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Trump tariffs hit Alabama businesses, big and small: ‘If I can’t pay it, I have to pass it on’

The message came late for Misty Smith – the Trump tariffs are here.

The owner of Live, Laugh & Love, a clothing boutique in Gadsden, got the message from her supplier – the Trump tariffs are here.

One day after President Donald Trump announced a sweeping set of tariffs on scores of countries, Alabama business owners began seeing the results.

“Every piece of clothing item, I have to pay $25 tariff charge per item, and then I have to pay $50 per item if it’s not clothing, shoes, handbags, things like that,” Smith said. “That’s on top of the price.”

Smith, who has operated her store for 11 years, said the charges will affect about 60% to 70% of her inventory.

“I can’t afford to buy U.S. products,” she said.

She’s trying to look for other suppliers, or rushing some orders to beat the tariffs. But she’s unsure how far the effect of tariffs will go, as some products made in America require some materials that are globally sourced.

“People don’t understand that issues like this affect small business owners differently than large corporations,” she said. “If I can’t pay it, I have to pass it on to the customers.”

John Dove, an economic professor at Troy University, said a tariff – what companies pay to governments to sell their goods in that nation – is a tax. And taxes are part of the cost of doing business; costs which businesses tend to pass on to consumers.

“If you impose a tax on a business or consumers, it makes things more expensive,” Dove said.

“For businesses, that increases the costs of doing business. When businesses face higher costs, that shows up in higher prices. In some capacity, these will lead to higher prices on consumer goods, reduced choice in fewer goods available, and typically, lower quality products.”

The Trump Administration has given several reasons for the tariffs, such as trade imbalances and a spur for companies to begin moving manufacturing to the U.S.

But Dove said anyone expecting a return of traditional manufacturing jobs, with long-term economic security and good benefits, may need to scale back those ambitions.

“When you look at U.S. manufacturing output since World War II, it hasn’t decreased, it’s increased each year,” he said.

“We’re the No. 2 largest producer of manufactured goods in the world. Much of the production process has become automated. If you return the manufacturing, it doesn’t necessarily translate into a lot of jobs because of our dependence on machines.”

The impact is filtering out to businesses large and small.

Alabama is home to several automakers based outside the U.S., and so the effect on Alabama’s auto companies may take time to sort out.

By late Wednesday, it appeared the 25% auto tariffs would not apply to parts manufactured under the terms of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement negotiated in the first Trump Administration.

Scott Posey, a spokesman for Hyundai’s Montgomery plant, said some confusion is in order.

“It appears that the tariffs will not apply to USMCA compliant parts which would provide us with some relief,” Posey said. “The other good news is our cars are American built.”

Robert Burns, the chief administrative officer at the plant, told WSFA “the bottom line is, we’re not going to stop building cars.”

NikkeiAsia reports that Toyota and Honda are signaling that they will leave their prices the same for the immediate future.

Hyundai CEO Jose Munoz also said the Korean automaker doesn’t have any immediate plans to raise prices, according to Reuters.

Toyota told Reuters in a statement that it is closely monitoring the situation and will work on reducing costs and maintaining operations as normal for the time being.

According to Edmonds.com, two models built in Alabama are among the ones that will be significantly impacted by the tariffs.

The Hyundai Santa Fe SUV, with a starting price of $35,775, is made in Montgomery. But some of its components may drive the price higher, as its transmission is produced in South Korea.

Roughly 50% of the standard Santa Fe’s parts originate outside North America. The hybrid version’s powertrain comes from South Korea, and 61% of its total vehicle parts are not covered by the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

The Toyota Corolla Cross, made in Huntsville, has a starting price of $25,385. About 40% of its parts are sourced from outside the USMCA. More than half the parts of the hybrid are produced overseas.

Mazda has already seen some effect from the tariffs, though in a positive way. The Japanese automaker posted record numbers for the month of March, with sales jumping 16.1 percent compared to the same month a year ago. The CX-50, produced in Huntsville, also saw record sales.

Motor1.com speculated that the reason for the record sales was buyers rushing to secure a car before the tariffs hit.

Mercedes could relocate its GLC SUV to the U.S., which is currently made in Bremen, Germany, but that could cause political problems at home, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Earlier this year, Mazda reportedly was considering shifting some production to Alabama.

There are some sectors of Alabama’s economy that welcome the tariffs. Shrimpers in Bayou Le Batre, for example, say foreign-sourced shrimp has eaten into their profits, according to NBC News.

Mayor Henry Barnes estimates that the town’s overall tax revenue has dropped in recent years by roughly 30%.

“A lot of people look at a tariff as a punishment, but we’re not trying to punish them,” said Steve Bosarge, president of the Southern Shrimp Alliance, a trade association. “We just want to be at a level where we all can compete.”

Of course, a tariff being a tax means that the U.S. can expect revenue, approximately $600 billion according to Trump Administration estimates. However, Dove pointed out one problem with those estimates.

“That’s revenue that can, of course, be used to pay for public services or alleviate debt,” he said. “The thing to keep in mind is, that sounds like a lot, but that’s about one month’s worth of expenditures (for the U.S.). To create this many economic distortions and problems, it’s probably not worth raising revenue in that capacity.”

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Man accused of robbing Birmingham bank of $10,000 nabbed within 1 hour of holdup

A Fairfield man previously convicted in two robberies is now accused of robbing a Birmingham bank of $10,000.

Geron Scott, 30, is charged with third-degree robbery in a holdup at Chase Bank on Crossplex Boulevard.

Police said Scott walked into the bank about 3:30 p.m. Monday and handed the teller a note demanding money. He fled with $10.000, according to charging documents.

Birmingham Police Department’s Real Time Crime Center provided information to officers that aided them in capturing the suspect in Fairfield within one hour of robbery, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald.

Patrol officers also recovered the stolen cash.

After warrants were obtained, Scott was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 3:07 p.m. Tuesday and released at 9:46 p.m. after posting $15,000 bond.

Scott pleaded guilty in 2014 to two different robberies of individuals.

In one case, he took $300 from a woman and in another he robbed a man of his keys. A gun was used in both of the previous robberies.

Scott was sentenced to 20 years in prison with 3 ½ years to serve.

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Villanova-USC free livestream: How to watch College Basketball Crown tournament, TV, schedule

The Villanova Wildcats play against the USC Trojans in the College Basketball Crown tournament tonight. The matchup will begin at 8:30 p.m. CT on FS1. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

The Wildcats enter this matchup with a 20-14 record, and they defeated Colorado 85-64 in the opening round of the tournament.

During the victory, Eric Dixon and Wooga Poplar led the Villanova offense. The two players combined to score 46 points, and they shot 19-30 from the field.

If Dixon and Poplar perform similarly this evening, then Villanova will be a difficult team to beat.

The Trojans enter this matchup with a 17-17 record, and they defeated Tulane 89-60 in the opening round of the tournament.

During the victory, Rashaun Agee led the USC offense. He scored 27 points and shot 10-12 from the field, so he will look to continue his offensive success this evening.

Fans can watch the College Basketball Crown tournament for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

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Walmart is offering the KISSAIR Nugget Ice Maker for as low as $123

Walmart is offering all new online deals this week, including a more than $140 discount on the top-rated KISSAIR Countertop Nugget Ice Maker.

With this deal, Walmart customer can get the KISSAIR Nugget Ice Maker in the color grey for $123 instead of its normal price of $270. The other colors are on sale as well, but for $129.

For optimal results, you will need to put the nugget ice in the freezer once the basket is full because it is designed to make ice, but not store it. Those who want an ice maker that also stores ice can look at the popular GE Profile™ Opal™ Nugget Ice Maker or the cheaper, but just as effective Frigidaire Gallery Touchscreen Nugget Ice Maker.

RELATED: Walmart is offering a $100 discount on the Frigidaire Gallery Sphere Ice Maker

“The KISSAIR nugget ice maker swiftly produces a complete basket of delightful, chewable ice within 10 minutes. Whether it’s for entertaining guests or [you’re] craving a refreshing beverage at home, this ice maker efficiently generates a full basket of ice, ensuring easy access to chilled drinks anytime, anywhere‚” Walmart’s product details state.

This nugget ice maker is a well-reviewed product with a high 4.6 star rating overall.

“The ice is soft not like sonic ice but small and soft enough to chew. My kids love it. Easy to turn on when you want some ice, take around 8 mins to make full ice. Heavy enough to stay put. I’m weak, but able to lift it, it like heavy not heavy. lol all depends on if I’m have weak hand,” an honest, yet promising review says.

Another recent review states, “Was please to see this ice maker show up with a good price. Let me say I LOVE IT! Makes a ton of nugget ice and starts within 4 or so minutes. Wish it was a little quieter but I mostly run every other day and have an ice bucket in the freezer for when I want it. Would definately recommend to purchase for those that need a CFA nugget ice fix!”

Those interested in this deal can checkout the full listing on Walmart’s website here.

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This Alabama QB ‘is a stud’ per WR transfer Isaiah Horton

Isaiah Horton and Ty Simpson have never been on a college roster together until now with Alabama football. But the two have plenty of familiarity.

“That’s my guy,” Horton said this week to Crimson Tide Sports Network’s Roger Hoover on Crimson Drive. “He was my 7-on-7 quarterback when we were in high school. We have that little chemistry. That’s my guy. It’s kind of one of the reasons I came here, too just to get back with him. He’s a stud.”

Horton, who transferred from Miami this offseason, said he believes in Simpson, a fellow Tennessee native.

“We’re just back together and you can just feel the chemistry,” Horton said. “It’s nice. It’s a good feeling.”

Simpson is competing with Austin Mack and Keelon Russell for the starting quarterback job, left open with Jalen Milroe’s departure to the NFL Draft.

Horton was also asked about Mack and Russell.

“They’re both doing a great job,” Horton said. “They’re both competing … They’re all doing an incredible job and they’re working hard. It means something to them. You just see it in each and every one of them.”

Horton and the Crimson Tide are in the stretch run of spring practices. Alabama will hold its second scrimmage of the spring Friday with A-Day the following Saturday, April 12.

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for Follow him on X and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

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Three-time SWAC Coach of the Year takes over Alabama A&M’s men’s basketball program

A three-time SWAC coach of the year is coming to Madison County.

Alabama A&M has hired Donte’ Jackson as the program’s next head basketball coach, it was announced on Thursday at an on-campus press conference.

Jackson spent the last eight seasons at Grambling State, compiling a 129–122 overall record and an 88–53 record in SWAC play.

The former Grambling State coach takes over for Otis Hughley Jr., who resigned in March after three seasons as the program’s head coach; Alabama A&M went 10-22 last season.

He helped lead the program to its first NCAA tournament appearance in history in 2024, where his Tigers pulled off an 88-81 overtime win over Montana State in the First Four before falling to No. 1-seeded Purdue in the first round.

The Tigers also accepted a postseason invitation in the 2018-2019 season, where it fell to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in the first round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament.

Jackson claimed his first SWAC coach of the year honors in 2018 after leading the program to a regular-season league title before claiming the award in 2023 and 2024.

This marks Jackson’s second stint in the state of Alabama, spending three seasons at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa from 2014–2017. He helped lead the Tigers to a SIAC tournament title and a second-round appearance in the Division II tournament.

The Milwaukee, Wisc., native also spent four seasons as head coach of his alma mater Central State University, where his teams compiled a 68-42 record and three Independent Conference Association regular-season titles. He transferred to CSU from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he played one season of Division I basketball.

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How Auburn basketball’s loss to Florida was a turning point in the season

After Auburn basketball’s loss to Florida in February, the Tigers won its next six games before dropping its final two of the regular season.

Auburn coach Bruce Pearl revisited that defeat and knew entering that game how legit Florida was as a contender in the SEC.

“I think when you go through the grind of the SEC, that it’s really hard to have it every night. I think Florida had it that night. I do. Played great,” Pearl said. “Now, look, we maybe didn’t. I’ve been saying since prior to the Florida game, I think Florida’s playing the best basketball of anybody in the country.”

“I felt that way going into the game. And then in the game they showed us that. I don’t know that we’ve improved that much. Maybe we know a little bit more of who we are and what we have to do in order to win that game, the things we didn’t do the first time.”

Johni Broome finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds in that contest. However, it was not as clean of a performance as he would have liked.

Broome shot 8-of-19 from the floor as Florida played both Alex Condon and Thomas Haugh on him in that first game at Auburn.

“They are a good frontcourt,” Broome said to the media Thursday. “They play physical and hard every single play.”

Steven Pearl did not hold back saying that Florida punked the Tigers in that first matchup and elaborated how it was eye opening for the entire team.

“They wanted it more than we did. We were a little too comfortable because we have not loss in a while and were the No. 1 team in the country,” Steven Pearl said to Al.com.

“Our guys understand and respects the level of basketball they play over there now. So, for us to win on Saturday we are going to have to give our best effort, and our defense is going to have to be elite.”

Miles Kelly had the hot hand for the Tigers with 22 points against Florida back in February. His approach will be the same going into Saturday’s game for a chance to compete in Monday’s national title game.

“Just staying aggressive is going to be the main thing for us,” Kelly said. “I want to make my presence felt and make their guards uncomfortable on defense.”

Auburn’s Final Four game against Florida will tipoff at 5:09 Saturday and will be televised on CBS.

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3 or email him at [email protected].

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Walmart’s $300 patio furniture set is on sale for just $130 this week

Spring 2025 is finally here, which means right now is a perfect time to take advantage of deals on patio furniture and other outdoor necessities.

This week, Walmart is offering the Costway 4-Piece Rattan Patio Furniture Set for just $139 instead of its normal price of $339. This is a $199 discount overall.

Costway 4-Piece Rattan Patio Set – $139.99

The Costway 4-Piece Rattan Patio Set is $200 off at Walmart for a limited time.

Buy Now

The Costway 4-Piece Rattan Patio Furniture Set features gray cushions with dark rattan wicker frames. It includes two seats, one loveseat and one glass-top coffee table.

RELATED: Walmart is offering a $100 discount on the Frigidaire Sphere Ice Maker

“I bought this for my niece who needed lawn furniture after moving to a house from an apartment. She really likes it. Her only complaint is her two pets like it too. They’ve taken over the love seat,” a promising review states.

Most reviews state that this particular set is perfect for those with smaller outdoor spaces and that it is a great bargain overall.

“This is a really nice looking set! I was nervous about the size because some reviews said it was small, but it’s average. Seems to be very sturdy, and while it took my husband a couple of hours to put together, it wasn’t difficult at all. Just tedious. Definitely recommend!” another review states.

Those interested in this deal can checkout the full listing on Walmart’s website here.

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Alabama’s latest lottery, sports betting bill is doomed to fail, powerful lawmaker says: ‘Too little, too late’

The leader of the Alabama Senate said Thursday he does not think a lottery, electronic gambling and sports betting proposal unveiled by a senator earlier in the day has a chance to pass.

Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, released a statement saying the plan by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, is short on support and short on time.

“With 12 meeting days remaining in the session, both budgets still awaiting approval, and other important bills and measures demanding focus and attention, the comprehensive gaming bill released today is simply too little, too late, and has too few votes to pass,” Gudger said.

Lawmakers have used 18 of their 30 meeting days in the session, which can last until May 19.

Albritton has said for several weeks he was trying to round up votes for his plan but was coming up short.

It takes 21 votes in the 34-member Senate (there is one vacancy) to approve a constitutional amendment, which is needed for a gambling bill.

Albritton had kept the plan under wraps until today, when he made copies available. He said he was still short of votes, though.

The demise of Albritton’s bill extends a losing streak for lottery and gambling proposals in the Legislature.

Alabama voters have not had their say on whether to establish a lottery since 1999, when they voted down Gov. Don Siegelman’s education lottery proposal.

The four states bordering Alabama all help fund education and state services with lotteries.

Last year, a lottery, casinos, and sports betting plan passed by the House was scaled back by the Senate. A compromise version eventually failed by a single vote in the Senate.

Since before the 2025 session started, Gudger said he considered gambling legislation to be on the back-burner while senators dealt with other issues. He said he did not want another near-miss.

In Gudger’s statement today, he said much work remains done to reach an agreement.

“I believe that passing a comprehensive gaming bill in the Senate will require engaging in long-term and intense negotiations among members and securing the needed votes and commitments well before a legislative session even begins,” Gudger said.

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How to watch ‘Teen Mom: The Next Chapter’ season 3 episode 25 for free

A brand new episode of the hit reality Teen Mom franchise series Teen Mom: The Next Chapter premieres on MTV Thursday, April 3 at 8/7c.

On this week’s episode titled “Stick Baby Stick,” viewers will catch Mackenzie taking a pregnancy test, while Cheyenne tries a holistic treatment for her fertility struggles.

Meanwhile, Briana tries to mend Nova and Devoin’s relationship, and Ashley and Tea have an explosive argument after missing divorce court.

Where can I watch Teen Mom: The Next Chapter season 2?

Those interested in catching all the drama happening this season can stream this week’s new episode and the entire season for free through Philo, Fubo or DirecTV Stream. Though all three streaming services offer free trials to new subscribers, Philo is the cheapest option at just $28 a month after its free trial.

The hit MTV reality series is also available for streaming through Sling. Despite not having a free trial, Sling still makes it worth your while by offering half off your first month when you sign up for a new subscription.

What is Philo?

Philo is considered one of the cheapest traditional cable alternatives on the streaming service market at just $28 a month after its 7-day free trial. With a Philo subscription, users can unlock a world of entertainment and enjoy more than 70 top-rated live TV channels and get access to the AMC+ library of groundbreaking originals, blockbuster movies and more.

Top channels available through Philo include A&E, CMT, Discovery, HGTV, MTV, Lifetime, Hallmark Channel, Investigation Discovery, TLC and much more. Users can stream these popular channels or explore Philo’s extensive collection of movies and TV shows available for streaming on-demand.

Philo subscribers can also take advantage of useful features such as the unlimited DVR option, which makes recording favorite content easy. With this feature, users can record an unlimited amount of live or upcoming content to their DVR and same them for up to a year.

What is Fubo?

Fubo considers itself a sports-focused live streaming service, but beyond their stellar sports coverage, Fubo offers much more including over 100 live TV channels through its basic package at just $84.99 a month following its free trial.

Some of Fubo’s most popular channels in their library includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, CBS, TLC, MTV, Bravo and more. Along with a plethora of live TV channels, Fubo also sports a variety of shows and movies available for streaming on-demand.

Similarly to Philo, Fubo subscribers can record content easily, too. Through Fubo’s unlimited DVR feature, users can record favorite content without needing to worry about having enough space.

What is DirecTV Stream?

Much like Fubo, DirecTV Stream offers subscribers with an abundance of live TV channels and helpful features, too. The Entertainment package starts at just $86.99 a month after its 5-day free trial and includes popular TV channels such as HGTV, ESPN, Bravo, CMT, CNBC, BET, CNN and more.

Two other DirecTV Stream packages are the Choice package (original price $114.99) and the Ultimate package (original price $129.99), both of which are part of an ongoing promotion that offers new subscribers $25 off the original price for the first three months of their subscription.

Those interested in comparing all DirecTV Stream’s channel packages can check them out here.

What is Sling?

Sling is another streaming service to consider if you want to stream live TV channels like MTV. Though no free trial is available to new subscribers, those who commit to a paid plan get half off the first month.

Both the Sling Orange plan and the Sling Blue plan are normally $45.99 a month, but with the current promotion, Sling users will pay just $23 a month for the first month.

For those who wish to access channels from both the Sling Blue and Sling Orange plans can do so by signing up for the Orange + Blue plan, which combines the best of both plans for just $60.99 a month ($30.50 for the first month).

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