General News
Miss Manners: Should I apologize for bailing on my pal’s performance?
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My spouse and I are friends with a couple, one of whom is in a band. This band put on a show at a local restaurant, and we went to show support.
We arrived prior to the start of the show, around 7:30, and enjoyed the music, applauding loudly and singing along to the songs we knew. However, as it got later and later, around 11:30, we became fatigued and really wanted to make our exit.
Since we had no idea how much longer the show would go, I told my husband we should head out when the current song ended.
At the end of the song, we stood up, said goodbye to our friend’s wife and waved to our friend on stage. The band then announced that this would be their last song, but we were exhausted and felt we had already committed to our exit, so we went ahead and left.
In the light of the next day, I felt guilty and wondered if we had made a social blunder by not sticking it out for the last song. Our friends have not mentioned this; I honestly don’t know if we are close enough that they would say something if they were upset.
Was this objectively rude? Should I reach out to our friends and ask them if they were hurt or offended?
GENTLE READER: Why are you looking for trouble? There was no way you could have known that the band was nearing their last song — and reasonable friends would realize that. After four hours, you put in your time. 11:30 p.m. is quite late enough.
However, if you are dead set on chastising yourself, Miss Manners will allow you to send a short note saying that you enjoyed the concert and were sorry to have to leave before its end. You may add that you look forward to hearing the last song next time. But “… provided that it happens before midnight” should only be implied.
Please send your questions to Miss Manners at missmanners.com, by email to [email protected], or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.
Read MoreWinter storm warning for Central Alabama until Friday afternoon
On Friday at 4:13 a.m. a winter storm warning was issued by the National Weather Service in effect until 3 p.m. for Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Shelby, Talladega, Clay, Randolph and Bibb counties.
The weather service states to be ready for, “Heavy mixed precipitation. Additional snow and sleet accumulations up to one to two inches and ice accumulations around one tenth of an inch.”
“Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will become slick and hazardous. Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions will impact the morning commute,” explains the weather service. “If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Persons should consider delaying all travel. Motorists should use extreme caution if travel is absolutely necessary.”
Winter driving guide: Tips from the weather service for safe and sound travels
Winter weather can make driving treacherous, leading to over 6,000 weather-related vehicle fatalities and over 480,000 injuries each year. When traveling during snow or freezing rain, prioritize safety by slowing down. In near-freezing temperatures, it’s safest to assume that icy conditions exist on roadways and adjust your driving accordingly. Be cautious of ice accumulating on power lines or tree branches, which can lead to snapping and falling hazards. If possible, avoid driving in such conditions. If you must venture out, opt for routes with fewer trees and power lines. Never touch a downed power line, and immediately dial 911 if you come across one. Here are additional winter driving tips from the weather service:
Share your travel plans:
When venturing out of town in hazardous winter weather, be sure to inform family or friends of your destination, your intended route, and your estimated arrival time.
Prepare your vehicle:
Ensure your gas tank is full and equip your vehicle with essential winter supplies such as a windshield scraper, jumper cables, a small shovel, flashlight, cell phone, blanket, extra warm clothing, drinking water, and high-calorie non-perishable food.
Stay calm when stranded:
If you become stranded, stay composed. Notify someone about your situation and location. Avoid attempting to walk to safety. Attach a cloth to your car’s antenna or mirror to signal that you require assistance. Make your vehicle more visible by using the dome light and flashers.
Be aware of snow plows:
Keep an eye out for snow plows and allow them ample room to pass. Only overtake a plow when you have a clear view of the road ahead.
Check road conditions:
Before embarking on your journey, check the latest road conditions to make informed travel decisions.
Stay safe on wintry roads with these valuable winter driving tips from the weather service, and reduce the risk of accidents during challenging weather conditions.
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.
Read MoreAsking Eric: Struggling to keep sisterhood together after a decade
Dear Eric: I am the oldest of two sisters: the City Mouse and the Country Mouse. The City Mouse has not visited the Country Mouse (me) for more than 10 years. The trip to see me involves a half day of train travel, pick up at the station, her own room/TV and access to her nieces and nephews, plus that clean country air.
I fear I will never see the City Mouse again because of impending health issues. When I, nicknamed the Bully, approached the City Mouse, she replied with why can’t I visit her? Any ideas? Has our sisterhood been abandoned?
– Country Mouse
Dear Country Mouse: Forgive me for sounding too much like the city mouse, but why can’t you visit her? You write that the health issues are impending, and I understand there may be preparations you need to do beforehand, but if you’re currently able and want to see her, a visit may be a good form of self-care.
The nickname “The Bully” is worrisome, though. I don’t see bullying here, but this is only a slice of your relationship. If there are other tensions that might be discouraging your sister from visiting, you should bring those up and talk them through to clear the path for a more productive conversation on visits.
Read more Asking Eric and other advice columns.
Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.
Read MoreAsking Eric: Serial monogamist gets lost in relationships with no time for friendship
Dear Eric: My former best friend and longtime housemate is a serial monogamist and cannot go a couple weeks without being in a long-term relationship, usually having no more than two to three weeks in between very serious relationships.
This friend disappears fully into relationships with people who aren’t good to him, and it’s impossible to get him to respond to invitations to hang out.
After months of initiating plans, and rarely hearing back, I decided to take a step back from it due to incredible initiation fatigue.
He will occasionally call me and say he misses me and wants to grab lunch. When we do that, it’s so one-sided; he vents about his terrible relationship du jour, and then the check comes, and I haven’t said a word.
I miss my friend. I think I deserve better. I think his bad communication style mixed with his unhealthy relationship patterns are absolutely intertwined and really impossible to break.
Do I cut my losses, and just decline the lunch invitation that will come in five months, and be grateful to the universe for giving me this friend for my past? Or should I try to navigate the “I miss you, I’m worried about you, please want better for yourself, and please stop ignoring all your friends” conversation? Help!
– Ignored Friend
Dear Friend: Your friend is clearly working through something – an insecurity, a feeling of instability – that keeps leading him away from healthy friendships and into the arms of people the singing group TLC might describe as “scrubs.” Or worse.
Sometimes it takes a trusted friend to wake us up to unhealthy patterns of behavior. So don’t be afraid to have a heart-to-heart with him about it. You could even interrupt his monologue at your next lunch and tell him, “I’ve noticed this pattern. Have you noticed it, too? Are you worried about it?”
This is also a great time to bring up another relationship that needs a health checkup – yours and his. Friendship is a two-way street. If you don’t feel valued or even considered, tell him what you need and ask him what he needs/wants from this friendship. It’s very likely that, just as he lacks good models for healthy love relationships, he’s still working on how to be a good friend.
It’s OK to call him on this. But you don’t have to be a doormat. If he’s not willing to work with you to improve your relationship, it may be time to take an official break until he’s in a better place.
Read more Asking Eric and other advice columns.
Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.
Read MoreToday’s daily horoscopes: Jan. 10, 2025
Famously, creatures like comforts. Pigs and hippos dig mud, and the bear scratches his back on a tree. Neither would suit the walrus sunning himself on floating ice. Just because someone is uncomfortable with a particular comfort, that doesn’t make it wrong. Two lunar squares and a conjunction recall the concept of “different folks; different strokes.”
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ll be around talented people. This variety pack of skill sets could create something truly remarkable together with the right leadership. You’re a visionary. That leader could be you, if you dare take on the challenge.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It’s natural to be bothered by what you don’t understand, but you don’t stop at that. You let discomfort compel you to learn more. You’ll have your bafflement to thank for the interesting people and knowledge you gain.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The pace will pick up and you’ll match it without missing a beat. You would think that with this much going on, life would turn into a blur. The opposite happens. Experience becomes more vivid and memorable at this exhilarated pace.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). A stressy situation has your attention. All it takes to relieve the pressure is one adjustment. You can either adjust the circumstances to better fit your preferences, or you can adjust your expectations to better fit the circumstances.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Though you dream of the day you’re living the dream, you’re well aware that these are the moments you’ll cherish — the climb. You’re feeling your moments to their fullness, taking notes and packing in the experiences.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your genuine curiosity makes learning feel effortless. You’ll dive into a subject or get to know someone intriguing. With curiosity as your guide, conversations naturally flow to places that spark connection and inspiration.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll extract the part of the plan that is not working. Don’t replace it right away. It’s better to have nothing in the space than a sub-par alternative. Your willingness to wait will give you power and choice.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). There are choices and patterns that once worked for you but no longer fit the person you’re becoming. Leave judgment behind. Embrace the change and savor the excitement of moving forward.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’ll get the most out of a situation with some higher-level thinking. Welcome a perspective that lets you see the deep history and the future as well as the adjacent situations affected by your own.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Socializing outside your usual circle opens your life most auspiciously. Conversations with new people will spark ideas, perspectives and opportunities you hadn’t considered. The connections you form now will prove pivotal down the line.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). People who are a good fit for you may not have the same opinion as you, and they may have very different beliefs, too, but they’ll share your values such as integrity, cheerfulness and gentleness, and that’s what matters.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Each person creates their own logical world. Much of it will come together on a subconscious level. You will become more effective as you better understand your own logic and how it has been constructed.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Jan. 10). It’s as though a fantastic YOU of the future came to whisper in your ear, giving you the recipe of their creation. Physical vitality increases with a lifestyle change. In relationships, thrilling highs contrast with lovely low-key cycles. More highlights: You’ll get a long-awaited venture off the ground. You’ll travel with someone and know them on a whole new level. Gemini and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 14, 19, 1 and 8.
Holiday Mathis’ debut novel, “How To Fail Epically in Hollywood,” is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.
Read MoreSouth Alabama surges past Arkansas State 76-62, takes over sole possession of first place
It didn’t come as easily as the previous three, but South Alabama rolled to its fourth straight Sun Belt Conference win and into sole possession of first place with a 76-62 victory over Arkansas State on Thursday night at the Mitchell Center.
Richie Riley’s Jaguars (12-4, 4-0) shook off some early turnover woes to win their fifth straight game overall by double-digits, getting a season-high 22 points from Elijah Ormiston and holding the Red Wolves (11-5, 2-2) to 31% shooting. South Alabama has won its first four conference games for the first time since 2008, which happens to be the most-recent time it reached the NCAA tournament.
“What we’ve been preaching this whole season is ‘chokeouts’; Riley’s been talking a lot about that,” Ormiston said. “Our mentality is to come in every game, it doesn’t matter who we play, it doesn’t matter what their ranking is. We’re just going to come out there and try to whoop their butt. And I was glad to be able to contribute to that.
“The beautiful thing about our team is, whether it’s me, whether it’s somebody else, we all love ‘whooping’ together. And every night’s a different guy’s night. Tonight happened to be mine.”
South Alabama, which came into Thursday leading the country in fewest turnovers per game (8.9), gave it away on their its four possessions and five times in the first 3-plus minutes vs. Arkansas State. Riley called timeout at that point to settle down his team, which was playing at home for the first time in 10 days and before a season-high crowd of 2,208.
What he told them worked, as Barry Dunning quickly scored seven of his 10 points to get the Jaguars back in the game. Three straight 3-pointers — one by Cantia Rahming and two by Judah Brown — gave South Alabama the lead for the first time, then consecutive 3s by John Broom and Ormiston put the Jaguars on top for good.
“I think we came out a little too juiced up,” Riley said. “I think a game like that, there’s some buildup to it. We haven’t had a game like that all year with this group where there was some buildup, there was some excitement, there was some people in the stands, a good crowd.
“And we came out just a little bit tight, pressing a little bit and made some mistakes. And I just wanted to settle them down. What I said in the huddle probably was not a ‘settle-down’ talk, but that was my intention of getting them over there, was to settle them down.”
Arkansas State pulled within five in the final minute of the half, but a four-point play by Ormiston — a 3-pointer and a free throw after he was fouled on the shot — with 0.3 seconds to go gave South Alabama a 41-31 lead at the break. The Jaguars never led by fewer than eight points in the second half, and were up by as many as 21 in the final four minutes.
The Red Wolves — playing without preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year Kobe Julien for the fourth straight game — tried to shoot themselves to victory, but were wildly unsuccessful. Arkansas State made just 12 of 49 3-point attempts and was only 21-for-67 from the field in the game.
Taryn Todd led Arkansas State with 18 points, while Joseph Pinion had 17 and Terrance Ford 12. Pinion had a team-high nine rebounds, but shot just 2-for-14 from 3-point range.
“The thing I know about our team is when we show up and we play the way we’re capable of playing and do what we do on the defensive end, take care of the ball, and if we make some shots, I trust our dudes to play against anybody,” Riley said. “… Does that mean we’re going to win every single game? No, it doesn’t guarantee we’re going to win, but it gives us a heck of a chance to be right there and have a chance to win.”
South Alabama shot 56.5% as a team, including 50% (12-for-24) from 3-point range. After the five early turnovers, the Jaguars gave the ball away just six times the remainder of the night.
In addition to Ormiston’s season-best scoring output, the Jaguars got contributions from throughout the lineup on both ends. Brown and Myles Corey both scored 11, while Dunning and Broom had 10 each.
Broom led South Alabama with nine rebounds and three blocks, while Corey had six assists and JJ Wheat four. The Jaguars won the rebounding battle, 37-34.
“We play like 10 guys, 11 guys deep,” Dunning said. “That just shows the versatility that we have on the team and just shows togetherness. It doesn’t matter who has the (big) game. Today, Elijah had a great game.
“… We’re just a team and we’re together and you can see the compassion, the love and the confidence that we have as a team. That showed today. That’s how we got the (win). We’ve got to remain humble, steadfast and on to the next one.”
South Alabama came into the night tied with Troy for first place in the conference, but the Trojans lost 74-73 at home to Texas State to fall to 3-1 in league play. The Jaguars continue their four-game home stand at 2 p.m. Saturday vs. Old Dominion.
Read MoreMalnourished dogs, dead puppy, found caged in burned Lipscomb house; man jailed
A Hueytown man is in jail after authorities found malnourished dogs that had been left at an abandoned home in Lipscomb.
The Lipscomb Police Department received a call about 4:45 p.m. Thursday from the Greater Birmingham Humane Society for help in rescuing dogs from the burned-out house in the 6200 block of Fifth Street.
Once on scene, officers and animal control officials determined no one lived in the home and it was deemed uninhabitable because of a previous fire.
Lipscomb Interim Police Chief Jatavius Merritt said officers entered the house and found the malnourished dogs in a makeshift animal cage. Two adults and a puppy were alive, and another puppy was dead.
A neighbor told police that a man had put the dogs in the house about two weeks ago and had been randomly stopping by to feed them.
The Lipscomb Police Department received a call about 4:45 p.m. Thursday from the Greater Birmingham Humane Society for help in rescuing dogs from a burned-out house in the 6200 block of Fifth Street.(Contributed)
While police were still at the house, Merritt said, Keyel Speights, of Hueytown, showed up and claimed ownership of the dogs.
After being questioned, Speights was arrested on animal cruelty charges. He is being held in the Lipscomb City Jail.
“I find it utterly ridiculous to drop off innocent animals in an abandon home, a burned home at that, especially in these freezing temperatures,” Merritt said, “and to randomly stop by and feed them at your convenience is a disgrace.”
“Intentional or reckless cruelty to animals will not be tolerated in this city,’’ he said. “Dogs can think, they can feel pain and they can love. We must be the voice for them.”
Police officials thanked GBHS for their quick response in rescuing the living dogs.
Merritt said the investigation is ongoing.
Read MoreJacksonville State’s men knock off defending Conference USA champion Western Kentucky
Ray Harper left his return to his former program and home state with a big win for his Jacksonville State men’s basketball squad.
The Gamecocks scored a 73-67 road win over defending Conference USA tournament champion Western Kentucky on Thursday, earning their first CUSA win at E.A. Diddle Arena.
The victory marked Jax State’s first victory over the Hilltoppers, with WKU winning the other five contests.
WKU was projected to finish second in CUSA in the preseason media poll, while Jax State was projected to finish at No. 8.
The Gamecocks outrebounded WKU 50-30 in the victory, with Mason Nicholson providing a spark on both sides of the ball.
The redshirt junior center turned in a double-double for the Gamecocks, racking up 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead Jax State in both categories.
Nicholson shot 9-for-13 from the field and added three blocks in the Jax State win.
He was one of five Gamecocks to score in double figures, along with Quel’Ron House (14 points), Jaron Pierre Jr. (12 points (12 points), Jao Ituka (10 points) and Koree Cotton (10 points).
House had a near double-double with nine rebounds to go along with his 12 points, also adding a game-high seven assists.
Enoch Kalambay led Western Kentucky with a game-high 24 points, grabbing five rebounds.
Jax State (9-6, 1-1 CUSA) will travel to Middle Tennessee State on Saturday. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m.
Read MoreStruggling retailer shutting down Alabama store amid nationwide closings
A Kohl’s store in coastal Alabama is closing by April, the Wisconsin-based retailer announced Thursday.
The Kohl’s store in Spanish Fort, located within the city’s Town Center commercial complex, will be among 27 stores in “underperforming locations” that will be closed within the next couple of months. Kohl’s announced the pending closures along with its closure of its San Bernardino E-commerce Fulfillment Center (EFC) in May when the lease on that facility expires.
All associates have bene informed and offered a competitive severance package or the ability to apply to other open roles at Kohl’s, the company announced in a news release. The closest Kohl’s to Spanish Fort is in west Mobile and Pensacola, Fla. There are no other Kohl’s department stores in Baldwin County.
“We always take these decisions very seriously,” said Tom Kingsbury, Kohl’s chief executive officer. “As we continue to build on our long-term growth strategy, it is important that we also take difficult but necessary actions to support the health and future of our business for our customers and our teams.”
The Spanish Fort store closure is the only one in Alabama.
The company has approximately 1,150 locations. In Alabama, Kohl’s operates stores in Huntsville, Birmingham, Hoover, Oxford, Dothan, Mobile, Prattville, Madison, and Decatur.
The pending departure from Spanish Fort will mean another big box retail outlet will be vacated within the Town Center, a 230-acre multi-use entertainment and commercial retail campus that has faced difficulties since Dallas-based Cypress Equities developed the facility in 2007 and 2008.
The Town Center opened with anchors Bass Pro Shops, J.C. Penney, Kohl’s and Circuit City. All but Bass Pro Shops will remain this year after Kohl’s closes. The company did not provide an exact date for the store’s closure.
In recent years, the complex has diversified into parks and outdoor eateries. The Town Center’s park features shipping containers turned into eateries within an entertainment district that opened in 2018.
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