound bull shark – not much short of the state record at the time, which was 448 pounds, 4 ounces. Other opening-day catches included a 107.5-pound swordfish and a 120.7-pound yellowfin tuna.

Big sharks have been a theme in recent years. In the 2023 rodeo, Robert Brett Rutledge of Mobile caught a 1,019-pound tiger shark that has since been certified as a state record. On the final day of the 2024 event, the Bon Secour Butchers team brought in a bull shark that weighed in at 494.5 pounds. It, too, has been certified as a state record, attributed to Tommy J. Bowyer.

Rodeo organizers have an established history of working with scientists, particularly teams from the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and the University of South Alabama’s Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences. Marine scientists Sean Powers of USA and Marcus Drymon of Mississippi State University have said the catch gives them a vital window into what’s going on with shark populations in the Gulf.

In 2024, Powers and Drymon said the trend of big sharks seemed to show that efforts to end overfishing of sharks in recent decades were having positive results. Loper said he won’t be surprised if the trend continues. Rodeo staffers recently accompanied University of South Alabama scientists on a research trip.

“I can tell you that sharks are plentiful,” he said. “A lot of bull sharks, a lot of tiger sharks. And that’s why, again, we work with South Alabama, to make sure we’re not catching things we aren’t supposed to, protected species or endangered species.”

If you’re visiting as a spectator, you’ll find the Rodeo site on the right shortly after you drive onto the island. It’ll be hard to miss. Parking arrangements are informal but plenty of parking is available along Lemoyne Drive and adjacent streets; the only hard and fast rule is that “No Parking” signs, private property and the lots of nearby businesses should be respected. No tickets are required to enter the site.

The schedule of events:

Thursday, July 17 – Pre-rodeo festivities at the rodeo site start with the annual Capt. T-Bone Liar’s Contest at 6 p.m. The Wrong Terns will perform from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday, July 18 – Fishing begins at 5 a.m., marked by a ceremonial cannon blast at the rodeo site. The weigh station will open at 10 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. The Molly Ringwalds will perform from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturday, July 19 – The weigh station will open at 10 a.m. and remain open until 7 p.m. Hamilton Gardner will perform at 5 p.m.

Sunday, July 20 – The weigh station will open at 10 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. with a ceremonial cannon blast. The Big Reveal performs at 3 p.m.

Monday, July 21 – The rodeo awards ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. at The Grounds in west Mobile.

For full Rodeo information, visit www.adsfr.com. For updates, visit www.facebook.com/ADSFR.

A U.S. Postal Service worker was killed in a multi-vehicle crash Wednesday in Northport.

Police on Thursday identified the victim as Voncelle Renee Gamble. She was 36 and lived in Tuscaloosa.

The wreck happened at 12:39 p.m. Wednesday on Highway 43, just south of Highway 171.

Northport police and fire medics, as well as NorthStar Ambulance, responded to the crash in the southbound lanes of Highway 43. Assistant police Chief Keith Carpenter said four vehicles were involved.

Gamble was pronounced dead on the scene. Three other people were treated for minor injuries, Carpenter said.

The cause of the deadly accident is being investigated by the Northport Police Department’s Traffic Reconstruction Unit. Carpenter said no criminal charges are pending currently.

Auburn football added to its 2026 recruiting class on Thursday, beefing up the offensive line.

Four-star offensive tackle Wilson Zierer announced his commitment to the Tigers on X (formerly Twitter), becoming the 10th player in Auburn’s 2026 recruiting class.

Zierer chose the Tigers over Alabama and Florida State, following in the footsteps of his brother, Kilian Zierer, who played at Auburn from 2020-2022.

Originally from Germany, Zierer plays high school football at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee in Rabun Gap, Georgia. Listed at 6-foot-6, 280 pounds, he’s the No. 305 overall player in the country and the 26th-best offensive tackle, according to the 247Sports composite rankings.

Zierer’s commitment makes him the third offensive lineman in Auburn’s 2026 class, joining Nikau Hepi and Parker Pritchett.

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

NASA’s flagship moon program “reaffirms” the key role that Marshall Space Flight Center plays in human space exploration, the center’s director said Thursday at an event celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Huntsville institution.

Speaking at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Director Joseph Pelfrey paid homage to the thousands of workers whose careers have placed them at Marshall since its founding July 1, 1960 — as the Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union was heating up.

The center’s story, “can be told through the many missions and projects we’ve accomplished,” Pelfrey said. “It can also be told through the thousands of careers that have started or ended here … this community has provided the absolute best our nation has to offer.”

Marshall is one of NASA’s largest field centers, with nearly 7,000 civil service and contractor employees. As the center’s 15th director, Pelfrey oversees an annual budget of about $5 billion dollars from federal appropriations that multiply throughout Alabama’s economy, according to a 2024 report.

Much of that spending is tied to NASA’s Artemis program, which aims to establish a permanent colony on the moon as a step toward crewed Mars missions. Marshall is the lead NASA center for key Artemis hardware and software systems, including the Space Launch System rockets and the Orion crew craft.

“The work we do at Marshall drives NASA’s bold mission and goals that we have as a nation,” Pelfrey said.

The center’s anniversary comes at a time when NASA faces historic uncertainty over funding for its exploration and science missions. President Donald Trump’s budget proposal called for phasing out the SLS and Orion after the Artemis III mission that will return humans to the moon’s surface in 2027. The House and Senate, however, restored billions in funding.

The space agency, though, is looking at over 2,100 pending departures of mid- and senior-level staff due to the administration’s downsizing efforts, according to a report this month by POLITICO. That includes 279 at MSFC.

Pelfrey’s speech stressed Marshall’s role in the Artemis program. The first mission, in 2022, built confidence in the SLS, he said, and “reaffirmed Marshall’s role as a leader in shaping the future of human spaceflight.”

The center is currently taking a “thoughtful look” at its role within NASA as well as the new global landscape of space exploration and commercialization.

“As we look toward that Artemis III mission, when the next humans land on the moon, they’ll do so in a Marshall-led, industry-developed Human Landing System,” Pelfrey said.

The center’s anniversary celebration continues with a free community event July 19 from noon to 5 p.m. at the Orion Amphitheater. The event will feature space exhibits, music, food vendors and hands-on activities for all ages.

Pelfrey will lead a program beginning at 12:30 that includes a presentation from some of the Expedition 72 crew members who recently returned from a mission aboard the International Space Station.

An investigation is underway after a man was killed in a Montgomery shooting that also injured another person.

Police on Thursday identified the slain victim as Eric Major. He was 32 and lived in Dothan.

Officers and fire medics were dispatched at 5:45 a.m. Wednesday to a report of people shot in the 2300 block of East Sixth Street, said Sgt. Tina McGriff.

They arrived to find Major dead on the scene.

A second man was found wounded and taken to the hospital. His injury is not life-threatening.

McGriff did not release the circumstances surrounding the deadly shooting.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP, Montgomery detectives at 334-625-2831 or the Secret Witness tip line at 334-625-4000.

It’s been six months since Juan Johnson hit the ground running as James Clemens’ new head football coach.

Neither he nor his new program has slowed down since.

Johnson was hired to lead the Jets in January following a season at Baker High that saw his Hornets go 9-3 with the program’s first playoff win since 1984: a double-overtime victory against Hewitt-Trussville.

“We’ve transitioned and we’ve got some things done really well,” Johnson said. “Offseason conditioning went really well. We stayed fairly healthy, from that standpoint. We’ve got one senior that I wish could play for us; he’s out with a season-ending injury that happened back in April. Other than that, we’ve remained tremendously healthy.

“We’ve done some things really well to stay consistent and get ready for the season.”

Among the most recent offseason preparations for James Clemens include OTAs against defending Class 6A champion Parker and perennial power Clay-Chalkville.

During Wednesday’s OTA vs. Clay-Chalkville in Madison, the Jets’ defense had plenty of highlight moments in the joint workouts.

“Coach Gideon, our DC, has done a tremendous job of getting them ready this summer,” Johnson said of the defense. “Offensively, we have time in which we had success, but at the end of the day, you have to put it on when you play really elite competition. In the last two weeks, we’ve played Parker and Clay-Chalkville; they’re both the last two Class 6A state champions.

“From a competition standpoint, we want to play against the best it’s possible to play and continue in our preparation to get us ready for the 2025 season.”

When asked about the new head coach, junior running back MJ Gideon described Johnson as a “high-intensity” coach.

“It’s good,” Gideon said of the transition. “This practice is more intense, harder and everything. But, it’s going to get us where we need to be.”

Six months into his new job, Johnson said the strength of his team is the leadership from his small group of seniors; he estimated this year’s senior class has 14 athletes.

Among those are defensive linemen James Hollins and Tank Ezell, who were both recognized on the Class 7A, Region 4 all-region football team.

“I want to say we’ve got 115 players, so I’ve got 101 that are considered the underclassmen,” Johnson said. “What comes with that is you’ve got to lean on them very heavily. You want to play as many 18-year-olds as you can.

“Guys like James Hollins and Joc Dennis, they’ve done a tremendous job leading and Christian Wyatt and Alex Lively, they’ve just done a really good job of just getting kids here and understanding what we want to do.”

Gideon, who holds offers that include Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Missouri, Tulane and Liberty, said that he’s already learned plenty from the former offensive coordinator.

“He taught me a lot of new things that I didn’t know before,” Gideon said. “It’s really just about still getting better at everything.”

Along with defensive coordinator Anthony Gideon on staff, Riley Niblett will fill the other coordinator role on Johnson’s staff.

Son of current Gainesville (Ga.) High and former Hoover, Oxford and Oneonta coach Josh Niblett, he has also had stints at Valdosta (Ga.) High, IMG Academy, Gainesville and Hoover while coaching the college ranks at Jacksonville State and Charlotte.

Other new staffers include former South Alabama wide receiver Victor McClinton (receivers coach, passing game coordinator) and Randolph assistant Jalen Williams (linebackers coach).

“I really like where we are with our staff and what we’ve got going forward,” Johnson said.

The Jets will officially open their first season under Johnson at Gardendale on Aug. 22 before their first game at Madison City Stadium against archrival Bob Jones on Sept. 5.

A recent Coldplay concert is making headlines from an awkward moment caught by the kiss-cam.

Lead singer Chris Martin provided commentary the camera showed a couple embracing during the rock band’s Music of the Spheres world tour.

Once the couple realized they were on camera, things got awkward and they separated.

The video has been viewed more than 2 millions times.

“Come on, you’re OK!” Martin said when the camera panned to the couple. “Uh oh. Either they’re having an affair, or they’re just very shy.”

“Oh, look at these two,” Martin said when the camera panned to the couple. “All right, come on, you’re OK. Uh oh. Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.”

Multiple news outlets, including Newsweek, are reporting the couple in question are Astronomer CEO Andy Byron the company’s chief people officer, Kristin Cabot.

Coldplay played shows Tuesday and Wednesday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

According to the report, Byron and his wife live in nearby Northborough.

Former Alabama football linebacker Keanu Koht made headlines on his way out of town. After leaving to enter the transfer portal midseason in 2024, he released a statement that seemed to throw shade at the Crimson Tide.

“After careful reflection and consideration, I’ve come to realize that I’ve outgrown the shoes I once wore here,” Koht wrote. “With that in mind, I have made the decision to enter my name into the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining. This was not an easy choice, but it’s one I believe is best for my future and personal growth.”

Koht remained in the SEC. He transferred to Vanderbilt, which beat Alabama during the 2024 season before Koht left.

Speaking to reporters at SEC media days in Atlanta on Monday, Commodore quarterback Diego Pavia was asked about how Koht has fit in with his team.

“He’s been a great addition to the defensive line,” Pavia said. “Obviously he’s twitchy, he’s fast, he uses his hands well. Sometimes he gets to me and says it’s a sack when it’s probably not. But yeah, he’s been a great addition and super excited to have him on the team.”

After last year’s stunning upset in Nashville, Koht and Vanderbilt will make the return trip to Tuscaloosa in 2025. The game has already been the center of a fair amount of trash talk, from both Pavia and Crimson Tide receiver Ryan Williams.

In Atlanta though, Pavia kept it civil.

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

Alabama is scheduled to begin preseason practice July 30 in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide will open the 2025 season on Aug. 30, with a trip to Florida State.

The Commodores will visit Alabama on Oct. 4.