His wife called 911 and told a dispatcher she came home and found her husband shot in the head.
She told police that the house, in Birmingham’s Central Park neighborhood, was ”shot up” and money was missing.
Birmingham police investigate a homicide at 1755 50th Street Ensley on May 30, 2025.Carol Robinson
Officer De’Rell Freeman said detectives did not find any sign of forced entry. Police on the scene said the victim had been dead for at least a day before his body was found.
Freeman said the exact time of the deadly shooting is not yet known.
No arrests have been announced.
Stollenwreck is Birmingham’s 33rd homicide in 2025. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 49, including the 33 in Birmingham.
Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.
This summer, AL.com has a mission: We’re going to highlight the hidden gems across Alabama. We’re not just talking about places, although we plan on doing plenty of that, too. We will tell the stories of the people, businesses and food across our state that we think deserve a little more love.
We’re calling this series Unsung Alabama, and every weekday in June and July, we plan on sharing a new story with y’all.
And while we have a lot of great stories already planned, we want to hear from you. Know of a neighbor who has a great story? Have a dish at your favorite restaurant that you can’t get enough of? Do you have a secret hidden gem you’d like to share with the world (or at least share with the AL.com audience)? We’d love to hear from you. Send me an email or fill out this form and we’ll consider your story.
We’ll also have more opportunities to vote on story topics this summer, so keep an eye out.
Let’s start this off with a simple bucket list of some things to do this summer in Alabama – and most of them are suggestions from readers. I didn’t include the more obvious suggestions, like visiting the beaches on the Alabama coast, checking out the Vulcan, touring the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, etc. While I love all of those places, I wanted to highlight attractions that don’t top the tourism lists every year.
Let me know all the places I missed. Now, let’s get to it:
Weathington Park in Section is an Alabama must-visit. (Tamika Moore/AL.com)TAMIKA MOORE/AL.com
Check out the views at Weathington Park
Section
No picture can quite capture the serene views of the Tennessee River you get at Weathington Park. (Although plenty of photographers have tried.) The Northeast Alabama overlook has picnic tables and there are a few small walking trails, as well. Tip: Make sure you’re there for sunset for maximum beauty.
A look inside Red’s Little School House in Grady, Ala.Julie Bennett
Eat lunch at Red’s Little School House
Grady
Want to go back to school for a day this summer? Right on the outskirts of Montgomery County is a converted schoolhouse where you can get country cooking that’s not like anything you ever ate in your lunchroom. The food at Red’s Little School House is served buffet-style and prices are written on the chalkboard. (Don’t leave without trying the homemade pie.)
Check out a giant syrup bottle
Headland
It’s easy to know when you make it to Todd Farms and General Store in Southeast Alabama– there’s the 22-foot tall syrup bottle in front, for starters. But the longtime attraction also has a general store inside, plus a cafe that serves breakfast and lunch. This is a must-stop.
Grab a scoop of ice cream at the production facility of Blue Bell Creameries in Sylacauga, Ala.Amber Sutton
Tour the Blue Bell Creamery
Sylacauga
Have you ever wanted to know how Blue Bell Ice Cream is made? Head over to Sylacauga to the company’s production facility and you can watch through an observation window. Get a scoop of ice cream for $1 and don’t forget to check out the gift shop before you leave.
Visit Dismals Canyon
Phil Campbell
Dismals Canyon in Franklin County is one of Alabama’s most magnificent places. The National Natural Landmark is one of the most unique hikes you’ll ever experience and one of the few places on earth where you can see “dismalites” (a specific kind of “glowworm”). Dismals Canyon is an ecological marvel, and it’s something every Alabamian should experience once.
View of the upper pool at Blue Springs State Park in Clio, Ala., where the cool spring water boils from the ground. This pool is 18 feet deep in the middle. (AL.com file photo/Joe Songer)
Cool off at Blue Springs State Park
Clio
Swimming at Blue Springs State Park is definitely a bucket list item. The park’s main attractions are the two crystal-clear pools that are fed by an underground spring. The spring keeps the pools’ temperature at a cool 68 degrees year-round. (Note: There are no lifeguards on duty at the pools.)
Downtown Abbeville, Ala. (Kelly Kazek)
Explore a vintage downtown
Abbeville
Great Southern Wood CEO James “Jimmy” Rane is the state’s richest man according to Forbes, and he’s spent some of his money revitalizing his hometown of Abbeville. The downtown area has been restored with vintage touches that make you feel like you’re on your way to a sock hop.
The Drive-Thru Museum of Wonder, located off Highway 431 in Seale, Ala., was created by nationally-renowned folk artist Butch Anthony in 2014. It displays an array of Butch’s work in addition to found and gifted curiosities.Amber Sutton
Drive through the Museum of Wonder
Seale
You can view the artwork (and oddities) of nationally-renowned artist Butch Anthony in his Drive-Thru Museum of Wonder. The museum is comprised of shipping containers with glass windows so it’s easy to view. Best of all? It’s open 24/7, so you can be there anytime.
Originally called Bat Cave, Cathedral Caverns was opened to the public by Jacob Gurley in the 1950s. (Joe Songer)al.com
Cool off in Cathedral Caverns
Woodville
There’s only one place in Alabama where you may need a coat this summer: Northeast Alabama’s Cathedral Caverns State Park. The cave stays around 60 degrees. Take a tour not just for 90 minutes of natural air conditioning but also to see a frozen waterfall, one-of-a-kind formations and one of the largest stalagmites in the world.
Black Belt Treasures and Cultural Arts Center in Camden offers some of the best fine art, folk art, crafts and much more made by artists in the Black Belt region. (Michelle Matthews/[email protected])
Buy some Alabama art
Camden
The Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center, located in the small town of Camden,, is a nonprofit that strives to stimulate the economy by promoting and selling art from the region and offering art education. Visit the unique storefront to find some local crafts made with love.
The only exclusively coon dog cemetery in the world is located in Colbert County, Alabama.Ian Hoppe
Pay your respects at the coon dog cemetery
Cherokee
There is no other place in the world quite like Cherokee’s coon dog cemetery. (It’s official name is the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard.) It’s a peaceful, serene place to witness our love for man’s best friend.
At least six people were hospitalized Sunday afternoon following a multi-vehicle crash in downtown Gatlinburg.
WATE is reporting the incident occurred at about 4:14 p.m. Sunday in the 700 block of Parkway. Five vehicles were involved in the crash.
Three victims were airlifted to the University of Tennessee Medical Center by Lifestar helicopter. Gatlinburg police said three others were transported by ambulance.
Gatlinburg police and the Tennessee Highway Patrol are investigating.
The THP Critical Incident Response Team conducted an accident reconstruction Sunday night, according to officials.
Some online reports say the incident may have been triggered when one driver had a medical episode, but officials have not confirmed that.
Police have not released the names of any victims.
After winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award for 2023, Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. increased his sack total by 6.5 in his second season.
The task for Anderson and the Texans in 2025 is to keep climbing.
“I think with Will, like a lot of these guys we’re talking about, the effort and the energy and the intensity are never going to be an issue,” Houston defensive coordinator Matt Burke said on Friday. “And so I think the challenge we put to Will is to fine-tune the details, and ‘What does it take to go from good to great to elite to the best?’ And as he’s climbing that ladder, it gets harder and harder to make those steps up those rungs. We know he’s a good player, a great player. Now how do we keep climbing and fine-tuning to become even better?
“And he’s on a mission. He actually dropped a move today in the pass-rush setting that was a new move for him that he executed really well. It was really cool to see. So he’s just really trying to work on a lot of details to really climb that ladder to be the best.”
Anderson said he had gotten the same message from Texans coach DeMeco Ryans.
“DeMeco pulled me to the side and was like, ‘You know, now it’s just fine-tuning those little things in your game,’” Anderson said. “Like, how precise can you be? How good can you be at taking the next step? And for me, it’s just like when I’m on a block, using my hands better, getting off blocks, my escape when I’m rushing the passer. Like, am I reaching with precision on the quarterback? Can I get some strip sacks? Stuff like that. So, like, those are the things I want to work on this offseason, this time during OTAs and really just getting precise at those things and taking my game to the next level.”
After becoming a two-time unanimous All-American at Alabama, Anderson joined the Texans as the third selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. He had seven sacks in the regular season and another in the playoffs as a rookie. In 2024, Anderson had 11 regular-season sacks and 3.5 in the playoffs.
Only one of those has been a strip sack.
“My coach, he’s done a phenomenal job — Coach Rod (Wright),” Anderson said. “He’s done great just putting together a whole presentation for us of all the sacks that we missed, the missed opportunities that we could have had, hitting the ball the wrong way, hitting the elbow the wrong way, reaching too high and getting a penalty. Stuff like that.
“So, like, we left a lot of sacks out on the table, and that’s what I’m talking about, going back to being precise. Like, how good can you be at the process of attacking the throwing arm? How good can you be at taking the ball away, getting the strip sack, picking it up, taking it to the crib? So, like, those are the things that we want to start putting into our bag and finesse moves and stuff like that, taking our game to the next level, especially for me.”
In both of Anderson’s seasons, Houston has lost in the second round of the playoffs. That’s another area where Anderson wants to climb to higher rungs.
“Now that we’ve been in some of these big games, man, we know what it takes to be there,” Anderson said. “And it’s about execution. It’s about locking in and playing one game at a time and really everybody doing their job at the highest level possible.”
The Texans start the second of their three weeks of Organized Team Activities on Tuesday. Houston’s final workout of the offseason is scheduled for June 11.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
The latest alert said that while violent crime in the country has decreased since 2024, it remains statistically high, though tourist areas tend to be safer. The country’s homicide rate remains one of the highest in the Western Hemisphere and armed robberies and sexual assaults are common.
U.S. embassy employees are prohibited from using public buses and driving between cities at night, the state department said.
When crimes do occur, U.S. citizens have reported slow responses from law enforcement and issues in receiving adequate healthcare.
“This includes slower emergency service response times and less availability of care for illness or injury. Private hospitals require payment up front before admitting patients and may not have the ability to provide specialized care. Ambulance services are not always staffed with EMTs and are not always readily available, especially in rural areas. U.S. citizens should bring extra prescription medication as common medications, such as insulin, can be difficult to obtain,” the alert noted.
Some areas of the island nation have increased risk and remain under a “Do Not Travel” advisory, the highest alert issued by the State Department.
On the Do Not Travel list are:
St. Ann’s Parish – Steer Town and the Buckfield neighborhood near Ocho Rios.
St. Catherine’s Parish – Spanish Town, Central Village, areas within Portmore, including: Naggo Head, New Land, Old Braeton, Portmore Lane, Gregory Park, and Waterford.
Clarendon Parish – all of Clarendon Parish, except passing through Clarendon Parish using the T1 and A2 highways.
St. Elizabeth’s Parish – Vineyard District Community, between the communities of Salt Spring and Burnt Savanna, St. Elizabeth.
Hanover Parish – Logwood and Orange Bay.
St. James Parish/Montego Bay – Inland side of the A1 highway and The Queen’s Drive from San San to Harmony Beach Park.
Kingston and St. Andrew Parish – Cassava Piece, Duhaney Park, Grants Pen, Standpipe, Swallowfield, Elleston Flats, August Town, and downtown Kingston, defined as between Mountain View Avenue and Hagley Park Road, and south of Half Way Tree and Old Hope Roads. Downtown Kingston includes Arnett Gardens, Cockburn Gardens, Denham Town, Olympic Gardens, Seaview Gardens, Trench Town, and Tivoli Gardens.
Manchester Parish – Green Vale and Gray Ground neighborhoods of Mandeville.
St. Thomas Parish – Black Lane neighborhood in Seaforth, Grands Penn, Church Corner neighborhood near Yallahs, Town of Yallahs, except when driving through on the main highway.
Trelawny Parish – Clarks Town.
Westmoreland Parish – Russia community in Savanna-la-Mar (The Southeastern quadrant of Savannah la Mar east of Darling Street and south of the A2 highway/Barracks Road), Morgan Bay, Kings Valley, The Whitehall, Bethel Town, and Red Ground neighborhoods of Negril.
• Do not attempt to bring firearms or ammunition, including stray rounds, shells, or empty casings. The penalties for carrying firearms or ammunition, even by mistake, can be severe, and can include long prison sentences.
• Avoid walking or driving at night.
• Avoid public buses.
• Avoid remote places.
• Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
• Be aware of your surroundings and keep a low profile.
The Atlantic hurricane season is officially underway.
Sunday, June 1, marked the first day of the season for the Atlantic Basin, which also includes the Gulf and the Caribbean. The last day will be Nov. 30.
The Atlantic season typically starts off on the slower side, with increasing activity in August and the climatological peak arriving on Sept. 10.
Here is a look at typical activity over the season:
The Atlantic hurricane season has its climatological peak on Sept. 10.
The 2025 hurricane season is expected to again have more than the usual number of storms.
Forecasters are predicting 12 to 19 named storms, six to 10 hurricanes and three to five major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or stronger storms.
An average season, according to NOAA data, has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
NOAA forecasters think the 2025 hurricane season has a 60 percent probability of being more active than normal. There is a 30 percent chance of near-average numbers and only a 10 percent chance of below-average numbers.
NOAA’s forecasts don’t, however, have the ability to predict there those storms could go.
However, Colorado State University forecasters, who released an early forecast in April, think there is a just-slightly above-average probability (33 percent) of a major hurricane hitting the Gulf Coast (from Texas to the Florida Panhandle). The average probability of that happening is 27 percent based on data from 1880 to 2020.
For the entire U.S. coast the probability is 51 percent (the average is 43 percent).
There are no tropical storms expected in the Atlantic in the next week, according to the National Hurricane Center:
There are no tropical storms or hurricanes expected to form in the Atlantic in the next seven days.National Hurricane Center
Hurricane watchers are avidly scouring computer model data about what could be brewing in June.
Some forecast models are suggesting a tropical system could form in the Caribbean in the next few weeks, but other models show nothing happening in that same area.
One model in particular, the GFS (or Global Forecast System), is notorious for spinning up what some call “fantasy ‘canes” that don’t materialize. That has been happening in the past few days, but that idea is not supported by other models.
A shooting inside a historic downtown Mobile theater left one person dead, a 27-year-old man booked on a murder charge, and outrage across social media.
May is usually thought of as the third and final month of Alabama’s spring severe weather season.
May 2025 definitely lived up to that billing.
Not just because of tornadoes — there were certainly many of those. But also because of the sheer number of days with severe weather in the forecast for the state.
A look back at severe weather outlooks from the Storm Prediction Center shows that there were only four days in May that did not have severe weather in the forecast for at least part of the state at some point in the day.
Above is the May calendar for just north Alabama, which had more than its fair share of storms and tornadoes last month. For north Alabama there was severe weather in the forecast for 18 of the 31 days in May.
Storm fell trees in Monte Sano in Huntsville on May 20, 2025.Kayode Crown
For central Alabama there were only 10 days without severe storms in the forecast. For south Alabama it was nine days.
May also had more tornadoes than any month so far this year.
There were 20 confirmed tornadoes across the state in May. (March had 18, February had 12, April had 10 and January had 2).
Most of those 20 May tornadoes were on May 20, when a wave of severe storms rolled across the state and hit north Alabama particularly hard. There was a Level 3 out of 5 (enhanced) risk for severe weather for part of the state that day.
There were 17 confirmed tornadoes May 20-21, and 14 of those were in the 11 counties covered by the National Weather Service in Huntsville.
The rain also added up. Tuscaloosa had its rainiest May on record and got nearly 15 inches of rain in May. Several other larger cities, including Birmingham and Huntsville, were in the top 10 on record for rain in May.
According to the weather service a large part of the state got 10-15 inches of rain, with some isolated 15- to 20-inch amounts.
The good news is that severe weather is not in the forecast for at least the next week, according to forecasts from NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center.
Sometimes those storms can hit severe limits, but “organized” severe weather is not as common over the summer unless a tropical system is involved.
Here’s a look at tornadoes by month in Alabama. Those numbers drop considerably over the summer months (June, July and August) and start to climb again during the so-called “secondary severe weather season” that starts in November.
Alabama can have tornadoes any month of the year, but March, April and May are some of the busiest months.NWS
The Storm Prediction Center is not expecting severe weather in Alabama for at least the next seven days.
There will be chances for rain and storms, but multiple severe storms are not expected.
John Brenkus died at the age of 54 after battling depression.
The news of the founder and host of the Emmy-winning “Sports Science” show was shared on his social media account said on Sunday.
“It is with profound sadness that we share the news that John Brenkus has passed away,” the statement on Brenkus’ X account said.
“John, co-founder of Base Productions, Founder of Brinx.TV, and co-creator and host of the six-time Emmy award-winning ‘Sport Science,’ had been battling depression.
“John lost his fight with this terrible illness on May 31, 2025. His heartbroken family and friends request privacy at this time, and encourage anyone who is struggling with depression to seek help.”
“Sports Science,” which Brenkus founded and hosted, first aired in 2007 on Fox Sports before moving to ESPN.
ESPN described the show as a vehicle to uncover “sports’ biggest myths and mysteries by using cutting-edge technology to measure momentum, friction and the laws of gravity.”
Brenkus said that he was close to taking his life until his dog, Zepplin, pulled on the legs of his jeans, which he credits for saving his life.
“In my suicidal funk, I was like: ‘What am I doing?’ I literally picked up my phone, called my mom and said: ‘There’s something wrong with me. I am mentally lost,’” Brenkus told Wiley.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
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.
Kay Ivey will appoint Twinkle Cavanaugh’s replacement on the Alabama’s Public Service Commission, but make no mistake: Alabama Power will be in on the pickin’.
If it seems like every PSC commissioner bows down to Alabama Power, it’s because almost all of the time, they do. Like they’re beholden or something.
Archibald writes: “You’d think, if you just watched this PSC from time to time, and heard the prayers uttered there in the past, that it worships the Christian God – albeit a very narrow version of that God.
Twinkle’s thoughts and prayers: Pray away the EPAJD Crowe
“But I don’t buy it. I think the PSC worships another deity: Alabama Power Co.
“The PSC only spent about four minutes talking to God and the birth of his son. It wasn’t long. But it spent no time at all talking about the most significant regulatory duty that came before it that day: Alabama Power’s latest rate hike.
“The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday that Cavanaugh would become the state director for rural development in Alabama. Her appointment was announced along with several other positions in the department, which oversees food and farming throughout the country.
“Cavanaugh was first elected to the public service commission in 2010 and became president of the commission in 2012. She was re-elected last November.
“The commission is a three-member body tasked with regulating utilities in the state, including electrical utilities. The commission — and Cavanaugh — have come under scrutiny from the public for high bills.”
“Gina Maiola, a spokesperson for Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, told AL.com she anticipates Ivey will appoint a replacement for Cavanaugh “in the coming days.”
The Alabama Public Service Commission is supposed to be the big watchdog on the porch of the people, not the whiny mini chihuahua in the pocket of Alabama’s biggest utility companies.
Twinkle the Pocketwatch DogJD Crowe
Only one PSC commissioner in my memory – Terry Dunn, a Republican – had the wild idea of asking for a formal review of the rate structure of Alabama’s largest utility companies. Dunn was suddenly as popular as a wet dog at a wedding. Dunn was done. That was in 2013.
Twinkle, in league with her Alabama Power sycophants in sludge, has been like a fodder figure to me over the years. Thanks for your service.
Shout out to my colleague John Hammontree for inspiring today’s cartoon with this prompt: “Waiting for the black coal smoke to come from the Alabama Power HQ to announce the new Public Service Commissioner.”
JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group andAL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award for local and state cartoons by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, X Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler @[email protected].
