Alabama News

A pedestrian was fatally struck by an off-duty Oxford police officer who was on his way home from church.

Calhoun County Coroner Pat Brown identified the victim as Robert Lee Womack. He was 47 and lived in Georgia.

The crash happened at 9:15 p.m. Wednesday on Alabama 21 at Iron Mountain Road.

Brown said 911 had received calls of a man – later identified as Womack – walking in the roadway.

Officers were dispatched, but before they arrived, the Oxford officer – in a patrol vehicle – struck Womack, who was pronounced dead on the scene at 9:37 p.m.

Womack was in Anniston visiting a friend. Authorities do not know why he was walking in the road, Brown said.

Oxford Police Chief Bill Partridge said the off-duty officer was on his way home from church.

“This event is a solemn reminder of the importance of roadway safety for both drivers and pedestrians especially at night,” Partridge said.

“Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased during this difficult time. We encourage everyone to stay alert and cautious while traveling on our roads.”

HOKA just launched the all new unisex Rocket X 3, a super-cushioned running shoe designed for speed, comfort and functionality, perfect for runners looking to hit a new PR this summer.

HOKA states that, compared to its predecessor, the new Rocket X 3 sneaker features improved traction with a sticky rubber outsole, streamlined the collar, enhanced breathability, updated our carbon fiber plate with winglets and removed the gusset. It comes in one design which is mostly cream, gray and black with pops of neon blue throughout.

RELATED: Brooks drops Glycerin Max running shoe in all new summer colors

The Rocket X 3 is a neutral racing shoe as it features a symmetrical bed of cushion without additional prescriptive technologies. This design provides the support you want and nothing you don’t. Not to mention, it comes with a low-profile cushion bed that keeps your foot closer to the ground, and utilizes a firmer material designed to provide an efficient push-off.

“Built for achieving your personal best, the Rocket X 3 delivers a carbon-fiber super shoe that doesn’t skimp on support. Maintaining the same responsive, high-performance foam as its predecessor,” HOKA states.

“We’ve updated our pace-pushing carbon fiber plate with new winglets and employed a sticky rubber outsole to inspire confidence in variable conditions. Enlisting a single-layer engineered mesh upper for enhanced breathability and stitch-and-turn collar to help mitigate blisters, we’ve removed the gusset for easier entry.”

Those interested can checkout the full rundown on HOKA’s website here.

It’s come down to this, after the quarter-century teams from Alabama and Auburn have been selected by the staff of AL.com, the third and final team has been put together.

What if you combined the best of Alabama and the best of Auburn over the past 25 years, creating a super team? That is exactly what the staff from AL.com has done. From quarterbacks, to linebackers, even a special kick-returner, the AL.com staff has voted on their best of the best.

Meet AL.com’s quarter-century Iron Bowl team:

Offense

Quarterback

• Cam Newton (Auburn)

Running Back

• Derrick Henry (Alabama)
• Cadillac Williams (Auburn)

Also receiving votes: Shaun Shivers (Auburn)

Wide Receivers

• DeVonta Smith (Alabama)
• Amari Cooper (Alabama)

Also receiving votes: Julio Jones (Alabama)

Tight End

• Philip Lutzenkirchen (Auburn)

Also receiving votes: OJ Howard (Alabama)

Guards

• Ben Grubbs (Auburn)
• Chance Warmack (Alabama)

Also receiving votes: Chris Owens (Alabama), Greg Robinson (Alabama)

Tackles

• Andre Smith (Alabama)
• Cam Robinson (Alabama)

Also receiving votes: Evan Neal (Alabama), Cyrus Kouandjio (Alabama)

Center

• Reese Dismukes (Auburn)

Also receiving votes: Landon Dickerson (Alabama)

Defense

Defensive End/Edge

• Jonathan Allen (Alabama)
• Quentin Groves (Auburn)

Also receiving votes: Derrick Brown (Auburn)

Defensive Tackles

• Quinnen Williams (Alabama)
• Nick Fairley (Auburn)

Linebackers

• Rolando McClain (Alabama)
• Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama)
• DeMeco Ryans (Alabama)

Others receiving votes: Karlos Dansby (Auburn), Courtney Upshaw (Alabama), Zakoby McClain (Auburn)

Cornerbacks

• Carlos Rogers (Auburn)
• Patrick Surtain (Alabama)

Others receiving votes: Javier Arenas (Alabama), Chris Davis (Auburn)

Safeties

• Mark Barron (Alabama)
• Malachi Moore (Alabama)

Others receiving votes: Smoke Monday (Auburn), Roman Harper (Alabama)

Special Teams

Kickers

• Daniel Carlson (Auburn)

Punters

• JK Scott (Alabama)

Kick Returner

• Chris Davis (Auburn)

Every team needs a kick returner, right?

Let us know who you would put on your AL.com quarter-century teams for Auburn, Alabama, and the Iron Bowl team?

Brent Woodall, an attorney from Tuscumbia, announced his candidacy for a seat on the Public Service Commission Wednesday.

“I’m not running to play politics,” Woodall said in a news release. “I’m running to fight for Alabama families and bring transparency, fairness and accountability to the Public Service Commission.”

Alabama’s Public Service Commission is a three-member body tasked with regulating utilities in the state, including Alabama Power. All three members are elected statewide, with two commissioners and one commission president.

Woodall, who worked as a prosecutor before retiring earlier this week, is running for Place 2 on the commission, currently held by Chris Beeker III. Beeker was appointed in 2024 to replace his father, Chip Beeker, who stepped down from the commission for health reasons.

In a release announcing his candidacy, Woodall criticized what he said was the “hidden tax” on Alabama ratepayers.

“Every single month, when you think you’re just paying for electricity or natural gas, you’re not,” Woodall said. “The PSC takes millions more than it needs from the utilities—money that comes straight out of your pockets—and instead of giving it back to you, they ship it off to Montgomery for politicians to spend however they want.”

“If you overpay, you deserve that money back,” he said. “Whether it’s through lower rates, rebates, or refunds—that money belongs to you, not the state.”

Previously, Woodall worked as an assistant U.S. Attorney in the Middle District of Alabama. He worked as a staff attorney for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. He was a delegate for President Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election and host of a conservative talk show, according to his news release.

He also worked as chief of staff to former Public Service Commissioner Chip Beeker. But in his press release, Woodall criticized Beeker’s son, Chris Beeker, arguing the younger Beeker doesn’t “fully understand what the PSC does.”

Beeker did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication.

Woodall previously ran for Place 1 on the public service commission in 2022, losing in the Republican primary to Commissioner Jeremy Oden. In that race, Woodall also criticized the commission for the so-called “hidden tax.”

Oden is running for reelection to his current seat. He faces a challenge from Cullman County Sheriff Matthew Gentry, who announced his candidacy last month. In the first few months of campaigning, Gentry has raised around $200,000. Alabama secretary of state records indicate Oden raised $7,000 in June.

The secretary of state’s office website does not list any current campaign filings for Woodall. Beeker, who will face voters for the first time since his appointment, raised around $30,000 in June, campaign records indicate.

Last month, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Cynthia Almond to serve as president of the Public Service Commission, after former PSC President Twinkle Cavanaugh resigned to take a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Almond previously served in the Alabama House of Representatives, representing Tuscaloosa.

A third Jackson High senior is headed to Chapel Hill.

Four-star wide receiver Keeyun “Red” Chapman committed to Bill Belichick and North Carolina on Thursday, joining twin brother Keegan and Jamarrion Gordon as Tar Hill commits.

The trio helped the Aggies to the Class 4A state title in 2024.

The 247Sports Composite rankings have the 6-foot-4, 195-pound Chapman as the No. 10 senior recruit in the state and the No. 24 wide receiver in the country.

Chapman caught 51 passes for 1,322 yards and 17 touchdowns for Jackson last fall. In the Aggies’ 69-6 blowout of Cherokee County in the Class 4A state title game, he caught four passes for 142 yards, including a 49-yard TD pass on the final play of the first half.

Chapman also helped Jackson to the last two Class 4A state basketball titles.

The Aggies now have four Power 4 commits in the two Chapman brothers, Gordon and Alabama commit EJ Crowell. QB Landon Duckworth has said he will choose between Auburn and South Carolina.

It’s been a busy offseason for Jacksonville State’s men’s basketball staff.

After the transfer portal saw many key players depart for new programs, head coach Ray Harper and company have made plenty of moves during a key offseason.

Departures from the transfer portal include Conference USA Player of the Year Jaron Pierre Jr., starting center and all-defensive team selection Mason Nicholson and all-freshman team pick Quel’Ron House.

Jax State finished last season 23-13 and 12-6 in Conference USA play, advancing to the CUSA title game. The Gamecocks also earned an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament, picking up an 81-64 victory over Georgia Tech in the first round.

As for additions for 2025-26, the most recent was made this week.

A source confirmed to AL.com on Tuesday the program added 6-foot-10 forward Thomas Tut, a transfer from Southeastern Louisiana who played in 17 games with one start last season for the Lions.

Before his lone season with Southeastern Louisiana, he was a standout player at Garden City Community College with 14.5 points and 9.8 rebounds during his final season under former head coach Rusty Elmore, who is now on staff at Jax State.

The signing of Tut brought the number of signees from junior colleges and the transfer portal to eight for Jax State, with only one JUCO signee in 6-foot-9 forward Emondrek Erkins-Ford, who averaged 15.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks last season at Eastern Florida State College.

Five transfer guards have signed, including Coppin State transfer Toby Nnadozie, who was named MEAC Defensive Player of The Year after ranking seventh among all Division I players in steals per game (2.5) while averaging 12.6 points and 3.2 rebounds a game.

Other key additions include Mostapha El Moutaouakkil — who was Louisiana’s leading scorer (14.5 points per game) and rebounder (5.2 rebounds per game) last season — and All-SWAC selection AC Bryant, who averaged a team-high 14 points a game at Alabama A&M along with 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game in 2024-25.

Jaye Nash, a former four-star prospect, also signed with Jax State after one season at Tulsa. The Powder Springs, Georgia, native played in 21 games last season with the Golden Hurricane.

The guards will be joined by returners Marcus Fitzgerald Jr. and Jamar Franklin, whose seasons were cut short due to injury.

Franklin started the first 14 games of the season and averaged 10.4 points a game for Jax State last year while Fitzgerald, a former Tennessee State standout with 1,178 career points, missed the entire season.

Forwards Iaroslav Niagu (36 games played in 2024-25) and Oneonta native Aidan Driggers (five games played in 2024-25) also return for Jax State.

Here’s a recap of Jax State’s additions and departures since the transfer portal opened:

RETURNERS

Guard Marcus Fitzgerald Jr., 6-foot-2, Gr.

Guard Jamar Franklin, 6-foot-3, Sr.

Forward Iaroslav Niagu, 7-foot-0, Jr.

Forward Aidan Driggers, 6-foot-6, Sr.

ADDITIONS

Transfer portal

Guard AC Bryant, 6-foot-3, Sr. (Alabama A&M)

Guard Jaye Nash, 6-foot-3, So. (Tulsa)

Guard Mostapha El Moutaouakkil, 6-foot-6, Sr. (Louisiana-Lafayette)

Guard Toby Nnadozie, 6-foot-3, Sr. (Coppin State)

Guard/forward Bencao Vungo, 6-foot-6, Jr. (East Carolina)

Forward Thomas Tut, 6-foot-10, Sr. (Southeastern Louisiana)

Forward Aitor Anabitarte, 6-foot-8, Gr. (Saint Francis)

Junior college

Forward Emondrek Erkins-Ford, 6-foot-9, Jr. (Eastern Florida State College)

Freshmen

Guard Jacoby Hill, 6-foot-3 (Central-Phenix City High, Ala.)

Guard Jordan Vick, 6-foot-0 (Word of God Christian Academy National, N.C.)

DEPARTURES

Transfer portal

Guard Jaron Pierre Jr., 6-foot-6 (SMU)

Guard Quel’Ron House, 5-foot-11 (Southern Illinois)

Guard Koree Cotton, 6-foot-6 (University of Texas Rio Grande Valley)

Guard Jao Ituka, 6-foot-1 (Northern Illinois)

Forward Michael Houge, 6-foot-7 (Oakland)

Forward Gora Niang, 6-foot-7

Center Mason Nicholson, 6-foot-10 (Vanderbilt)

Graduation

Forward Marcellus Brigham Jr., 6-foot-7

Alabama athletics published its annual self-reported NCAA violations summary Thursday, which included six missteps. None included football or men’s basketball.

Five sports — men’s tennis, baseball, gymnastics, soccer and rowing — got dinged for level three violations (breaches of conduct), which is the lowest level of NCAA violation.

Baseball committed two violations.

1. A recruit charged high-speed internet to his room during an official visit.
2. Alabama published a press release mentioning an unsigned recruit. The press release was in relation to players drafted into the MLB.

Other violations include:

• Tennis: A coach bought a koozie for a recruit during an official visit.
• Gymnastics: A recruit, while attending a camp, shared with staff members she was committing to UA
• Soccer: Players got only one required day off during an “out-of-season segment.”
• Rowing: A portion of the rowers only got 13 days off during 2024-25.

As part of the summary, Alabama noted corrective actions taken. Rules education was always the first step, and sometimes the only step. In the case of the men’s tennis koozie situation, the coach will be issued a letter of admonishment and UA declared the potential student athlete ineligible until the value of the koozie was repaid to a charity.

The same was the case for the baseball player who expensed internet to his hotel room during an official visit.

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

The murders of two Birmingham brothers in the same neighborhood a year apart remain unsolved, and police are asking for the public’s help in bringing the killers to justice.

Erskin Irvin Jr., 37, was shot to death May 11, 2023, when gunmen opened fire on him in the 1400 block of 33rd Street North. When the ambush shooting stopped, the father of two sons had been hit more than 20 times.

One year and 18 days later, on May 29, 2024, 37-year-old Valdez Stephenson, was found dead in the 3200 block of 13th Avenue North. He, too, had been shot multiple times.

“My heart is tore up,’’ Janice Irvin, the victims’ mother, previously told AL.com. “It was devastating with one and I know I birthed that one, but to lose two?”

“I didn’t birth Valdez, but he was just like a birth child,’’ she said. “I didn’t love one no more than the other. My heart is aching. It feels like somebody is stepping on it.”

In Stephenson’s 2024 death, North Precinct officers responded about 10:10 p.m. that Wednesday to calls of shots fired.

Once in the neighborhood, police found multiple shell casings in the area. They continued to investigate, and a short time later found Stephenson unresponsive in the yard of a home.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead on the scene at 10:27 p.m.

Irvin described Stephenson as quiet, low key.

“He wasn’t a real people person, crowd person,’’ she said. “He liked to be by himself a lot. He loved his (13-year-old) son a lot.”

Irvin was a truck driver and had gotten off work and been home only about an hour. He was at the home he shared with his mother on 33rd Street North.

Home security camera footage showed what happened next.

“You can watch him leaving out of the house,’’ sister Tiffany Irvin previously told AL.com. “He was telling my aunt bye and as he walked down the steps and got in his car, they ran from darkness across the street and shot up his car.”

She said the video showed three masked gunmen carrying out the ambush, standing at his car and unleashing more than 35 rounds.

Family members heard the shots and ran outside.

“You wouldn’t shoot and kill an animal the way they did my brother and did it right in front of our mother’s home,’’ Tiffany Irvin said in an earlier interview. “What could he have possibly done that was so bad?”

“My family hasn’t been the same since this tragedy happened,’’ she said.

The brothers were close, their grieving mother said.

“They were two different people,” she said. “Erskin was the party one, liked to have fun. Valdez was the laid back one.”

Irvin has said she has no idea who killed either of her sons, or why, or if the same gunmen are responsible for both.

“Whoever did it, y’all got parents, I know you got somebody, family that knows what y’all are out here doing,” Irvin said. “They’re just as wrong as you are.”

Irvin has said she needs an arrest.

“I think I’d be a little more at ease than I am now,’’ she said, “but I’ll never be the same.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

The Warblers Club, a Birmingham men’s choir that started at Woodlawn High School in 1929, will perform perhaps their last big stage show this month.

The Warblers will put on a show at Samford University’s Wright Fine Arts Center on July 12 at 6 p.m.

It may be their last big show ever.

“Good chance of it,” said Bob Parker, who has been the director for 17 years. “We used to have over 50 guys on the stage.”

At a rehearsal on Tuesday, there were 17 Warblers practicing harmonies and Vaudeville-style dance routines that will be lit in black light with glowing hats, gloves and shoes.

For the show, there should be a roster of 38 men singing on stage, most of them in their seventies and eighties.

Each year, old age whittles away at the Warblers.

“Just attrition,” Parker said.

The Warblers have tried to recruit new, younger members, and there are a few as young as 38, but the driving force behind the Warblers has always been their connection to the old music club at Woodlawn High School, founded just seven years after the high school opened.

Newer members simply have to be attracted to the nostalgia.

“Sadly, younger guys just don’t want to do this kind of music,” Parker said. “It’s sad, because it’s good music.”

The group has always specialized in the Stephen Foster genre of American music, with a blend of Negro spirituals, Vaudeville hits, patriotic classics, and songs that lend themselves to barbershop harmonies.

“We’re kind of keeping it alive,” Parker said.

Among the songs they will perform on July 12, the Warblers have been rehearsing “Down in the Valley,” “Coney Island Babe,” “In the Evening by the Moonlight,” “Walk Together Chillun’” and “What Will We Do With a Drunken Sailor?”

They will sing their most popular patriotic songs, “God Bless America” and “Proud to be an American,” which always draws a standing ovation.

They’ll sing an opening chorus featuring “Alabamy Bound,” a 1924 Tin Pan Alley song recorded by Al Jolson and Ray Charles, and “Are You From Dixie?” a 1915 Vaudeville song revived by country singer Jerry Reed in 1969.

Even at their advanced age, coordinated dance moves with glowing blacklight props are a key part of the show. Some of the men are slowing down, but Parker doesn’t relent.

He’s as hard on them as ever in rehearsals in the gym at Huffman United Methodist Church.

“I realize we’re getting older,” Parker said. “Some of you are slow with everything you do.”

He repeatedly ran them through routines to sharpen their movements.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” he said. “There’s only a week to go.”

Afterward, though, he was easier on the guys. “We’re still doing a good job,” he said.

The club started at Woodlawn High School in 1929 and did annual concerts at the school until the club dissolved in 1977, under directors John Light from 1930-47, Amos Hudson from 1948-50 and Joe Turner from 1951-77.

In 1988, the surviving Warblers reunited and did a three-night series of packed reunion concerts at the Alabama Theater from July 1-3, with Turner directing. The reunion was so popular that the Warblers continued to do several concerts a year thereafter. Turner died in 2001.

Parker has kept the Warblers warbling in recent years, with annual summer concerts at Samford University and Christmas concerts at area churches that often draw chartered buses full of fans from nursing homes.

Some of the Warblers are holding out hope for a 2029 centennial celebration show.

“Probably this will be the last show we do, unless we get an influx of some younger men,” Parker said. “If we can hang on and just do concerts until 2029, we can have a 100th anniversary concert.”

While this may possibly be the last big stage show, the Warblers have booked a smaller Christmas concert for Dec. 7 at Lakeside Baptist Church. Other than that, the future’s unknown.

Tickets for the July 12 performance at Samford are $30, available at the group’s website, Warblers.org

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