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Tracking Alabama players landing free-agent deals with NFL teams

The 2025 NFL Draft has come to an end. Seven Alabama football players heard their names called over three days in Green Bay.

Two players went in the first round: guard Tyler Booker and linebacker Jihaad Campbell. One went in the third round: quarterback Jalen Milroe. Two more went in the fourth round: defensive back Malachi Moore and linebacker Que Robinson. Then tight end/fullback Robbie Ouzts went in the fifth round. Defensive lineman Tim Smith closed things out in the sixth round as the final Alabama player drafted.

Then the undrafted free-agent deals began.

Here’s our tracker of former Crimson Tide players who are landing deals with NFL teams after the draft.

Punter James Burnip joining New Orleans Saints

The Saints are signing Burnip “to compete” per New Orleans.Football reporter Nick Underhill. Alabama football confirmed the move on social em

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

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Thunderstorms with marble-sized hail in Geneva County Saturday, wind gusts reaching 40 mph

A weather alert was issued by the National Weather Service on Saturday at 5:29 p.m. for strong thunderstorms until 6 p.m. for Geneva County.

The storms are packing marble-sized hail (0.5 inches) and wind gusts of up to 40 mph.

“At 5:28 p.m., Doppler radar tracked strong thunderstorms along a line extending from 7 miles southwest of Samson to Laurel Hill. Movement was east at 15 mph,” states the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to vegetation is possible.”

Locations impacted by the alert include Gordon, Pond Creek, Fox Hill, Gaskin, Leonia, Darlington, Sweetgum Head, Royals Crossroads, Lakewood, Vaughanville, Flowersville, New Harmony, New Hope, Somerset, Paxton, Caney Creek and Geneva.

According to the weather service, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.”

When lightning looms: Expert safety tips for thunderstorms

Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these electrifying events occurring during the summer months. Unfortunately, lightning is responsible for claiming the lives of approximately 20 people annually, as reported by the weather service. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.

To protect yourself during a thunderstorm, take these recommendations into consideration:

Lightning safety plan:

  • When venturing outdoors, it’s vital to establish a clear plan for seeking shelter in case of lightning.
  • Stay vigilant by monitoring the sky for ominous signs and listening for the telltale sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s a clear indication of nearby lightning.
  • Seek shelter promptly in a safe location, preferably indoors.

Indoors safety measures:

  • Once you’ve found shelter indoors, abstain from using corded phones, electrical appliances, or plumbing fixtures, and refrain from approaching windows and doors.
  • Lightning can follow conductive pathways, and these precautions reduce the risk of electrical surges.

Wait for the all-clear:

  • After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
  • Lightning can strike even when a storm has seemingly passed, so exercise caution.

When indoor shelter isn’t available:

If you find yourself outdoors without access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:

  • Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, which expose you to greater lightning risk.
  • Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In forested areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
  • If you’re with a group, ensure individuals are spread out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
  • Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If you have no alternative, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. It’s crucial to note that a tent provides no protection against lightning.
  • Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.

In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, vigilance and preparedness are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the chances of lightning-related accidents and prioritize your safety.

Mastering wet roads: Safety tips for heavy rainfall

When heavy rain strikes, safety is paramount. Equip yourself with these guidelines from the weather service to navigate wet roads and avoid hazards:

Beware of rapid water flow:

Avoid parking or walking in close proximity to culverts or drainage ditches, as the swiftly moving water during heavy rain can potentially carry you away.

Maintain safe driving distances:

Adhere to the two-second rule for maintaining a safe following distance behind the vehicle in front of you. In heavy rain, allow an additional two seconds of distance to compensate for reduced traction and braking effectiveness.

Slow down and stay cautious:

On wet roads, reducing your speed is crucial. Ease off the gas pedal gradually and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.

Choose your lane wisely:

Stick to the middle lanes to minimize the risk of hydroplaning. Outer lanes are more prone to accumulating water.

Prioritize visibility

Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by turning on your headlights. Watch out for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.

Watch out for slippery roads:

The initial half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mixture of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.

Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:

Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid tailgating and pass them swiftly and safely.

Mind your windshield wipers:

Overloaded wiper blades can hinder visibility. If rain severely limits your sight, pull over and wait for conditions to improve. Seek refuge at rest areas or protected spots.

If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.

By following these safety measures, you can significantly reduce risks and ensure your well-being when heavy rain pours down. Stay informed about weather conditions and heed advice from local authorities to make your journey safe and sound.

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.

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Former Troy standout selected on Day 3 of 2025 NFL draft

Former Oregon and Troy wide receiver Tez Johnson, an Alabama native, was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL draft on Saturday.

Johnson, who played his high school football at Pinson Valley, went with the No. 235 overall pick. He is the adopted younger brother of Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, with whom he also played at Oregon in 2023.

The 5-foot-10, 154-pound Johnson totaled 310 receptions for 3,889 and 28 touchdowns in 55 college games — 36 in three seasons with the Trojans, 26 in two years with the Ducks. He was a second-team All-Big Ten pick at Oregon in 2024, when he caught 83 passes for 898 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Johnson’s NFL.com draft profile reads in part:

“Productive, high-volume slot receiver whose evaluation will include balancing the playmaking against his lack of traits. Johnson is thin-limbed with average suddenness and benefited from a scheme allowing him to run free in space. He’s clever and instinctive with his routes, finding ways to uncover over the first two levels. His hands are below average and he struggles when contested, but he’s tough to find and tackle quickly after the catch.

“Johnson’s lack of size, strength and NFL ball skills mean he’s likely to profile as a good community target rather than succeeding independent of the talent around him.”

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Jared Isaacman says reductions in NASA budget would not be ‘optimal’

Billionaire and two-time traveler to space Jared Isaacman could soon get the full Senate’s attention for his nomination by President Donald Trump to be the next head of NASA.

Isaacman testified April 9 before the Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation and written responses to questions from Republican and Democratic members were published Thursday.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and committee chairman, set a 10 a.m. session for Wednesday during which members could vote on Isaacman’s nomination and send it to the Senate floor for consideration.

Members from both sides of the aisle raised concerns about proposed budget cuts, especially to science missions, and pressed Isaacman for commitments to prioritize the moon over Mars.

His responses tiptoed around some issues, such as how involved SpaceX founder Elon Musk may have been in Trump’s decision to nominate Isaacman, as well avoiding any outright financial promises.

Isaacman twice flew as a customer of SpaceX, first with the Inspiration4 mission in 2021 on what was the first all-civilian orbital spaceflight. Last year he was on the Polaris Dawn mission during which he and a SpaceX employee performed the first commercial spacewalk.

The entrepreneur earned his fortune founding Shift4, a credit card processing company. He then founded aerospace company Draken, based in Lakeland, Florida, which helps train fighter pilots.

He leaned into that 26 years of experience when outlining what someone like himself, who’s not a politician, could bring to NASA.

“What I’ve learned is that results don’t come from slogans or slide decks — they come from leadership that’s present, hands-on, and relentlessly focused on mission execution,” he said in reply to a question from Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., about costs and delays in the Artemis program. “NASA knows this better than anyone — based on what has been accomplished historically — we just need to restore that mission-first culture.”

He hammered home his intentions to reduce bureaucracy and speed up decision-making while improving program management and making vendors accountable.

“If confirmed, I’ll roll up my sleeves, get in the trenches with the team and lead a cultural and program management transformation,” he said. “We’ll take a hard look at the real problems — both internal and external — that slow progress and put timelines and budgets at risk.”

A big focus of several senators has been reports Trump’s budget looks to cut NASA’s nearly $7.6 billion budget for space science by nearly half.

Isaacman assured he was keen to keep funding for existing programs such as the Hubble, James Webb and Chandra space telescopes.

“If confirmed, I will advocate for strong investment in space science — across astrophysics, planetary science, Earth science, lunar science and heliophysics — and for securing as much funding as the government can reasonably allocate,” he said. “I also believe we should look to amplify these efforts through partnerships with international partners, commercial industry and academia whenever possible.”

He also stated a commitment to the not-yet-launched Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, responding to a question from Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii.

“To my knowledge, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is nearing completion and remains on schedule and within budget — something that is unfortunately rare for flagship programs at the agency,” he said. “I’m not aware of any reason why it should be canceled and I would support its completion and successful deployment.”

The push by the Trump administration to drop space science funding also comes as several key personnel were terminated, including the agency’s chief scientist and chief technologist.

“A ~50% reduction to NASA’s science budget does not appear to be an optimal outcome,” Isaacman wrote in response to a question from Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., that was concerned about DOGE-type layoffs.

He also said he would look into those terminations as well as that of the agency’s chief economist, especially since he would need that sort of help to accomplish what he plans for NASA.

When pressed by Cruz about how he intends to assist in NASA’s goal of fostering a strong low-Earth economy, Isaacman said he would like to understand the agency’s current resources and internal capabilities.

“I’m aware that certain economic offices or roles were recently dissolved and I’d want to review that rationale and determine whether that expertise should be restored or supplemented,” he said.

A big push from senators was whether Isaacman would prioritize the president’s desire to put a human on Mars over the current plan for Artemis to return them to the moon — which Congress put into law.

“I’m committed to following the law — and as a lifelong space enthusiast, I would like nothing more than to see lunar operations become continuous, enduring and routine,” he said. “That said, maintaining American leadership in space will require flexible policies that ensure clear scientific, economic and strategic value for the American taxpayer and allow the agency, working with the Congress, to adapt to meet the ever changing geopolitical landscape.”

©2025 Orlando Sentinel. Visit orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Popular Birmingham coffee shop to close, cites ‘unsustainable’ environment

A coffeeshop in Homewood will close one of its two Alabama locations next week.

Bitty & Beau’s Coffee will close its doors in Homewood on April 30. The business is known for its employment and support of people with disabilities.

“The decision was not made lightly,” a letter posted at the location at 1625 Oxmoor Road said. “Unfortunately, the model set by others has proven unsustainable at our location. Despite our best efforts to find a viable solution, we have come to the heartbreaking conclusion that we must close our doors.”

The business credited the community with embracing its mission and helped create a place where inclusion and belonging thrived.

“By choosing to be a part of Bitty & Beau’s Coffee Birmingham, you did more than enjoy a coffee, you helped demonstrate that meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities matter,” the letter said. “Your support has made a lasting impact not only on our team but on the Homewood community.”

The Homewood location is one of two Bitty’s & Beau’s Coffee in Alabama. The other location is in Auburn. The franchise has 20 locations nationwide.

Their menu includes various coffees, smoothies, frappes and other drinks, as well as bagels, muffins, brownies and other eats.

Amy Wright, the company’s founder, is scheduled to speak at the “Power of Possibilities” lunch in May in support of Glenwood, a local nonprofit that serves people with autism and other disabilities.

The company opened in January 2016 in Wilmington, North Carolina, according to the Bitty & Beau’s website, and is known for its employment of people with disabilities.

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St. Paul’s, UMS-Wright score dramatic wins to set up quarterfinal matchup

John Stowers hit a 1-1 pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning for a two-run homer, lifting Class 5A No. 4 St. Paul’s to a dramatic 6-5 victory over Briarwood Christian in Game 3 of their second-round series.

The Saints (24-9) will play at rival UMS-Wright in the quarterfinal round next week. The Bulldogs held off Elmore County 3-2.

St. Paul’s trailed visiting Briarwood 5-4 entering the bottom of the seventh after having the potential tying run thrown out at the plate to end the sixth.

With one out, Tate Johnston doubled to centerfield to set up Stowers’ heroics. Briarwood finished 20-16.

Taylor O’Dell got the win with a scoreless inning of relief. Seth Staggs took the loss for Briarwood.

The Lions scored a pair of runs each in the first and second innings and never trailed until Stowers’ game-winning blow. Staggs was 3-for-3 with 2 runs scored for Briarwood. Ivan Hand was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

The first three hitters in St. Paul’s lineup (Johnston, Stowers and Edward McLeod) drove in 4 of their team’s 5 runs.

UMS-Wright 3, Elmore County 2

Ty Waters pitched a complete game and struck out 5 as the Bulldogs rallied to edge Elmore County in Game 3 of their 5A series.

Waters allowed 5 hits and 2 runs and walked 2. Gage Davis pitched all 6 innings for Elmore County, scattering 8 hits and allowing 3 runs. He struck out 4 and walked 4.

Manning Amorde gave UMS (19-11) with a two-run single in the bottom of the fourth. Jeff Holston had 2 hits and the other RBI for the Bulldogs. Shea Darnell went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Panthers.

Elmore County finished 25-11.

UMS will host Old Shell Road rival St. Paul’s in the quarterfinals next week. The teams played just once in the regular season with the Saints winning 2-0.

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Saturday baseball roundup: Fairhope, Tuscaloosa County, Auburn move on in Class 7A playoffs

Bryon Martin drove in 3 runs and Miles Drew Johnson 2 as No. 5 Fairhope got off to a quick start and eliminated visiting Dothan in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs on Saturday with an 11-3 win.

The Pirates (28-10) took the lead for good with 4 runs in the first inning. They added single runs in the second and fifth and 5 more in the sixth. Dothan finished 20-12.

Martin, Will Sparks, Johnson and Lance Wade each had 2 hits for Kyle Hunter’s team. Wade also drove in 2 runs.

Jerry McDowell went the distance for the win, allowing just 4 hits and 3 runs. He struck out 7 and walked 5.

Emmanuel Lewis was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs for the Wolves.

After losing Game 1 8-3, Fairhope stayed alive Friday with a 6-1 win to force Game 3.

CLASS 7A

Tuscaloosa County 4, James Clemens 2

Class 7A No. 10 Tuscaloosa County moved onto the second round of the Class 7A playoffs with a Game 2 victory over defending semifinal team James Clemens on Saturday.

Tuscaloosa County won Game 1 on Friday 9-4 before the remaining games were moved to Saturday due to field conditions.

The Wildcats will face Hoover or Grissom in the second round.

Tuscaloosa County tacked on a pair of runs in the top of the first with an RBI double from Camden Barnett and a grounder from Brooks Mellown scoring Kole Nicholson. Mellown added another RBI in the third and Drew Keller’s sacrifice fly in the fourth scored Joel Goss.

Mellown picked up the win for the Wildcats, allowing 4 hits and no earned runs (2 unearned) while walking 2 and striking out 4 across 4 innings. Ford Traweek got the save with 2 scoreless innings to close the game, while Brady Jones added an inning out of the bullpen.

James Clemens’ runs came on errors in the bottom of the third, with Malik Hardy and Hayden Udovich crossing home plate for the Jets. Bryson Hodge went 2-for-2 for James Clemens.

Auburn 7, Alma Bryant 3

Will Whatley’s grand slam in the top of the sixth inning rallied Auburn to a Game 3 victory over Alma Bryant.

The Tigers (20-16) trailed the Hurricanes 3-1 entering the sixth. Auburn tied the game on Weston Luther’s bases-loaded walk and Bryson Sheppard’s RBI single.

Whatley then hit a 3-1 pitch for the biggest blow in the series.

Alma Bryant finished 20-13.

Sheppard was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs for the Tigers. Brady Sack also had 2 hits. Max Autrey got the win with 4 innings of scoreless relief. He allowed just 2 hits and didn’t walk a batter.

Trevor Wilkerson was 2-for-4 with a homer for the Hurricanes. Hayden Phillips took the loss in relief.

CLASS 6A

Gardendale 6, Fort Payne 1

The Rockets turned Fort Payne mistakes into a pair of first inning runs and pitcher Austin Webb made it stand in the win.

Walks to Gardendale’s Caiden Combs and Adam Yazel were followed by an error, a run on a wild pitch and a groundout RBI.

Starter Webb threw 100 pitches with 61 strikes, scattering 5 hits and striking out 5 in 6 innings while Braden Chapple pitched a perfect seventh inning to preserve the victory.

Leadoff hitter Combs scored the first run of the game and was 2-for-2, including a solo home run, with 2 walks and 2 runs while Rowan Warmack was 2-for-3 with a double and RBI-single.

Cody Florence was 2-for 3 with the first inning RBI groundout, Carter Jenkins was 2-for-4 and Rhett Fitzpatrick had an RBI-double.

Gardendale (24-9) plays the winner of Buckhorn vs. Mountain Brook next week.

CLASS 2A

Vincent 5, North Sand Mountain 2

The top-ranked Yellow Jackets (27-6) overcame a 2-1 deficit with four runs in the final 2 innings for the win.

Trailing 2-1 in the fifth, homestanding Vincent tied it with a run-scoring single by Lane Mims and broke it open with 3 runs in the sixth.

A run-scoring single by Ethan McEllrath grabbed the lead while an RBI-double by Keller Finn and bases-loaded walk by Aiden Gasaway added the final run. McEllrath, Gasaway and Landon Archer were all 2-for-3 with 2 singles.

Starter Aiden Poe struck out 12 with 6 hits and a walk in the win.

Landon Keller had an RBI-single while Jackson Burgess added a groundout RBI and Luke Reed had a double.

CLASS 1A

Brantley 18, University Charter 1

The fifth-ranked Bulldogs pounded out 11 hits and 18 runs to win Game 3 of their Class 1A series.

Jon Harper Kilcrease had 3 hits, 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored for Brantley. He also pitched a five-inning complete game, striking out 4 and allowing 5 hits. The Bulldogs took advantage of 6 University Charter errors.

Kevin Freeman and Reese Odom each had 2 hits. Jayden Parks had a hit, 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored.

Brantley (18-3) will play Autauga Academy in the quarterfinals next week.

This post will be updated

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Virginia Giuffre, key voice in Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking scandal, dies

Virginia Giuffre, who accused Britain’s Prince Andrew and other influential men of sexually exploiting her as a teenager trafficked by financier Jeffrey Epstein, has died. She was 41.

Giuffre died by suicide Friday at her farm in Western Australia, her publicist confirmed.

“Virginia was a fierce warrior in the fight against sexual abuse and sex trafficking. She was the light that lifted so many survivors,” her family said in a statement. “Despite all the adversity she faced in her life, she shone so bright. She will be missed beyond measure.”

Her publicist Dini von Mueffling described Giuffre as “deeply loving, wise and funny.”

“She adored her children and many animals. She was always more concerned with me than with herself,” von Mueffling wrote in a statement. “I will miss her beyond words. It was the privilege of a lifetime to represent her.”

The American-born Giuffre, who lived in Australia for years, became an advocate for sex trafficking survivors after emerging as a central figure in Epstein’s prolonged downfall.

The wealthy, well-connected New York money manager killed himself in August 2019 while awaiting trial on U.S. federal sex trafficking charges involving dozens of teenage girls and young women, some as young as 14. The charges came 14 years after police in Palm Beach, Florida, first began investigating allegations that he sexually abused underage girls who were hired to give him massages.

Giuffre came forward publicly after the initial investigation ended in an 18-month Florida jail term for Epstein, who made a secret deal to avoid federal prosecution by pleading guilty instead to relatively minor state-level charges of soliciting prostitution. He was released in 2009.

In subsequent lawsuits, Giuffre said she was a teenage spa attendant at Mar-a-Lago — President Donald Trump’s Palm Beach club — when she was approached in 2000 by Epstein’s girlfriend and later employee, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Giuffre said Maxwell hired her as a masseuse for Epstein, but the couple effectively made her a sexual servant, pressuring her into gratifying not only Epstein but his friends and associates. Giuffre said she was flown around the world for assignations with men including Prince Andrew while she was 17 and 18.

The men denied it and assailed Giuffre’s credibility. She acknowledged changing some key details of her account, including the age at which she first met Epstein.

But many parts of her story were supported by documents, witness testimony and photos — including one of her and Andrew, with his his arm around her bare midriff, in Maxwell’s London townhouse.

Giuffre said in one of her lawsuits that she had sex with the royal three times: in London during her 2001 trip, at Epstein’s New York mansion when she was 17 and in the Virgin Islands when she was 18.

“Ghislaine said, ‘I want you to do for him what you do for Epstein,’” Giuffre told NBC News’ “Dateline” in September 2019.

Andrew categorically rejected Giuffre’s allegations and said he didn’t recall having met her.

His denials blew up in his face during a November 2019 BBC interview. Viewers saw a prince who proffered curious rebuttals — such as disputing Giuffre’s recollection of sweaty dancing by saying he was medically incapable of perspiring — and showed no empathy for the women who said Epstein abused them.

Within days of the interview, Andrew stepped down from his royal duties. He settled with Giuffre in 2022 for an undisclosed sum, agreeing to make a “substantial donation” to her survivors’ organization. A statement filed in court said that the prince acknowledged Epstein was a sex trafficker and Giuffre “an established victim of abuse.”

She also filed, and in at least some cases settled, lawsuits against Epstein and others connected to him. In one case, she dropped her claims against a prominent U.S. attorney, saying she might have erred in identifying him as one of the men to whom Epstein supplied her.

Epstein’s suicide put an end to his accusers’ hopes of holding him criminally accountable.

Maxwell was convicted in 2021 on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. She said she wasn’t to blame for Epstein’s abuse.

Prosecutors elected not to include Giuffre’s allegations in the Maxwell case, but Giuffre later told the court that the British socialite had “opened the door to hell.”

Giuffre, born Virginia Roberts, told interviewers that her childhood was shattered when she was sexually abused as a grade-schooler by a man her family knew. She later ran away from home and endured more abuse, she said.

She said she met her now-husband in 2002 while taking massage training in Thailand at Epstein’s behest. She married, moved to Australia and had a family.

Giuffre founded an advocacy charity, SOAR, in 2015.

Giuffre separated from her husband and children this year. She had been charged with breaching a family violence restraining order over an incident in February, and was set to apepar in court in June in the city of Perth, where her estranged husband and children live.

She had yet to enter a plea to the charge. A conviction would have carried a potential maximum sentence of two years in prison.

Giuffre was hospitalized after a serious accident, her publicist said last month. She didn’t answer questions at the time about the date, location, nature or other specifics of the accident and about the accuracy of an Instagram post that appeared to come from Giuffre. The post said she had been in a car that was hit by a school bus and her prognosis was dire.

She is survived by her three children, whom the statement described as the “light of her life.”

Sigrid McCawley, an attorney for Giuffre, said in a statement, “Her courage pushed me to fight harder, and her strength was awe-inspiring. The world has lost an amazing human being today. Rest in peace, my sweet angel.”

The AP does not identify people who say they were victims of sexual assault unless they have come forward publicly.

___

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in Australia is available by calling 13 11 14. In the U.S., it is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org

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Myles Hammonds’ walk-off homer in eighth inning lifts 7A No. 2 Bob Jones past No. 6 Thompson

The defending Class 7A state champions are moving on after a wild finish.

A walk-off home run from Myles Hammonds in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted Class 7A No. 2 Bob Jones to a 7-6 victory over No. 6 Thompson in a decisive Game 3 of a first-round playoff series.

The Patriots will face Class 7A No. 1 Hewitt-Trussville for a highly-anticipated matchup in the second round.

Hammonds’ game-winning home run to left field was preceded by a 3-run home run by Tanner Hermesch in the bottom of the seventh with one out. The homer scored Cole Spainer and Alabama signee Zack Johnson while also tying the game up 6-6.

All of the Patriots’ runs were scored on homers, with solo shots from Dillon Atkins and C Martin in the bottom of the first giving Bob Jones a 2-0 lead.

Thompson tacked on 5 of its 6 runs in the top of the third, which included a 3-run homer from Wyatt Williams and a solo homer from Ma’Kale Holden, both Alabama baseball recruits.

Ashton Blair’s sacrifice fly to score Collier Smith in the bottom of the seventh provided the final run for the Warriors.

Josh Wilhide picked up the win for Bob Jones with 5.2 innings of work out of the bullpen. He allowed 2 earned runs and a walk while striking out a pair of batters.

Johnson went a perfect 4-for-4 for Bob Jones, while Hammonds, Spainer and Drake Barbee collected a pair of hits each.

Holden and Anderson Harris both went 2-for-4 at the plate for Thompson in the loss.

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Jaguars select Auburn linebacker Jalen McLeod at No. 194 in sixth round of 2025 NFL Draft

Another Auburn football player is off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Outside linebacker Jalen McLeod was selected in the sixth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars, becoming the third Auburn player selected. He’s the first Auburn defensive player to be picked in 2025.

McLeod spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons on the Plains, transferring to Auburn from Appalachian State after Hugh Freeze was hired. During those two seasons, McLeod tallied 106 tackles, 13.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, becoming one of the Tigers’ best pass rushers.

He had the best pass rush grade (90.7) on the team, per Pro Football Focus, and the fifth-best pass rush grade in the Southeastern Conference among players with 10 or more pass rush snaps.

McLeod attended both the Reese’s Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine, where he spent time working out as an inside linebacker to test his versatility.

“Rushing the passer, playing the edge, playing off, Sam, Mike. It helped me put good things on film,” McLeod said during the Senior Bowl. “So, the scouts see those things and can help me in different places right now.”

With McLeod gone, Auburn added Sam Houston State transfer Chris Murray to help fill the hole, along with incoming freshman Jared Smith. The Tigers also return Keyron Crawford and Jamonta Waller at the buck linebacker position

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

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