Alabama News

The 10th annual AJ McCarron Football Camp at Mobile Christian School’s Harrison Field on Saturday came with the usual July weather of Coastal Alabama. That made the truck-turned-lemonade-stand parked across from the registration tables a destination for those seeking to beat the heat.

But beyond ice-cold refreshment lay a link between the lemonade and the camp’s sponsor. Among those making the lemonade at her family’s Cups for a Cure stand was Starla Chapman, and more than a decade earlier, McCarron had come into her life when it seemed as though it was about to end.

“Today is just a full-circle moment,” said DeAndra Chapman, Starla’s mother, “by this being the 10th annual football camp and by her now being 16 years of age. Those are both huge milestones.

“On the way over here today, I was thinking about how more than 10 years ago, nobody could tell us that we would see this day. When you have a child that’s diagnosed with cancer, and not just diagnosed with cancer, they have such a rough road with treatment, it’s hard to see the other side.”

About two weeks before becoming the biggest of celebrities in Alabama – the quarterback of a national-championship Crimson Tide team – McCarron took a break from his preparations for the BCS title game against LSU to visit USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital in his hometown of Mobile on Christmas eve in 2011.

“AJ walked into our lives literally while we were inpatient at USA Children’s and Women’s Hospital,” DeAndra Chapman said. “He was visiting all the kids in the hospital, but something about he and Starla, they just made an instant connection right from the start, and they kept in contact ever since then.”

McCarron joined Team Starla, the youngster’s support group, and got a yellow wristband symbolic of childhood cancer victims and their fight for life. The quarterback wore the wristband as he led Alabama to a 21-0 victory over LSU in the BCS national-championship game on Jan. 9, 2012, and it sparked a curiosity that led to an outpouring of support for the young victim of acute myeloid leukemia.

“It’s awesome, the spotlight that we were able to put on her story and her journey,” McCarron said after Saturday’s camp. “I still remember walking into that hospital room and seeing her with tubes running to her nose and hooked up to every machine in there, so it’s awesome just to see her – a beautiful young woman, thriving and doing everything she’s doing. And then the fact that she drove here today makes me feel old. But it’s awesome. Happy to see her doing so well.”

But when McCarron led Alabama to the first of back-to-back national championships, Starla Chapman wasn’t doing well at all.

“Starla was diagnosed with cancer in 2011 and had a very rough go with the treatment,” DeAndra Chapman said. “She went in remission the first month after the chemotherapy treatment. But around early January of 2012, she went into cardiac arrest due to the treatments, and we were told she wasn’t going to survive, and if she did, she would need a heart transplant and wouldn’t be able to go through cancer treatment because of that. But as you can see now, she is 16 years old and making great strides.

“She’s doing all the fun things that a 16-year-old does. She’s driving. Not only does she work on the back of the truck, but she also has a part-time job, so we’re enjoying the simple things, as most people would say, in life because after our journey with cancer, we’ve come to realize that the simple things mean the most.”

About two weeks after Alabama’s championship victory over LSU in 2012, McCarron and teammate Kenny Bell drew a crowd to Bel Air Mall in Mobile by signing autographs while taking donations for Team Starla. And while McCarron has gone on to nine seasons in the NFL and two more in spring football, the quarterback and the cancer survivor have remained connected. McCarron is Starla Chapman’s godfather, they appeared on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” together and she served as the flower girl at his wedding.

RELATED: AJ MCCARRON’S FOOTBALL FUTURE: ‘I DON’T EVER WANT TO SAY NEVER’

“It’s meant a lot to me, honestly,” Starla Chapman said. “Even though I haven’t been able to see him as much as I would like to, he’s come to my big celebrations, like when I was the IHOP kid chef, he was there, and that makes me happy that we have someone as cool as AJ in our corner.”

The money raised by Cups for a Cure is donated “to families of local children with cancer as well as local childhood cancer organizations such as Rapahope,” DeAndra Chapman said.

“We have been selling lemonade since 2012,” DeAndra Chapman said. “Immediately after Starla got out of the hospital, we were doing premade lemonade out of the dispenser and we were just taking donations and sending them to a childhood cancer foundation for research and things like that.

“It wasn’t until a year and a half ago, I talked to my husband and said, ‘I think I’m ready to take this to another level, start our own foundation and do fresh, hand-shaken lemonade.’”

The result was the Cups for a Cure truck.

“It’s extremely gratifying,” Starla Chapman said, “because I wish someone like us was there to help our parents. We had a lot of people that came together, but an organization such as ours would have been an amazing help when I was in the hospital.”

Next month, the child that was supposed to die 13 years ago will be beginning her junior year at Baldwin County High School in Bay Minette.

“I’m looking forward to being on the honor roll,” Starla Chapman said. “I’ve been able to do it every year. And helping at our football games. We’ll be there with Cups for a Cure.”

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

Taco Bell’s Live Más Café is expanding its footprint.

The fast food chain’s newest venture features a beverage-focused menu of Taco Bell’s specialty drinks, including Coffee and Churro Chillers, agua frescas and specialty coffees, according to Nations Restaurant News. The cafe also has trained “Bellristas” who handcraft the specialty drinks on the spot.

The restaurant also offers some of Taco Bell’s fan-favorite foods.

The first Live Más Café celebrated its grand opening in San Diego last year, and to meet its growing demand, Taco Bell plans to open 30 more of the cafes in existing Taco Bell restaurants by the end of 2025.

According to a press release from the company, select Taco Bell restaurants across Southern California, Dallas, and Houston will be transformed in the coming months.

In a statement to TODAY.com in 2024, Taco Bell president Scott Mezvinsky said the new cafe concept is a way for the chain to elevate the customer experience.

“This innovative pilot concept is all about expanding the boundaries of what Taco Bell can be, creating a dynamic space where guests can experience our bold flavors in new and exciting ways,” said Mezvinsky.

USA TODAY reports Taco Bell plans to grow its drink revenue to $5 billion by 2030.

“We’re seeing today that people, especially younger consumers, are reaching for refreshing drinks as part of their lifestyle, whether it’s for energy or a sweet treat throughout the day,” said Liz Matthews, Taco Bell’s global chief food innovation officer. “So, we’re making big investments to become the ultimate beverage stop where our fans can expect to see the same bold, unexpected creativity in their cups as they do on their plates.”

Mae Jemison coach Rico White has one word to describe longtime Auburn commit Hezekiah Harris.

“Baller.”

The 4-star EDGE rusher committed to Hugh Freeze and the Tigers more than a year ago and hasn’t wavered on that choice since. He is one of two Top 10 in-state seniors committed to Auburn after the Tigers received a commitment from Wadley’s Jaquez Wilkes on Monday.

Harris is rated as the No. 7 senior recruit in Alabama, according to the 247 composite rankings. Wilkes is No. 6. He is No. 8 on AL.com’s A-List of top senior recruits in the state of Alabama.

“You are talking about a baller,” White said at Huntsville High School Media Day on Monday. “He’s a great player, a great kid, a leader. I always challenge him to play like a 4 or 5 star, carry yourself like it, practice like it, and he does it. He will be a successful kid.”

A year ago, the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Harris finished the season with 20 tackles for loss and 14 sacks for Mae Jemison. He has even bigger goals for his senior season, and they start Aug. 22 at Athens.

“I need to start off with at least two or three sacks in that first game,” he said.

White said Harris, who followed him from Anniston High to Mae Jemison following the 2022 season, is more than just a pass rusher.

“People look at his size and think he is just an edge rusher,” White said. “Hezekiah can play the run, the pass, whatever he needs to play, and I think his frame can hold a lot more weight, so I’m sure they will put some weight on him.”

Harris said he liked the atmosphere and the coaching staff at Auburn.

On defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin, he said: “I like his coaching style. He’s a real fired up coach. I like that.”

On head coach Hugh Freeze: “He is more on the chill side, but he’s still a really great coach.”

 White has watched his star continue to grow since the sixth grade.

“He’s a student of the game,” he said. “He stays awake while everyone else is asleep. He is always studying the game. He dominates practice the same way he does in a game. He’s just that guy.”

White says Harris’ potential is unlimited once he gets into the SEC.

“He has self-motivation, but I can only imagine when he gets to college and is around kids with the same mindset and drive,” he said. “He can dominate on defense. When things are not going right at our place, he gets mad. He pushes everyone. He is going to be special.”

Alabama is among 18 states currently under a heat advisory from the National Weather Service.

Heat index highs are expected to soar this week into the triple digits due to a heat dome stretching across the central U.S.

And in order to stay safe in these 18 states, people are urged to limit outdoor activities, stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, and wear light clothing.

“A heat dome will bring near record breaking hot conditions across the South-Central U.S. this week, with cities like Wichita Falls, Dallas, and Kansas City expected to hit 100 °F for the first time this season,” AccuWeather meteorologist Kai Kerkow recently told Newsweek.

“Nighttime temperatures will remain in the mid-70s to low-80s, offering little relief. The heat dome temporarily spreads east later this week.”

According to the Weather Channel, a heat dome occurs when descending air compresses and warms as it drops closer to the surface.

This sinking, warm air causes days-long heat waves and also dries out the ground and the air above it.

Thunderstorms have a tough time sprouting due to the suppressive motion of the air, so drought can begin or worsen under ridges of high pressure that last for longer than a week, the Weather Channel adds.

The air directly under such a system can become still with little to no wind.

This poses health risks to anyone without access to effective cooling or proper hydration.

Heat is the No. 1 weather killer in the U.S., with hundreds of fatalities each year, according to the NWS.

Many of these fatalities occur under heat domes.

Extreme heat can trigger heat-related illnesses, particularly among seniors, young children, and people with chronic health conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Symptoms can range from intense sweating and muscle cramps to dizziness and nausea.

Increasing temperatures can also intensify ground-level ozone pollution, creating further health concerns.

The Alabama Department of Public Health has identified the most common heat-related illnesses as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.

Heat cramps involve muscle pain or spasms, usually in the abdomen, arms, or legs, and are often paired with heavy sweating.

Heat exhaustion can cause heavy sweating, pale or clammy skin, tiredness, muscle cramps, dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and fainting. If left untreated, heat exhaustion can become heat stroke, the most dangerous form of heat illness.

Heat stroke, sometimes called sun stroke, is a life-threatening emergency. This can happen when the body’s temperature rises to 106°F or higher in as little as 10 to 15 minutes.

Warning signs include extremely high body temperature, red or hot skin (which may be dry or moist), a strong and rapid pulse, throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea, dehydration, confusion, and even unconsciousness.

Without immediate treatment, heat stroke can cause serious long-term health problems or be fatal. Medical help should be called right away if heat stroke is suspected, according to the ADPH.

To stay safe, officials have urged everyone to:

• Drink plenty of fluids—avoid alcohol and drinks with caffeine.
• Stay inside air-conditioned rooms whenever possible.
• Seek shade or shelter from the sun outdoors.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat and light-colored, loose-fitting clothes.
• Use sunscreen with at least SPF 15.
• Take cool showers or baths on hot days.
• Reduce or avoid strenuous activity during the hottest hours.
• Never leave people or pets in parked vehicles, even for a short time.

As a defensive back, Patrick Surtain II got to know Nick Saban better than most.

Such is the nature of having Saban working with that position group and sitting in meetings each and every day. Messing up in front of Saban was never wise during his 17 years as Alabama football coach, but especially if you’re a defensive back.

Surtain appeared on Johnny Manziel’s podcast “Glory Daze” recently and shared one time Surtain remembered feeling the wrath of Saban after a screwup.

“I remember one practice, the playbook is like this big,” Surtain said. “A whole bunch of plays, a whole bunch of adjustments with certain formations. It was like reading Chinese at first. You know what I mean? I’m going into the book trying to recognize a specific play. I went over it in the notes.”

But going over it and applying it are two different things.

“We were just in one team period,” Surtain said. “I got in there. The first play that was called was that exact play. In my head, I’m going through it. I’m like what do I do to this formation, what’s my role? What’s this coverage? In my head I’m thinking. I went into this one specific zone. Obviously I f…ed it up. I knew I f…ed it up because the guy I was supposed to cover was wide open. Next thing you know, I’m like man I f…ed that up. I go back to the huddle. Next thing you know, I see a whole straw bucket hat fly on the ground.”

That’s bad news. Saban incoming.

“He’s like ‘god damnit Patrick,’” Surtain recalled. “‘We went over this in the film meeting room. You’ve got to get that shit together.’ Then I looked and I was like yep I f…ed that up. He was on my ass about it that whole day.”

Surtain, now a Broncos cornerback who won NFL defensive player of the year in 2024, said that was an example of how Saban expected greatness from his players.

“After that I didn’t mess up one thing after,” Surtain said. “I kept that coach’s trust for sure.”

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

An investigation is underway after a man was killed in a Bessemer shooting.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Courtenay Pierre Dufermeau. He was 42 and lived Bessemer.

Officers responded at 8:20 p.m. Monday to a report of shots fired in the 300 block of Gloria Drive.

When they arrived, they found a vehicle diagonally in the roadway.

Det. Justin Burmeister said Dufermeau was slumped over and had sustained at least one gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

No arrests have been made.

Burmeister said the motive for the shooting remains under investigation, and detectives are pursuing all available leads.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 205-425-2411, 205-481-4366, the Tip Line at 205-428-3541, or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777

Dufermeau is Bessemer’s sixth homicide this year.

Millions of above-ground pools sold at major retailers are being recalled after at least nine children have drowned in them.

According to an announcement from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bestway, Intex, and Polygroup are recalling 48-inch and taller above-ground pools with compression straps running on the outside and over the vertical support legs.

The compression strap that surrounds the outside of the pool may create a support for children to climb on and reach the opening of the pool, posing a drowning risk. Children can still gain access to the pools using these footholds even if the ladder is removed.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission believes that nine children between the ages of 22 months and 3 years old have drowned after gaining access to the pools via the footholds. The incidents occurred in California, Texas, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin and Missouri between 2007 and 2022.

The agency is also aware of three other incidents in 2011 and 2012 where children who gained access to the recalled pools were reported to have previously used the compression strap to gain entry to the pool. A list of the recalled pools is available here.

The pools have been sold since 2002 at stores nationwide, including Walmart, Target, Sears, Lowe’s, Kmart, Toys “R” Us, Sam’s Club, The Home Depot, Big Lots, Costco and BJ’s (among others), as well as online at Amazon.com, Wayfair.com and Bestway USA, Intex, Funsicle and Summer Waves websites.

Customers who own the pools should contact Bestway, Intex or Polygroup to request a repair kit. In the meantime, consumers should ensure that children cannot access the pool unattended or drain the pool until the repair can be installed.

Jimbo Fisher is back in college football, albeit as a television analyst.

Fisher, who has been out of the game since his departure from Texas A&M midway through the 2023, will work as a college football studio analyst for ESPN and will also be part of the cast for “ACC Huddle,” which will debut this season. ACC Huddle will be a weekly pre-game show that originates from the site of that week’s biggest game within the conference, similar to what the SEC Network has with SEC Nation.

In addition to Fisher, “ACC Huddle” will feature Taylor Tannenbaum as host and former Clemson offensive lineman Eric Mac Lain and ex-Virginia Tech wide receiver Eddie Royal. Former Florida State and NFL quarterback EJ Manuel will work mostly on ESPN’s college football programming, though will still occasionally appear on ACC Network.

“I’m looking forward to joining ACC Network and the Huddle this season,” Fisher said. “I’ve always had tremendous respect for this conference and I’m looking forward to breaking down the action each week with such a talented group.”

Prior to his six-year tenure at Texas A&M, Fisher was head coach at Florida State from 2010-17. He led the Seminoles to a perfect record and the BCS national championship in 2013.

Fisher also spent extensive time on the coaching staffs at LSU (2000-06), Auburn (1993-98) and Samford (1988-92). He played quarterback at Samford under coach Terry Bowden in the late 1980s.

One of the nation’s largest retailers is opening eight new stores, including three locations that exceed the chain’s previous square-foot average.

The stores are part of Target’s plan to build 300 new locations over the next decade, joining the 2,000 existing locations. Three locations – California Jurup Valley, Florida Brandenton Heritage Harbor and Florida Wildwood – are among the largest in the Target chain, all coming in at over 125,000-squate-foot on average.

“We’re celebrating the opening of eight new stores this summer, bringing Target’s easy, affordable and joy-filled shopping experience and good jobs to communities in California, Connecticut, Florida, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania,” Target said in a blog post. “This includes leaning into larger footprints: Three of these newest stores top our 125,000-square-foot chain average.”

One of the new stores opened this week:

New York: Queens Astoria

22-11 31st Street, Astoria, New York

The store is about 41,000 square feet and is expected to employ about 100 team members. The store is the eighth in the Queens borough and is the 108th in the state of New York.

Opening Aug. 17

California: Jurupa Valley

8063 Missional Blvd. Jurupa Valley

The store is more than 147,000 square feet and is expected to employ about 150 people. Jurupa Valley will be the 320th store in California.

Connecticut: Guilford

900 Boston Post Road, Guilford

The store is more than 78,000 square feet and will employ about 100 people. The location is the first in Guilford and 23rd in Connecticut.

Norwalk Connecticut Avenue

680 Connecticut Ave. Norwalk

The store is more than 117,000 square feet and will employ 180 people. It’s the first location in Norwalk and will become Connecticut’s 24th store.

Florida Bradenton Heritage Harbor

725 Lighthouse Drive, Bradenton

The store is more than 149,000 square feet and will employ about 200 people. This is our second store in Bradenton, following Bradenton Beach, which opened in the summer of 2024.

Florida Wildwood

5580 Seven Mile Drive, Wildwood

This store is more than 136,000 square feet and is expected to employ about 140 team members. Wildwood is Target’s 134th Florida location

New Jersey: Flemington

325 Route 202, Flemington NJ

The store is 74,000 square feet and will employ 100 team members. It’s the 53rd store in New Jersey.

Pennsylvania: West Goshen

985 Paoli Pike, West Chester

The store is more than 120,000 square feet and will employ 120 people. It’s the 79th store in Pennsylvania.