Auburn football landed its second defensive line transfer of the spring window on Monday.
Former Florida A&M defensive tackle James Ash announced his commitment to the Tigers on Instagram after reportedly taking a visit over the weekend. He joins Jay Hardy and Dallas Walker IV as the third defensive line transfer Auburn has landed this offseason.
Ash played three seasons at Florida A&M after starting his college career at Wake Forest. In those three seasons, he tallied 86 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, two and a half sacks, three pass deflections and one interception.
He had the third-highest defensive grade among SWAC defensive lineman last season, per Pro Football Focus, and was a second team All-SWAC selection.
With Ash’s addition, Auburn’s interior defensive line rotation now includes six newcomers and three returners. Three of those newcomers are freshmen, meaning Ash gives Auburn more experience, along with fellow transfers Walker and Hardy.
Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at prauterkus@al.com
Read MoreAlabama-based EWTN, the world’s largest Catholic TV network, has jumped into full coverage of the death of the pope, the expected nine days of mourning and the coming conclave to pick a new pope by next month.
The EWTN Global Catholic Network, founded in Irondale in 1981 by Mother Angelica, released a statement mourning the death of Pope Francis, who passed away at 88 years old at 7:35 a.m. Rome time on Monday, April 21, 2025.
The network immediately turned its programming to a lineup honoring the life of Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, including Masses, rosaries, and devotions. All events from St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican, as well as the Holy Father’s funeral Mass will be carried in real time on EWTN’s television channels, live on YouTube, and through its on-demand app and digital platforms, the network said.
“The death of Pope Francis is a moment of personal grief for Catholics around the world,” said EWTN CEO Michael P. Warsaw. “Together with our entire EWTN Family, I mourn his passing and join the Church in prayers for the repose of his soul.”
Warsaw reflected on his personal meetings with Pope Francis.
“I was privileged to be able to meet Pope Francis a number of times throughout the years and was always struck by his kindness and good humor in our encounters,” Warsaw said. “As Catholics, we thank God for the life and pontificate of Pope Francis, and in particular for his tireless advocacy for those on the peripheries.”
EWTN will recap the pope’s life and ministry in its coverage.
“As part of our service to the Church in this moment, EWTN will air programming to honor Pope Francis’s life and legacy as well as coverage of the many devotions and Masses from the Vatican, including the Holy Father’s funeral Mass,” Warsaw said. “We invite our global audience to join us in this period of mourning. May God have mercy on His servant and grant him eternal rest.”
EWTN already had a spotlight on the Vatican during Holy Week and Easter. The pope died within 24 hours of celebrating Easter publicly at St. Peter’s Square, including a ride in the popemobile amidst thousands of pilgrims.
EWTN has a bureau in Rome.
“This will be an international effort by EWTN over the coming weeks,” said EWTN Vice President of Programming and Production Peter Gagnon. “We will be on the ground in Rome covering the Masses, lying in state, and the funeral, and EWTN will offer specials about Pope Francis and the papacy. Later, EWTN will transition to prayer for the future of the Church as we provide coverage of the conclave and the Papal inauguration.”
Coverage will be available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, German, Hungarian, and Polish from EWTN’s studios in the Vatican and affiliates worldwide.
For details on EWTN’s coverage, resources on what happens when a Pope dies, and continuous updates on programming, go to https://ewtn.com/interregnum or visit EWTN on Instagram, X, Facebook, and YouTube. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/everywhere.
EWTN CEO Mike Warsaw met Pope Francis on several occasions and said he’ll remember him for his “kindness and good humor.”EWTN
A Huntsville man was one of eight people recently charged in connection with an international scheme to bill $10 million in fraudulent market survey data, according to an announcement from Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack.
Each of the following individuals has been indicted on one count of Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud:
In 2014, Hayden, Harriman, and Nappo, who were senior leaders at U.S. market research company Op4G, decided to increase company revenues by generating fabricated survey data, according to the recently unsealed indictment.
To execute the scheme, some of the defendants recruited “ants”, who pretended to be legitimate survey takers but instead were paid a nominal fee for completing surveys that produced fraudulent market research data.
Some of the defendants themselves served as “ants” and fraudulently took large quantities of surveys and received significant payment for their “ant” work, according to the indictment.
Around 2018, Nappo, Hayden and others, decided that Op4G should move the fraudulent survey operation to a new company, which became Slice.
By 2019, Op4G and Slice began conspiring with Iyer, a senior leader at an international company, SNWare.
By 2021, Katarina Grublijesic left Op4G, but she continued to conspire with the defendants using her international company, Bright Analytic Consulting.
To evade detection, the defendants, including Stoudt and Ignacio, exchanged instructions with each other and the “ants,” the indictment says.
These instructions included directions on how to answer survey screener questions, provided parameters on how long “ants” should remain on surveys, and encouraged the use of virtual private network (VPN) services to conceal real IP addresses.
Hayden, Harriman, Nappo, Stoudt, and Ignacio will appear in federal court at a later date, according to McCormack’s announcement.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.
Companies that purchased survey data from Op4G or Slice between 2014-2024 have been encouraged to contact the U.S. Attorney’s office at usanh.webmail@usdoj.gov with the subject line “Slice,” the release says.
“The details contained in the indictment are allegations,” it adds.
“The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
Read MoreChick-fil-A is opening its newest location in Northport this week.
The restaurant, at 6275 McFarland Blvd., will begin serving Thursday, offering dine-in, drive-thru, carry-out, delivery, catering and mobile app service. The eatery also features a children’s playground.
The opening will create about 90 jobs. The new restaurant will be open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Ashley Gill to be the local owner-operator of Chick-fil-A Northport West, marking her second restaurant in the area, joining Chick-Fil-A Northport. Gill is celebrating her 20th year with the company and is a third-generation owner-operator, following her father and grandfather. Her brother also owns and operates a Chick-fil-A in Jacksonville.
“Chick-fil-A has been a meaningful part of my life and my family’s story,” Gill said. “I’m thankful for this opportunity because it allows us to enhance the dining experience for guests and create new opportunities for team members. I can’t wait to cultivate new relationships and strengthen existing ones.”
Chick-fil-A is the third largest quick-service restaurant company in the U.S., with more than 200,000 employees in more than 3,000 restaurants across North America. Alabama has more than 100 locations.
Read MoreWho doesn’t love a food truck?
It’s a no-frills way to grab lunch or dinner where the meal is the star of the show. Luckily for us, Alabama is home to a lot — and we mean a lot — of food trucks serving all kinds of great eats.
That’s why This is Alabama recently asked its followers to share which food truck they thought was the best in the state. The answers range from food trucks serving barbecue to burgers, roasted corn, lobster rolls and so much more.
We highlighted 11 of the food trucks from different parts of the state mentioned by readers below, and you can see all the submissions on the This is Alabama Facebook page.
The garlic smash burger is one of the simpler burgers you’ll find on the menu at Frank N Lola’s, but it’s not exactly plain.Lawrence Specker | LSpecker@AL.com
Frank N’ Lola’s food truck is based in the Mobile area and took home first place during Mobtown Burger Week the past two years in a row. And it’s easy to see why: You can expect to find an array of one-of-a-kind burgers, sandwiches and more. For instance, one unique offering often on the menu is Tropical Yet Smash Burger, which consists of two patties topped with thick-cut bacon, grilled pineapple and teriyaki sauce. To try one yourself, you can check the Frank N’ Lola’s Facebook page to find out where they’ll be next.
Read more: This south Alabama food truck’s burgers are a smashing success
The menu at Fully Loaded on Wheels is…well, fully loaded. With a variety of burgers, salads, quesadillas, sandwiches, wings and spuds up for grabs, the Randolph County-based food truck has a little bit of everything. Of course, if all those options make deciding a little to hard, we’d recommend the big back spud, which is a baked potato (or fries, if that’s more your vibe) topped with pulled pork, bacon, Colby Jack cheese, baked beans, pickled jalapenos, cheese sauce and a special sauce. You can check the Fully Loaded on Wheels Facebook page to see where it can be found next.
Hootenanny BBQ food truck is in north Alabama.(Photo courtesy of Hootenanny BBQ)
Hootenanny BBQ is a catering company-based food truck that has made a name for itself and developed a serious fandom in the Ardmore area thanks to its award-winning barbecue menu. From classic smoked sausage to massive nachos piled high with pulled pork, bacon mac and cheese and more, Hootenanny BBQ is the kind of food truck you have to get to early or risk seeing a “sold out” sign when you do. To find out where they’ll be next, visit the Hootenanny BBQ Facebook page.
Read more: Alabama food truck owner, Bama football fan is ‘King of the Tailgate’
For a food truck that offers a little something different from the usual barbecue and burgers, Shux Y’all Fire Roasted Corn has you covered. The Mobile area-based food truck serves up exactly what it sounds like — fire-roasted corn, but with an array of toppings and sauces to really step up the flavor. For example, the Buffalo Bill cob is buttered up before being sprinkled with zesty Buffalo ranch seasoning and then drizzled with ranch dressing. Sound like something you’d like to try? You can follow the Shux Y’all food truck Facebook page to find out where it’ll be next.
The Cuban sandwich served up by the It’s All Good Food Truck.Photo courtesy of It’s All Good Food Truck
Another Mobile-based food truck that was a favorite among our readers is the It’s All Good Food Truck, which offers a menu of gourmet grilled paninis plus mac and cheese bowls, loaded nachos and more. Among their popular picks is the Cuban sandwich, which includes smoked pulled pork, black forest ham, sweet-n-tangy pickles and melted Swiss cheese on a toasted Ciabatta roll. To get one for yourself, check the It’s All Good Food Truck’s Facebook page to find out where they’ll be firing up the panini grill next.
You might be surprised to hear there’s a food truck called Taste of Maine based out of Rogersville, but once you’ve had the first bite of one of their lobster rolls, you won’t give it much more thought. The popular food truck, which travels around north Alabama and is part of the Taste of Maine Lobster Shack, offers a variety of options on its menu, like a loaded lobster melt, lobster bisque and more, for seafood lovers who can’t get to the coast. To find ‘em, visit the Taste of Maine Facebook page.
The Roll Cajun Boudin food truck is based out of Jefferson County.Photo courtesy of Roll Cajun Boudin
If you want to get a taste of Cajun country without having to leave the state, have your next meal at the Roll Cajun Boudin food truck. Based out of Jefferson County, the popular catering company-based food truck offers all kinds of Cajun flavors in its Creole-style dishes. The menu ranges from chicken and sausage jambalaya, a variety of boudin, crawfish bisque and more. To find out where they’ll be next, and get in on their seasonal crawfish boils too, you can visit the Roll Cajun Boudin’s website.
The Pink Pig is one food truck that our readers named as their favorite early and often, and with one look at their menu — which can change from day to day — we can see why. Based out of Moulton, The Pink Pig has been known to serve everything from classics like pulled pork, brisket, wings, cheeseburgers and smoked chicken breast to more unique offerings, like ribeye steak sandwiches, strawberry pretzel salad, fried dill pickles and more. To find out what and where they’re serving today, visit The Pink Pig’s Facebook page.
Austin Whereabouts food truck is based out of Birmingham, Ala.Photo courtesy of Austin Whereabouts
If you’re craving Central Texas barbecue in the Yellowhammer State, look no further than the Austin Whereabouts food truck. Based out of Birmingham, the popular food truck serves a menu of classic barbecue favorites, like brisket, ribs, pork and smoked sausage alongside a selection of flavorful sides, including potato salad, baked beans and street corn. Oh, and don’t forget the banana pudding. To find out where they’ll be next, follow the Austin Whereabouts Facebook page.
Who doesn’t love a taco truck? At the Las Latinas Kitchen food truck, which serves the Auburn area, you can score an array of flavorful tacos, quesadillas and more served alongside street corn, rice and beans as well as other authentic Latin specialty dishes. You can check the Las Latinas Kitchen Facebook page to find out where the food truck is headed next, or you can visit the Las Latinas Kitchen to-go location in Opelika.
The Hey Bebe Food Truck offers a variety of Creole favorites and more.Photo courtesy of Hey Bebe Food Truck
Craving a little New Orleans fare? Chef Joe with the The HeyBebe Food Truck, which serves Shelby and Jefferson County, has you covered. It offers a full menu of Creole favorites like jambalaya, shrimp and grits, red beans and rice and so much more as well as stuffed baked potatoes and Boululatta, which are handcrafted Italian bread baked with savory seasoned meats and cheeses. Among the flavors offered are beef and cheddar as well as Italian Sausage and Asiago Cheese. To find out where the HeyBebe Food Truck will be next, visit their Facebook page.
Read MoreFormer Auburn defensive back and Loachapoka standout JC Hart announced his new home Monday morning.
The 6-foot-2, 199-pound corner announced his commitment to Utah, becoming the second Auburn player to transfer to a Big 12 school this spring, the other being Terrance Love to Colorado.
Hart spent two seasons at Auburn, but never saw consistent playing time. He made eight appearances during his Auburn career, with four coming in 2023 and four more in 2024. Nagging injuries kept him from creating a bigger role for himself on multiple occasions, as he was limited or most of this spring too.
With Hart and Tyler Scott gone from Auburn’s cornerback room, the Tigers still return contributors such as Jay Crawford, Kayin Lee and Champ Anthony.
They also added former Freshman All-American Raion Strader through the transfer portal and true freshmen Blake Woodby, Donovan Starr and Devin Williams.
That puts Auburn at seven scholarship corners, and with Williams reportedly out for the season with a torn ACL, Auburn adding another corner in the portal isn’t out of the question.
Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at prauterkus@al.com
Read MorePresident Donald Trump won’t ask for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s resignation following a report he divulged attack plans to his brother, wife and personal attorney, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday.
“The president stands strongly behind Secretary Hegseth, who is doing a phenomenal job leading the Pentagon,” Leavitt said during an appearance on “Fox & Friends.”
Hegseth, according to Leavitt, is being sabotaged by Pentagon insiders “working against the monumental change that we’re trying to implement.
“Secretary Hegseth was nominated for this position because he is standing up for the warfighter … and unfortunately there have been people at that building that don’t like the change the secretary is trying to bring, so they are leaking and they are lying to the mainstream media,” she continued.
On Monday, Hegseth claimed the report came after “disgruntled former employees” at the Pentagon were fired for leaking information to reporters.
“What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out,” the secretary said during the White House Easter Egg Roll.
“This is what the media does,” Hegseth said.
“They take disgruntled former employees and then they try to slash and burn people and try to ruin their reputations. Not gonna work with me … anonymous smears from disgruntled former employees on old news doesn’t matter …”
On Sunday, The New York Times reported Hegseth shared Yemen attack plans in a Signal group chat that included his wife, brother and personal attorney.
“Some of those people said that the information Mr. Hegseth shared on the Signal chat included the flight schedules for the F/A-18 Hornets targeting the Houthis in Yemen — essentially the same attack plans that he shared on a separate Signal chat the same day that mistakenly included the editor of The Atlantic,” The Times reported.
Read MoreA man was killed when he was hit by a freight train in west Jefferson County Sunday night.
The crash happened at 10:45 p.m. in the 5500 block of Avenue A in the Bessemer area, according to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office.
The man was pronounced dead on the scene at 10:52 p.m. Additional details weren’t not released.
Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said the victim has not yet been identified.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.
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Site preparation work begins today at the former Southtown Court public housing site in Birmingham for the next phase in a sprawling multi-use project.
Officials say the site work will clear the way for construction to begin on the first planned commercial projects in the Edgehill at Southtown Court development.
The complex is a mixed-use project that includes retail, a new biotech center and a hotel on University Boulevard near 24th Street. It should take shape over the next seven years.
The $17 million Southtown Family at Edgehill opened last November.
Work is currently ongoing for a $39 million, 143-unit senior building, which will also serve many former Southtown Court residents.
Robert Simon, CEO of CR Endeavors, one of the project’s development companies, said planners are in the process of finalizing designs for the first projects up for construction.
“When completed, they will bring new outpatient medical, general office space, hospitality, housing, food and retail services to complement and enhance the assets already located on Birmingham’s Southside, especially its biomedical research presence at Southern Research,” Simon said.
The first building is expected to be a 150,000-square-foot building that will house an accelerator for biomedical businesses, the cornerstone of the planned Birmingham Biomedical Innovation Corridor.
Construction is also expected to begin in coming months on a 175-room hotel with a rooftop bar and curated food service.
The development ultimately is expected to contain 600,000 square feet of commercial space for the biomedical innovation corridor, with about half of that devoted to research and development facilities. The rest will be available for tenants and outpatient medical office space.
Other plans for the site include 50,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, and about 250 residential apartment units.
“The vision is to create a vibrant, multi-dimensional and inclusive community where people can live, work, shop, eat, relax and play,” Simon said.
Other development partners include The Benoit Group, BREC Development and SPM Property Management.
Others involved in master planning, design, and consulting included Gensler, Brasfield & Gorrie, and A.G. Gaston Construction.
Stirling Properties is handling retail leasing for the site.
Read MoreThe 2025 NFL Draft starts on Thursday night in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with the 32 first-round picks. AL.com is counting down to the event by highlighting the best choice – overall, from the SEC and of players from Alabama high schools and colleges — made with each of the first 32 picks in the 89 NFL drafts.
Best No. 3 pick: Southern Cal offensive tackle Anthony Munoz by the Cincinnati Bengals in 1980
The third pick in the NFL Draft has produced 14 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame so far. Four No. 3 selections were on the NFL All-Time Team selected for the league’s centennial in 2019. Five of the third picks were invited to 10 or more Pro Bowls. Six No. 3 choices made first-team All-Pro five or more times.
Munoz is on all four of those lists. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1998, Munoz was an 11-time Pro Bowler and nine-time All-Pro.
He’s also the only offensive lineman in the past 45 seasons to receive a first-place vote in the balloting for The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year
The third selection in last year’s draft was North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye by the New England Patriots.
Best No. 3 pick from the SEC: LSU quarterback Y.A. Tittle by the San Francisco 49ers in 1951
The 49ers didn’t draft Tittle from LSU. He already had been a first-round draft choice, but the second time around, Tittle played for the team that picked him.
The Detroit Lions chose the LSU quarterback at No. 6 in the 1948 NFL Draft. Tittle instead signed with the Baltimore Colts of the All-American Football Conference. After two seasons, the Colts joined the NFL as the established league absorbed the rival league’s Baltimore, Cleveland and San Francisco franchises.
In 1950, Tittle led the NFL in completions, but Baltimore folded at the end of the season. Instead of holding a dispersal draft or turning the Colts players into free agents, the NFL made them eligible for its 1951 draft. San Francisco got Tittle with the third pick.
In addition to being a seven-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro in 17 seasons, Tittle is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was the NFL Most Valuable Player in 1963.
In 1962, Tittle became the NFL’s career leader in passing yards on his way to becoming the first player with 30,000. He broke the record of Bobby Layne, who had been drafted at No. 3 from Texas — three picks ahead of Tittle — in 1948.
Of the 20 SEC players picked at No. 3, Alabama outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr. is the most recent after going to the Houston Texans in 2023.
Best No. 3 pick with Alabama football roots: Alabama offensive tackle Chris Samuels by the Washington Redskins in 2000
A prep standout at Shaw High School in Mobile, Samuels earned unanimous All-American honors at Alabama in 1999.
That led Washington to select Samuels 196 picks before quarterback Tom Brady came off the board in the 2000 NFL Draft.
During his nine full seasons, Samuels earned Pro Bowl recognition six times.
Samuels started all 141 regular-season games in his NFL career at left offensive tackle for Washington before a spinal condition abruptly ended his career five game into his 10th season.
The New York Giants hold the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday night.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
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