Alabama News

A new ice cream store is coming to Alabama and they’re giving people the opportunity to win free ice cream for a year.

Baskin-Robbins, located at 5095 Moores Mill Road Suite #300 in Huntsville, is giving patrons that chance, along with discounted scoops Saturday from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m.

According to the business, guests can also expect a DJ, prizes, giveaways and more.

“See you there for a sweet treat!” The Facebook post read.

The new Baskin-Robbins shop offers indoor seats and will operate daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to WHNT.

Huntsville franchisee Arpit Pandya told the outlet, “My passion for frozen treats traces back to my childhood in India, where my family owned an ice cream business. I grew up eating all the different flavors—so much that my grandfather once had to tell the family to stop eating more than we sold.”

The opening of this location brings the number of Huntsville-area Baskin-Robbins’ to five.

Oxford point guard Jaylen Alexander has committed to play college basketball at Belmont.

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound senior announced his decision on social media Friday.

“We are so excited for Jaylen and his family,” Yellow Jackets coach Joel Van Meter said. “Belmont is a program with a rich tradition and joining the Missouri Valley Conference will give him the chance to compete at a very high level.”

Alexander, a two-time All-State selection, has totaled 1,855 points, 500 assists and 275 steals in his high school career.

Alexander’s 247 Sports profile also lists offers from Auburn, Samford, Murray State, UAB, Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State and Illinois-Chicago. The 3-star guard is the No. 3-ranked senior recruit in the state, according to the 247 Composite rankings, behind only Hale County’s Gage Mayfield and Hoover center Jackson Sheffield.

“Jaylen has worked incredibly hard for this opportunity, and he and his family deserve the credit for the dedication and effort to get there,” Van Meter said.

Other recruiting news:

Football:

Mary G. Montgomery defensive lineman Kaleb Morris received a Colorado offer. Morris is currently committed to Mississippi State.

Central-Phenix City 2027 quarterback BJ Coleman received an offer from South Florida this week. Coleman is the younger brother of Auburn standout receiver Cam Coleman.

The rising American country-rock group, The Red Clay Strays, are currently on their 33-stop Get Right tour and have tour dates scattered around the country from July through to Oct.

The group, which originated in Mobile, Alabama, recently added more show dates back in June following an “overwhelming demand” for more shows. Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama are the latest states to join the lineup for upcoming shows.

In addition to the newly added shows, the group will travel to major cities around the country including Minneapolis, Chicago, Austin, Detroit and more, and though most shows are sold out on their website, those eager enough to see the group live can find tickets still available for purchase through other sites.

2025 Red Clay Strays tickets

Those looking to see the group while on the Get Right tour can find tickets 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.

Red Clay Strays Huntsville tickets

The Alabama-born music group is set to close out the North American leg of their extensive Get Right tour in Huntsville, Alabama with a show at the Orion Amphitheater on Wednesday, Oct. 15.

Those looking to catch The Red Clay Strays while in their home state can find the current ticket prices available below.

Ticketmaster: Tickets start at $162.18 per person

Vivid Seats: Tickets start at $151 per person

StubHub: Tickets start at $160 per person

Viagogo: Tickets start at $152 per person

Seat Geek: Tickets start at $149 per person

Get Right tour dates

• July 26 – Bend, Oregon – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
• July 27 – Nampa, Idaho – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
• July 31 – Minneapolis, Minnesota – The Armory
• Aug. 2 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – BMO Pavilion
• Aug. 3 – Cleveland, Ohio – Jacobs Pavilion
• Aug. 8, 9 & 10 – Darien Center, New York – Outlaw Music Festival
• Aug. 12 – Columbus, Ohio – KEMBA Live! Outdoor Amphitheatre
• Aug. 13 – Indianapolis, Indiana – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
• Aug. 15 – Wilmington, North Carolina – Live Oak Band Pavilion at Riverfront Park
• Aug. 16 – Raleigh, North Carolina – Red Hat Amphitheater
• Aug. 20 – St. Augustine, Florida – The St. Augustine Amphitheatre
• Aug. 22 – Charlotte, North Carolina – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
• Aug. 24 – Richmond, Virginia – Allianz Amphitheatre at Riverfront
• Aug. 28 – Bridgeport, Connecticut – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
• Aug. 29 – Asbury Park, New Jersey – The Stone Pony Summer Stage
• Sept. 3 & 4 – Chicago, Illinois – The Salt Shed
• Sept. 6 – Cincinnati, Ohio – The Andrew J Brady Music Center
• Sept. 7 – Maryland Heights, Missouri – Saint Louis Music Park
• Sept. 11 – Andover, Kansas – Capitol Federal Amphitheater
• Sept. 12 – Colorado Springs, Colorado – Ford Amphitheater
• Sept. 14 & 15 – Morrison, Colorado – Red Rocks
• Sept. 19 – Independence, Missouri – Cable Dahmer Arena
• Sept. 20 – La Vista, Nebraska – The Astro Amphitheater
• Sept. 25 – Irving, Texas – The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
• Sept. 26 – Lubbock, Texas – Cooks Garage
• Sept. 28 – Austin, Texas – Moody Amphitheater
• Oct. 2 – Pikeville, Kentucky – Appalachian Wireless Arena
• Oct. 4 & 5 – Detroit, Michigan – Fox Theatre
• Oct. 9 – Macon, Georgia – Atrium Health Amphitheater
• Oct. 10 – North Charleston, South Carolina – Riverfront Revival Music Festival 2025
• Oct. 12 – Salt Lake City, Utah – REDWEST 2025
• Oct. 15 – Huntsville, Alabama – Orion Amphitheater

One person is in custody and more arrests are expected after a massive gunfight in Montgomery County.

Sheriff’s deputies responded about 8:30 p.m. Friday to an active gunfight involving multiple people in the 6800 block of Atlanta Highway, said Assistant Chief Deputy Wesley Richerson. That location is between Brown Springs Road and Taylor Road.

All of the suspects involved fled the scene before deputies arrived. No injuries were reported.

Deputies and investigators worked throughout the night, carrying out numerous search warrants at various locations, processing evidence, and identifying suspects.

Multiple vehicles and firearms, including an assault rifle, used in the shootout were recovered, Richerson said.

Early Saturday, deputies arrested one of the suspects.

King Walker, 19, is charged with attempted murder and discharging a firearm into an occupied building. He is being held in the Montgomery County Detention Facility on $90,000 bond.

“We want these criminals to know that if they commit a violent crime and jeopardize the safety of our community, the men and women of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office will not sleep until they are identified, located, and arrested,” Richerson said. “We are committed to ensuring violent offenders are held accountable for their actions.”

Richerson said more arrests are expected.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office at 334- 832-4980 or Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP.

A North Alabama police department and other agencies are looking for a suspect who shot a Scottsboro police officer during a a police chase early Saturday, WHNT reported.

The Scottsboro Police Department is looking for 29-year-old Daniel Victor McCarn, a former Huntsville resident now living in Scottsboro, according to The Clarion Newspaper.

The Clarion reported that the officer’s injuries were not life-threatening.

McCarn is described as having brown hair, brown eyes and a height of 5′10″ and a weight of 260 lbs.

The incident began around 1:49 a.m. after the Scottsboro Police Department responded to calls about a domestic incident on Ruth Street, according to WHNT.

After arriving to the area, McCarn is alleged to have fled the scene which prompted a police chase. The chase ended up in a crash at the intersection of County Road Park and U.S. Highway 72, according to the outlet.

Shortly after the crash, McCarn then left the vehicle he was driving and began shooting at police.

He hit a Scottsboro Police Department officer, who was later transferred to the hospital for their injuries.

McCarn should be considered armed and dangerous, according to the department.

More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Lukas Nelson is set to embark on his first-ever solo headlining tour in Sept. with the first two shows set in Austin, Texas at the Paramount Theatre Sept. 29-30.

Presale for the upcoming American Romance Tour kicked off July 24 with general on-sale tickets set to be available on Friday, July 25 at 10 a.m. local time.

The tour is geared towards celebrating Nelson’s latest release, an album by the same name, which was released in June and marked his ninth studio album release.

While on the 20-stop American Romance tour, Nelson is set to visit popular music venues such as the Paramount Theatre in Denver, the Globe Iron in Cleveland, The Majestic Theatre in Detroit and more.

Lukas Nelson American Romance tour tickets

Those hoping to find tickets to one of the American Romance tour dates can find them 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.

American Romance tour schedule

• Sept. 29 & 30 – Austin, Texas – Paramount Theatre
• Oct. 2 – Dallas, Texas – Majestic Theatre
• Oct. 3 – Little Rock, Arkansas – The Hall
• Oct. 4 – Memphis, Tennessee – Mempho Music Festival 2025
• Oct. 6 – Decatur, Alabama – The Princess Theatre
• Oct. 8 – Nashville, Tennessee – The Pinnacle
• Oct. 9 – Atlanta, Georgia – Buckhead Theatre
• Oct. 10 – North Charleston, South Carolina – Riverfront Revival Music Festival 2025
• Oct. 12 – Wilmington, North Carolina – Live Oak Bank Pavilion
• Oct. 14 – Washington, DC – Lincoln Theatre
• Oct. 15 – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Brooklyn Bowl Philadelphia
• Oct. 21 – Cleveland, Ohio – Globe Iron
• Oct. 22 – Detroit, Michigan – The Majestic Theatre
• Oct. 24 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – The Rave/Eagles Club
• Oct. 25 – Madison, Wisconsin – The Sylvee
• Oct. 26 – Chicago, Illinois – The Vic Theatre
• Oct. 28 – Saint Paul, Minnesota – Palace Theatre
• Oct. 29 – Omaha, Nebraska – The Admiral Theater
• Oct. 31 – Denver, Colorado – Paramount Theatre

In the run-up to the 2025 season, AL.com featured some of the best 6A wide receivers in Alabama high school football.

Now, we want to hear from you: Which 6A wide receiver will be the best of the best in 2025?

Read the write-ups on every wide receiver here, and then vote in the poll at the bottom of this page.

Best players at each position: QB | RB | WR | TE | OL | DL | LB | DB

The voting will conclude Sunday, August 17, at 11:59 p.m. Central. Later, we will publish the “fans’ all-star team” based on the vote of the readers.

Note: AL.com’s polls are intended to be fun. You can vote as many times as you want, but we discourage the use of script, macro or other automated means. AL.com reserves the right to adjust the voting based on irregularities. Email [email protected] with concerns.

THE CANDIDATES

(Candidates were selected based on information provided by coaches. Some coaches declined to respond to our requests for information about their team. Read more about each of these players here.)

Kaleb Amerson, so., Clay-Chalkville

Marcus Arnold, jr., Pelham

Corey Barber, sr., Clay-Chalkville

Elijah Bates, sr., Calera

BJ Bedgood, sr., Benjamin Russell

Jamari Burnett, sr., Russell County

Revelation Clark, so., Brookwood

Christopher Cunningham, so., Theodore

Keyshawn Curry, sr., Gadsden City

Lejames Daniels, sr., Baldwin County

Tristan Darden, jr., Pelham

Mayson Dates, sr., Pell City

Carter Davis, jr., Gulf Shores

Kentrell Davis, sr., Parker

Dontae Deas, so., Russell County

Hakim Dunnigan, sr., Columbia

Mason Edwards, jr., Spanish Fort

Carter Feagin, jr., McAdory

Tomon Felton, sr., Homewood

Ezra Fowler, sr., Muscle Shoals

Jacob Gibbs, jr., Pelham

Quaylen Hampton, jr., Decatur

Elias Holtzclaw, jr., Pike Road

Anthony Howard, jr., Theodore

Dejay Jackson, so., Benjamin Russell

Jayden Jackson, sr., Fort Payne

Jacari “Red” Johnson, sr., Clay-Chalkville

Aidan Lovell, jr., Athens

Mason McClure, jr., Spain Park

Aiden McGee, jr., Brookwood

Jaylon Moore, jr., Calera

Cederian Morgan, sr., Benjamin Russell

Christian Pritchard, jr., Muscle Shoals

Kena Rego, sr., Spain Park

Gavin Rivers, sr., Pike Road

Ryker Shankles, sr., Fort Payne

Crishawn Sharp, sr., Theodore

Keilan Smith, sr., Gadsden City

Omari Smith, sr., Pike Road

DeShawn Spencer, sr., Saraland

Damien Tate, sr., Spanish Fort

Jaylin Taylor, sr., Oxford

Caaleb Thomas, fr., Chelsea

Christian Thomas, sr., Pinson Valley

Endymion Tyus, sr., Athens

Jaxon Unger, sr., Athens

Raheem Vasser, sr., Theodore

Dj Wade, fr., Pell City

Dominic White, sr., Minor

Chenyis Wilson-Fuller, so., Bessemer City

Eric Young, jr., Benjamin Russell

For complete coverage of Alabama high school football, including schedules, scores, recruiting news and additional player spotlights, visit AL.com’s high school sports section throughout the season.

A Chinese immigrant wanted for fraud in New York State is being held in detention in Marshall County.

The Marshall County Sheriff’s office arrested Xu Feng, who was working at Chow King in Albertville, on July 18.

“He’s still in our jail waiting for extradition, said Willy Orr, Chief Deputy with for sheriff. “He’ll be extradited to New York as soon as all the arrangements are finished.”

Feng is wanted as a part of a DMV fraud scheme in New York to give permits and licenses to people who hadn’t passed a test.

Most of the applicants were Chinese immigrants, according to a statement by the New York Offices of the Inspector General on July 2.

“We will hold accountable anyone who abuses their public office, circumvents the law or undermines the systems that millions of Americans rely on in good faith.” said District Attorney Michael E. McMahon about a 139-count indictment against employees of T&E driving school in Queens.

The school was charging $1,600 for a permit and $2,000 for a license to mostly non-English speaking clients, the statement said.

DMV workers were paid for helping with the scheme.

Most defendants in the case face a 2-to-7-year prison sentence if convicted.

Three legends of Alabama high school coaching will be honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards in January.

The Alabama Football Coaches Association announced this week that Curtis Coleman, Terry Curtis and Danny Powell would be honored at the group’s annual Coach of the Year banquet on Jan. 31 in Montgomery.

All three of this year’s recipients have deep roots in Coastal Alabama.

Coleman played linebacker at Escambia County High in Atmore before playing college football at Livingston. He spent 23 years as a head coach – six at Ensley, 12 at Huffman and five at Shades Valley, winning 129 games in the process. Coleman joined the staff of former player Jerry Hood at Clay-Chalkville and is now working with Hood at Leeds. He also served a tenure on the AHSAA’s Central Board of Control.

Curtis, the current president of the Central Board, announced his retirement as head football coach at UMS-Wright in February. After playing baseball at Auburn University, Curtis spent 26 years in the public school system, including head coaching jobs at Shaw High School and his alma mater Murphy High School. He then spent 26 at UMS-Wright where he led the Bulldogs to eight state titles. He finished his coaching career with 361 total wins, currently second all-time in AHSAA coaching wins.

Powell graduated from Leroy and first made his coaching name with the Bears. He led the team to four Class 2A state titles in five years from 2006-2010. He then won a 4A state title at Jackson in 2011. He spent 21 years overall as a head coach, winning 186 games. He was 43-12 in the playoffs. His other head coaching stops included McIntosh Christian, Lee-Scott, Clarke Prep and Jackson Academy. He retired following the 2023 season.

“I remember Danny Powell, one of the best high school coaches in Alabama,” former Leroy and Auburn star Sammie Coates said earlier this week. “He’s in the Hall of Fame. What he implanted was hard work. He didn’t care who you were. If you didn’t do it the way he wanted it, you weren’t going to play for him. That’s one thing I take away from high school. You’ve got to earn everything. I learned that from Danny Powell. If you didn’t want to be there, you could go on. Also, just the team we had in high school, how close we were. That’s why we won so much. We did everything together. There are no secrets to winning. It’s a family. You have to be on the same page. Coach Powell made sure we were on the same page, not only in football, but baseball as well.”

An immigrant who is a legal permanent resident of the United States was held in an Alabama jail for 27 days on an ICE detainer that had expired, a lawsuit claims.

Ricardo Villalta was arrested on a public intoxication charge at a gas station in Prattville on Jan. 27, 2024.

He was taken to the Autauga County Metro Jail and booked by the sheriff’s office, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court.

“Sheriff (Mark) Harrell… unlawfully denied Villalta his freedom and constitutionally guaranteed due process of the law,” the suit, filed in March 2025 alleges.

The sheriff and his attorneys did not respond to a request for comment.

Villalta’s attorney also did not respond.

Villalta is a legal permanent resident of the U.S., according to the suit.

When he was arrested, he was carrying an Alabama driver’s license and other papers showing he was in the country legally.

Once at the jail, officers put Villalta on the phone with a federal immigration agent.

He shared his Social Security number, birthday and phone number and explained he had legal status, according to the suit.

His wife tried to post bond for him but was told by the sheriff’s office that ICE had placed a detainer on him.

An ICE detainer lasts 48 hours and decision-making authority stays with the sheriff, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims that ICE issued a detainer for Villalta without probable cause and then the sheriff held him for nearly a month, telling his family he was acting under the detainer, which was false, according to the suit.

On February 7, Villalta appeared before a municipal court judge in Prattville and pled guilty to public intoxication.

He was sentenced with a fine and credit for time served.

The judge ordered his release from jail, according to the suit, and told him he would get out that evening or the next day.

Still, the sheriff did not release Villalta.

The following morning, his son, Ricardo Villalta Jr., went to speak with the sheriff.

He mentioned the court order and was told, “That only happens in the movies,” according to the complaint.

The sheriff held Villalta for 27 days, releasing him March 5, according to the suit.

“Each day Mr. Villalta asked about his release, but was given no information or explanation,” the complaint states.

The lawsuit alleges that during his month in the jail, his cellmate threatened to kill him and “performed disturbing and grotesque acts in the cell,” the complaint states.

“Mr. Villalta’s cellmate cut a (hole) in his sleeping mattress, filled it with water and white bread saved from the bologna sandwiches served in the jail, and then engaged in sex acts with the mattress,” the suit states.

Villalta’s complaints were ignored. His lawsuit alleges he lost weight due to stress.