Alabama News

An elderly man is under arrest, accused of shooting at two repo men overnight in St. Clair County.

Allen Lane Thomas, 79, is charged with two counts of attempted murder and shooting into an occupied vehicle.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call Chula Vista Drive in Pell City about midnight Wednesday.

Sheriff Billy Murray said two men with repossession orders went to a residence there and took possession of a vehicle.

As they were leaving with the vehicle, Murray said, Thomas exited the home and opened fire on them. The bullets struck the occupied tow truck, but no injuries were reported.

Thomas was taken into custody at the scene. He is being held in the St. Clair County Jail on bonds total $180,000.

Boccia, a game of strategy and precision played by athletes with disabilities, will bring the world back to Birmingham in summer 2026.

Hot off the completion of the World Police and Fire Games, that brought athletes from more than 70 countries, the Boccia International Sports Federation announced Birmingham as the host city for the World Boccia Challenger, scheduled for June 16 to 23, 2026. The event will be the first time since 2017 the United States has hosted a world event for boccia.

“It is our great honor to welcome the global boccia community to Birmingham, Alabama,” Dan Williams, president and CEO of the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau, said in a statement.

“Hosting this important and impactful event reinforces Birmingham’s reputation as a premier sports destination, and provides an incredible opportunity to showcase our city’s signature hospitality, world-class venues and vibrant culture.”

Boccia, an adapted version of bocce, became a Paralympic sport in 1984 and has become one of the fastest-growing Paralympic sports practiced in more than 50 countries worldwide, according to the Boccia International Sports Federation.

The Birmingham event will bring together athletes from around the globe where competitors can earn points toward qualification for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

The competition will be held at Lakeshore Foundation, an internationally recognized sports facility for people with disabilities and home for Boccia United States through the Lakeshore National Adapted Sports Organization.

“Lakeshore’s selection to host an international event on our home soil gives us an opportunity to highlight the outstanding facilities at Lakeshore and it gives us a great opportunity to work with city leaders to show off Birmingham as a vibrant and accessible host city,” Jen Allred, Lakeshore’s chief program officer, said in a statement.

“As the home for Boccia United States, we are excited for the opportunity.”

Birmingham will be placed on the world stage among other major cities such as Ryad, Saudi Arabia, Montreal, Canada and Seoul, South Korea which will also be hosting Boccia competitions in 2026.

The full list of 2026 World Boccia events includes:

• Ryad 2026 World Boccia Challenger, Saudi Arabia
• Montreal 2026 World Boccia Cup, Canada
• Birmingham 2026 World Boccia Challenger, USA
• South American Para Games – Valledupar, Columbia
• Povoa 2026 World Boccia Cup – Portugal
• Astana 2026 World Boccia Cup, Kazakhstan
• Poznan 2026 World Boccia Challenger, Poland
• Seoul 2026 World Boccia Championships, South Korea
• Pilsen 2026 World Boccia Challenger, Czech Republic
• Asian Para Games – Nagoya, Japan
• Foz do Iguaçu 2026 World Boccia Cup, Brazil

A brand new season of the long-running reality series The Real Housewives of Orange County premieres on Bravo Thursday, July 10 at 9/8c.

Those interested in watching the upcoming season of the hit Bravo series can stream the season 19 premiere through Fubo (free trial), DirecTV (free trial), Sling (50% off first month) or Peacock (next day).

What we know about RHOC season 19 ahead of premiere

The season 19 trailer of RHOC dropped July 5 and revealed juicy hints at what’s to come from the ladies in the upcoming season.

Throughout the trailer, viewers can see cast members participating in trips to New Orleans and Amsterdam. Also featured in the trailer are sit-downs of each woman participating in a polygraph test, which seems to ignite even more distrust among the housewives.

Those who catch the trailer ahead of the premiere also get a sneak peek at drama between Tamra and Gretchen and Tamra and Jennifer.

Along with issues within their own ‘tight-knit’ friend group, some of the ladies are also navigating relationship and family issues this season including Emily.

It was announced earlier this year that Emily and her husband, Shane, are working to navigate a health issue related to one of their twin sons, Luke. With the strain of the rare medical diagnosis clouding their minds, Emily finds her relationship with her husband slowly deteriorating.

During the season 19 premiere episode, several of the ladies’ update fans on where they currently are in their lives—and some include major developments.

Jenn continues prep for her upcoming wedding to Ryan Boyajian, all the while avoiding her ongoing feud with her former best friend, Tamra.

Meanwhile, Emily reveals more on her heartbreaking family issue, and Tamra opens up about her past trauma in therapy.

Meet the RHOC season 19 cast

Season 19 of the hit reality series sees the return of cast members Tamra Judge, Shannon Storms Beador, Heather Dubrow, Gina Kirschenheiter, Emily Simpson, Jennifer Pedranti and Katie Ginella. Joining the housewives this season is Gretchen Rossi, a friend of the ladies.

How to watch RHOC season 19 without cable

Cord cutters interested in streaming the upcoming season of RHOC can find it available through Fubo, DirecTV or Sling.

Both Fubo and DirecTV offer free trials for new subscribers to enjoy while Sling offers those that commit to a paid subscription through their platform half off their first month and one month free of AMC+.

The Real Housewives of Orange County is also available for streaming through Peacock. New episodes are available the day after they air on Bravo.

What is Fubo and DirecTV?

Fubo and DirecTV are two of the top streaming services steadily replacing traditional cable services. Both offer free trials to new subscribers, a plethora of popular live TV channels, on-demand streaming options and helpful features such as unlimited DVR storage.

Fubo considers itself a sports-focused live streaming service, but with over 100 live TV channels available through its base package at just $84.99 after its free trial, it offers much more to its subscribers.

Popular TV channels available through Fubo include ABC, FOX, BET, MTV, CNBC, MSNBC, USA and much more.

DirecTV mirrors Fubo by offering many of the same live TV channels and useful features. The base package starts at just $86.99 a month after its 5-day free trial and includes popular channels such as HGTV, ESPN, Bravo, CMT, CNN, BET and much more.

Two other DirecTV packages are the Choice package (original price $114.99) and the Ultimate package (original price $129.99), both of which are part of an ongoing promotion that offers new subscribers $10 off the original price for the first three months of their subscription.

Those interested in comparing all DirecTV’s channel packages can check them out here.

What is Sling?

Sling is another streaming service to consider if you want to access top-rated TV channels like Bravo. Though no free trial is available to new subscribers, those who commit to a paid plan get half off the first month and one month free of AMC+.

Both the Sling Orange plan and the Sling Blue plan are normally $45.99 a month, but with the current promotion, Sling users will pay just $23 a month for the first month.

For those who wish to access channels from both the Sling Blue and Sling Orange plans can do so by signing up for the Orange + Blue plan, which combines the best of both plans for just $60.99 a month ($30.50 for the first month).

What is Peacock?

Peacock is one of the most popular alternatives to traditional cable. Users can stream hit movies and TV shows or explore a plethora of Peacock Originals.

Peacock currently offers two plans to choose from including their premium plan for $7.99 a month ($79.99 annually) and their premium plus plan for $13.99 a month ($139.99 annually).

The premium plan is the most popular package offering subscribers access to live sporting events, new and hit TV shows and movies, Peacock Originals and more.

Peacock’s premium plus plan comes with everything included in the premium plan along with the ability to download and watch select titles offline and the chance to stream your local NBC channels live at any time. Also, with the premium plus plan users can stream content without ad interruptions.

Donald Trump’s critics rolled their eyes after the president was in awe of an African leader’s “beautiful English,” apparently unaware that English is the foreign country’s official language.

“Such good English, such beautiful – where did you learn to speak so beautifully?” Trump asked Liberian President Joseph Boakai during a lunch with African leaders in Washington on Wednesday.

“Where were you educated – where?” Trump asked Boakai. “In Liberia? Well, that’s very interesting.

“Beautiful English. I have people at this table that can’t speak nearly as well,” Trump continued.

English is the official language of Liberia, a west African nation formed by freed American and Caribbean slaves. Its capital, Monrovia, pays tribute to former U.S. President James Monroe, who provided federal government money for the then-settlement known as Liberia.

Trump’s apparent ignorance was the target of criticism on social media.

“I just can’t believe this is real life sometimes,” tweeted Adam Kinzinger, a former GOP congressman-turned-Trump critic. “Liberia speaks English, Donald.”

Liberal social media influencer Brian Krassenstein used all-caps to express his disappointment in Trump.

“NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT,” Krassenstein tweeted.

The Call to Activism X account called Trump’s faux pas a “completely embarrassing moment.”

“The world is watching America humiliate itself,” the account tweeted, adding a clown emoji.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Tex., said Trump exhibited “peak ignorance.”

“Trump never misses an opportunity to be racist and wrong, and every day he finds a new way to be embarrassing,” the congresswoman tweeted.

“Asking the President of Liberia where he learned English when it’s literally the official language is peak ignorance,” Crockett said. “I’m pretty sure being blatantly offensive is not how you go about conducting diplomacy…”

In the wake of Congress’ passage of President Donald Trump’s tax cut and spending bill, experts and advocates warn that it could have dire consequences for Alabama’s tenuous rural healthcare situation.

The 900-page bill, dubbed “one big beautiful bill,” passed by Republican majorities in Congress over united opposition from Democrats, cuts federal spending for Medicaid and for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

The savings are intended to offset the extension of tax cuts from Trump’s first term, new tax breaks for individuals and businesses, and increased spending on defense, immigration enforcement, and border security.

Proponents of the bill, like Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, chairman of the Alabama House Ways and Means General Fund committee, say these are “much needed corrections.”

But Alabama Arise, a group which advocates for policies that benefit people in poverty, says the bill will be another drawback for the state’s struggling rural hospitals.

“In total, nearly 200,000 Alabamians could lose health coverage as a result of policy changes like these,” Alabama Arise executive director Robyn Hyden wrote in a recent release.

“Those coverage losses likely will increase hospitals’ uncompensated care costs and make health care even less accessible in rural areas.”

Hyden added that “fourteen rural hospitals in our state have closed since 2010, and more than 20 others are at risk of closing.”

“When a hospital or clinic closes, it closes for everyone, regardless of their insurance status,” she wrote.

Medicaid expansion

Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, and other state legislators have tried addressing the state’s rural healthcare crisis during the legislative session, proposing solutions like improved tax credits for rural hospitals and establishing a tax-deductible fund to support rural hospitals, which have both passed the House chamber.

But instead of considering Medicaid expansion, which lawmakers and experts have said is a solution that would bring more substantial support to rural hospitals, Trump’s bill makes around $600 billion in cuts to Medicaid nationwide.

When Montgomery’s Jackson Hospital filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, officials stated that in 2023 alone the hospital spent over $45 million on the care of uninsured patients, according to a previous report from AL.com’s Savannah Tryens-Fernandes.

“This [Trump’s] budget plan…will remove the additional $619 million in federal incentives for the first two years of Medicaid expansion that Alabama left on the table,” Hyden wrote.

“That increases the chances that our state will continue to refuse to expand Medicaid, leaving hundreds of thousands of our neighbors stuck in the health coverage gap with no options to afford life-saving care.”

Wide reaching impact

In a recent interview with Alabama Political Reporter, Louise Norris, the lead writer for healthinsurance.org—an independent source on the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid policy, said that the ramifications of this bill will extend far beyond the state’s rural areas.

“In areas where rural hospitals close, you still have that ripple effect out to all the other hospitals because the patients who were going to those hospitals that end up closing—or nursing home, or skilled nursing facility—the still need care, so obviously there’s an extra burden on those patients to get to the next closest facility,” she said.

“But then there’s extra strain on those facilities because they have to absorb additional patients. So, it’s not just an issue of ‘are you in a community where facilities close or are you not?’ because of the ripple effect.”

Where do we go from here?

Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, who chairs the General Fund committee in the Alabama Senate, said last month that there is still not a full understanding of everything the bill does because some of it depends on new federal regulations that will be written.

“We won’t know that for another year,” he said.

But he added that he does not expect many to lose coverage because of the bill.

“The overall picture, I believe, is Alabama is going to be in fairly good shape,” he said.

“The doom and gloom I don’t think is going to hit the fan.”

It will take a few years for some provisions of Trump’s bill to take effect in full.

In that time Alabama Arise said its members and supporters will “continue urging our state’s congressional delegation to reverse this bill’s harmful provisions.”

“We also will continue working at the state level to advance public policies to improve the lives of Alabamians marginalized by poverty,” the release reads.

“That includes advocacy to close our state’s health coverage gap, to right the wrongs of our state’s upside-down tax system and to ensure that all Alabamians have the resources they need to survive and thrive.”

Like another certain Auburn fan, Charles Barkley doesn’t want Bruce Pearl to leave the Plains and seek to succeed a certain former Auburn coach in the U.S. Senate.

It’s been widely speculated that the Auburn basketball coach may step into the race, most likely as a Republican, to fill the seat slated to be vacated by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is running for governor.

Pearl has not publicly confirmed (nor denied) the buzz about entering the race, but Tuberville has, selfishly, said he doesn’t want Pearl to run. “I wouldn’t let him do it because he did such a good job at Auburn,” he said on a recent podcast. “We need him there.”

The topic came up in a recent conversation between Pearl and Barkley, says the Auburn alum and member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Pearl, who’s built the Tigers into a national power in 11 seasons at Auburn, did not convey whether he’d yet made a decision.

“I respect and trust him. I just told him to do what he wants to do,” Barkley told me Wednesday while on his way to Lake Tahoe to play golf. “Obviously, he’s made Auburn basketball relevant, which makes me happy. I said, ‘Hey, man, as much as I love you being the head basketball coach at Auburn, you taking Auburn to two Final Fours, something I never thought would happen, but I do understand.’

“If he wants to run, I’m gonna support him 100%.”

What Barkley understands is that the new era of revenue-sharing in college sports has changed the game — and changed coaching. He cited several friends who are former college basketball coaches: Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Jay Wright (Villanova), Tony Bennett (Virginia), and Jim Larrañaga (Miami), inferring they’re not unhappy about being off the sideline now.

“College sports have changed and have changed for the worse,” Barkley said. “Obviously, this (running for the U.S. Senate) is a unique opportunity. And I don’t know how this thing is going to turn out with college sports. You ask these coaches to go out and beg for $20 million a year for college kids. And basketball’s different than football, where at least you get a guy for three years. In basketball, you pay a great player millions of dollars, and he’s only going to be at your school for six months. I just don’t know how this thing is going to turn out.

“One thing I know about Bruce, he cares about his players,” Barkley continued. “He’s graduated 100% of the players who stayed in school for four years, and he’s proud of that. That was the first conversation we had when he first got the job. I said, ‘Hey, man, I want Auburn to be great in basketball. I really do. But my number one priority is these young Black kids getting their education. You’re gonna have a couple guys who go pro, but most of these guys are gonna have to go out and be grown men. So, I know he cares about people and players.”

Much of the speculation about Pearl seeking a new arena stems from the proliferation of political stances he’s made on social media — he’s got 174,000 followers on X — with most of them revealing his support for Israel and Donald Trump.

That has no sway regarding Barkley’s support for Pearl should he run.

“I’m not a Trump guy, but it’s not up to me to tell people they can’t vote for Trump,” Barkley said. “I don’t know who voted for Trump in my circle, but I’m pretty sure some of them did. I publicly supported Kamala [Harris] and had her husband on my podcast, and so I’m a Kamala guy, but I’m not stupid enough to think some of my rich friends didn’t vote for Trump. I’m not that stupid.”

While Pearl’s name recognition might certainly give him an immediate edge over other announced candidates, including Secretary of State Steve Marshall, there are hurdles. Topping the list is an Alabama Republican Party prohibition on political donations to candidates from opposing parties. Last year, Pearl contributed $1,000 to Democrat Shomari Figures, who won to represent Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District (the contribution was flagged by the American Israeli Public Affairs political action committee). He also gave $1,000 to North Carolina Democrat and U.S. Rep. Don Davis, who has publicly supported Israel.

State Republican Party bylaws say that any person who supports or donates to an opposing party candidate will be denied space on the state GOP ballot for six years. It would require a three-fourths vote of the state Republican Party’s Steering Committee or Candidate Committee to waive the prohibition to waive that prohibition.

Many believe the committee would not grant such a waiver. Yet, too, Barkley never thought Auburn would reach a Final Four.

“Him leaving would be a devastating blow for Auburn because his charisma and personality are what make Auburn basketball awesome,” Barkley said before pausing. “But I understand.”

Let’s be better tomorrow than we are today. My column appears on AL.com, and digital editions of The Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, and Mobile Press-Register. Tell me what you think at [email protected], and follow me at twitter.com/roysj, Instagram @roysj and BlueSky.

Chuck’s Arcade, Chuck E. Cheese’s new adult-friendly arcade concept, is coming to malls around the country.

While the arcades haven’t opened any locations in Alabama just yet, Alabamians who want to get the experience can visit Chuck’s one state over in Georgia.

Chuck’s Arcade is now open inside the Mall of Georgia. Fox 5 Atlanta reports the location has bigger games and bigger prizes.

But sadly, no food or drinks--at least, not yet. In addition to adult-size gaming consoles, the arcade also has retro games, a VR experience, and a retail section with Chuck’s and Chuck E. Cheese-themed gear.

Chuck E. Cheese describes Chuck’s Arcade as a modern-day love letter to the games and people who made Chuck E. Cheese great.”

“Chuck E. Cheese has spent decades mastering the arcade experience — it’s in our DNA,” David McKillips, CEO of Chuck E. Cheese, said in a press release. “Chuck’s Arcade is a natural evolution — an opportunity to extend our arcade legacy into new formats that engage both lifelong fans and a new generation through a curated mix of retro classics and cutting-edge experiences.”

A Gulf Shores man has been charged with manslaughter for allegedly providing illicit fentanyl that authorities believe contributed to the death of a 43-year-old woman.

Zachary Michael Winter, 38, admitted to providing the fatal drug to the woman, according to a news release by the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office. He is also being charged with four counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Manslaughter is a Class B felony, punishable by two to 20 years in prison.

The death investigation began on July 1, after the woman was found dead in the 3000 block of W. 1st Street.

During the investigation, the Baldwin County Coroner’s Office conducted testing using a Randox analyzer and received a result indicating the presence of fentanyl.

The Baldwin County Drug Task Force arrested Winter after he admitted to providing the drugs to the woman.

Multiple agencies handled the investigation including Gulf Shores police, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations in Mobile.

It’s official. Streaming service HBO Max is back again.

Two years after rebranding to MAX (after the service debuted as HBO Max in 2020), the streaming service that houses HBO and Warner Bros content has returned to its original name.

So why the switch? According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Brothers Discovery decided to pull back on content, including children’s and family programming. The production company wanted to lean into HBO’s premium programming.

“This evolution has been influenced by changing consumer needs, and the fact that no consumer today is saying they want more content, but most consumers are saying they want better content,” Max said in a release in May. “With other services filling the more basic needs with volume, (Warner Bros. Discovery) has clearly distinguished itself through its quality and distinct stories, and no brand has done that better and more consistently over 50-plus years than HBO.”

So, what exactly is different? Not much. Streaming service users may have noticed the logo has reverted to black and white, a nod to HBO’s original style, reports USA TODAY.

Subscribers won’t have to download a new app. There also won’t be any price changes.

Here are the current HBO Max prices:

• Basic with Ads: $9.99/month or $99.99/year
• Standard: $16.99/month or $169.99/year
• Premium: $20.99/month or $209.99/year