Bishop Steven J. Raica, head of the Catholic Diocese of Birmingham, has announced priest assignments for more than a dozen churches in North Alabama.
The Rev. Joshua Altonji, who grew up in Scottsboro, has been named parochial administrator of St. John the Apostle Parish in Alexander City, with care for St. Mark Catholic Church in Ashland, effective June 2.
Altonji graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and psychology and went to seminary at Pontificial College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.
Altonji was ordained in 2017 at St. Paul’s Cathedral and had been at Holy Spirit Church in Huntsville since 2021.
Abbot Marcus Voss, of St. Bernard Abbey, has recommended two monks as pastors for the Diocese of Birmingham:
The Rev. Patrick Egan has been named pastor of St. Michael Parish in Saint Florian (Florence), effective June 9.
The Rev. Linus Klucsarits has been named pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Cullman, with care for St. Boniface Catholic Church in Hanceville, effective June 9.
The other appointments take effect on July 1.
The Rev. Thomas Ackerman has been named pastor of Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Decatur, with care for Resurrection Chapel in Moulton.
The Rev. Rick Chenault has been named Pastor of Holy Spirit Parish in Huntsville.
The Rev. Jonathan Howell has been named Pastor of Our Lady of the Valley Parish in Fort Payne with care for St. Michael’s Mission in Centre.
The Rev. Wyman Vintson has been named Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi University Parish in Tuscaloosa with care for St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Reform.
The Rev. Vincent Bresowar has been named parochial administrator of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Gardendale and St. Henry Parish in Warrior. Bresowar is returning from a sabbatical after serving nine years as pastor of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Russellville. Bresowar, a 1998 graduate of Homewood High School who attended Auburn University, spent three years in the Air Force and worked at UAB as a medical technician before going to seminary.
The Rev. Charles Deering has been named parochial administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Florence with care for Campus Ministry at the University of North Alabama. Deering was ordained in 2022 and his first assignment had been as parochial vicar at Annunciation of the Lord Church in Decatur.
Raica also announced two retirements effective July 1.
The Rev. Charles Merrill, most recently pastor of Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Decatur and Resurrection Chapel in Moulton, will move to retired priest status.
The Rev. Bruce Bumbarger, most recently administrator of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Birmingham, will move to retired priest status.
Alabama has two more days of potentially stormy weather to endure before a change arrives this weekend.
The National Weather Service is forecasting drier weather and lower humidity levels statewide starting on Saturday and lasting into next week.
But there will be two more stormy days to get through first.
NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center is forecasting a Level 1 out of 5 (marginal) risk for severe weather for much of Alabama for Thursday.
A Level 1 risk means isolated severe storms will be possible.
The exceptions are north-central and northeast Alabama, but those areas could also get more rain and storms.
Today’s stronger storms could have damaging wind gusts and hail.
Rain and storms were ongoing across the state on Thursday morning and will be possible through the day today. Some of those storms have the potential to be strong through the evening hours.
More storms will be possible on Friday as a cold front moves through the state.
Southeast Alabama will have a Level 2 severe weather risk on Friday.SPC
The Storm Prediction Center has a Level 2 (slight) risk in pace for the southeast corner of Alabama on Friday, which means that scattered severe storms will be possible.
The rest of south Alabama and the southern and eastern parts of central Alabama will have a Level 1 risk on Friday.
Damaging winds and hail will also be the main concerns with Friday’s storms.
On Friday the stronger storms could arrive s during the afternoon and evening hours in south Alabama, according to the weather service.
On Saturday the cold front should be clear of the state, and drier weather is expected to be the story.
Humidity levels will be lower over the weekend, according to the weather service, but will begin to rise next week as high pressure takes control of the weather in the region.
After Friday there is no severe weather in the forecast for Alabama through next week.
Her name is Heather—but that’s not her real name. It’s her first day at work. She’s a tech at a local hospital, trying to decide if she wants to go to nursing school. May 6-12 was Nurses Appreciation Week, but that may not mean much to the Heathers out there— young, eager to help people, and hoping to learn what makes the human body sick and how to get rid of the sickness in a typical one week stay.
Some people aren’t sick, just injured. They fell off a truck or out of a tree. Somebody shot them after an argument over nothing. This is an example of our “anybody can carry a gun around” rule. It eventually turns against us.
But there are other things Heather will learn. Some patients—not many— are difficult. Insulting, even. One nurse told me that before going to nursing school, he’d been a bartender in college. That was a perfect lead in to dealing with frustrated patients, he said. Whatever they say to insult him, he’s heard before.
He shrugs it off as he manages their medicines, their vitals, their fears and their need to gain some control over their normal life that was snatched away with an illness or a fall. He listens, tends to their bodies while they pour out their souls, sometimes telling him the fears they won’t admit to their family.
During my days of being at the hospital with a sick family member, I saw all manner of nursing types—the stern, “Big Nurse” kind, who firmly reminds a patient that yes, the bed alarm will go off if he tries to get up unassisted—again—, and the more gentle reminder about the same issue an hour later. Heather may find that she has to do the same thing over and over again, using the same words and the same phrases. She’s watching that happen on the floor she’s assigned to.
Heather will learn about charting, the constant listing of the patient’s vital signs, temperature checks, consults with doctors, and the beep-beep-beep of oxygen monitors up and down the hall. She’ll learn which senior nurses will take the time to explain a diagnosis, offer a little bedside teaching. She may learn that nursing is not for her, but how best to figure that out than being right on the hall, shift after shift, day after day, getting literal hands-on experience.
We first celebrated Nurses Appreciation Week in 1982, on May 12, Florence Nightingale’s birthday. She was the founder of modern nursing. Because of her efforts, five million nurses are working in this country today. And yet we have a shortage. Why?
Is it easy work? No. Is it messy work? Sometimes, yes. Are there tragedies every single week? Yes, Death and overdoses and long, lingering illnesses that patients must endure.
“What’s the best part of nursing?” I ask a male nurse striding down the hall. He doesn’t hesitate to answer. “The people. Hearing their stories. Finding out what they plan to do when they’re well again.” And the worst part?
“Explaining to people why I am not a doctor since I am a man. Explaining to people that I chose to be a nurse. Being a man should have nothing to do with it.”
I see Heather right before the end of her shift. She looks tired after her 12 hour day but who wouldn’t? I asked her what she’d learned that day. She said she’d learned to listen to patients’ fears and not brush them off; to reassure the family members; to appreciate the therapy dogs that bring joy to hospital rooms with a sweep of the tail and an offer of a head scratch.
She has a long commute home but will listen to a podcast on medical terminology on the way, always learning. Maybe she’ll worry about a few patients that seem to be slipping. She’ll check on them first thing tomorrow.
Maybe she’ll choose nursing and, years from now, somebody will remember her during Nurses Appreciation Week. You could do worse than have a new nurse named Heather by your bed.
Mars Inc.’s Skittles candies are no longer being made with titanium dioxide, a chemical that whitens foods, brightens colors and makes candy appear shiny, the company confirmed to Bloomberg News.
The ingredient was removed from all Skittles production at the end of last year, a spokesperson said.
The additive was banned in the European Union in 2022 over concerns that nanoparticles of the substance might accumulate in the body and damage DNA. It has also come under scrutiny by the Department of Health and Human Services in recent months under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
In 2023, groups including the Environmental Working Group and the Center for Food Safety filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration to remove the approval of titanium dioxide as a color additive in food. That petition was still under review as of March 2024, according to the FDA website.
Titanium dioxide hasn’t been banned in the U.S., though Mars pledged to stop using the additive in 2016. It was still listed as an ingredient in Sour Skittles earlier this year. In a statement to Bloomberg News in January, the company said its use of the ingredient was “in compliance with government regulations.”
The company is now in the process of updating its website to reflect the reformulation, though shoppers may see products containing titanium dioxide on shelves until those products sell through.
The chewy candies still use synthetic dyes including Red 40, Yellow 5 and Blue 1, according to their labels. HHS and FDA said in April that they’ll work with food producers to eliminate the dyes by the end of 2026. Industry groups have said no agreement exists on the matter.
Other foods — including Mondelez International Inc.’s Sour Patch Kids Watermelon, Kraft Heinz Co.’s Lunchables Cookie Dunks and JM Smucker Co.’s Donettes — currently use titanium dioxide. It’s also a common ingredient in sunscreens and white paints.
Mondelez recommended Bloomberg News reach out to the Consumer Brands Association, an industry group. “Companies adhere to the rigorous science and risk-based safety standards established by the FDA for the use of titanium dioxide as a color additive in food,” said Sarah Gallo, senior vice president of product policy for the group.
Kraft Heinz and JM Smucker didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. JM Smucker told Bloomberg in March that its products and labeling abide by FDA regulations.
The White House’s “Make America Healthy Again” report listed titanium dioxide as an additive of “potential concern.” Earlier in May, the Food and Drug Administration announced it would speed up an existing review of the ingredient.
HHS didn’t respond to a request for comment on Skittles’ removal of titanium dioxide.
____
—With assistance from Bill Haubert and Rachel Cohrs Zhang.
An updated report from the National Weather Service was issued on Thursday at 7:10 a.m. for strong thunderstorms until 7:45 a.m. for Houston County.
Residents may experience wind gusts of up to 40 mph.
“At 7:10 a.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm 9 miles southeast of Graceville, moving northeast at 30 mph,” states the weather service. “Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects.”
Locations impacted by the alert include Cottonwood, Graceville, Marianna, Ashford, Cowarts, Malone, Cottondale, Greenwood, Avon, Madrid, Campbellton, Bascom, Memphis, Richter Crossroads, Crosby, Grangeburg, Garretts Crossroads, Wilson Mill, Blue Spring and Lovedale.
The weather service states, “If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building.”
Staying safe as lightning approaches: Expert advice
Each year, lightning strikes the United States approximately 25 million times, with the majority of these electrifying events occurring during the summer months. Unfortunately, lightning is responsible for claiming the lives of approximately 20 people annually, as reported by the weather service. The threat of lightning becomes more pronounced as thunderstorms draw nearer, peaking when the storm is directly overhead and gradually waning as it moves away.
To ensure your safety during a thunderstorm, keep these recommendations in mind:
Lightning safety plan:
When venturing outdoors, it’s crucial to have a lightning safety plan in place.
Monitor the sky for threatening signs and listen for the sound of thunder. If thunder is audible, it’s an indication that lightning is nearby.
Seek a safe place to shelter, preferably indoors.
Indoors safety measures:
Once you’re indoors, avoid using corded phones, electrical devices, plumbing fixtures, and stay away from windows and doors.
These precautions help reduce the risk of electrical surges, as lightning can follow conductive pathways.
Wait for the all-clear:
After the last lightning strike or thunderclap, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.
It’s important to remember that lightning can strike even when a storm seems to have passed, so exercise caution.
When indoor shelter isn’t available:
If you find yourself outdoors without access to indoor shelter during a thunderstorm, take these steps to maximize your safety:
Avoid open fields, hilltops, or ridge crests, which expose you to greater lightning risk.
Steer clear of tall, isolated trees and other prominent objects. In forested areas, stay close to lower stands of trees.
If you’re in a group, ensure that individuals are spaced out to prevent lightning current from transferring between people.
Camping in an open setting during a thunderstorm is strongly discouraged. If no alternative exists, set up camp in a valley, ravine, or other low-lying areas. Remember that a tent offers no protection against lightning.
Do not approach water bodies, wet objects, or metal items. Although water and metal do not attract lightning, they conduct electricity effectively and can pose significant risks.
In summary, when facing the threat of lightning, vigilance and preparedness are your best allies. By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the chances of lightning-related accidents and prioritize your safety.
Driving through downpours: Safety guidelines for wet roads
Heavy rainfall may lead to flooding if prolonged or if there is excessive runoff. Excessive runoff can be a result of saturated ground and/or rainfall intensity. Follow these recommendations from the weather service to stay safe in heavy rain:
Beware of rapid water flow:
Avoid parking or walking in close proximity to culverts or drainage ditches, as the swiftly moving water during heavy rain can potentially carry you away.
Maintain safe driving distances:
The two-second rule for following distance is your ally in heavy rain. Extend it to four seconds to ensure safe spacing in adverse conditions.
Slow down and stay cautious:
On wet roads, reducing your speed is crucial. Ease off the gas pedal gradually and avoid abrupt braking to prevent skidding.
Choose your lane wisely:
Stick to the middle lanes to minimize the risk of hydroplaning. Outer lanes are more prone to accumulating water.
Prioritize visibility
Enhance your visibility in heavy rain by activating your headlights. Be particularly vigilant for vehicles in blind spots, as rain-smeared windows can obscure them.
Watch out for slippery roads:
The first half-hour of rain is when roads are slickest due to a mix of rain, grime, and oil. Exercise heightened caution during this period.
Keep a safe distance from large vehicles:
Large trucks and buses can reduce your visibility with tire spray. Avoid tailgating and pass them swiftly and safely.
Mind your windshield wipers:
Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas.
When stopping by the roadside is your only option, position your vehicle as far off the road as possible, ideally beyond guardrails. Keep your headlights on and activate emergency flashers to alert other drivers of your position.
In the face of heavy rain, these precautions can make a significant difference in ensuring your safety on the road. Remember to stay informed about weather conditions and heed guidance from local authorities for a secure journey.
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.
For the past four months, legislators met in Montgomery to address issues that affect Alabamians every day. Lawmakers brought back a handful of victories to their districts – policies that will directly impact their neighbors’ quality of life and shape their communities for years to come. They also returned with a litany of accomplishments that will sustain the vitality and future development of our state as a whole.
It’s not an easy job — in my 20 years on the floor of the house and senate, the biggest challenges came from competing interests, complex problems and a ticking clock. Multifaceted issues call for consequential decisions that can obfuscate the makings of even the best legislative session. And yet this was a very successful session for our state leaders. Most importantly, many of the bills passed this session will help build a stronger, safer state.
As lawmakers gaveled in on February 5, a surge in violent crime was chief among the challenges they faced. However, by sine die, the state had an actionable, cross-agency plan ready to tackle crime and support our law enforcement officers through partnerships at the state, local and federal levels.
The Alabama Bureau of Pardons & Paroles was proud to be a part of this plan. Every day, the Bureau’s APOSTC certified state law enforcement officers do what needs to be done to keep Alabama safe. This includes serving on the state’s metro crime suppression unit. This unit brought to bear the full force of state and local law enforcement in Montgomery. Thanks to the work of Speaker Ledbetter, Senate President Pro Tem Gudger, Chairman Reynolds and Governor Ivey, it has funding needed to expand to other cities in Alabama.
According to ALEA’s spring report, MACS unit “arrested 266 individuals on various charges, recovered 51 stolen vehicles, seized 195 firearms, and they have seized a total of 103 machine gun conversion devices, known as ‘switches.’” June marks the one-year anniversary of this joint operation, and we can expect more good news that speaks to the unit’s success.
Alabama’s leaders also entrusted Bureau officers to address violent youth offenders who would be charged with Class A or B felonies, if adults, through use of our advanced technology and monitoring. Representative Travis Hendrix, a fellow member of the law enforcement community, advanced a bill to allow the Bureau to partner with other agencies to electronically monitor dangerous delinquent juveniles out on bond and awaiting trial. This is another tool that will help keep our communities safer by complementing the efforts of police departments and serving as a force-multiplier and violence interrupter.
Similarly, Senator Givhan and Judge Hill sponsored legislation streamlining the process for the Bureau to share real-time GPS location data with other state, local or federal law enforcement agencies during active investigations. This will eliminate delays in data sharing amid urgent matters where every second counts. It was a short but critical bill to clear up code that could stall real life cases in Alabama.
Of course, being tough on crime means being smart on crime. At the Bureau, we do that through advanced supervision and implementation of strategies that reduce recidivism. Unemployment is one of the key drivers of recidivism, and the best ways to keep formerly incarcerated Alabamians from returning to prison is through job training, career placement and partnership with Alabama’s job creators. This – coupled with substance use treatment and counseling – gives parolees the best chance to live a fruitful life after prison.
Representative Parker Moore and Senator Rodger Smitherman led a bipartisan occupational licensing reform effort this session. Their bill, SB138, cuts red tape and allows job creators to hire these highly-skilled, low-risk offenders without interference from unelected bureaucrats on licensing boards. The Free to Work Package prohibits licensing boards from automatically disqualifying applicants with a criminal record whose offense is neither violent, of a sexual nature nor applies to the profession.
The boards don’t have to approve a license but must consider the applicant if they have been screened by the Bureau and received a Certificate of Employability from our agency. Businesses have full discretion over their decision to hire these individuals, and those that do will be released from legal liability for their decision – protecting them from frivolous lawsuits.
It’s a win-win that puts power back in the hands of Alabama’s job creators and opens the doors of opportunity for people who are willing and ready to work – especially those seeking in-demand and hard-to-fill roles that offer great salaries and benefits to employees.
The legislature’s successful efforts to Back the Blue this session came from their sincere support for our law enforcement officers. That’s important for the Bureau as APOSTC law enforcement professionals account for well over half of our personnel. To finally and fully codify ABPP officers as state law enforcement – a classification they’ve always been with authority and powers they’ve always had, Representative Jerry Starnes – a former parole officer – and Senator Clyde Chambliss sponsored a bill to fix antiquated code in the Alabama Constitution. With a few lines of text, Rep. Starnes and Sen. Chambliss provided a boost to morale for hundreds of our officers by ensuring we support them just as they support us.
On behalf of the officers and staff at the Alabama Bureau of Pardons & Paroles, we commend our state lawmakers for their hard work. Thank you for supporting the Bureau’s mission and putting our officers in the best position possible to keep Alabama’s communities safe. We look forward to continuing our work with partners from both the public and private sectors to offer training, education and opportunities that set up formerly incarcerated Alabamians for success in life after prison. Our philosophy echoes that of President Trump: “real opportunities for those with criminal records – whether it’s good-paying jobs or access to treatment – lead to better outcomes, more prosperous communities and a safer state by lowering recidivism, or the chance of someone coming out of prison to reoffend.
Cam Ward is director of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons & Paroles.
Bayonet, a raw bar and seafood-focused restaurant from celebrated Alabama chef Rob McDaniel in downtown Birmingham, garnered a spot on the list after opening earlier this year. Southern Living praised the restaurant’s creative dishes, which are made with the freshest catch from the Gulf, as well as its ice-cold martinis and coconut cream pie.
Meanwhile, Armour House opened in downtown Birmingham in November 2024 and with executive chef Jeffrey Compton at the helm. You can find a variety of dishes, including pork schnitzel, crawfish risotto and an assortment of steaks, on its menu.
“You won’t walk out of this Magic City hotspot hungry, that’s for sure,” the Southern Living list reads. “A well-appointed raw bar sets the stage for the restaurant’s real star: dry-aged steaks with plenty of decadent sides and accoutrements.”
Other restaurants to make the list include Elektra in Atlanta, Ga.; Potential New Boyfriend in Asheville, N.C.; Marbled & Fin | Charleston in S.C.; Fancypants in Nashville, Tenn.; Siren Social Club in Gulfport, Miss.; Porgy’s Seafood Market in New Orleans, La., and more.
The singer Cassie was content celebrating her 29th birthday with drinks, drugs and karaoke with friends, but her boyfriend, Sean “Diddy” Combs, had a different idea.
The hip-hop mogul insisted on taking Cassie, his R&B protégé, to a Los Angeles hotel for another of his “freak-off” sex marathons, her friend and former stylist testified Wednesday at Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial.
Deonte Nash told jurors that he saw the temperamental Combs berating Cassie as she pleaded for him to let her enjoy her birthday on her own terms. Later that night, Nash said, Cassie told the stylist, “I don’t want to freak-off,” but that she had to because Combs was making her.
Nash testified that the 2015 conversation was one of several times Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, confided to him that she didn’t want to engage in Combs’ drug-fueled hotel encounters.
Earlier in the trial, Cassie testified that these often involved Combs watching, directing and sometimes filming her as she had sex with a male sex worker. She said she engaged in hundreds of such encounters during her nearly 11-year relationship with Combs from 2007 to 2018.
Nash said he remains close with Cassie, even advising her on her trial wardrobe. He said he contacted her Tuesday to congratulate her on the birth of her third child.
Along with shedding light on Cassie’s feelings about freak-offs, Nash also corroborated her testimony that Combs frequently beat and tormented her. Combs would threaten to hinder Cassie’s fledgling music career and said he’d ruin her reputation by releasing recordings of their sexual encounters, Nash said.
The stylist said he was at Cassie’s apartment, helping her pack for a music festival, when Combs stormed in, grabbed her by the hair, pulled her off a couch and hit her repeatedly. Nash said he jumped on Combs’ back in an attempt to get him to stop, but Combs bucked and threw him to the ground.
Combs resumed whaling on Cassie, who’d fled to a bedroom with Nash and another friend, knocking her head into the edge of the bed frame and causing a large, bloody gash above her eye, the witness said.
“Look what y’all made me do,” Combs said, according to Nash.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to charges that he led a racketeering conspiracy for 20 years that relied on fear and violence to get what he wanted. If convicted, he could face 15 years to life in prison.
Earlier Wednesday, Combs’ lawyers asked for a mistrial — which Judge Arun Subramanian denied — after they said prosecutors had tried to imply that Combs interfered with a police investigation into the January 2012 firebombing of rapper Kid Cudi’s Porsche 911.
Subramanian told jurors to disregard testimony about fingerprint records that ended up being destroyed months after the fire.
Combs’ ex-assistant testified Tuesday that Combs said he wanted to kill Cudi after he learned that Cassie and Cudi were dating in December 2011.
A few weeks later, Cudi’s Porsche was firebombed. A Molotov cocktail was found in the front seat, made out of a 40-ounce Old English 800 malt liquor bottle and a designer handkerchief, according to Lance Jimenez, an arson investigator for the Los Angeles Fire Department, and photographs shown in court.
Combs’ lawyers moved for a mistrial after Jimenez, prompted by prosecution questioning, testified that fingerprints taken from Cudi’s vehicle were destroyed in August 2012, about eight months after the fire. Jimenez said someone at the Los Angeles Police Department who wasn’t involved in the investigation ordered the fingerprint cards destroyed. He said this wasn’t normal protocol.
Combs’ lawyer Alexandra Shapiro accused the government of prosecutorial misconduct for even broaching the idea that something untoward happened with the fingerprint cards. She said prosecutors should’ve known better because some prospective jurors were eliminated from consideration for the trial after they said they believed Combs could buy his way out of trouble.
“These questions were designed to play right into that,” Shapiro said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik countered that “a mistrial is absolutely unwarranted here,” telling the judge that she only asked Jimenez about the fate of the fingerprint cards to counter defense suggestions that the firebombing was poorly investigated and that the area was not canvassed for fingerprints.
No arrests were made as a result of Jimenez’s investigation, but federal prosecutors contend Combs was responsible for the fire and have included the episode as one of several acts of alleged wrongdoing supporting the racketeering charge against him.
The itching is called “pruritus,” and it can be caused by over the counter or prescription forms of Zyrtec (cetirizine) or Xyzal (levocetirizine), both antihistamines that treat seasonal allergies. It typically occurs within a few days of stopping the medications, the FDA said.
People who take the oral medications every day for months or years may be susceptible to the condition in exceptional cases, the administration stated in an alert this month.
“Reported cases were rare but sometimes serious, with patients experiencing widespread, severe itching that required medical intervention,” the administration said.
The FDA reported finding 209 cases worldwide, between 2017 and 2023, in people who stopped using the two medications.
“Most patients who experienced pruritus after medicine discontinuation reported using these medicines for more than 3 months; however, some experienced this reaction after less than 1 month of use,” the administration said. Restarting the medication and then tapering it resolved the itching problem in most people, the FDA stated.
A warning will be added to the medications. Patients using the medications long-term should check with their health care provider about whether to continue.
State championship MVPs Betsy Whitson of Vestavia Hills and Ella Cazzavillan of St. John Paul II highlight the Alabama High School Athletic Association girls soccer Super All-State team, selected by voting from the state’s coaches.
The coaches voted for first- and second-team Super All-State teams along with all-state teams for each classification.
The Large School Coach of the Year (7A and 6A) is Brigid Meadow of Vestavia Hills. The Small School Coach of the Year (1A-5A) is Meg Arney of Springville. Ryan Leib of 6A champ Briarwood Christian was voted Private/Parochial School Coach of the Year.
Allie Collier of Westminster Christian, the MVP of the Class 5A state title game, and 1A/3A MVP A.J. Spillman of champion Lee-Scott Academy, were voted to their respective classification’s All-State team.
Vestavia Hills, after claiming its seventh state title, had four players on the first-team Super All-State team. Auburn, James Clemens, Mountain Brook, Springville and Thompson had two each.
Here are the all-state teams, as selected by AHSAA coaches:
Francheska Arellano, Senior, MF, 5A, St. Michael Catholic
Annie McBride, Senior, MF, 6A, Homewood
Langston Lilly, Senior, MF, 6A, Mountain Brook
Amelia Mitchell, Junior, MF, 7A, James Clemens
Addison Mizerany, Senior, MF, 7A, Vestavia Hills
Charli Gantt, Sophomore, D, 7A, Thompson
Zoey Blaszczynski, Senior, D, 5A, Springville
Laila Simmons, Senior, D, 7A, Auburn
Libby Armstrong, Senior, D, 7A, Hewitt-Trussville
Laura Russell, Junior, D, 6A, Chelsea
Katie Llewellyn, Junior, D, 7A, Vestavia Hills
Brianna Tortorici, Junior, GK, 7A, Vestavia Hills
Laine Minich, Senior, GK, 6A, Mountain Brook
SECOND TEAM
Mattie McDonald, Senior, F, 7A, McGill-Toolen
Camilla Bosman, Junior, F, 7A, Auburn
Aaliyah Carter, Senior, F, 7A, Shades Valley
Anna Kate Wallace, Senior, F, 1A-3A, The Donoho School
Elsie Shirley, Sophomore, F, 1A-3A, Houston Academy
Sahara Moreno, Senior, F, 5A, Carroll-Ozark
Baylee Swink, Senior, MF, 7A, Florence
Haddie Patterson, Junior, MF, 7A, James Clemens
JK Longnecker, Sophomore, MF, 6A, Pike Road
Elise Marquadt, Senior, MF, 7A, Hoover
Samantha Wakefield, Senior, MF, 1A-3A, The Donoho School
Calli Solan, Junior, MF, 5A, Westminster Christian Academy
Sophia Cho, Senior, MF, 7A, Montgomery Academy
Kati Anne Shepherd, Sophomore, MF, 7A, Oak Mountain
Alexandra Jodon, Senior, D, 4A, St. John Paul II
Hollis Tangye, Senior, D, 6A, Homewood
Katie Shadix, Senior, D, 6A, Pell City
Camila Garcia, Senior, D, 1A-3A, Collinsville
Marley Brown, Sophomore, D, 7A, Oak Mountain
Hayden Kessler, Junior, D, 6A, Spanish Fort
Hannah Maddox, Junior, GK, 6A, Southside
Holland Burkhalter, Junior, GK, 6A, Spanish Fort
CLASS 7A ALL-STATE
Dia Montiel-Duenas, Senior, F, Thompson
Betsy Whitson, Senior, F, Vestavia Hills
Olivia Lawrence, Junior, F, James Clemens
Claire Nappier, Senior, F, Auburn
Haley Ciccarello, Junior, F, Smiths Station
Mattie McDonald, Senior, F, McGill Toolen
Addison Mizerany, Senior, MF, Vestavia Hills
Amelia Mitchell, Junior, MF, James Clemens
Kati Anne Shepherd, Junior, MF, Oak Mountain
Baylee Swink, Senior, MF, Florence
Haddie Patterson, Junior, MF, James Clemens
Elise Marquardt, Senior, MF, Hoover
Sadie Carroll, Junior, MF, Albertville
Sophia Cho, Senior, MF, Montgomery Academy
Lacey Daffin, Junior, MF, Daphne
Charli Gantt, Sophomore, D, Thompson
Laila Simmons, Senior, D, Auburn
Libby Armstrong, Senior, D, Hewitt Trussville
Katie Llewellyn, Junior, D, Vestavia Hills
Marley Brown, Sophomore, D, Oak Mountain
Lola Stiell, Sophomore, D, McGill-Toolen
Brianna Tortorici, Junior, GK, Vestavia Hills
Ella Grace Byrd, Senior, GK, Daphne
CLASS 6A ALL-STATE
Aaliyah Carter, Senior, F, Shades Valley
Beatriz Souza, Senior, F, Spanish Fort
Kinsey Carter, Senior, F, Southside
Taylor Matthews, Sophomore, F, Briarwood
Reese Oldfield, Junior, F, Spain Park
Peyton Rudolph, Junior, F, St. Paul’s Episcopal
Taylor Leib, Senior, MF, Briarwood
Basia Czarkowska, Senior, MF, Spanish Fort
Annie McBride, Senior, MF, Homewood
JK Longnecker, Sophomore, MF, Pike Road
Brooklyn Barnett, Senior, MF, Briarwood
Natalie Peacock, Junior, MF, Chelsea
Addy Soehn, Senior, MF, Spain Park
Langston Lilly, Senior, MF, Mountain Brook
Laura Russell, Junior, D, Chelsea
Hollis Tangye, Senior, D, Homewood
Katie Shadix, Senior, D, Pell City
Hayden Kessler, Junior, D, Spanish Fort
Lorelai Wei, Sophomore, D, Mountain Brook
Cam Wrights, 8th, D, St. Paul’s Episcopal
Laine Minich, Senior, GK, Mountain Brook
Hannah Maddox, Junior, GK, Southside
CLASS 5A ALL-STATE
Sahara Moreno, Senior, F, Carroll-Ozark
Caroline Callahan, Junior, F, St. Michael Catholic
Avery Therell, 8th, F, Bayside Academy
Annie Collier, Freshman, F, Westminster Christian Academy
Miranda Valencia, Senior, F, Guntersville
Audrey Faino, Sophomore, F, Elberta
Rebecca Sierra-Burciaga, Senior, MF, Springville
Francheska Arellano, Senior, MF, St. Michael Catholic
Calli Solan, Junior, MF, Westminster Christian Academy
Kayden Davis, Senior, MF, Elberta
Ava Martinez, Freshman, MF, Westminster Christian Academy
Abigail Smeraglia, 8th, MF, St. Michael Catholic
Ella Willis, Sophomore, MF, Guntersville
Savannah Pedroza, Senior, MF, Carroll-Ozark
Zoey Blaszczynski, Senior, D, Springville
Jordan Culp, Senior, D, Carroll-Ozark
Abby McDonald, Senior, D, Bayside Academy
Caleigh Lewis, Freshman, D, Westminster Christian Academy
Nora Welden Montgomery, Junior, D, St. Michael Catholic
Jillian Shores, Senior, D, Westbrook Christian School
Kayla Martinez, Freshman, GK, Crossville
Misty Kate Smith, Senior, GK, Bayside Academy
Jackie Jarquin, Senior, GK, Boaz
St. John Paul II’s Ella Cazzavillan kicks against St. Luke’s during an AHSAA Class 4A state final soccer game at John Hunt Park in Huntsville Ala., Friday, May 9, 2025. (Will McLelland | [email protected])Will McLelland
CLASS 4A ALL-STATE
Ella Cazzavilla, Senior, F, St. John Paul II
Lauren Altman, Sophomore, F, St. John Paul II
Addie Welch, Freshman, F, New Hope
Vale Richie, Junior, F, Westminster-Oak Mountain
Gabi Aufmuth, Sophomore, F, Orange Beach
Ava Haygood, Sophomore, F, Cherokee County
Sofia Maghupoy, Sophomore, F, St. Luke’s Episcopal
Kiley Hawarah, Junior, MF, St. Luke’s Episcopal
Anna Robbins, Senior, MF, American Christian Academy
Aunna Schroeder, Senior, MF, St. John Paul II
Kinley Webb, Sophomore, MF, Orange Beach
Hannah Koger, Senior, MF, Satsuma
Piper Ervin, Sophomore, MF, Talladega
Isabella Segura, Sophomore, MF, Cherokee County
Margaret Tipper, Junior, MF, Wilson
Alexandra Jodon, Senior, D, St. John Paul II
Brylee Joulian, Junior, D, Orange Beach
Taylor Tardiff, Senior, D, Jacksonville
Heather Walski, Senior, D, Montgomery Catholic
Sana Shuford, Senior, D, St. James
Ava Morrison, Junior, D, Westminster-Oak Mountain
Ashlyn Turner, Sophomore, GK, St. Luke’s Episcopal