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General

Miss Manners: I stood my ground when an older couple wanted my prime seat

DEAR MISS MANNERS: My child’s choir held a concert at a large, historic church. I arrived early and took a seat on the center aisle, where I would have the best view of the singers.

A short time later, an older couple arrived and asked to share my pew. I stood up to allow them to enter. The gentleman indicated that I should go ahead of them, to which I replied that I would like to stay on the aisle. They seemed taken aback and walked off to find other seats.

Does etiquette dictate that those arriving first to an event held in a church must always move to the middle of the pew? Or, as I thought, is it equally polite to stand and allow others to enter?

GENTLE READER: You acted politely within the facts you describe. But before anyone condemns the elderly couple, Miss Manners will also commend you on a second point: not tackling them in the aisle.

Perhaps they are regular parishioners who sit in these seats every Sunday and had, mistakenly, come to think of them as theirs. Perhaps they have a disability issue and therefore wanted you to move aside — but omitted the necessary politeness of asking you to do so.

If either of these things had been true, your staying put would still not have been impolite. But perhaps their surprise at your refusal to relocate would not have rankled as much, had you known their reasons for asking.

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.

General

Dear Abby: I got some family member sick and now they won’t speak to me

DEAR ABBY: My son and his wife have quit speaking to my husband and me because I gave them COVID. At their invitation, we took a trip with them to Hawaii. I began feeling ill on the plane and tested positive the next day. A couple days later, my son got sick, and then a few days later, his wife got it. I told them repeatedly how sorry I was that I’d infected them and spoiled their vacation.

We always had a close relationship — frequent phone calls, visits, dinners, etc. — but for the last six weeks, nothing. He told his brother he was furious because I tried to “kill” them. I’m at a loss about what to do, if anything. What would Dear Abby do? — GUILTY IN CALIFORNIA

DEAR GUILTY: What Dear Abby would do is give your son some time to cool off and then reach out and apologize again. He needs to grow up. You didn’t make anyone sick on purpose, and it just as easily could have been your son or daughter-in-law infecting you.

Read more Dear Abby and other advice columns.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

General

Should a late-season loss cause concern for Auburn basketball? Here’s what history suggests

After achieving the highest of regular season highs over the weekend, Auburn men’s basketball was brought back down Tuesday night, losing on the road to Texas A&M.

It came just three days after the Tigers clinched the Southeastern Conference regular season championship with a win over Kentucky. Tuesday’s performance was almost night and day from Saturday’s, a day where Auburn won in Rupp Arena for the first time since 1988.

Auburn’s 83-72 loss to Texas A&M was its largest defeat of the season and the Aggies’ first win over an AP No. 1 team in program history.

In terms of conference implications, there was nothing riding on Tuesday’s game for Auburn. Even when looking ahead to the NCAA Tournament, Auburn had likely already locked up a one-seed and a road Quad I loss shouldn’t do too much to hurt Auburn’s chances at the No. 1 overall seed.

However, that doesn’t make a late-season, double-digit loss any easier to take. But despite a dominant season up to this point, should a late season loss like Tuesday’s be reason for concern?

It’s not totally uncommon for top teams, even championship teams to lose unexpectedly late in the season. College basketball seasons are long, and it’s nearly impossible to run the table, especially in a league as tough as the SEC.

For example, last season’s Alabama team that made the Final Four lost four of its last six games before March Madness, including a 22-point loss to Kentucky and two double-digit losses to Florida. That didn’t stop the Crimson Tide from winning four straight games in the big dance to reach its first Final Four in program history.

Even last season’s seemingly impenetrable UConn suffered a 19-point loss to Creighton on Feb. 20, four games before the end of the regular season.

These losses can come down to a number of things, and sometimes the variables are out of the team’s control. Against Texas A&M Tuesday night, Auburn was without its starting point guard and top perimeter defender Denver Jones, who would have helped against the Aggies’ dynamic guards.

Sometimes an unexpected loss can come down to late-season fatigue, which becomes even easier to slip into if, like Auburn, there’s nothing left to play for in the regular season.

Baylor’s 2021 team — a group that won the national championship — had all but already secured a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament when it began its journey in the Big 12 Tournament.

The Bears had been dominant all season, ranking in the KenPom top three for the entire campaign. But with no real NCAA Tournament implications in the conference tournament, Baylor fell in the semifinals to Oklahoma State, a tough loss to take going into the NCAA Tournament.

That didn’t stop Baylor from completing a dominant run to a national championship, even beating an undefeated and loaded Gonzaga team by 16 in the championship game.

Even Auburn’s Final Four team in 2019 lost by 27 to Kentucky on the road in late February. It was only fitting that a win over the Wildcats in the Elite Eight sent Auburn to its first Final Four in program history.

All of this is to say that one loss — or even a few losses — doesn’t necessarily mean a team is falling apart going into the postseason.

Are there examples of late-season form being a warning sign for the postseason? Sure. Auburn’s 2022 team that spent three weeks as the No. 1 team in the country lost two of its final four games before March Madness — one of them to Texas A&M — and suffered an early exit in the second round.

That team started the season 22-1, but went 6-5 in its final 11 games, including the 18-point loss to seven-seed Miami in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32.

Houston last season is another team that may have been rocked by a late-season setback. The Cougars finished the regular season 28-3, winning the Big 12 outright and spending most of the campaign ranked No. 1 in KenPom.

However, Houston’s last game before the NCAA Tournament was a 69-41 drubbing at the hands of Iowa State. Houston still earned a No. 1 seed, but barely survived a scare from Texas A&M in the second round and lost to Duke in the Sweet Sixteen.

Only time will truly tell what the fate of this year’s Auburn team will be, but if its resume is any indication, it’s more than capable of competing with and beating any team in the country.

One SEC road loss to a top 25 team in early March doesn’t change that.

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

General

Justin Thomas has a mid-match ‘Roll Tide’ for Nick Dunlap

While FaceTiming Justin Thomas during the Atlanta Drive Golf Club’s TGL match on Tuesday night, Billy Horschel told the former Alabama All-American that the team had found his replacement in Nick Dunlap. But Thomas, who deemed that comment “rude,” still had a “Roll Tide” for his fellow Crimson Tide alumnus during the match.

With Thomas sitting out Atlanta’s match against Jupiter Links Golf Club on Tuesday, the Drive signed Dunlap to a one-game contract to complete the regular season. With Dunlap playing with Horschel and Lucas Glover, Atlanta posted a 9-1 victory over Jupiter’s Tiger Woods, Max Homa and Tom Kim.

Thomas will be back in Atlanta’s lineup when the Drive starts the inaugural TGL playoffs.

The playoffs begin at 6 p.m. CDT March 17, when the top-seeded Los Angeles Golf Club plays the fourth-seeded New York Golf Club. ESPN2 and ESPN+ will televise the match.

In the other semifinal, the second-seeded Bay Golf Club and the third-seeded Drive square off at 6 p.m. March 18. ESPN and ESPN+ will televise the match.

The best-of-three finals will start at 8 p.m. March 24, with the second match at 6 p.m. March 25, followed by Match 3 if necessary.

Since earning National Freshman of the Year and National Player of the Year awards in 2012 at Alabama and playing on the Crimson Tide’s 2013 NCAA championship team, Thomas has won 15 times on the PGA Tour, including the PGA Championship in 2017 and 2022.

Dunlap is in his first full season on the PGA Tour.

On Jan. 21, 2024, Dunlap stunned the golf world by winning The American Express as a 20-year-old sophomore member of the Alabama men’s golf team. He became the first amateur to win a PGA Tour event since Phil Mickelson in 1991. The victory gave Dunlap the opportunity to accept immediate membership on the PGA Tour.

Dunlap won again on July 21, capturing the Barracuda Championship to become the first player in PGA Tour history to win as an amateur and a professional in the same season.

In December, Dunlap received the Arnold Palmer Award, presented annually to the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.

The TGL is a golf venture from Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy that is playing its first season. The TGL features six teams of PGA Tour golfers competing in a league format at a high-tech venue with seating for 1,500 spectators in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Golfers hit shots off tee boxes with real grass, fairway, rough and sand into a 64-by-53-foot simulator screen until they’re within 50 yards of the cup on 15 named holes, including the Spear, Riptide and Serpent.

After that, the virtual golf switches to shots played at the GreenZone, an adaptable green featuring 600 underground devices to change the slope of the putting surface from hole to hole.

Each match features three players from each four-man team. They compete in an alternate-shot format for nine holes, then switch to singles competition for the final six, with each golfer playing two holes.

Dunlap played Homa on the individual holes on Tuesday night and came away with one point for a win on the 13th hole.

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

General

High surf advisory for Mobile and Baldwin counties until 3 a.m. Thursday – breaking waves of 4 to 7 feet expected

On Wednesday at 4:54 a.m. a high surf advisory was issued by the National Weather Service in effect until Thursday at 3 a.m. for Mobile and Baldwin counties.

The weather service adds to anticipate, “Large breaking waves of 4 to 7 feet in the surf zone.”

“Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water,” states the weather service. “Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions. 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.”

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.

General

Dear Annie: I caught my stepson stealing from me

Dear Annie: I’ve been married for 23 years, but my husband’s 31-year-old son has been a constant source of conflict. He’s manipulative, turns his father against me, and has lived with us multiple times due to homelessness, jail and house arrest.

Recently, I caught him going through my purse, and he only attempted a weak apology over the phone, which I didn’t accept — so he never apologized again.

I’ve had to install security cameras just to feel safe. He has a history of failed relationships and issues with women, yet my husband refuses to see the problem because he desperately wants a relationship with him. The tension is unbearable; I have no peace at home and feel like checking out emotionally just to cope.

How do I reclaim my home and my sanity when my husband refuses to set boundaries? — Stepson Problem

Dear Stepson Problem: You don’t have a stepson problem; you have a husband problem. His refusal to set boundaries is enabling his son’s behavior at your expense. At 31, this man is not a troubled child; he is a grown adult creating chaos in your home.

Have a serious talk with your husband. Make it clear that you will no longer tolerate being disrespected, manipulated or feeling unsafe in your own home. If he refuses to put your marriage and well-being first, you may need to consider your own next steps — whether that means separating yourself emotionally, physically or both.

Your home should be your sanctuary, not a battleground. Take control of your peace.

Read more Dear Annie and other advice columns.

“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to [email protected].

General

First Lady’s Alabama guest, Harper Lee’s next publish: Down in Alabama

Thanks for spending part of Ash Wednesday with us. Today’s report includes a couple of images from the Comic Cowboys parade and our first “Barkley-ism” section (but certainly not our first Charles Barkley quote).

Thanks for reading,

Ike

Yesterday’s weather

I hope everybody was holding on to something yesterday afternoon and evening. We were pleased to hear a few reports of trees that are still standing in some locations …

Storms came through the state overnight and into the early hours this morning. But it was the high winds ahead of the storm you can blame for toppling so many of the trees and power lines. By 10 p.m. the state already had more than 100,000 customers without power, according to PowerOutage.us.

AL.com’s Howard Koplowitz reports that a brush fires were caused by downed power lines in parts of central Alabama ahead of the storms.

Check al.com/weather for the most recent weather news and forecasts.

Decatur to D.C.

If you watched President Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress last night, you might’ve caught a piece that included Jeff Denard of Decatur.

Denard, reports AL.com’s Howard Koplowitz, attended the speech as a guest of First Lady Melania Trump.

The president shared that Denard was a 27-year worker at Nucor Steel as well as a volunteer firefighter. He said he has seven children and has cared for more than 40 foster children.

Trump was highlighting Denard while touting his heavy use of trade tariffs, which Trump said were “making America rich again and making America great again.”

Possible unemployment change

A bill that came out of the Alabama House of Representatives would tighten up a qualification for unemployment, reports AL.com’s Mike Cason.

That bill, by state Rep. Ed Oliver, a Dadeville Republican, tweaks a three-year old law that requires unemployment recipients apply for three jobs a week. The proposed bill would raise that to five. It wouldn’t apply to counties with populations less than 20,000.

It has passed a Senate committee and now goes before the full Senate for final passage.

Opponents argue that Alabama’s unemployment laws are strict enough and that some low-income job seekers without childcare or good transportation are more limited in the number of jobs they can apply for.

Qualifying unemployment applicants — who are out of work due to no fault of their own — can receive up to $275 per week for up to 20 weeks.

More Harper Lee fiction

Harper Lee will have a new book out in October, reports AL.com’s Kelly Kazek.

Lee, of course, was the Monroeville writer who became a literary legend with her 1960 novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.” Not long before she died, her other novel, “Go Set a Watchman,” was published.

According to publisher HarperCollins, the yet-to-be-published work includes eight short stories and is called “The Land of Sweet Forever: Stories and Essays.”

Hopefully this will be another chance to get into the mind of the famously reclusive Lee, who died nine years ago. But it won’t be her mind in recent decades.

According to the publisher, the new-to-us short stories were written before “Mockingbird.”

Today’s Barkley-ism

“Where did we get to as a country when we’re like, ‘We’re not going to the White House, we don’t like who’s in there.’ That’s just stupid.”

Leeds native and NBA legend Charles Barkely, on “The Steam Room” podcast, on teams that may boycott their White House visits because President Trump is in office.

By the Numbers

21 kilograms

That’s how much cocaine the Calera Police Department said was found on two Columbian nationals in the U.S. illegally and traveling through Alabama, according to a federal grand jury’s indictment. Investigators believe the paid was The traffic stop happened on Feb. 7.

Picture That

The Comic Cowboys shared their satirical signs during their annual Fat Tuesday parade on the final day of Mardi Gras in Mobile. (Photos by Mike Kittrell)

More Alabama News

Born on This Date

In 1951, singer/songwriter Willis Alan Ramsey of Birmingham.

The podcast

General

Dear Annie: At 37, I decided to finally write my first book

Dear Annie: From the time I was in second grade, I knew I wanted to be a writer. But everyone around me insisted it was a terrible idea. So, I chose the “safe” path and became a teacher, spending two years in a high school English classroom before transitioning to a role as a school librarian.

I also married a man I believed was the love of my life — someone who shared my writing ambitions. But shortly after we wed, he made it clear: There would be only one writer in our family, and it wouldn’t be me.

For years, I put my dream on hold. But in 1981, at age 37, I decided it was now or never. I carved out time — early mornings before the kids woke up, weekends and stolen moments in between — to write my first book. It never sold. But my second book did, and so did the one after that.

In 1985, my first novel was published. That same year, just one week before my grand opening book signing, I met a man who would become my second husband.

Thirty-nine years later, I’ve written nearly 70 books, and I’m still happily married to the man I met that day.

Dreams don’t come with deadlines, and the right people will support them — not stand in their way. — You Can Have It All

Dear You Can Have It All: Thank you for sharing your story! You showed that believing in yourself is very powerful. You didn’t let fear, practicality or even the wrong partner stop you, and now you’re proof that it’s never too late to chase a dream.

To those wondering if they should go for it, the answer is simple: Yes. Life is too short for “what ifs.” Dreams don’t have expiration dates, and passion doesn’t fade just because the world tells you to be “realistic.” If you truly want something, make space for it — even if it means getting up early or staying up late.

Balancing ambition with responsibilities isn’t always easy, but it starts with commitment. Treat your dream like it matters, because it does. Surround yourself with people who lift you up, not those who hold you back. And if you fail? Get up, try again and keep going. Success isn’t always immediate, but persistence makes all the difference.

The only real regret comes from never trying.

Read more Dear Annie and other advice columns.

General

How will Auburn basketball respond if Denver Jones is out vs Alabama?

Auburn basketball had a shot at making history attempting to go undefeated in conference road games. However, the absence of Denver Jones played a huge role in the Tigers upset loss at Texas A&M.

The Aggies shot 43% from the floor as the Tigers defense had no identity. Tahaad Pettiford got his first career start but didn’t present the same defensive prowess that Jones brought to the floor for the Tigers this season.

“He did alright; he did fine. There was a lot on him,” Auburn coach Bruce Pearl said postgame. “Chad Baker-Mazara did really well at the backup point guard position.”

“We obviously miss Denver Jones as our most physical defender,” Pearl added. “Texas A&M was able to get by our guards a little bit, our frontcourt had to come over and help. The backside rebounding was open, and that’s how Texas A&M plays.”

Texas A&M took full advantage outrebounding Auburn 40-25. The Aggies finished with 15 more field goal attempts due to 24 offensive rebounds and 29 second chance points.

The Aggies also had five players finish with double-digit point totals, led by Zhuric Phelps 19 points.

“It’s how Texas A&M plays, but when you get 16 defensive rebounds, and they get 24 offensive rebounds, that’s going to be a deal-breaker,” Pearl said. “Every team is going to look at that and say hey, the way to beat Auburn is to just be physical with them. We just didn’t step up.”

Auburn forward Johni Broome grabs his shoulder after he collided with Texas A&M forward Pharrel Payne, during a play in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)AP

Heading into its season finale against Alabama, the Tigers gameplan will have to change if Jones is still not cleared to play.

Alabama only shot 19% from beyond the arc as Mark Sears was held to just two made 3-pointers in last month’s matchup against Auburn. Jones contributed 16 points and was the Tigers second-leading scorer behind Johni Broome.

The Auburn big finished with under 10 points for the second-straight game Tuesday night. Broome and Dylan Cardwell combined for just 16 total points and 10 rebounds.

Despite Broome’s recent scoring slump, he became the first Division I men’s basketball player to reach 2,500 career points and 1,500 rebounds since Houston’s Elvin Hayes.

Pearl said Broome’s nagging shoulder injury is playing a factor in his poor performances.

“You know, it may have affected him. He obviously had a shoulder injury in December. He’s had it banged a few times,” Pearl said postgame. “Obviously, he had it banged tonight. It was bothering him. He tried to play through it.”

While dealing with his shoulder and ankle injuries, Broome scored 19 points and 14 rebounds in the first victory over Alabama this year.

The Tigers will need that version of their leading scorer this weekend, especially without Jones in the starting lineup.

Not to mention, if Broome wants to ensure his place as the National Player of the Year, he has to show up Saturday.

“I think the biggest way for Broome to be National Player of the Year is for his team keep continuing to win. And he impacts our winning with everything that he does,” Pearl said.

“We’ll be excited about playing at home on Saturday. We’ve got the conference championship wrapped up. We’d like to try to wrap up the No. 1 seed,” Pearl added. We think the resume is strong enough to get the No. 1 seed overall, which I think is important. Which means you’re the regular season champions. But more importantly, I just want to see how we respond.”

Auburn hosts Alabama inside Neville Arena and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3 or email him at [email protected].

General

Today’s daily horoscopes: March 5, 2025

At this point in the Pisces solar journey, we experience heightened sensitivity, which raises new curiosity. The Mercury change has us keen to land on clear answers where there aren’t any, and in that case, we may be tempted to make them up. The human mind hates an open loop, but the human heart begs us to linger in the unsolved a moment longer and live the question.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Some decisions are made more difficult the longer you dwell on them. Stand at the edge of the diving board just long enough to gather your courage, but not so long that overthinking makes you hesitate and step back.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It’s so hard when a person seems right on your wavelength but they can’t or won’t be there the way you want them to be. But Shakespeare was right… it really is better to have known this than not.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You can do it happy, sad, scared, tired, robotically or with feeling. The key is to just do it. The act itself, whether fueled by emotion or not, moves you forward to a better place.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). Confidence isn’t something that suddenly comes to you one day; rather it’s a building process that happens with each action you take. Don’t let yourself get discouraged. As you do even a little bit of work toward a change, you are becoming your best self.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Though you like to be agreeable, you’re wise to say yes to only the things that solve a problem. Check to make sure you’re having the impact that matters to you. Help in ways that fit your skills and long-term aspirations.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your excellent powers of discernment will not only help you learn from the best examples but will also guide you in noticing what to avoid. But it’s not just learning from other people’s mistakes that matters. It’s moving forward with a willingness to make your own.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). If you wait to feel worthy of or ready for an experience, you may be waiting forever. It doesn’t work that way. There’s always going to be an awkwardness, a problem to solve or something to overcome before the victory.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’re deep in a feeling, sitting with so much tenderness, mourning something that isn’t quite gone but isn’t quite there either. You can hold both truths — the ache of missing something and the acceptance that all is unfolding for the best.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’ll think of your entire situation, zoom out to see the full scope of where you are and where you’re heading. You’ll take on responsibilities that align with your larger goals and vision, ensuring that each task you embrace naturally fits into the bigger picture.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Thoughtful choices about where you invest your time and energy will help you build momentum without stretching yourself too thin. By focusing your energy on what truly matters, you’ll avoid feeling overwhelmed.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). This sky is an encouragement to look outward when you feel lost — whether that’s to books, mentors, art or the actual sky, which has no end of messages waiting to be read, though not with the mind. The sky speaks in the language of heart.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re setting yourself up for something good, whether it’s for you directly or for the people around you. This way you live — open-hearted, growing, showing up for life — has the joy of finding its way back to you.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (March 5). Your combination of talents culminates into something unique this year, and you’ll be driven to give what only you can give. Personal success arrives in waves; momentum builds until you’re riding high on the results of past efforts. More highlights: An ally helps make a long-held dream a reality. Your generosity attracts good karma. You’ll be at the center of a vibrant, supportive community. Taurus and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 8, 14, 21, 39 and 47.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: Eva Mendes has shifted her focus from acting to entrepreneurship with Skura Style, a female-owned company known for its innovative “smart” sponge, which features a fading emblem to indicate when it needs replacement. This venture aligns with her Piscean desire to enhance domestic elegance and well-being. Mendes is a Pisces with a Leo Moon, a combination that blends artistic sensitivity with a flair for drama and leadership.

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.