General News

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The high-tech Dyson V15 Detect Absolute vacuum is on sale for $100 off

Dyson just slashed the price of its super-high tech cordless vacuum, the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute, which reveals hidden dust and debris that most other vacuums cannot do.

With this deal, you can score the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute cordless vacuum for $649.99 instead of the normal list price of $749.99. This is a $100 discount overall.

Dyson V15 Detect Absolute

$749.99 $649.99

The Dyson V15 Detect Absolute cordless vacuum is on sale for $100 off this week.

Buy Now

RELATED: Dyson is offering its powerful robot vacuum for its cheapest price yet

A notable feature of the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute is its dust detect sensor and LCD screen. The dust detect sensor counts dust particles up to 15,000 times a second. It automatically adjusts suction power based on the amount of dust detected. The LCD screen displays real-time data on the particles being removed, providing scientific proof of a deep clean.

The Fluffy Optic™ cleaner head is another standout feature of the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute. It uses a precisely angled light to reveal microscopic dust and dirt particles on hard floors that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye. This illumination ensures a more thorough clean, as users can see exactly where dust and debris are located. The soft nylon and anti-static carbon fiber filaments of the cleaner head gently capture this dust from crevices and hard surfaces, making it ideal for delicate cleaning.

Meanwhile, its advanced filtration system includes whole-machine HEPA filtration, capturing 99.99% of particles as small as 0.1 microns. The vacuum utilizes 14 cyclones to separate dust and debris, maintaining consistent suction power.

RELATED: Target is offering a rare deal on the BISSELL CrossWave vacuum mop

The Dyson V15 Detect Absolute vacuum is also one of the better-rated Dyson stick vacuums with 4.6 stars overall on Dyson’s website.

One promising review states, “The Dyson V15 Detect Absolute has completely exceeded my expectations! I absolutely love this vacuum. The functionality of the pullout crevice tool integrated directly into the wand is incredibly convenient, making it easy to reach tight spots without any hassle. The battery life is fantastic, allowing for extended cleaning sessions without the need for frequent recharging. Everyone in my household who has used it has nothing but rave reviews. It’s powerful, efficient, and the smart design features make cleaning feel effortless. The Dyson V15 Detect Absolute is a game-changer and a must-have for any home!”

Those interested in this deal on the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute vacuum can checkout the full listing on Dyson’s website.

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Oak Mountain junior earns Gatorade Alabama Boys Track & Field honors

Oak Mountain High School rising senior Cooper Jeffcoat is the 2024-25 Gatorade Alabama Boys Track & Field Player of the Year, the company announced on Wednesday.

Jeffcoat, a 6-foot-2, 130-pound middle-distance and distance runner, won the national title in the 800-meter run at the RunningLane Track Championships with an Alabama record finish of 1:49.75. That effort ranked 28th nationally among high school boys competitors.

Jeffcoat won the 800 in the Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 7A state championship track meet. He finished third in the 1600 with a personal best 4:12.93 and was sixth in the 400-meters.

“Jeffcoat set a state record in the 800 en route to a national title,” Rich Gonzalez, editor of PrepCalTrack.com, said in the Gatorade news release. “Throw in his range from 400 meters out to 1600 and he’s got a very impressive resume this spring.”

Jeffcoat maintained a 3.47 grade point average at Oak Mountain and volunteered for the OTM youth track program. He is also a member of the Church of the Highlands congregation.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program is in its 40th year of honoring the nation’s top high school athletes.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states across 12 different high school sports – football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball and boys and girls track & field – and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.

Every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $5.6 million in grants to winners across more than 2,000 organizations.

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More heat advisories for Alabama today: How hot will it get?

Above-average temperatures are again in the forecast for Alabama on Wednesday, and heat advisories will be in effect for a large part of the state.

The National Weather Service is forecasting high temperatures to climb into the mid- to even upper 90s this afternoon (see today’s forecast high temperatures at the top of this post).

Combine those air temperatures with high humidity levels and it will feel even hotter.

The weather service expects the heat index, or “feels like” temperature, to climb as high as 108 this afternoon, which could cause heat illnesses in those not taking precautions.

There will be better chances for rain and storms today, and some of those could be severe. Here is the severe weather outlook for Wednesday:

Strong to severe storms will be possible across a large part of Alabama today. Above is Wednesday’s severe weather outlook. Most of south and east Alabama has a Level 2 out of 5 risk for severe weather. Areas in dark green have a Level 1 risk. Storms will be possible through at least Friday.Storm Prediction Center

Here is a look at Wednesday’s heat advisories:

NORTH ALABAMA

  • Heat advisory for all of north Alabama until 7 p.m. Thursday. The weather service said the heat index could range from 100 to 107 in those areas both afternoons.

CENTRAL ALABAMA

  • Heat advisory for all of central Alabama until 7 p.m. Wednesday. The weather service said heat index values as high as 108 will be possible in parts of the region this afternoon.

SOUTH ALABAMA

South Alabama forecast

Here’s the forecast for Wednesday for south Alabama.NWS

Southeast Alabama forecast

Here is the forecast for southeast Alabama for Wednesday.NWS

There are no heat advisories in effect today for south Alabama, but temperatures are expected to soar well into the 90s today.

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Former Florida coach skeptical of Arch Manning hype, questions why he didn’t play over Quinn Ewers

Steve Spurrier hasn’t lost his gift of gab.

The former Florida coach made headlines Tuesday for his take on Texas football and its quarterback, Arch Manning.

“People picking Texas to win the SEC in football,” Spurrier said on Another Dooley podcast. “They’ve got Arch Manning already winning the Heisman, too. My question is, if he’s that good, how come they let Quinn Ewers play all the time last year? He was a seventh-round pick.”

Ewers completed 293 of 445 passes for 3,472 yards, 31 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season for the Longhorns.

“You’ll have to ask coach (Sarkisian), ‘How come you played that one instead of this one?’” Spurrier said. “Hopefully he would say, ‘Because we thought this one was better than that one.’ Isn’t that why you would play one guy instead of the other? Unless it was a discipline issue — and there was no discipline or anything. … If one guy’s struggling, give the other guy a chance.”

Ewers missed time due to injury. Manning did have back-to-back starts against Louisiana Monroe and Mississippi State, where Texas outscored its opponents 86-16.

He threw for 583 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions during those games.

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.

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With 8th school set to open, Madison City Schools faced with rezoning: ‘You can’t please everybody’

Madison city school leaders are handling being one of the fastestgrowing areas in the state. They are set to open a new elementary school for the 2026-2027 school year.

Russell Branch Elementary will be the eighth elementary school in the school district.

New addition to Madison City SchoolsMegan Plotka

Madison City Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols said it’s necessary to bring in an additional school because all of the existing elementary schools are at 100% capacity. He is trying to keep up with the 350 new students who have been coming into the district each year for the last 10 years.

It’s been compounding over the past couple of years.

“Even with the last four years of growth, we’ve had about 2,000 new houses and 2,000 new apartments in the last four years,” Nichols said. “We still would have seen growth. But you know, that magnifies it.”

The system added Midtown Elementary School five years ago, which added 500 seats to the district. Soon after, they realized they would need another elementary school. That’s when they started planning for Russell Branch Elementary, which would hold 1,000 students. It’s being built inside the new Madison Branch subdivision off of Hardiman Road, just past the new roundabout.

He is taking into account the physical space of the school because he prioritizes “programmatic” growth. That means he will continue to pour into programs like career technology and fine arts.

“If you don’t have the adequate space, then you have to start turning people away from the programs that, in ways, drive students to have success outside just the academics,” Dr. Nichols said. “So that’s a challenge we’ve got to look at, as we grow the high schools to 2,500 or 2,600 that we’re still able to offer students access to these programs, and we’re not turning students away. Then you need facilities. Right now, we have two and a half art teachers with two art rooms, but we’ll need three rooms, and you have two drama teachers at each school, but maybe you’ll need a third one. So you don’t want to take students out of these career tech or fine arts or those programs, they’re going to grow as the school grows.”

While many parents are happy with their Madison City education, they dread possibly having to move their kids to different schools. One of those parents is Madison City Council Parent Teacher Association President Sarita Edwards. All five of her children are either attending or have graduated from a Madison City school. Two children are in high school, and one is in elementary school.

“It’s a part of the world that comes with living in Madison city, and so you know I just always try to keep an open mind and hope that the result doesn’t drastically affect our dynamic,” said Edwards. “I don’t think any of us enjoy the process, but it is to be expected.”

Elijah is her youngest. He’s a rising third grader at Rainbow Elementary School. She prefers that he stay at Rainbow because he’s doing well in his special education program. He was diagnosed with Trisomy 18. It’s a chromosomal abnormality that has led him to be wheelchair-bound and non-verbal. She worries about adapting to a new environment.

“My other children had really good experiences in different elementary schools, too,” Edwards said. “I’m not necessarily afraid of him having a negative experience, I just know the good experience at Rainbow. So it would be a learning curve for all of us. It would be a learning curve for me. It would be a learning curve for them to know my son. It would be a learning curve for him to get to know another group of people, and it’s a lot to consider. Because of his special health needs, that’s always a priority in terms of my thoughts.”

She says she doesn’t know if he’ll have to move to a different zone, since he was specifically moved to Rainbow Elementary School. She’s not particularly worried about going to a different Madison City School.

“The school system has been phenomenal,” she said. “I have friends in other districts outside of North Alabama who talk about the challenges that they have with their special education needs, and I’m able to say that I don’t have those challenges. We have an amazing team for him. They are part of our medical team. We try to have full care coordination, we bring in what they do at school for him to the healthcare space, and it helps navigate his entire care.”

Parents like Edwards have already been included in the rezoning process. Dr. Nichols hosted two focus groups with 60 community stakeholders to gather input on where to establish the new zones.

“My takeaway was all the intricate parts that come with rezoning, it’s not just about choosing the school that’s closest to your home, like it’s so many variables that need to be considered,” said Edwards. “That was the fresh perspective that I walked away with.”

Those maps were turned over to construction scheduling experts HPM Consultants to draft three rezoning options. Each potential plan includes rezoning options for elementary, middle, and high schools, which take into account how they interconnect.

Dr. Nichols prioritizes socioeconomic diversity in each zone as well as ensuring that every school is at approximately 90% capacity.

“The predominant amount of growth probably is on the western side of Madison, but we can’t build everything on the western side,” Nichols said. “If we do, we can’t balance our schools right.”

The three draft maps were sent out to Madison City parents a couple of weeks ago. They were asked to vote for their preferred map. Dr. Nichols said approximately 3,000 out of 24,000 parents responded.

He said he expects to narrow down the options and send out one to two more surveys for feedback. He will also host community meetings to hear parents’ concerns.

“I think the last time the final product (Midtown Elementary School) that we came up with, while you can’t please everybody, we did take into account a lot of feedback we got, and so it helped us to have a better zoning plan,” Nichols said.

He’s confident that his school system can provide an excellent education, even if students have to leave their current school.

“The number one thing is, parents love their school, and we don’t want to leave our school, and I understand that. But the good news is, you’re going to go into another high-performing school. I mean, our high schools and middle schools are in the top 2% performance-wise, and our elementary schools, there are far more of them. I think there are probably 700-plus elementary schools in the state. They’re probably top 4% of every one of those, and they rank nationally. So you’re wherever you go, you’re walking into a great school.

It’s the kids through the years, parents have told me this, the kids adapt far faster than the adults. Maybe adapt to the change. But you know, nobody likes a change. Nobody likes that. And that’s probably the biggest thing.”

He encourages parents to keep an eye out for the next survey and community meeting.

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Severe storms possible next 3 days in Alabama: What to expect today

Parts of Alabama may have to deal with severe storms for the next three days.

NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a risk for severe weather in Alabama on Wednesday, Thursday and now on Friday.

Storms all three days could have damaging straight-line winds capable of taking down trees and power lines, hail and heavy rain, according to the National Weather Service. Tornadoes are not expected.

Today there is a Level 2 out of 5 (slight) risk for severe storms for most of east and south Alabama.

A Level 2 risk means that scattered severe storms will be possible.

All of the rest of Alabama except the northwest corner has a Level 1 risk today and could get isolated severe storms.

Today’s storms will be tracking from east to west, according to the weather service. So look for them to develop in Georgia and track westward into Alabama this afternoon.

Forecasters added that very hot temperatures and high humidity levels expected on Wednesday will provide ample fuel for storms to develop and intensify.

THURSDAY

All of Alabama will have a Level 1 severe weather risk on Thursday.SPC

All of Alabama is forecast to have a Level 1 risk for severe weather on Thursday, which means isolated severe storms will be possible.

Damaging winds and hail will again be the main concerns.

Storms will be more likely during the afternoon and evening and should diminish overnight.

FRIDAY

Friday severe outlook

There will be a Level 1 risk for severe weather for the eastern half of Alabama on Friday.SPC

The Storm Prediction Center has added a Level 1 risk for the eastern half of Alabama on Friday.

Isolated severe storms will be possible for those areas.

Damaging winds, hail and heavy rain will again be the main concerns with any stronger storm that develops.

The most likely time for stronger storms will again be during the afternoon and evening.

THE WEEKEND

The weather service expects daily chances for afternoon rain and storms through the weekend in Alabama, but so far a risk for severe weather has not been added to the forecast by the Storm Prediction Center.

However, summertime storms always have the potential –thanks to abundant heat and humidity –s to become intense, with frequent lightning and heavy downpours.

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Are ‘Trump accounts’ the right move for your children? What parents should know

If you could give your newborn child a $1,000 jumpstart on life courtesy of Uncle Sam, you’d do it in a heartbeat, right?

Even better, the money would go into an investment account where it would sit untouched until the child turns 18 thereby enjoying the benefits of compounding.

Those are key selling points behind the so-called “Trump accounts,” an element of the controversial “big beautiful budget bill” supported by the president and House Republicans.

Under the proposal, the wealth-building accounts would be available only to children born from Jan. 1, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2028 regardless of socio-economic status. The government would make a one-time contribution of $1,000 in each account, and the accounts would then track a stock index and allow for additional private contributions of up to $5,000 per year.

But even if you didn’t add another cent, for example, that $1,000 would grow to nearly $7,000 in 20 years, depending on market conditions and assuming a 10 percent annual return.

At age 18, the child could withdraw up to half of the money in the account. When the child turns 25, your child would have access to the full balance but only for certain purposes, such as higher education, purchasing a home, or starting a small business.

Only when the account holder turns 30 would they gain full control of all the funds. “So there are strings attached,” said Kate Ashford, an investing specialist at NerdWallet.

To open an account, at least one of the child’s parents or guardians would need to have a Social Security number with the authorization to work in the U.S.

The cost? The Washington Post estimated that since there are roughly 3.6 million babies born each year, the cost of the program would be about $3.6 billion annually.

When you compare these accounts to 529 college savings plans, Ashford notes, many states offer a tax deduction or credit for 529 contributions. There’s no such tax benefit with the Trump account.

While the investment account proposal has its detractors, I’m generally for anything in our consumption oriented society that promotes saving – especially at a very early age.

So what’s the right path?

Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate.com, had an interesting take. “One of the best gifts I ever got was a few shares of a mutual fund from my great-aunt and great uncle when I graduated college,” he said.

“That part was life-changing in that it encouraged my career in finance and encouraged me to put more money into that mutual fund and to sign up for a 401(k) and later a 529 savings plan and so on… But it was that early exposure and financial literacy lesson that made the gift so valuable.”

Whether the savings account survives the budget process and becomes a reality remains to be seen, but here’s hoping that there’s proper debate over its merits.

Cynthia Fitzthum, of the Center for Economic Education at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, put it this way: Socking away money in a government supported investment account “has to become properly hardwired in the American democratic debate in a way that it hasn’t really been.”

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(Questions, comments, column ideas? Send an email to [email protected].)

©2025 Steve Rosen. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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JD Crowe: War is Trump’s deadliest unconstitutional distraction

This is an opinion cartoon.

His lame little military parade didn’t flatter and feed his machismo enough, so Trump tossed a few bunker-busters at Iran.

In the process of going rogue without congressional approval, the president also bunker-buster bombed the U.S. Constitution.

There was no ‘oops.’ He intentionally bypassed Congress. And the democracy death march continues …

Never thought I’d be in semi-partial agreement on anything with Marjorie Taylor Greene, but here we are: The Georgia Congresswoman vehemently voiced her opposition to President Trump’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, claiming the attack “feels like a complete bait and switch to please the neocons.”

I expect monkeys to fly out of my butt any moment.

“There’s always a danger in U.S. wars that dissent is labeled as disloyalty,’ writes Mark Jacob in his Stop the Presses newsletter. ”But in fact, the people who oppose Trump’s go-it-alone approach – without congressional authorization – are the ones showing the highest regard for our laws and the Constitution’s system of checks and balances.”

Jacob, a former journalist and author of several books, reminds us that lying politicians are even more dishonest during war. I shudder to think Trump could lie even more than he does already, but war gives him an excuse to break his own deceitful records.

“There’s a reason George Orwell wrote in “1984” that “The war is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous,” writes Jacob. “Totalitarian governments use war as a rationale for total control over their citizens. They frighten citizens into giving up their rights.”

“War is the deadliest distraction in the authoritarian’s playbook,” writes radio personality and political commentator Thom Hartmann,

“In the modern era, it was probably George W. Bush who first said it out loud and then acted on it: When you’re unpopular and losing politically, just start a little war that’s easily winnable and you’ll be back on top,” says Hartmann.

“It worked for Bush, although history hasn’t been kind to him as a result. Trump’s second presidency, meanwhile, has been an unmitigated disaster, both in real terms and politically as his approval ratings have slipped so far underwater they’re in late-years Nixon territory.”

Read all of The Hartmann Report opinion piece here.

“Trump’s war on Iran is illegal and immoral,” writes Jason Sattler (better known as LOLGOP on Blue Sky and X Twitter) on his The Farce Substack.

An excerpt:

“Trump started a war by bombing nuclear facilities that had been effectively neutralized under the nuclear deal America and our allies made with the UN Security Council and the European Union. If that war is legal in any way, the regime will claim that legality through the War Powers Act.

“On X, Amash destroyed that argument with his explanation of the War Powers Act:

One of the most frequently misrepresented federal statutes—often falsely used to justify unconstitutional presidential war powers—is the War Powers Resolution (or Act.)

Contrary to what you may have heard about the War Powers Resolution, it does not allow the president to take military action for any reason for 60-90 days without congressional approval so long as the president notifies Congress within 48 hours.

Read more here.

JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group andAL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award for local and state cartoons by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter@Crowejam andInstagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler @[email protected].

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Country music star has dental issue during show: ‘I hope my teeth stay in tonight’

LeAnn Rimes revealed to her fans quite the embarrassing moment.

The country music star said she recently suffered a dental mishap during a performance.

“We’re going to do a little story time about how the show must go on,” she posted in the clip posted to her Instagram page. “And this is the most epic example of how the show must go on.

“So last night, I was on stage in the middle of ‘One Way Ticket.’ I feel something pop in my mouth. And if you’ve been around, you know I’ve had a lot of dental surgeries, and I have a bridge in the front,” she said. “It fell out in the middle of my song last night.”

Rimes, who called it the most epic experience ever, said she popped it back in and continued her performance.

“For the rest of the show, I was literally…pushing my teeth in every couple lines and singing, which, by the way, I never knew how many F’s and Th’s and Sh’s I have in my songs!”’

She added:

“I hope my teeth stay in tonight! We shall see.”

“The front row, get ready for something to fly out. If you catch them, please return them. You know, good times, just keeping it real with you, as real as I had to last night. As I said, there wasn’t a fu**ing thing I could do about it except either walk off or hold my teeth in and sing. So I just ran with it. In case anybody has an issue on stage ever and feels embarrassed by it, just watch this video again, and it’ll remind you that the show can go on even amid sheer utter embarrassment. You just got to be real with people.”

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.

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Cook out or cook in, these three recipes will make your July 4 a blast

Independence Day is special for a lot of reasons.

It combines the best American virtues of patriotism and love of country with our shared devotion to gathering with friends to blow up stuff on a grand scale.

Combine that with another prime American trait – the love of good food – and you have an excellent recipe for a midsummer party of epic proportions.

If tradition holds, and I have no firm reason to believe that it won’t, the main course will almost certainly be some sort of pork or beef product that has been cooked outdoors over a roaring fire. As if it’s not hot enough outside, we need to build a roaring fire to stand over all day and complain about the heat.

It’s just how we do it.

And what, you ask, is on the menu for this most American of all holidays? At my humble manse, the main event will almost certainly be some cut of pork ribs.

Most likely that will be baby backs, simply because they are much more forgiving than St. Louis-style or country-style or any other cut of pork rib. They are also meatier and much more tender.

And no, baby back ribs do not come from baby pigs. They are smaller than spare ribs, hence the name “baby” in their title.

They also cook quicker than other cuts, thus lessening the need to stand around over a smoker or grill all day.

But let’s say it’s too hot to spend the whole day outside. What’s another way to cook up tasty baby backs without the risk of heat stroke?

Cook them in the oven, I say.

It’s not only doable, the result is tender, tasty and delicious ribs cooked indoors. Here is a recipe I stole from Allrecipes.com, and it is pretty easy for home chefs of all skill levels.

You can cook delicious baby back ribs in the over if you want to avoid the heat of an outdoor grill.

Oven-Baked Baby Back Ribs

4 servings

  • ½ cup ancho chile powder
  • ¼ cup white sugar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup salt
  • 2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon ground dried chipotle pepper
  • 1 rack baby back pork ribs
  • 1 cup barbeque sauce

Gather ingredients and preheat the oven to 250 degrees.

Mix ancho chile powder, white and brown sugars, salt, black pepper, cumin, dry mustard, cayenne, and chipotle pepper in a small bowl until combined.

Place rib rack, meat-side down, on heavy-duty aluminum foil. Prick back of the rack several times with a knife. Generously apply a coating of dry rub to all sides of the rack. Store any remaining dry rub in an airtight container for future use.

With the meat facing down, fold foil around the rack to create a tight seal. Transfer to a sheet pan.

Bake in the preheated oven until tender and cooked through, about 2 hours. Remove and cool 15 minutes.

Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees.

Open foil, drain and discard any accumulated juices and fat. Brush barbeque sauce on all sides of the rack.

Turn the rack on the foil so the meat is facing up. Return to the oven, leaving the foil open, and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and brush another layer of barbeque sauce on the meat side only. Repeat baking and brushing with sauce 4 more times, for a total of 50 minutes additional baking time.

Cut rack into individual rib segments and serve with more barbeque sauce.

There are a number of acceptable side dishes for a Fourth of July gala, anything from traditional sides like potato salad and baked beans to three bean salad to cole slaw.

Speaking of cole slaw (see what I did there?) here is a recipe that I have had for more than 40 years. I got it from a former colleague when I lived in North Alabama.

I fell in love with it because it is unlike any slaw I had ever tasted. It goes well by itself as a side or it really shines as a topping for a pulled pork sandwich.

Pool Room Slaw

Makes 4-5 quarts

  • 1 gallon cabbage, shredded (one to two large heads)
  • 3 onions, chopped
  • 2 large bell peppers, chopped
  • 3 carrots, grated
  • 1 cup white vinegar
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 1½ teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon plain salt (not iodized)
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 cups prepared mustard

Mix all ingredients and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 minutes. Refrigerate remainder. It will last for 3-4 days.

Finally, since July 4th is such a special occasion and it is right around the corner, I felt it only right and proper that we celebrate with a dish that is equally special.

Royal red shrimp are native to the Gulf Coast and have a unique flavor and texture unlike any other shrimp that I’ve ever tried. They are incredibly sweet with an almost lobster-like feel to them.

They cost a bit more than regular shrimp, but they are worth it. So are you, so splurge and try this one on for size.

This is a recipe from the good folks at Southern Living.

Grilled Royal Reds with Lemony Garlic Butter

6 servings

  • 1 cup (8 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1½ tablespoon garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons lemon zest, plus 2½ tablespoons fresh juice (about 2 lemons)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 2 pounds fresh royal red shrimp
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Preheat grill to medium (350-400 degrees).

Stir together butter, garlic, lemon zest and juice, thyme, pepper, and 1 teaspoon of the salt in a medium bowl until well combined.

Toss together shrimp, oil, and remaining 1 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Grill shrimp, covered, just until shrimp are bright red and charred, 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Toss with lemony garlic butter and serve immediately.

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