Alabama News

The shortest offseason in sports belongs to the NBA, as things move very quickly following the end of the season. The Oklahoma City Thunder just won the NBA Finals, with the draft taking place just three days later.

Another major milestone of the NBA offseason will be this weekend, as the Summer League will take place. A showcase for younger players to earn a place on the regular season roster, the Summer League is essential for any major NBA fan.

To continue off of this last week’s slate of exciting games, two historic franchises in the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics will face off. The Lakers have been talked about a ton this summer due to Bronny James’ development. After going up against No.1 pick Cooper Flagg last week, James had 17 points, five assists and five rebounds and was a +5 in 24 minutes.

Fans looking to watch the Lakers vs Celtics game can do so on Fubo, who’s offering a free trial to new subscribers.

Here’s everything you need to know before the Lakers and Celtics tipoff:

When: Thursday, July 17, 2025

Where: Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV

Time: 9 p.m. ET

Fans looking to watch the Lakers vs Celtics game can do so on Fubo, who’s offering a free trial to new subscribers.

Alabama football players must have had a discussion about Florida State quarterback Thomas Castellanos’ comments regarding the team. Both defensive lineman Tim Keenan and linebacker Deontae Lawson, speaking to reporters at SEC media days, used similar lines.

“Disrespect will be addressed,” Keenan said.

Earlier in the offseason, Castellanos talked some trash about the Crimson Tide, before he and his Seminoles face UA to open the season on Aug. 30.

“People, I don’t know if they know, but you go back and watch every first game that I played in, we always start fast,” Castellanos told On3. “I dreamed of moments like this. I dreamed of playing against Alabama. They don’t have Nick Saban to save them. I just don’t see them stopping me.”

Castellanos transferred to Florida State from Boston College this offseason. The Seminoles finished the 2024 season 2-10, with just one FBS win, over Cal.

“I definitely noticed it,” Lawson said. “How can you miss it? But yeah, I don’t really have a response. I said earlier, all disrespect will be addressed accordingly, and I stand on that right there.”

Lawson was asked which game he was most looking forward to this season, and said it was Florida State.

“I wouldn’t say extra motivation, but it’s definitely on the back of your mind,” Lawson said. “So, I mean, I won’t forget. I won’t forget what he said.”

After Castellanos made his initial comments, another upcoming Crimson Tide opponent disagreed with him. South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers said he still held a healthy respect for Alabama, even with Saban retired.

Sellers explained why, while speaking at SEC media days earlier in the week.

“I think it’s come from me playing them,” Sellers said. “I’ve seen them face-to-face, just facing their defense. Their defensive line was strong. They were all fast. Linebackers, super physical. DBs, they did their jobs well, disguised well, and they had a good scheme.”

Alabama and Florida State are scheduled to face off at 2:30 p.m. CT on Aug 30. The game will be aired on ABC.

The Crimson Tide is scheduled to begin preseason camp on July 30, Kalen DeBoer said Wednesday.

Two beloved comedians, Hasan Minhaj and Ronny Chieng announced earlier this week a joint comedy tour set to kick off Oct. 3 in Seattle.

The Hasan Hates Ronny | Ronny Hates Hasan fall 2025 tour consists of 19 shows across North America with the tour set to conclude on Dec. 26 in Vancouver.

How to get Hasan Hates Ronny | Ronny Hates Hasan tour tickets

Presale for tickets officially go on sale Wednesday, July 16 at 10 a.m. local time, and the following day (July 17) general public sale will be available at the same time.

Tickets are available for purchase through Ticketmaster, Vivid Seats, StubHub, Viagogo and Seat Geek.

Those looking to purchase tickets via Vivid Seats can enjoy $20 off a $200+ order by using code AL20.

Hasan Minhaj and Ronny Chieng tour schedule

• Oct. 3 – Seattle, Washington
• Oct. 5 – Houston, Texas
• Oct. 10 – Tampa, Florida
• Oct. 11 – Atlanta, Georgia
• Oct. 15 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Oct. 18 – Washington, DC
• Oct. 24 – Toronto, Ontario
• Nov. 1 – Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Nov. 7 – Chicago, Illinois
• Nov. 14 – Miami, Florida
• Nov. 16 – Orlando, Florida
• Nov. 21 – Austin, Texas
• Nov. 22 – Dallas, Texas
• Nov. 28 – Boston, Massachusetts
• Dec. 2 – New York, New York
• Dec. 12 – San Diego, California
• Dec. 18 – San Jose, California
• Dec. 19 – San Francisco, California
• Dec. 26 – Vancouver, British Columbia

Who are Hasan Minhaj and Ronny Chieng?

For those unfamiliar with the comedians, the friends have been making their way onto the comedy scene for a while and have risen to extreme popularity in recent years.

Minhaj has taken over Netflix with Netflix original releases such as Homecoming King, Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj, The King’s Jester and Off with His Head.

In addition to his regular appearance on the popular streaming platform, Minhaj hosts a podcast called Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know where he regularly sits down with a variety of guests to ask thought-provoking questions, with bits of humor weaved throughout.

Similar to his industry friend, Chieng has also taken to releasing comedy specials on Netflix including Ronny Chieng: Love to Hate It. He’s also made appearances in several big films including Crazy Rich Asians, M3GAN and Joy Ride.

Auburn football was the talk of SEC Media Days Tuesday morning, as head coach Hugh Freeze gave confident answers ahead of the 2025 season.

That confidence seemed to rub off on the national media. On the SEC Network set the next day, former Alabama quarterback and ESPN analyst Greg McElroy made a bold statement about the Tigers going into the season.

“The dark horse [in the SEC] is Auburn,” McElroy said.

The reasoning McElroy gave for the prediction revolved around Auburn’s talent at wide receiver and returning production on defense. He acknowledged the questions remaining at quarterback, but it explained why he thinks it will work out for the Tigers.

“A huge question mark around the quarterback spot for sure. Jackson Arnold last year benched at Oklahoma, turnover issues, lacked confidence at times, gets replaced, gets put back in the lineup, he finishes okay,” McElroy said. “He now gets a fresh start, but if you look at what’s around him, he’s got a really good supporting cast, and I like what they have on defense at all three levels…

“I think Auburn is a legitimate SEC championship contender, assuming their quarterback, Jackson Arnold, reaches his potential as a former five-star recruit.”

Freeze has been adamant throughout the offseason about Arnold simply needing a reset to reach his potential. Given his confidence in Arnold and the roster’s improvement, Freeze said that Auburn will be in the college football playoff discussion this season.

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

Children distressed over their identity can be cured with counseling, not puberty blockers and surgeries that cause “irreversible damage,” the Mountain Brook doctor nominated by President Donald Trump for assistant secretary of health testified Wednesday.

Dr. Brian Christine, a urologic surgeon at Urology Centers of Alabama’s Homewood location and Trump donor nominated by the president in March, conceded that gender dysphoria is a “real condition” but said the cure is “counseling, compassion and care.”

Christine was responding to a question by Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., about how he will “bring sanity back” to the assistant health secretary role.

“Our minors, who have gender dysphoria – which is a real condition – these individuals suffer. They deserve compassion, they deserve love. The best treatment for these individuals, in my opinion and according to science, is that they be treated with compassion and counseling … and they be treated with support and care and love,” Christine told a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions [HELP] Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination.

“We know that if you treat minors with gender dysphoria in that way, then the vast majority of them, by the time they reach their late teens, will no longer suffer from gender dysphoria. They’re happy in their own skin,” Christine said.

The Mountain Brook urologist who donated $8,500 to Trump’s campaign said he would not advocate for gender-affirming care.

“The way to treat them is not with chemicals and puberty blockers and hormones and surgeries that do irreversible damage,” Christine said.

“The best way to treat them is with counseling, compassion and care. That is what I would recommend to do. And of course, we never want federal funds – I agree with the president and the secretary – we never would want federal funding to go toward any kind of transgender surgeries.”

Christine is expected to be confirmed by the HELP Committee. His nomination will then be sent to the full GOP-led Senate.

When he was nominated, The Wall Street Journal reported Christine’s practice advertised its treatment of transgender patients.

Christine denied treating transgender patients.

Greg McElroy prefaced his Kalen DeBoer comments on the SEC Network by saying he was putting on his figurative Houndstooth visor.

“I’m really proud he’s our head coach,” the former Alabama quarterback-turned college football analyst said Wednesday. “I really mean that. I think he represents the program in the right way. He knows exactly the messaging he wants to get across. I’m just proud he’s our guy.”

McElroy made the comments during the network’s coverage of DeBoer and the Crimson Tide at SEC Media Days in Atlanta.

“He’s the right guy for the job,” he added. “I’m so happy for him.”

With that out of the way, McElroy – back in analyst mode – believed the second-year head coach hit a home run with his time at the podium.

“What I loved most is that he deliberately went out of his way to address the shortcomings of 2024,” McElroy explained. “No one at this point is really talking that much about 2024. We’re kind of moving on, spinning it forward, looking ahead. …

He said, “Look, we didn’t play well on the road. We did not do a good job on third-down defense early in the season. We didn’t do a good job, at times, of adjusting to hostile environments. He said, ‘These are the things we didn’t do well.’

“There is no blind spot there. It is out there. It is clearly a priority for this organization to look at what they did wrong and make sure it doesn’t get them again.

“That’s what great coaches do. They see the problem, and they fix it.”

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.

A Texas woman has been indicted on solicitation for murder charges after officials say she plotted to kill her newly engaged ex-husband with a poisoned box of candy.

According to a release from the Parker County Sheriff’s Office, Pamela Jean Stanley, 63, was arrested after a tip that she was planning to murder her ex-husband. Her May 30 arrest was followed by an indictment July 10.

Stanley was recorded as she explained to an acquaintance that she was seeking to purchase powdered fentanyl, and “inject” it in a high-end box of chocolates, according to the sheriff’s office.

The release notes Stanley further planned to mail the box to her ex-husband, making it appear to have been from a travel agency as a congratulatory gift for his recent engagement along with a “honeymoon” incentive offer.

Sheriff’s SCU investigators worked in an undercover controlled capacity with Stanley, who drove several hours from Coleman and solicited the purchase of what she believed was fentanyl in the parking lot of a local interstate motel from SCU undercover investigators.

Investigators took Stanley into custody immediately following her undercover ruse purchase and found her to also be in possession of a substance the Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Lab tested as containing 9.5 grams of methamphetamine.

Stanley was indicted for criminal solicitation with intent to commit murder, criminal attempt to commit murder, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver. Her total bond is set at $450,000.

© 2025 Weatherford Democrat (Weatherford, Texas). Visit weatherforddemocrat.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Alabama football didn’t shake up its quarterback room at all after the spring.

No one left, and no one was added. The Crimson Tide maintained the group of Ty Simpson, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell.

On Wednesday at SEC Media Days, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer was asked why Alabama did not pursue a quarterback in the portal.

“Just felt like anyone who was reaching out to us, or that was there, you could not really make the argument they were better than what we had,” DeBoer said. “Hopefully, another level of confidence we had some players in our program that we believe in, Ty, Austin and knowing Keelon was coming in too. The skillsets are there.”

DeBoer noted Alabama’s quarterback room is inexperienced, “and that’s probably what you would be gaining if you brought someone in, would be some experience.”

But there’s more to it than experience.

“There’s also growth to our offense,” DeBoer said. “There’s also a level of understanding. It’s just a matter of honing in on the skillsets and tools that our guys have. I still feel we made the right choice.”

Simpson is heading into his fourth season with Alabama and second with DeBoer. Mack is entering his second season with Alabama and third with DeBoer. Russell is a true freshman.

Simpson enters preseason practices as the frontrunner to be the starter. If he indeed starts, Simpson will complete the arc of waiting his turn then taking advantage.

“It adds to and sets the direction you want your culture to be, and that’s, if I just continue to stay the course and I continue to just believe in the development I’m going to get from our coaching staff, that time will come,” DeBoer said. “Ty is the greatest example of that … just stay the course. Keep plugging away.”

All of those things considered, Alabama decided to stick with Simpson, Russell and Mack. And those are the three the Crimson Tide will bring into the season.

“A lot of feelings that we had what we needed or the better way to put it is,” DeBoer said, “what we felt was out there really wasn’t that much better than what we had, if at all.”

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

By Andrés H. Martínez | Edited by Patricia Guadalupe

Sitting on an empty bucket, behind two pails of colorful floral bouquets, a 70-year-old woman was trying to sell her arrangements. She was short, with sun-tanned brown skin and a maternal gaze. Her face was furrowed with deep wrinkles, a reflection of years of effort and endurance. Sitting on the side of a busy Los Angeles freeway exit, her soul and heart were filled with fear. “I felt like I was stabbed in the throat,” said Tito Rodríguez, describing the moment he saw the woman.

“Hi, ma’am! Let’s go, let’s go. It’s very dangerous to be on the street,” Tito shouted, his heart in his hand, as he turned on his flashing lights and parked his van on the freeway exit. The presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had been reported in that area.

“I’ll take her home. And I have some friends who want to give her money so she doesn’t have to be on the streets,” Tito added as he approached. The woman’s fear was clear in the sparkle in her eyes, but she agreed and followed orders. Within seconds, they left the area. On the way home, Tito gave her $800 so she could pay the monthly rent and have some peace of mind.

Tito and the flower vendor crossed paths by chance. That afternoon, the founder and director of the Local Hearts Foundation was returning home after receiving a $10,000 donation for his organization. He wouldn’t have been able to do this charitable act without the support of his friends, The Singers, local business owners and frequent donors to the foundation.

Days later, Tito, a community leader known as Hood Santa, ran into three men selling cherries and oranges on a busy Los Angeles street. Concerned for their safety amid reports of ICE in the area, he offered to buy their merchandise and take them home. He paid them $700 for the fruit and gave each of them $200.

These acts of kindness are nothing new for Tito, who has been supporting communities in Los Angeles County for 14 years. Through his foundation, and in collaboration with other organizations, he has provided thousands of families with food, basic supplies, and sometimes non-essential items that bring joy to the soul.

One of his most recent collaborations is with Food Finders, which delivers two pallets of fruits and vegetables every Wednesday to distribute in his communities. Usually, people would come to collect the donations, but on Wednesday, June 11, everything changed.

After several days of ICE raids and hundreds of detainees, many communities came to a standstill for fear of arrest. As a precaution, many stopped leaving their homes, and the Local Hearts Foundation’s logistics took a complete turn. Tito’s phone froze from the number of messages he began receiving.

“Hey, Tito, we’re hungry!” “Can you help me with some groceries?” “I’m afraid to go out.” “Can you help me with some food?” “My children were born here, but if I get in trouble, if they catch me, what will happen to my children?” were some of the text messages he received.

“We have to change course, we have to do something different here to feed the affected families,” Tito told himself after collecting the donations. “We have to take this food that’s arriving and give it to the families who are being affected, to those families who are afraid to go out.”

Tito understood that he now had to make home deliveries, right to people’s doors. “People who are afraid don’t have to expose themselves by going out.” He gathered his family and loved ones and began preparing bags of food.

“We’re like vigilantes, but here to do good,” Tito said. “We’re not hiding, and we’re not afraid.” That day, they prepared more than 200 bags of food.

He gathered information from those asking for help, mapped out routes, and assigned trusted people to make the deliveries with him.

“Here’s the information, and when you’re done with it, burn it,” Tito ordered to protect the identity of his community. That first day, more than 200 families received some relief.

But the calls for help didn’t stop the next day, as reports of ICE arrests in Los Angeles County increased. By then, authorities had confirmed at least 330 detainees, not counting the unverified cases. Fear grew minute by minute, and thousands were afraid to leave their homes.

Tito used his social media power to rally his followers. He posted videos preparing bags of food and making deliveries, aiming to inspire and create a support network where the community itself was the protagonist. And so it was.

Within hours, he received a flood of messages of solidarity and empathy: community members wanted to donate money, their time, or whatever was needed. Latino-owned businesses also joined in.

A bakery donated 240 loaves of bread; a butcher shop, 150 pounds of meat and 50 packages of tortillas; a fruit and vegetable store, more than a pallet of fruits and vegetables; and another business, 2,000 pounds of chicken.

Dollar by dollar, donation by donation, the Local Hearts Foundation continues to fill bags of food and deliver them to homes every day. Tito recognizes that the country’s future is uncertain, but he and his community will remain present until the need is no longer there.

With their red and black uniforms and pom-poms in hand, these groups of students demonstrated that when it comes to serving the community, team spirit also extends off the field.

For weeks and full of energy, they cheered with their pom-poms as vehicles with donations arrived at the school gymnasium. They unloaded them and took them to the packing area. They did this not out of obligation, but because they understood their community needed them. They are willing to raise their voices, and their pom-poms, for a greater cause. This is their way of protesting.

In the middle of the gymnasium, several tables served to separate items: one for drinks, another for groceries, one for toilet paper, and yet another for personal hygiene and household cleaning products.

On one side, dozens of white recyclable bags filled with donations were waiting to be distributed. All bore a personalized message.

“You matter, even when everything feels overwhelming,” reads one message. “Believe in the power of your resilience. You have the strength to overcome any storm,” reads another. All to encourage people not to give up.

The idea of ​​holding a community fundraiser and transforming the gym into a collection and distribution center came from Coach Corona, but was sparked by her sister Sarah, a volunteer on the team.

Seeing the fear in her community, Sarah proposed putting together care packages for families affected by the sociopolitical situation.

“Our school has a large population that is being affected, both families and neighbors, and other members of the surrounding community,” Danna said. “We’ve had people on our team who have had difficulty getting to practice because their parents haven’t been able to drive them to school.”

“We know they’re afraid. What we feel most from them is fear. They want to be safe, they want to keep their children safe,” she continued. “It’s affecting everyone on a personal, physical, and emotional level.”

Some students were forced to become heads of households overnight.

“I have a couple of students whose family members were detained during the raids. Now they have to shift their focus from education to supporting their siblings, staying home, and taking on the role of caregiver. They are in survival mode,” said Katella High School assistant principal Ángel Acosta, principal of the high school during the summer session.

The fear and uncertainty have been such that at least one family has chosen to voluntarily return to their home country.

“It’s sad. They’ve withdrawn their children from school and told me they’re going back to Mexico,” said Acosta.

The impact is not only reflected in enrollment but also in the personal stories that leave a deep mark on the school community.

“Honestly, it really discourages me. That’s not what we want for our families, especially in our district. We want to make sure they are supported, that we provide services, and meet their needs. But this is out of our control,” he continued.

The principal asserts that he works with the affected families to support them. In addition, the school has a social worker who also provides socioemotional support for trauma.

Adds Danna, “We hope to not only provide physical supplies, but also offer mental health resources, support for planning situations, as well as information and resources on immigration.”

Beyond logistical support, Mr. Acosta’s message to his students is clear and hopeful:

“Don’t let the ignorance of others limit your potential. You are resilient. You are strong. Keep doing what you’re doing. You have a school here that will support you regardless of your status.”

This unconditional support is not only evident within the school but has also resonated beyond the classroom thanks to the power of social media.

Danna and Acosta agree that, in difficult times, solidarity online has been key. They assert that they would not have achieved so much without this tool. Although their Instagram account had only a few hundred followers, the image with information about the food collection and distribution was shared more than 450 times. Many community members and local businesses reached out to offer their support.

A supermarket chain donated several pallets of food to support the cause. Other local organizations and businesses also contacted the school to offer their support, demonstrating how a simple post can mobilize a network of solidarity within hours.

The cheerleading and dance groups, with support from the faculty, will continue to receive donations and organize food distributions for those in need, with the commitment to continue until the need is no longer there.

The care packages have been delivered discreetly to protect those affected, and they assure that they will continue to do so to protect their identities. “We’re not asking for names, numbers, or any other information. We just want an address where we can deliver a package. We’ll leave it outside your door, and you can come pick it up whenever you feel comfortable,” Danna stressed.

Just like the Local Hearts Foundation and the Katella High School cheerleading and dance teams, there are organizations across the country delivering bags of food to anyone in need, no questions asked.

Because as long as there is fear, there will be hearts willing to face it. And arms that reach out not only to carry supplies, but to support those who feel like the world is falling apart.

In every delivery, in every message of encouragement, there is a promise: you are not alone. Even if the future seems uncertain, this invisible network of solidarity continues to grow, woven by hands that don’t know each other, but that recognize each other’s needs.

And as long as that network remains alive, no act of kindness will be in vain. Because in times of fear, compassion is also contagious.