Sillimon went before Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff District Judge Thomas Thrash Thursday for an Aniah’s Law bond hearing and a preliminary hearing.
When it was over, Thrash set a $60,000 bond for Sillimon but also moved the case forward to a grand jury for indictment consideration.
Pritchard was shot at 10:58 p.m. that Friday in the 2400 block of Sixth Avenue North in Bessemer. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 11:08 p.m.
Sillimon’s attorney, John Lentine, said the judge heard testimony Thursday that Sillimon fatally shot Pritchard after Pritchard had assaulted her in her home.
“The judge bound the case over for a grand jury consideration,” Lentine said, “but found the state failed to provide clear and convincing evidence she was either a threat to the community or risk of flight given in part her lack of any criminal history and the facts surrounding the charge.”
Sillimon remained in jail Friday, but Lentine said he expects her to be bonded out soon “so she could return home to her family.”
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Well, Scott, 51, has been an owner of a lifestyle brand since 2002.
According to the website, she “creates a brand and a culture that puts family first, constantly push the boundaries of fashion and design, and authentically value giving back and making a difference in the community.”
Per Yahoo!, her designs have been worn by several celebrities, including Dolly Parton.
She has also established the Kendra Scott Foundation, a non-profit organization with the goal to “empower women and youth in the areas of health and wellness, education, and entrepreneurship.”
The couple made their red carpet debut at the American Music Awards in Las Vegas in May. However, PEOPLE reported, citing sources, they had been dating for several months.
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.
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Two southeastern banks have announced they are merging in a blockbuster $8.6 billion deal.
Nashville-based Pinnacle Financial Partners and Synovus Financial Corp. of Columbus, Ga. will combine in an all-stock transaction.
According to the companies, the deal will create the highest-performing regional bank in the South’s fastest-growth markets.
It is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject regulatory approval.
The combined company, according to a news release, will operate under the Pinnacle Financial Partners and Pinnacle Bank name and brand.
Synovus CEO and President Kevin Blair will serve as president and CEO, while Pinnacle CEO Terry Turner will serve as chairman of the board.
In Alabama, Chris Abele, executive director of middle market banking at Synovus, will be the state leader. Synovus has 40 Alabama locations. Pinnacle has locations in the Birmingham and Huntsville areas.
The combined company’s board will have 15 directors, with eight from the Pinnacle board and seven from the Synovus board.
Turner said the deal will “extend our legacy of building share in the most attractive markets nationally.”
Blair said the two companies are “high-performing institutions with one powerful future.”
“Our belief in the success of this merger is grounded in a decade of strong results and proven execution from both companies, each delivering top-tier earnings and total shareholder returns,” he said.
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Cornerback Terrion Arnold left Detroit Lions practice on Thursday with a leg problem. But on Friday, the former Alabama defensive back returned to the field for the Lions’ first day in pads at training camp as he prepares for his second NFL season.
“Terrion Arnold took a huge leap, in my opinion, this offseason,” Detroit defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said. “He progressed during his rookie year, but he’s come in not only this offseason but this training camp looking like a different guy. His body’s more developed. But also from the neck up, the mental aspect of the game, he’s seeing it faster, he’s feeling the routes faster, so that’s a guy I’ve already seen a leap in.”
After joining the Lions in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Arnold started 15 regular season and one playoff contest and logged 1,023 snaps in the Detroit secondary as a rookie.
“He’s where I would expect him to be going into Year 2 after four days,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said on Friday. “You expected another level of confidence, of maturity and ownership really, accountability, and that’s what you feel right now at this point, which is exactly what we wanted to feel. So like where he’s at going into pads.”
Arnold said he should be a better player after a season of starting experience with a team that posted the best regular-season record in the NFL in 2024.
“I got experience now,” Arnold said on Monday. “Just pride myself on trying to go out there and get the ball. And then just taking it one day at a time. I mean, you know, it just don’t happen overnight. You got to trust the process, and I’m staying down for it. …
“I just feel like that, No. 1, because just coming into a system and then having to play Super Bowl-caliber football night in, night out, Sunday night, Monday night, Thursday night. And then when you have a coach and when you have a team like us, you know that you’re going to get everyone’s best. So just being put in that role and then knowing teams know you’re going to play man and then coming out of college and transitioning into that, into the NFL, you can’t help but get better.”
Arnold said his offseason preparations had focused on “just working on being more of a leader and then working on getting the ball and then just working on the little details. And then just as far as having that one year of experience under your belt, you just can’t get bored doing the little things. So I just pride myself on trying to get here early, focusing on recovery for my body, and then really, really watching film. And then my coaches, (Deshea Townsend and Jim O’Neil), they do a really, really good job of just allowing us to meet with them over time. Like, y’all kind of holding me up right now because I’m fixing to go meet with them.”
Despite injuries to some of its top players, the Detroit defense finished seventh in points allowed among the NFL 32 teams in 2024.
“The standard for us is getting the ball back to the offense,” Arnold said. “I mean, when you can go out there and force turnovers, force takeaways, it’s game-changing plays.
“And then on top of that, we all young and we’ve had a chance to have a year of camaraderie under our belt. Like, that’s very, very rare in the NFL. So, I mean, just seeing the same guys you were lined up with, aside from we replaced Carlton (Davis) with D.J. (Reed), but he’s came in and fell right into place. So when you have a group of guys that could jell together and we hang out together and we do extracurricular activities together. I mean, just the brotherhood is stronger than ever. And when you are able to go out there and have trust that your guy is going to be in the right spot or he could trust me to make this play, it just makes football a lot easier.”
Arnold had one takeaway for Detroit as a rookie with a fumble recovery, but he did not intercept a pass.
“It’s coming, though,” Arnold said. “I mean, once you get one, you know, they just start. They just start coming.”
The Lions will open the NFL’s preseason schedule when they play the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night in Canton, Ohio, in the annual Hall of Fame Game.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
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“(This recall) is due to a third-party supplier mistakenly placing an incorrect cheese label on the back of the packaging,” said a spokesperson for the company. “There are no food safety, quality or health risks associated with this issue, and no consumers were affected.”
It is classified as a Level III recall, typically issued when a product violates labeling or manufacturing regulations but is unlikely to cause adverse health consequences.
Who qualifies for the Boar’s Head deli meat settlement?
To be eligible, a customer must have purchased any of the included products between May 10 – Aug. 12, 2024. The deadline to submit the claim was May 16.
Boar’s Head Provision Co. announced a recall of liverwurst and other deli meats in 2024 due to listeria contamination. Initially, the recall covered some 200,000 pounds of products but it was later expanded to 7 million pounds from its Jarratt, Virginia facility. The products were sold under the Boar’s Head and Old Country brand names.
The final hearing is set for Aug. 13 and, if approved, payments will follow.
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Leading up to the 2025 season, AL.com is highlighting the top high school football players in Alabama.
We looked at the best running backs in 1A, and now it’s time for the best offensive linemen in 1A.
We contacted coaches across the state and asked them to fill out a survey requesting information about their team. These lists were compiled primarily based on the information provided by the coaches who chose to respond.
If you are an Alabama high school football coach who did not receive the survey, email [email protected] or [email protected]. We will continue to add to these lists throughout the summer.
BEST OFFENSIVE LINEMEN, ALABAMA 1A
Aiden Benson, sr., Meek
A rare five-year starter, Benson has been starting for the Tigers since eighth grade. “One of the smartest linemen I have ever coached,” coach Daniel Evans said. “He has more experience than anybody on our team in big games. We are looking for him to be a leader for us this year.”
Danny Boice, sr., Billingsley
Boice brings athleticism to the tackle position for the Bears. “Danny is a very athletic lineman and moves well for being 6-foot-2, 225 pounds,” coach Lanny Jones said. “He will be the backbone to both sides of the ball for our frontline.”
Liam Brown, jr., Meek
Though not as experienced as some of his teammates, Brown’s work ethic stands out. “Liam does not have as much experience as the others but he works just as hard as everyone else,” coach Daniel Evans said. “We expect big things from him this year.”
Jabari Burns, sr., Wadley
Burns will pillar the Bulldogs’ offensive line and serve as a force on defense, where he earned first-team all-state honors in 2024. His leadership will be crucial as first-year head coach Dake Rivers takes over the championship program. “Jabari will be our anchor and leader on both lines,” Rivers said.
Kamari Burse, sr., Winterboro
The veteran leader of the Bulldogs’ offensive line posted impressive numbers in 2024 with 34 pancake blocks and an 85 percent grade. Coach Skylar Mansfield, entering his sixth year as head coach, describes Burse as “calm, disciplined and highly respected. A true cornerstone of the offense.” Burse will captain the line while mentoring younger linemen in his final high school season.
Gabe Cardenas, jr., Billingsley
Another early starter for the Bears, Cardenas has been in the lineup since eighth grade. “Gabe brings a lot of experience and grit to our program,” coach Lanny Jones said. “Gabe knows our system well and is a great leader.”
Davin Chestang, sr., Leroy
A four-year starter on the offensive line, Chestang serves as the anchor for the Bears’ front five. Coach Chan Lowe, in his second year as head coach, will rely heavily on Chestang’s experience and leadership as Leroy tries to make some noise in Class 1A.
Marctavious Crittenden, sr., Georgiana
Crittenden, a fifth-year starter, has started every game on the offensive line since Panthers coach Berry Bess arrived during Crittenden’s eighth-grade season. “He also has started or played in multiple games on the defensive line,” said Bess, who is entering his fifth year at Georgiana. Few Class 1A linemen can match Crittenden’s experience and consistency.
Jaquez Dixon, sr., Sweet Water
A three-year starter, Dixon will be called upon to play offensive tackle and anchor the Bulldogs’ defensive line this season. Pat Thompson, entering his 11th year as head coach and 31st overall, is counting on Dixon’s experience and leadership to bolster Sweet Water’s playoff hopes in 2025.
Brye Dollar, sr., Addison
Dollar brings three years of starting experience to the Bulldogs’ offensive line. “He has become one of our strongest players and most dominant offensive lineman,” said first-year head coach Mark Hastings. “He also is one of the most physical of our linemen, (and he) challenges not only himself but the rest of the players around him to be better.” Dollar contributed 30 tackles and two fumble recoveries on defense last season.
Landon Gilliland, jr., Wadley
“Landon is heading up the line playing center for us,” Bulldogs coach Dake Rivers said of the junior who also will serve at the defensive tackle position. His development will be key to Wadley’s repeat title aspirations.
Cam Grace, sr., Meek
“No one works harder than him,” Tigers coach Daniel Evans said of Grace. “He got better and better as the year went on last season. He will be extremely important as a senior.”
Dale Gray, sr., Berry
Gray recorded 30 tackles (17 solo, 13 assists) last season and contributed on both lines. His gridiron experience will be valuable for the Wildcats as they try to improve on an 11-2 record.
Casen Hill, sr., Addison
A three-year starter on both lines, Hill brings versatility and leadership to the Bulldogs’ front. “He is very versatile and can play any of the positions on the offensive line,” coach Mark Hastings said. “He is the true definition of a team player. He has worked hard on gaining weight, getting stronger and faster so that he can contribute at the highest level.”
Terry Hilliard, jr., Brantley
Entering the 2025 season as a junior, Hilliard has established himself as a dominant force. “He is a very hard worker with outstanding talent,” said first-year Brantley coach Andrew Lowery. “He is a guy that dominates up front with his size and strength. He provides an anchor on the offensive and defensive line.”
Jordan Jackson, sr., Berry
Jackson was a force in 2024, recording 56 tackles (43 solo) with eight sacks at defensive end. Coach Danny Raines, in his 16th year at Berry across two stints, will count on Jackson’s disruptive abilities on both sides of the ball as the Wildcats aim to make a playoff push.
Aiden Jenkins, sr., Millry
Part of the Wildcats’ experienced offensive line trio, Jenkins returns as a starter at left guard. Coach Shane Hendry will look for Jenkins’ work ethic and competitive nature to help drive the Millry offense.
Braxton Jenkins, sr., Millry
The center of the Wildcats’ veteran offensive line, Jenkins brings stability and experience to the position. His ability to make line calls and direct traffic will be vital to Millry’s offensive success.
Jeremiah Jones, sr., Pickens County
Coach Michael Williams describes Jones as a “big athlete that has improved every year.” His continued development will be important for the Tornadoes’ success in 2025.
Jay Maness, so., Sweet Water
Though only a sophomore in his first year as a starter, Maness already has caught coach Pat Thompson’s attention. “He plays hard with a mean streak,” the veteran coach said of the young lineman, who could develop into a standout over the next three seasons.
Kiyen McCoy, fr., Winterboro
McCoy’s imposing 6-foot-3, 330-pound frame has him slated to start on both lines immediately. “High ceiling, strong work ethic, and already showing varsity-level footwork and strength for a ninth-grader,” coach Skylar Mansfield said. “Kiyen will be a mauler in our offense.”
Blaine McDuffa, sr., Hackleburg
A four-year starter and leader on the offensive line for the Panthers, McDuffa also excels off the field, winning first place in the state for beef production entrepreneurship in the Alabama FFA Association Beef Production Proficiency Awards.
Mason Parr, sr., Berry
Parr tallied 32 tackles (14 solo, 18 assists) in 2024, when he played on both sides of the ball. Berry coach Danny Raines will count on Parr to lead his team in the trenches this season.
Dom Patterson, sr., Hackleburg
Hackleburg coach Rod Hudson describes Patterson as a “good, experienced interior player.” His time and talent at center will be imperative to the Panthers’ offensive continuity.
Trace Payne, sr., Maplesville
Payne has been starting at center since his freshman year, giving him invaluable experience heading to his senior season. Red Devils coach Brad Abbott, in his seventh year at Maplesville, will rely on Payne’s consistency and knowledge of the offense.
Lane Plott, jr., Billingsley
Like his teammate Gabe Cardenas, Plott has started since eighth grade. “Lane brings a lot of experience and leadership to our program,” coach Lanny Jones said. “He works hard every day and has the drive and passion to make our team as successful as it can be.”
Jamal Stallworth, sr., Georgiana
A three-year starter, Stallworth has an interesting background. “His first year playing school football was his sophomore year, and he stepped into a huge role for us and has held it down ever since,” Panthers coach Berry Bess explains. “Jamal does a good job leading for us.”
Dekevion Staples, sr., Wadley
“Dekevion is our leader on the offensive line,” Bulldogs coach Dake Rivers said of the senior who also will get time on the defensive line. His leadership will be crucial as Wadley transitions to a new head coach after its undefeated title run in 2024.
Xavier Taylor, sr., McIntosh
“An up-and-coming senior who has had a great offseason and continues to impress with his work ethic,” first-year Demons coach Joshua Harris said. Taylor’s continued development will be important to the McIntosh offensive attack.
Desmond Thomas, so., Wadley
Despite his youth, Thomas already stands out physically at 6-foot-4, 270 pounds. “Desmond could be the next big recruit to come out of Wadley if he keeps working hard,” Bulldogs coach Dake Rivers said. “He will be our starting left tackle. On the defensive side of the ball, he will play DT, lining up beside (Jabari) Burns to anchor the interior of our defense.”
Bryson Tinker, jr. Ider
First-year Hornets head coach Josh Clements describes the two-way Tinker as a leader on and off the field. Tinker and Ider will try to get off the schneid after an 0-10 season that included four shutouts.
Luke Ward, sr., Berry
A standout two-way player, Ward racked up 95 tackles (67 solo, 28 assists) at linebacker in 2024. His ability to excel on the offensive line while being one of the Wildcats’ leading tacklers showcases his athleticism and football IQ.
Drew West, sr., Millry
Another of the Wildcats’ trio of senior offensive line returners, West anchors the left tackle position for coach Shane Hendry’s squad. “All are great kids that love to work and compete,” said Hendry, who is entering his fifth season as head coach and 23rd year overall.
Kaderius Williams, sr., Georgiana
Williams is a two-year varsity starter who stepped up when needed last season. “Kaderius stepped into a role on the offensive line last season due to injury and allowed our offense to continue to flow,” Panthers coach Berry Bess said. “He works extremely hard in the weight room and drills. We expect him to have a great season for us, building on his offseason work.”
Mosiah Williams, sr., Pickens County
Williams is returning from an ACL injury that sidelined him late last season. “He’s fully recovered and ready to go,” Tornadoes coach Michael Williams said of the senior, whose return will bolster the offensive line and linebacker corps.
Brodie Willingham, sr., Addison
Willingham is a versatile three-year starter who can play any position on either line. He is one of the Bulldogs’ strongest players. “Very coachable and does everything asked of him,” coach Mark Hastings said of the senior, who recorded 37 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery last season.
Ethan Woods, jr., McIntosh
Woods tallied eight pancake blocks and 11 tackles as a sophomore. Demons coach Joshua Harris will look for continued improvement from the two-way lineman.
Luther Wright, sr., Valley Head
Wright will anchor the offensive line for the Tigers as they try to build on a first-round playoff appearance and 6-5 finish in 2024. Valley Head coach Charles Hammon, entering his fourth year, will look to Wright for leadership up front this season.
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.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. Foods that were once reserved for consumption in Mexican households are now available to all. Guacamole and tequila are present at tailgates and quinceñeros alike. Mexican food, and with it Mexican culture, has fully entered Americans’ lives and palates.
Mexican restaurants serve as bridges between cultures, introducing patrons to flavors, spices, and textures that are uniquely Mexican. However, these institutions have been under attack, targeted by ICE raids, leaving many fearful and on edge about their futures.
A region that unexpectedly seems to hold its own in the number of Mexican restaurants is the Midwest. In Cook County alone in Illinois, there are over 1,500 Mexican restaurants. Cities like Detroit, Cleveland, and Indianapolis are Mexican restaurant hubs in their own right.
Back in January, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered Cilantro Taqueria, a Mexican restaurant in Cleveland. They arrested six employees, leaving the community and patrons shocked.
Raúl Carrillo and Rey Galindo are the founders of Cilantro Taqueria, which they started in 2019 in Cleveland. The restaurant business runs in the family. Rey and Sandro’s grandmother operated her own restaurant, Luchita’s, which was open for more than four decades before closing in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The restaurant has always been in our bloodlines,” Sandro said.
He said the mission of the business, which has six locations, is to provide customers with fresh ingredients and authentic flavors.
Cilantro Taqueria’s mission is to offer fresh ingredients and authentic flavors that remind customers of home.Photos by Jimena Horta Ballesteros for palabra
“I feel like we’re slowly expanding the palate of Cleveland and what it means to try different foods from around the world,” Sandro said.
Sandro was born in Mexico City, and said the raid on the restaurant was a hit to all of them. However, they felt supported and loved by the community.
“It made news all over the city, and the community just came out in support of us. They really rallied around us,” he told palabra.
At publication time, Sandro said they were able to get back five of their employees after they had been detained for 12 days in the Geauga County Safety Center, an ICE detention center in Chardon, Ohio, about 30 miles northeast of Cleveland.
“A lot of hard work by a lot of people made that happen,” he said. “Whenever we fell down or that this was a tough road, tough fight, we just saw the notes and the flowers from little kids. The community helped us continue to want to get our guy out. They inspire us to keep going.”
Sandro said not all responses and reactions were positive, however.
“The day they released our five guys, we got a couple of phone calls, people calling and hanging up saying, ‘F you, go back to Mexico,’” he said. “There was that, and there were Facebook messages like that, too.”
Even so, Sandro said the positives outweigh the negatives, and patrons still came out to support them and their business.
“At the same time, January is every restaurant’s slowest month, and it was a record January and February for us. Sales were great, so many people came out, and the tips people left helped support our staff. We’re very lucky. We’re grateful.”
Messages of support posted on Cilantro Taqueria windows after an ICE raid.Photos by Jimena Horta Ballesteros for palabra
According to the Pew Research Center, 85% of U.S. counties have at least one Mexican restaurant. The largest sector of Mexican restaurants is in Los Angeles County, with the Southwest region of the U.S. having the most on a regional level.
Mexicantown is a neighborhood in Southwest Detroit where a large number of Mexican immigrants have settled, dating back to the 1920s. Today, the area is home to an abundance of Mexican restaurants, markets, and bakeries.
Delia Fernández-Jones is an associate professor of history and Chicano studies at Michigan State University. Her work looks at Latiné communities in Michigan and the Midwest, especially migration.
“I really enjoy talking about migration, but also communities (and) place making, how people make a place feel like home,” Fernández-Jones said. “How do they make it a place where they can thrive and not just barely survive?”
Fernández-Jones said the key to prosperity for a lot of communities revolves around leisure spaces. Environments such as churches, festivals, and restaurants foster these connections that are able to expand beyond existence and lead to putting down roots.
“It’s just kind of a theme where Latinos and Latiné folks in the Midwest, and probably nationwide, are consistently billed as ‘where are you really from?’ Not necessarily as newcomers, but not necessarily as people who have over a hundred years of history in a particular place.”
Customers visit Cilantro Taqueria for authentic Mexican food that brings a taste of home to Cleveland.Photos by Jimena Horta Ballesteros for palabra
Fernández-Jones cites the assertion of Latinos being a newer population to the American diaspora as a “convenient myth.”
“We come to understand assimilation as this thing that we all go through, that European groups who’ve come here have stayed here, have learned the language, lost their cultural markers, have been accepted into mainstream society, and to essentially become white.”
Fernández-Jones said a large number of Latinos are the antithesis of this notion, with many not falling within this assimilation trajectory. The continued acquisition of the Spanish language, as well as the preservation of traditions and culture, makes the forced assimilation “unsuccessful,” asserts Fernández-Jones.
“Instead of seeing their culture, their food, their language, their customs as liabilities, many people found those to be their strengths.”
In terms of the history of Latinos in the American food service industry, Fernández-Jones said there is a persistent notion that Latinos occupy the “back of the house” sector.
“I think that a lot of what we see, even in the food industry, is labor that is invisible to eyes,” she said. “We don’t want to see the people who are cooking our food, but we do want our food, and we want it done right and in a particular way.”
Latinos often preserve their culture after migrating, said Delia Fernández-Jones, an associate professor at Michigan State University. “Instead of seeing their culture, their food, their language, their customs as liabilities, many people found those to be their strengths.”Photo by Jimena Horta Ballesteros for palabra
However, when Latinos or Latino food may seem front and center, Fernández-Jones said there is a tendency for themes of misrepresentation and cultural appropriation to present themselves via cuisine.
“I think it is really hard for folks to kind of reconcile, ‘I really like this trendy place, but I really don’t want Mexicans living in my neighborhood or dating my kids or being their roommates.’ This allows people to feel like they’re engaging with culture without engaging with people.”
Some businesses across the United States have participated in the #UnDiaSinInmigrantes campaign (A Day Without Immigrants), a movement where immigrant-run businesses closed, children did not go to school, and others did not report to their jobs. This year it was held on February 3rd.
This movement was meant to protest the Trump administration and its actions to target immigrants with ICE raids and anti-immigrant policies. February 3rd is also significant as the day in 1870 that the Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, guaranteeing voting rights regardless of race, and building upon the Fourteenth Amendment that codified “birthright citizenship,” and which President Trump has been trying to eliminate.
On Feb. 3, La Malinche in Chicago was one of these businesses to close its doors for a day. A Mexican coffee and tea house, La Malinche is located in the largely Latino Pilsen neighborhood and offers a variety of products, many which showcase the traditional flavors of Mexico. In a video uploaded to Instagram, co-owner Héctor Aguirre announced the business would be closed that day. “This is for supporting all our people, all our community. For people who have been saying terrible things about immigrants, we want to show them that we are united, we are together, we are strong, and immigrants make America great.”
Héctor and his wife Yvette are both immigrants from Mexico City and took over the business in 2021 to save it from closing. Héctor said they debated about closing for the day, but in the end, he said they had to look at principle rather than monetary value.
Héctor Aguirre and his wife, Yvette, owners of La Malinche in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood.Photo courtesy of Héctor Aguirre
“It was a tough decision … but in the end we decided to think less about our income and think more of our community,” Héctor told palabra. “We are immigrants … and these policies would affect us. The biggest effect is fear from the people at the beginning of this administration, the fears, and some slow business.”
He said the closure actually spurred more business the following day, with customers eager to support them as a sign of solidarity.
“After we participated in this movement closing that day, people came the next day and told us, ‘I saw that you closed yesterday, so that’s why I’m coming here today to support you,’” Héctor said.
He added that he is interpreting the fear and uncertainty in the current political climate as a call to action.
“What we could ask our representative today is to defend us against all these policies. We gotta stick together. We gotta ask them. We have been to some protests fighting for equality, fighting for immigration rights.”
According to Héctor, even the name of the business holds significance and reflects the couple’s mission of engaging with the community. La Malinche was an enslaved Native Nahua woman (birth name unknown) who acted as the primary interpreter for Hernán Cortés during the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. Héctor mentions that the historic figure is controversial in Mexico, some claiming she was a traitor to her people. However, the original owners of La Malinche in the Windy City explained to Héctor and Yvette that La Malinche represents the bridge between two cultures.
“All the people, all of us who have a mixed race, all of us who speak Spanish, who have Spanish heritage and Indigenous heritage, we owe something to her because she was the mother of the first mestizos. That’s part of what we focus on, diversity and welcoming everyone,” Héctor said.
Héctor Aguirre hopes to create a welcoming space at La Malinche. For him and his wife, the restaurant represents a bridge between cultures.Photo courtesy of Héctor Aguirre
He looks at the interactions with customers as opportunities to learn more about others as well as share his own culture.
“We let them share with us, and we share with them our culture,” he said.
La Tejana, a Mexican business with a tienda (store), carnicería (butcher shop), taquería, and licorería (liquor store)located in St. Ann, Missouri, right outside of St. Louis, also participated in the #UnDiaSinInmigrantes campaign. Owners Antonio and Brenda García took it a step further and closed everything for a full week.
“In support of our employees and fellow Latino-owned businesses, we will be temporarily closed from February 11th to 18th,” the business posted to its Facebook page on Feb. 5.
“It was very hard to do because that’s the only way,” Antonio said. “A day without immigrants is nothing. Anybody could do it. But a week takes courage, and that’s when the impact will show. Once we say we’re going to do something, we’re going to go for 100.”
The Garcías continued to pay their workers during the week they were closed.
Workers stand outside La Tejana in St. Ann, Missouri. The restaurant shared this photo in a post about closing for the #UnDiaSinInmigrantes campaign.Photo courtesy of La Tejana
“I’m very proud of that and proud of my wife that we know how to manage our money now,” Antonio said. “Of course, we lost a lot of money that week; it’s a whole week, but the peace of mind that we had that week doesn’t compare to the money.”
Above all, Antonio said being a good member of society is most important to him. He said he believes if he puts out good in the world, it will come back to find him.
“I want them (people) to know that if I see their rights being stepped on, I am going to fight for them. I’m going to fight for them as an American citizen, for the freedom they should have. So I hope they will do the same for us.”
Sandro, Héctor, and Antonio all said they have plans for the future, but right now they are focused on continuing to invest in their communities.
“I’m with my people, my raza, my community,” Antonio said.
Aztec artwork decorates the walls of Cilantro Taqueria.Photos by Jimena Horta Ballesteros for palabra
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Alabama officials say they are ready to move forward with bringing U.S. Space Command headquarters to Huntsville after President Donald Trump’s recent promise that he’s “working on it.”
“Alabama is the rightful home of Space Command Headquarters,” Gov. Kay Ivey posted on social media Wednesday. “And we’re ready for this to be made official.”
Ivey shared remarks she made in this year’s State of the State address: “You say we are not innovative, and we will rightfully earn Space Command headquarters.”
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville joined in the conversation, telling Greg Budell of News Talk 93.1 in Montgomery that “things are really looking good” on Tuesday.
“We had to get the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ done to have the $150 billion put into the defense budget, because it’s going to cost a couple of billion dollars to build Space Command,” he said.
“But I’m very confident that in the very near future we’re going to have a good positive announcement from the president, and hopefully he’ll do it in Alabama,” Tuberville continued.
Alabama representatives have been increasingly confident that Trump would move Space Command headquarters after his election but have grown even more sure after a comment from the president at the White House picnic last month.
“So, this is not about just Redstone Arsenal,” Strong said previously.
“This is about north Alabama. It shows what our region does. It shows what our region has already done for this country, and what we’re going to do. That’s why I’m bullish on the future of north Alabama.”
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Lashlee is the coach at SMU with rabies. He’s one sick puppy, in other words, if he thinks the ACC is better than the SEC at anything other than academics and cheating.
But just because everyone agrees that Lashlee is going into fall camp with a brain infection doesn’t mean we should ignore him. After all, these are unprecedented days for college football. Crazy is the new game. Hop on the Pony Express and let’s ride.
Exhibit A: Revenue sharing is here for collegiate sports, but don’t call the players employees or American campuses will burn and the Olympics will be ruled by the Russians and Chinese.
Exhibit B: President Donald Trump using women’s sports to distract everyone from his latest scandal involving girls.
Exhibit C: Bill Belichick is coaching at North Carolina, and dating someone who could be enrolled in the school.
Exhibit D: Miami paid $3 million for Georgia’s quarterback after, I’m told, Alabama turned down Carson Beck.
We could go on and on.
The point is that maybe it’s worth wondering what preposterous thing is going to happen next. SMU to the national championship game? Why not? It’s almost like this new era of college football was tailor-made for SMU, which is the most notorious cheater in the history of the sport.
Maybe Lashlee is on to something.
Lashlee was ridiculed at ACC Media Days for suggesting that his conference is deeper than the SEC. First, let me just point out that I’m thrilled things have worked out for Lashlee, who was one of Bo Nix’s 541 offensive coordinators at Auburn.
Fun fact: Lashlee started his career as an offensive coordinator at Samford in 2011. Before that he was a quarterback and grad assistant at Arkansas. He learned under the biggest nerd in college football, Gus Malzahn, which means Lashlee knows about punching up against big SEC schools.
At Auburn, it was Alabama and Georgia. At SMU, Lashlee recruits against Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M.
SMU has so much money that it bought its way into the ACC by giving up nine years of television revenue worth $200 million. It then raised that money over the course of a couple days, finished second in the ACC in 2024 and made the playoffs over SEC also-rans Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina.
It’s safe to assume that the Mustangs will be contending for a playoff spot once again.
Should SMU have made the playoffs over Alabama? Well, yeah. Alabama was terrible by the end of the 2024 season and lost badly on the road to Vanderbilt and Oklahoma.
But, wait, here comes a new champion to the rescue.
But could the ACC actually have more playoff-contending teams than the SEC this season?
People are laughing, but not me and definitely not Trump. The list of ACC playoff hopefuls stretches all the way from Dallas to I-95.
Belichick is at North Carolina. SMU is coached by a maniac with a stack of blank checks. Miami and Duke both have better quarterbacks than Alabama. FSU won’t stop talking about beating the Tide. Clemson is loaded and has, potentially, the best quarterback in the country. Louisville and Virginia Tech are the sleepers and people are predicting Georgia Tech will go 11-1.
If Notre Dame defeats Texas A&M again, then the ACC will have all the bullets it needs to put more teams into the playoff than preseason speeding violations against Georgia football players.
College football’s case of the rabies isn’t going away, and it’s going to take more than Trump to save us from this fresh hell.
BE HEARD
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“President Trump’s executive order takes a huge step in providing the educational model that has always been what we’ve sort of tried to promote to create opportunities for players, male and female alike, revenue and nonrevenue, so that they can have development as people, students, and develop careers and develop professionally if that’s what they choose to do,” Saban said Friday while appearing on Fox News.
“A national solution is urgently needed to prevent this situation from deteriorating beyond repair and to protect non-revenue sports, including many women’s sports, that comprise the backbone of intercollegiate athletics, drive American superiority at the Olympics and other international competitions, and catalyze hundreds of thousands of student-athletes to fuel American success in myriad ways,” part of the executive order from Trump read.
Trump wrote it’s the policy of his administration “that all college sports should be preserved and, where possible, expanded.” Trump also wrote it’s common sense that college sports aren’t and shouldn’t be professional sports.
One of the solutions the president offered is the involvement of the secretary of labor and the National Labor Relations Board in deciding the status of collegiate athletes. Other measures include legal protections for college athletics from lawsuits, protecting the development of the U.S. Olympics team and prohibiting third-party pay-for-play.
“I think we sort of need to make a decision here relative to do we want to have an education based model?” Saban said Friday. “I think the president made a huge step toward doing that. Or do we want to have universities sponsor professional teams? I think most people would choose the former.”
Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.
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