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Major Alabama credit union warns users of fraudulent Walmart charges

Redstone Federal Credit Union is warning users to keep an eye on their bank accounts as members report fraudulent Walmart.com charges.

“We are aware some members may have fraudulent Walmart.com charges pending on their accounts,” reads a statement the company released Tuesday.

“Walmart.com is taking action to reverse any charges they believe are fraudulent.”

The statement goes on to ask members to wait to dispute the pending transaction until it fully posts to their account.

“Once it posts, we will work with those members to refund their money,” the statement says.

The company recommended that users close any card with unauthorized transactions and request a new card through online banking, calling 800-234-1234, or visiting a branch.

Redstone Federal Credit Union currently operates 27 branch locations in north Alabama, according to its website.

It is one of the state’s largest credit unions.

General

Tickets to this week’s UAB basketball game going for as low as $2

The UAB men’s basketball team will play their final home game of the season on Thursday night, taking on the Florida Atlantic Owls. The Blazers are coming off of a crushing 88-81 loss to the Memphis Tigers on Sunday.

UAB fans are in luck, as tickets to Thursday’s game are going for insanely cheap at the moment.

UAB basketball tickets going for as low as $2 on Stubhub

As mentioned above, Stubhub has the cheapest tickets available on any site. They have five seats available in section 211, row E for $2 each. The entire upper bowl has tickets on sale for under $10.

For those looking to get even closer to the action, Stubhub also has multiple seats available in the lower levels. There’s a few seats left in section 101 for $21 each.

General

SEC to utilize ‘Hawk-Eye’ technology for baseball, softball video review in 2025

The SEC will utilize “Hawk-Eye” technology as the basis for its video review system in baseball and softball beginning with the 2025 conference seasons, the league office announced Tuesday.

Hawk-Eye’s “Synchronized Multi-Angle Replay Technology” system will be utilized for “video capture, replay, clipping and distribution,” with six cameras in each SEC stadium to supplement the regular broadcast cameras. The Hawk-Eye cameras will be used to assist replay officials on force and tag plays, as well as “timing” plays (i.e., a foot hitting the bag before a ball hits a glove and vice versa).

The SEC will continue its centralized replay system for the sixth straight year in baseball and fourth straight year in softball. The Hawk-Eye system was used in the fall 2024 SEC soccer season and is in use in the ongoing men’s and women’s basketball seasons.

General

Nate Oats shares update on Derrion Reid, other Alabama basketball injuries

Alabama basketball will once again be without one of its top freshmen when it takes the court against Florida on Wednesday night. Crimson Tide head coach confirmed that Derrion Reid will miss the game with a lingering hamstring injury.

However, Reid is moving closer to a return.

“Derrion’s starting back doing basketball workouts,” Oats said Tuesday. “He’s still week-to-week. He won’t be playing tomorrow.”

Wednesday’s game will be the fifth-straight that Reid has missed. He was out with the same injury early for this season, returned to play five minutes against Auburn, and has not seen the court since.

The Crimson Tide faces No. 5 Florida in Tuscaloosa Wednesday, and locks up a double-bye for the SEC Tournament with a win. UA is coming off a devastating loss to Tennessee, on a buzzer-beater in Knoxville after it appeared the Tide had the game won late.

Oats also provided an update on the two players vying for medical redshirts. He said Alabama is expecting both Latrell Wrightsell Jr. and Houston Mallette to have their requests granted by the NCAA.

“I don’t think you get confirmation until you submit it all after the season,” Oats said. “But they’re both medically related, haven’t played in 30% of the games and didn’t play in any game after the midway point, which are the rules. Talking to (UA trainer Clarke Holter), he doesn’t anticipate any issues with either of them.”

Wrightsell suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during the Players Era event early in the season. Mallette originally planned on redshirting the season, before playing limited minutes following Wrightsell’s injury, but eventually Alabama shut down his season due to lingering knee problems.

Wednesday’s game is the Crimson Tide’s final home game of the season. Alabama will close out the season Saturday, with a trip to No. 1 Auburn, a matchup it lost at Coleman Coliseum earlier this year.

Alabama and Florida are scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m. CT Wednesday at Coleman. The game will be aired on ESPN2.

General

2 charged with capital murder in ‘execution’ of Bessemer teen in Lipscomb

Two suspects have been charged with capital murder in a Lipscomb shooting described in court records as an “execution.”

Timothy O’Neal Epps Jr., 20, of Pleasant Grove, and Tedarius Lee McCoy, 18, of Hueytown, are charged in the killing of 18-year-old Marquese Janhari Webster.

Both are also charged with attempted murder in the wounding of a woman who was with Webster, and with discharging a firearm into an occupied vehicle.

The shooting happened at 12:45 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, in the 1800 block of Crescent Avenue.

Jefferson County sheriff’s officials said they were dispatched to UAB West where two victims had arrived by private vehicle.

Investigators learned a 21-year-woman, who had been shot, drove herself and Webster to the hospital.

Webster was pronounced dead at 1:20 a.m.

Charging documents on the capital murder charge state the suspects shot and killed Webster after “devising a plan with several other individuals.”

The surviving victim was shot, records state, during “an attempt to execute another victim.”

Epps and McCoy were booked into the Jefferson County Jail the same day as the murder and remain held without bond.

A motive has not yet been disclosed.

It was not immediately clear whether more suspects will be charged.

General

Alabama star wants revenge vs Tennessee, other SEC teams

Alabama men’s basketball doesn’t have many losses on its SEC schedule this season, but it does have a few.

The Crimson Tide (23-6, 12-4 SEC) lost to Ole Miss at home Jan. 14, Auburn at home Feb. 15, Missouri on the road Feb. 19 and Tennessee on the road this past Saturday.

If it’s up to Mark Sears, Alabama will get a chance yet still this season to avenge those games.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to see all the teams we lost to again,” Sears said Tuesday.

The Alabama guard was answering a question Tuesday as to whether the Crimson Tide had watched the videos of Auburn players celebrating Alabama’s loss to Tennessee on a buzzer beater. By the Crimson Tide losing to Tennessee, Auburn became the sole winner of the SEC regular-season championship.

“We’ve still got the SEC Tournament, and we get to see Auburn,” Sears said. “We have Florida obviously. We can’t overlook them. But we still have Auburn for their senior night. We still get to see them and then hopefully in the SEC Tournament we’re able to see Tennessee and all the teams we lost to.”

The Vols loss especially stung, considering Alabama had a four-point lead with 36 seconds left. A series of mishaps from the Crimson Tide turned the game into a win for the Vols.

Before the revenge tour can begin, Sears and Alabama will have a shot to beat No. 5 Florida on Wednesday (6 p.m., ESPN 2) at Coleman Coliseum. Win that, and the Crimson Tide will lock up a double bye in the SEC Tournament.

Then, Alabama will have a chance to avenge its loss to No. 1 Auburn earlier in the season with a trip on Saturday (1:30 p.m., ESPN) to Neville Arena.

After that, the SEC Tournament bracket will be set and Sears will find out if there will be a chance for that revenge against either Tennessee, Ole Miss or Missouri after all.

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

General

Alabama native, noted college football writer named to CFP selection committee

The College Football Playoff Selection Committee has named six new members, including Baylor athletics director Mack Rhoades and Alabama native Ivan Maisel.

Maisel, a Mobile native who went to college at Stanford, spent several decades covering college football for the Dallas Morning News, ESPN, On3 and other publications. He joins the committee for a three-year term along with Rhoades, former Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio, Maryland AD Damon Evans, Middle Tennessee State AD Chris Massaro and former Ole Miss All-America tight end Wesley Walls.

Rhoades replaces Michigan AD Warde Manuel as committee chairman. In addition, former CFP committee member Steve Wieberg, a former sports writer, will return to finish out the term of former Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, who stepped down with one year left on his term.

“The additions of Mark, Damon, Ivan, Chris and Wesley will bring some great new voices to the selection committee as we enter our 12th season,” CFP executive director Rich Clark said. “Each of them has tremendous knowledge, passion and dedication to college football, along with outstanding character and integrity. Their skills and wide variety of experiences—from coaches and athletes to university leaders and journalists—will ensure that they will transition in with our returning members successfully. We also appreciate Steve returning for the upcoming season. His understanding and wisdom from his previous term will be a real benefit to the group.

“Finally, we are pleased that Mack will serve as chair. He was an outstanding member of the committee last year, and his demeanor and personality will serve him well in leading the group.”

The other members of the 2024 committee — former Nevada coach/AD Chris Ault, former Arizona State All-America lineman Randall McDaniel, former Oregon State coach (and Alabama graduate) Mike Riley, Miami (Ohio) AD David Sayler, Virginia AD Carla Williams and Arkansas AD Hunter Yurachek — will continue to serve in 2025.

General

Suns-Clippers free livestream: How to watch Kevin Durant tonight, TV, schedule

The Phoenix Suns play against the Los Angeles Clippers in an NBA game tonight. The matchup will begin at 9 p.m. CT on TNT. Fans can watch this basketball game for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

The Suns have struggled this season, as they enter this matchup with a 28-33 record. Notably, the Phoenix squad has lost four of their last five games. In their most recent game, the Suns lost 116-98 against Minnesota.

In order to bounce back tonight, the Suns will need to rely on their star forward Kevin Durant. He leads the team in scoring, as he averages nearly 27 points per game.

The Clippers enter this matchup with a 32-28 record, and they have lost back-to-back games. In their last game, the Clippers lost 108-102 against the Los Angeles Lakers.

In order to win this evening, the Clippers will need a great performance from their guard Norman Powell. He currently leads the team in scoring, as he averages nearly 24 points per game.

Fans can watch this NBA game for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

General

Three in-state men’s basketball coaches named finalist for Hugh Durham Award

The deepest basketball state in the country had three of its head coaches recognized on Tuesday.

The state of Alabama had three men’s basketball coaches named finalists for the annual Hugh Durham Award, which is presented by CollegeInsider.com to the top Mid-Major Division I coach in men’s basketball.

Those from the state included Jacksonville State coach Ray Harper, North Alabama coach Tony Pujol and South Alabama coach Richie Riley.

The state of Alabama is one of two states with three coaches on the list, with Virginia also having three recognized.

Harper’s Jax State squad sits in a tie for first in Conference USA, with a victory against Kennesaw State on Saturday clinching a share of the regular-season championship.

The Gamecocks are 20-10 overall and 12-5 in conference play, marking the fifth 20-win season for Jax State under Harper.

Pujol’s North Alabama team is in the midst of the program’s best season since transitioning to Division I, claiming a share of the ASUN Conference regular-season title; the championship marks UNA’s first in any sport since the move to Division I.

His Lions (23-9, 14-4) advanced to the ASUN Conference tourney semifinals with a 90-64 rout of Austin Peay in the program’s first home postseason game since 2017 and first since moving to Division I.

Riley’s South Alabama team will serve as the top season in the Sun Belt Conference tournament after finishing the regular season 21-10 overall and 13-5 in league play.

The 21-win mark is the most for South Alabama since 2008 and the highest mark under Riley, who was recently named this season’s Sun Belt Conference Joe Gottfried Coach of the Year in men’s basketball.

General

Social Security payments: Here’s when this month’s benefits averaging $2,000 will hit

Social Security recipients will receive their benefits on three consecutive Wednesdays in March.

The first payment going to people with a birth date from the first to the 10th of the month will receive their benefits on the second Wednesday of the month, or March 13. Those with birthdates between the 11th or the 20th of the month will receive their benefits on the third Wednesday (March 20); people born on the 21st -31st of the month will be paid on the fourth Wednesday (March 26).

Supplemental Social Security recipients received their March payment on Friday, March 1. People who received Social Security before May 1997 or those who received both SSI and Social Security received two separate payments – SSI on the 1st and Social Security on the 3rd.

SSI pays benefits to senior citizens, people who are blind and those with a qualifying disability who have very low incomes.

Payment schedules will remain the same through April but will have a slight alteration in May when SSI recipients will get two payments, one on May 1st and another on May 31st since the date for June’s payments – Saturday, June 1 – falls on a Saturday.

You can see the complete list of payment dates here.

According to the Social Security Administration, the average Social Security retirement benefit is $1,976 per month. The maximum monthly SSI payment for 2025 is $967 for an individual and $1,450 for a couple.

Some 73 million people receive Social Security and/or SSI.