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Choctaw and Washington counties placed under a dense fog advisory Saturday morning – visibility down to 1/4 mile

A dense fog advisory was released by the National Weather Service on Saturday at 6:33 a.m. in effect until 9 a.m. for Choctaw and Washington counties.

The weather service states to expect, “Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog.”

“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” describes the weather service. “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.”

Fog safety: Tips from the weather service for safe travels

If a dense fog advisory is issued for your area, it means that widespread dense fog has developed and visibility often drops to just a quarter-mile or less. These conditions can make driving challenging, so exercise extreme caution on the road, and if possible, consider delaying your trip.

If you must drive in foggy conditions, keep the following safety tips in mind:

Moderate your speed:

Slow down and allocate extra travel time to reach your destination safely.

Visibility matters:

Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which also activate your taillights. If available, employ your fog lights.

Avoid high-beams:

Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.

Keep your distance:

Leave a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to account for sudden stops or changes in the traffic pattern.

Stay in your lane:

To ensure you are staying in the correct lane, use the road’s lane markings as a guide.

Visibility near zero:

In situations of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, activate your hazard lights and seek a secure location, such as a nearby business’s parking lot, to pull over and come to a stop.

No parking options:

If no designated parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.

By adhering to these precautions from the weather service, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the likelihood of accidents and ensuring your personal safety.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

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Mighty and meek bid farewell to Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY (AP) — World leaders and Catholic faithful bade farewell to Pope Francis in a funeral Saturday that highlighted his concern for people on the “most peripheral of the peripheries” and reflected his wishes as pastor. Though presidents and princes attended the Mass in St. Peter’s Square, prisoners and migrants will welcome him at the basilica across town where he will be buried.

Some 250,000 people flocked to the funeral Mass and tens of thousands more lined the motorcade route, clapping and cheering “Papa Francesco” as his simple wooden coffin travelled aboard one of his old popemobiles to its final resting place at St. Mary Major Basilica on the other side of the city.

It was then carried into the church, escorted by Swiss Guards.

Earlier, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the 91-year-old dean of the College of Cardinals, eulogized Francis as a pope of the people, a pastor who knew how to communicate to the “least among us” with an informal, spontaneous style.

“He was a pope among the people, with an open heart towards everyone,” Re said in a spirited and highly personal sermon. He drew applause from the crowd when he recounted Francis’ constant concern for migrants, including when he celebrated Mass at the U.S.-Mexico border and travelled to a refugee camp in Lesbos, Greece, and brought 12 migrants home with him.

“The guiding thread of his mission was also the conviction that the church is a home for all, a home with its doors always open,” Re said.

Re said with his travels, including his last major trip to Asia last year, Francis reached “the most peripheral of the peripheries of the world.”

The Argentine pontiff choreographed the funeral himself when he revised and simplified the Vatican’s rites and rituals last year. His aim was to emphasize the pope’s role as a mere pastor and not “a powerful man of this world.”

It was a reflection of Francis’ 12-year project to radically reform the papacy, to stress priests as servants and to construct “a poor church for the poor.” He articulated the mission just days after his 2013 election and it explained the name he chose as pope, honoring St. Francis of Assisi “who had the heart of the poor of the world,” according to the official decree of the pope’s life that was placed in his coffin before it was sealed Friday night.

Despite Francis’ focus on the powerless, the powerful were out in force at his funeral. U.S. President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined Prince William and European royals leading more than 160 official delegations. Argentine President Javier Milei had the pride of place given Francis’ nationality, even if the two didn’t particularly get along and the pope alienated many Argentines by never returning home.

Trump and Zelenskyy met privately on the sidelines of the funeral. A photo showed the two men sitting alone, facing one another and hunched over on chairs in St. Peter’s Basilica, where Francis often preached the need for a peaceful end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The white facade of St. Peter’s glowed pink as the sun rose Saturday and hordes of mourners rushed into the square. Giant television screens were set up along the surrounding streets for those who couldn’t get close. The Mass and funeral procession across town — with Francis’ coffin carried on the open-topped popemobile he used during his 2015 trip to the Philippines — were also broadcast live around the world.

Police helicopters whirled overhead, part of the massive security operation Italian authorities mounted, including more than 2,500 police, 1,500 soldiers and a torpedo ship off the coast, Italian media reported.

Many mourners had planned to be in Rome anyway this weekend for the now-postponed Holy Year canonization of the first millennial saint, Carlo Acutis, and groups of scouts and youth church groups nearly outnumbered the gaggles of nuns and seminarians.

“He was a very charismatic pope, very human, very kind, above all very human,” said Miguel Vaca, a pilgrim from Peru who said he had camped out near the piazza. ”It is a very great emotion to say goodbye to him.”

The poor and marginalized welcome him

Francis, the first Latin American and first Jesuit pope, died Easter Monday at age 88 after suffering a stroke while recovering at home from pneumonia.

Following his funeral, preparations can begin in earnest to launch the centuries-old process of electing a new pope, a conclave that will likely begin in the first week of May. In the interim, the Vatican is being run by a handful of cardinals, key among them Re, who is organizing the secret voting in the Sistine Chapel.

Francis is breaking with recent tradition and will be buried in St. Mary Major, near Rome’s main train station, where a simple tomb awaits him with just his name: Franciscus. As many as 300,000 people are expected to line the 6-kilometer (3.5-mile) motorcade route.

Forty special guests, organized by the Vatican’s Caritas charity and the Sant’Egidio community, will greet his coffin at the basilica, honoring the marginalized groups Francis prioritized as pope: homeless people and migrants, prisoners and transgender people.

“The poor have a privileged place in the heart of God,” the Vatican quoted Francis as saying in explaining the choice.

A special relationship with the basilica

Even before he became pope, Francis had a particular affection for St. Mary Major, home to a Byzantine-style icon of the Madonna, the Salus Populi Romani, to which Francis was particularly devoted. He would pray before it before and after each of his foreign trips as pope.

The choice of the basilica is also symbolically significant given its ties to Francis’ Jesuit religious order. St. Ignatius Loyola, who founded the Jesuits, celebrated his first Mass in the basilica on Christmas Day in 1538.

Crowds waited hours to bid farewell to Francis

Over three days this week, more than 250,000 people stood for hours in line to pay their final respects while Francis’ body lay in state in St. Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican kept the basilica open through the night to accommodate them, but it wasn’t enough. When the doors closed to the general public at 7 p.m. on Friday, mourners were turned away in droves.

By dawn Saturday, they were back, some recalling the words he uttered the very first night of his election and throughout his papacy.

“We are here to honor him because he always said ‘don’t forget to pray for me,’” said Sister Christiana Neenwata from Biafrana, Nigeria. “So we are also here to give to him this love that he gave to us.”

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Panthers-Lightning game 3 free livestream: Where to watch NHL Playoffs today, TV, schedule

The Florida Panthers play against the Tampa Bay Lightning in game 3 of their NHL Playoff series today. The matchup will begin at 12 p.m. CT on TBS. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

The Panthers enter this matchup with a 2-0 series lead, as they defeated Tampa Bay 2-0 in their last game. During the victory, Florida’s goalkeeper Sergei Bobrovsky played at a high level. He ended the game with 19 saves and did not concede a goal, so Bobrovsky will try to perform similarly today.

In order to bounce back this afternoon, the Lightning will need to rely on their star forward Nikita Kucherov. He ended the regular season with 121 points, which led the NHL. However, Kucherov has struggled to find offensive success in the postseason.

Kucherov has not scored a goal in this series, and he failed to record a point last game. With this in mind, Kucherov will look to improve his play today.

Fans can watch game 3 of this NHL Playoff series for free online by using the free trial offered by DirecTV Stream. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

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Miss Manners: Do I owe strangers an explanation about my hair color?

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was born a natural redhead. But as the years went by, my hair color faded away, and now I need extra help from my beautician to keep my hair red.

My entire life, strangers have asked me, rather frequently, if red is my natural color. Now, I feel inclined to explain that it once was, but that I currently dye it. However, that feels awkward and unnecessary.

What would you suggest I say when someone asks me this very direct question?

GENTLE READER: “My hair is naturally red.” This is not only technically truthful, but more importantly, succinct. You do not owe anyone, much less impertinent strangers — and it is indeed impertinent to ask someone such a private question — a detailed confessional.

Miss Manners will leave it up to you if you feel compelled to divulge the whole truth to your friends — but she holds out hope that your friends are too polite to ask. Or already know the answer.

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.

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Hope dims for new Alabama law limiting dog-chaining: ‘Call me Pollyanna’

This month, Allison Cornelius witnessed the legislative committee’s support for a bill that would limit dog-chaining and mandate better confinement conditions, and was full of high hopes.

“Call me Pollyanna,” the Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS) CEO told AL.com Thursday. “In the 11 years I’ve been at GBHS, I’ve never seen the committee, the Ag Committee, more favorable to the issues facing domestic animals than that committee I saw a few weeks ago.”

On April 2, the House Agriculture and Forestry Committee passed HB149, which state Rep. Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery, sponsored.

“I was like, heck yeah, this is the year, and then it sat, and that’s when I started looking at the calendar and paying attention to it,” Cornelius said. “And I contacted Representative Ensler and I said, ‘what’s the chance?’ And he said, ‘none.’”

For Cornelius, that was like a gut punch, and she is now anxious about what would happen when Alabama faces another extreme weather event.

“That is when we see this humongous uptick,” she said.

“I wish I had a dime for every time citizens messaged me on Facebook from all over the state or call my cell phone upset because the officer goes to the scene, looks at the scene and says, ‘well, I don’t know for sure whether this is illegal’ because the current code for Alabama is not specific about what constitutes adequate shelter and nourishment and hydration.”

HB149 provides approved dog tethering and confinement methods and creates welfare standards for dogs kept outside. The bill limits dog confinement to secure enclosures with adequate space for exercise or a trolley system, with specific exceptions, including at licensed veterinary practices, boarding kennels, dog shows.

Additional exceptions include the temporary tethering of a dog at campsites, recreation areas, or homes.

The bill prohibits the indefinite use of a logging chain, choke collar, or pinch collar to tether a dog outside. It mandates that a dog confined outside must at all times have access to adequate shelter, food, and water, which the bill defines.

The shelter must be “free from accumulated waste, standing water, and debris,” and allow “the dog to remain dry and protected from the elements, including providing shade for the dog and containing adequate bedding for cold weather when necessary.”

Any violation is a misdemeanor offense, and a dog may be removed or the owner ordered to provide needed care after an hearing. And if it becomes law, the bill has an effective date of Oct. 1.

Ensler said his love for animals, especially dogs, spurred him to seek better conditions for them.

He is not alone. Beginning last summer and for many months, Madison County animal welfare advocates were concerned about certain dogs that looked neglected chained to trees at a blighted property at a busy intersection in an incorporated area of the fast-growing county, and they wanted the authority to do more.

The Madison County animal welfare director, Brad Stewart, told AL.com that since state law does not prohibit dog-chaining and does not clearly define what adequate shelter, water, and food mean, there is a limit to what he can do.

The advocates took their fight to the Madison County legislative forum which fielded questions from the public in January. In their message to the body, the advocates said the state needs a law that clearly defines adequate shelter, prohibits dog-chaining, and provides a better definition of animal neglect and abuse and when animals can be seized.

Currently, Alabama animal cruelty law makes intentional torture a first-degree felony and says it’s a misdemeanor offense if anyone “in a cruel manner” deprives “a dog or a cat of necessary sustenance or shelter.” But it doesn’t address the chaining or tethering and some of the other requirements now proposed in Ensler’s bill.

Unlike cities, which can pass ordinances through their councils, counties, which have jurisdiction over unincorporated areas, are bound by the state’s animal control law.

Stewart noted that Huntsville enforces its ordinance prohibiting dog-chaining, but Cornelius said it is a different case in Birmingham.

“We have an ordinance in the city of Birmingham that makes chaining and tethering a dog illegal, but it’s not enforced,” she said.

Cornelius points out the disconnect between the numerous calls she receives on the “horrible” situations that dogs are subjected to statewide, and enforcement actions.

The CEO mentioned a nurse who goes to work early every morning and repeatedly called her about some dogs behind a house in what she deemed inadequate shelter.

“And one morning she just called me real early and she said, ‘I’m leaving. And I just want you to know you don’t have to worry about coming out here anymore because they’re dead,’” Cornelius told AL.com.

Cornelius saw a dog with feet frozen to the bottom of a pop-up crate during a recent ice storm.

“Dog was still alive, and the officer that responded to that call wasn’t sure if he could do anything legally,” she said.

“We receive thousands of calls — not hundreds, thousands — every year from regular citizens, senators, house members, businesses, all kinds of different diversity, even law enforcement officers who are frustrated because someone has gone out to a scene and won’t do anything about an animal, that any of us from a common sense perspective would know is not going to survive under a cardboard box in 5-degree weather.”

During the cold snap early this year, she said some Alabama Legislature members told her they fielded calls from concerned citizens, and asked her what they could do.

“I said, ‘you’ve got to get this bill passed,’” she said. “And then you’ve got to make sure that law enforcement has some training to be able to know what to do.”

Ensler told AL.com he gets similar calls.

“I heard from, certainly in my district, but also throughout the state from a lot of people that were very concerned about the horrible conditions that a lot of dogs are subjected to,” Ensler told AL.com.

“People shared with me just the horrible photos and stories of dogs being chained up and treated inhumanely and kept out in just really dangerous weather conditions and outside in the freezing cold and just all sorts of situations all throughout the state where this is happening.”

According to Ensler, the language of the current animal law against cruelty towards animals in Alabama is overly broad.

”So what happens is if someone calls to report animal cruelty, if the sheriffs or animal control officers respond, right now, there’s not a lot of clarity or guidance as to what conditions are considered permissible and which ones aren’t,” the lawmaker said.

“So this (HB149) will provide much more clarity as to how you would know, if someone is keeping their dog tethered outside, that they need to have access to adequate water, shelter, and food.”

Since committee passage on April 2, the bill has been awaiting action by the full House of Representatives before it can move to the state Senate.

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Tornado memorials in Alabama tripled since the 2011 outbreak: Does your city have one?

In Alabama, more than 680 people have been killed by tornadoes since official records began in 1950, leading survivors to commemorate the storms and memorialize those who died.

While there were a handful of tornado memorials before the record-breaking tornado outbreak of April 27, 2011, the number of monuments has tripled since then.

Click through the gallery at the top of the story to see some of Alabama’s monuments.

Research shows there were about a half dozen monuments before 2011, while now there are at least 19 – and more than that if you include private memorials that were erected in cemeteries.

On April 27, when 62 tornadoes killed 247 people statewide, numerous towns in Alabama were devastated, with the hardest hit areas being Tuscaloosa and northwest regions of the state, including those in Madison, Limestone, DeKalb, Franklin and Cullman counties.

The City of Tuscaloosa, where 52 people were killed when an EF4 tornado struck the heart of town, has four erected four monuments. The first was erected in Government Plaza at 7th Street and 22nd Avenue. It that states, in part: “On the street corners and in the neighborhoods, thousands of citizens transformed into heroes by aiding the injured, searching for the missing, clearing debris, and volunteering from dawn to dusk. Called by circumstance, burdened by tragedy, yet inspired by a confident hope, the fury of Mother Nature was met by the best of humanity. How we fought back, how we refused to quit and how we united will ensure that we never forget our victims, our survivors and our heroes.”

Since then, three more memorials have been placed around Tuscaloosa.

Here are the locations of others around the state (if you know of others, please email [email protected]):

Cherokee County: Goshen United Methodist Church, 625 Alabama Highway 9, Piedmont, Ala., dedicated to the victims of the 1994 Palm Sunday tornado.

Monument at Goshen United Methodist Church, 625 Alabama Highway 9, Piedmont, Ala., dedicated to the victims of the 1994 Palm Sunday tornado.Kelly Kazek

Coffee County: Enterprise High School, 1801 Boll Weevil Circle, Enterprise, dedicated to the eight students and another resident killed in a March 1, 2007, tornado.

Cullman County: Cullman’s Heritage Park, 1705 Lee Ave., this monument was created from a bent steel I-beam that was left in the devastation after the April 27, 2011, tornado.

DeKalb County: DeKalb County Schools Coliseum, 1504 Main St. E, Rainsville, dedicated to those killed in the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak.

Franklin County: Phil Campbell, 132 Sherry Bryce Dr., dedicated to those killed in the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak.

Jefferson County: Oak Grove High School, 9494 Oak Grove Parkway, Bessemer, a tree was planted and a plaque erected to the memory of those killed by an April 8, 1998, tornado.

Jefferson County: Pleasant Grove, Pleasant Grove City Hall, 501 Park Road, dedicated to those killed in the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak.

Jefferson County: Pratt City, dedicated to the victims of the April 4, 1977, tornado.

Lee County: Providence Baptist Church, 2807 Lee County Road 166, dedicated to those killed in the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak.

Limestone County: Bethel Church of Christ Cemetery, U.S. Highway 72, Athens, dedicated to those who lost their lives in tornadoes dating back to 1924. Read more here.

Alabama Tornado Memorials

Marker at Bethel Church of Christ Cemetery, U.S. Highway 72, Athens, dedicated to those who in Limestone County who lost their lives in tornadoes dating back to 1924. It is built from bricks of destroyed homes. The base is shaped like the county.Birmingham News File

Madison County: Faith Presbyterian Church, Airport Road and Whitesburg Drive, Huntsville, dedicated to the victims of the Nov. 15, 1989, tornado.

Marion County: American Legion, 314 1st Ave., Hackleburg, dedicated to those killed in the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak.

Marion County: Guin Memorial Park, 11th Avenue (U.S. 43) and U.S. 278, dedicated to the victims of the April 3, 1974, tornado outbreak.

Marshall County: Courthouse, 424 Blount Ave., Guntersville, dedicated to those killed in the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak.

Tuscaloosa County: Mary Harmon Park, 2901 Greensboro Ave., Tuscaloosa dedicated to those killed in the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak.

Tuscaloosa County: Forest Lake, 107 18th St., Tuscaloosa, dedicated to volunteers who helped in the wake of the April 27, 2011, outbreak.

Tuscaloosa County: Alberta Park, 2614 University Blvd., Tuscaloosa, is dedicated to first responders who helped in the wake of the April 27, 2011, outbreak.

Walker County: Downtown Cordova, dedicated to those killed in the April 27, 2011, tornado outbreak.

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2025 NFL Draft: Who’s left for Day 3?

Auburn has been sidelined through the first two days of the 90th NFL Draft. Before the event concludes on Saturday, the Tigers should be in the game as part of a surge of players from Alabama high schools and colleges.

The NFL Draft resumes at 11 a.m. CDT Saturday with the first pick of the fourth round, which will be followed by the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds until the 257th choice becomes this year’s Mr. Irrelevant at around 6 p.m.

NFL teams have chosen 102 players – 32 in the first round, 32 in the second round and 38 in the third round – and have 155 selections to make on Saturday.

The Auburn players who could hear their names called on Saturday include:

  • Running back Jarquez Hunter
  • Linebacker Eugene Asante
  • Wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith
  • Linebacker Jalen McLeod

Other prospects from Alabama high schools and colleges who seem the most likely to be picked on Saturday include:

  • Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond (Alabama)
  • Kansas cornerback Cobee Bryant (Hillcrest-Evergreen)
  • Alabama tight end CJ Dippre
  • Florida outside linebacker Shemar James (Faith Academy)
  • Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson (Pinson Valley, Troy)
  • Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard (Fairhope)
  • Ohio State center Seth McLaughlin (Alabama)
  • UCF cornerback Mac McWilliams (UAB)
  • Alabama safety Malachi Moore (Hewitt-Trussville)
  • Ole Miss defensive tackle JJ Pegues (Auburn)
  • Alabama outside linebacker Que Robinson (Jackson-Olin)
  • Alabama defensive tackle Tim Smith
  • Jacksonville State guard Clay Webb (Oxford)
  • Alabama A&M offensive tackle Carson Vinson

Any of those selections on Saturday will join the roster of prospects who played at Alabama high schools and colleges chosen in this year’s draft. So far, that list includes:

With 37 players, the SEC leads all conferences in selections through three rounds. But there’s more where that came from as the conference takes aim at its single-draft record of producing 65 selections, set in 2022 and equaled in 2023. The SEC’s top remaining prospects also include:

  • Arkansas: Wide receiver Andrew Armstrong
  • Florida: Defensive tackle Cam Jackson, wide receiver Elijah Badger, wide receiver Chime Dike, running back Montrell Johnson Jr.
  • Georgia: Linebacker Smael Monday Jr., wide receiver Dominic Lovett, defensive tackle Warren Brinson, defensive tackle Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, running back Trevor Etienne, defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse, guard Xavier Truss
  • Kentucky: Defensive tackle Deone Walker
  • LSU: Defensive end Bradyn Swinson, guard Miles Frazier, cornerback Zy Alexander
  • Missouri: Offensive tackle Marcus Bryant
  • Oklahoma: Safety Billy Bowman Jr., linebacker Danny Stutsman
  • Ole Miss: Linebacker Chris Paul Jr., outside linebacker Jared Ivey
  • South Carolina: Defensive end Kyle Kennard, running back Raheim Sanders, defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway
  • Tennessee: Running back Dylan Sampson, wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr., wide receiver Bru McCoy, defensive tackle Elijah Simmons
  • Texas: Outside linebacker Barryn Sorrell, quarterback Quinn Ewers, offensive tackle Cameron Williams, tight end Gunnar Helm, running back Jaydon Blue, center Jake Majors

The list of other players who were projected to have been picked by now starts with quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who was seen early in the draft process as the potential No. 1 selection. He remains available, as do Ohio State pass-rusher Jacks Sawyer, Indiana defensive lineman CJ West, Kansas offensive tackle Logan Brown, Utah State wide receiver Jalen Royals, Purdue offensive tackle Marcus Mbow, Western Michigan cornerback Bilhal Kone and Florida State defensive lineman Joshua Farmer.

Saturday’s selections will be televised by ABC, ESPN and NFL Network.

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.

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Miss Manners: Is getting soda water from the fountain machine stealing?

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Self-service fountain machines at pizza parlors and delis have the different sugary sodas labeled with big buttons, while there are often smaller black “water” and “soda” buttons below.

I have always believed that the aerated water dispensed by the “soda” button is still just water, meaning I can fill up a cup for free. After all, it is not on the menu for purchase. Is my assumption correct? My partner says that this is stealing and I need to pay for it.

I once asked at the register to confirm this was OK, and the young guy there said “sure.” But at lunch at a different restaurant, I said I was going to get some soda and my partner said “OK, if you want to steal it” — right in front of the owner, who was walking by our table. I do not identify as a thief, and I felt hurt.

Is there something I am overlooking? Should I ask each time, at each restaurant? Or is my assumption OK that aerated or not, water is still water? I do acknowledge that the soda button uses a small amount of the aeration cartridge shared by the other beverages.

I am happy to change my practice and ask each time, but now I’m just irritated with my partner and digging in my heels. Please weigh in.

GENTLE READER: The argument that compels Miss Manners the most is that soda water is not otherwise on the menu. Is this true for every establishment? That would be the question to ask: “May I have a cup for soda water, or is that something I can purchase from you?”

You then have full permission to give a smug, satisfied smile to your partner when the answer is in your favor. Provided you still want to dine with someone who has been calling you a thief.

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.

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Dense fog advisory in place for Alabama until Saturday morning, visibility limited to 1/4 mile

The National Weather Service released a dense fog advisory at 4:55 a.m. on Saturday in effect until 9 a.m. for Marion, Fayette and Winston counties.

The weather service states to expect, “Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense fog.”

“Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous,” describes the weather service. “If driving, slow down, use your headlights, and leave plenty of distance ahead of you.”

Fog safety: Tips from the weather service for safe travels

When a dense fog advisory is issued for your area, it means that widespread dense fog has developed and visibility can plummet to a quarter-mile or less. These conditions pose challenges for travel, so exercise extra caution on the road or consider postponing your trip if possible.

If driving through fog becomes inevitable, remember these safety guidelines:

Reduce speed:

Slow down and allocate extra time for your trip to reach your destination safely.

Visibility priority:

Ensure your vehicle is visible to others by using low-beam headlights, which automatically activate your taillights. Utilize fog lights if your vehicle is equipped with them.

Avoid high-beams:

Refrain from using high-beam headlights, as they create glare that impairs your visibility on the road.

Keep your distance:

Maintain a significant following distance to account for abrupt stops or shifts in traffic patterns.

Stay in your lane:

Use the road’s lane markings as a guide to staying in the correct lane.

Visibility near zero:

In cases of near-zero visibility due to dense fog, initiate your hazard lights and locate a secure spot, such as a nearby business parking area, to pull over and come to a halt.

No parking options:

If no designated parking area is available, pull your vehicle as far off the road as possible. Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights are not illuminated, reducing the risk of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.

By adhering to these recommendations from the weather service, you can navigate foggy conditions more safely, reducing the risk of accidents and ensuring your well-being.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.

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Dear Annie: Advice from a Pre-K teacher

Dear Annie: I’m writing to “Tired Mom” about the situation with her and her best friend’s toddler girls not getting along. As a teacher who worked with little ones for many years, I found that it works better when you correct with a positive instead of a negative.

Instead of saying, “We don’t hit,” say, “Hands are for helping, not hurting.” Also, if possible, get the child involved — “Repeat after me, ‘Hands are for helping, not hurting.’” I hope this helps. — Pre-K Teacher

Dear Pre-K Teacher: Thank you for your letter! I hope it resonates with others the way it did with me. This is a great reminder of how important our words are and that even the smallest shifts can go a long way — especially with our kiddos.

Read more Dear Annie and other advice columns.

“How Can I Forgive My Cheating Partner?” is out now! Annie Lane’s second anthology — featuring favorite columns on marriage, infidelity, communication and reconciliation — is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit Creators Publishing for more information. Send your questions for Annie Lane to [email protected].

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