Alabama

Mardi Gras horse, Nat King Cole: Down in Alabama

Published

2 years ago

January 29, 2024

Press Room

Mardi Gras horse, Nat King Cole: Down in Alabama

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A horse’s tale

We’ve all seen so many westerns that we could easily see horses as motorcycles that never broke down. You hop on, steer them toward where you want to go, hit the gas and take off.

In real life, they’re not always that predictable.

When the Conde Cavaliers opened the Mardi Gras season for downtown Mobile Friday night, a horse carrying a Marshal reportedly fell to the ground during the procession. Video shared on Facebook shows a handler getting the horse back up with the rider aboard to continue the ride.

As you can expect, social media lit up. Much of the criticism was aimed at the size of the rider.

AL.com’s Greg Garrison reports that the Conde Cavaliers issued a statement to address the concerns, saying that the issue was not that there was a hoss on the horse.

“Though his costume makes him appear large, the Marshal involved in the incident was below the size limits established by the stable. Measurements for all Marshals were submitted prior to the parade and horses were assigned by their staff.”

The statement also said the horses are leased from a stable that provided trainers for the parade, and that the organization isn’t aware of any medical conditions regarding the animals.

It continued: “As explained by the trainer, the horse is healthy but became anxious due to the crowd noise and it laid down.”

Regardless, Mardi Gras 2024 is now underway in its birthplace. Laissez les bons temps rouler, Alabama.

Your bid?

Gabrella Manor, a wedding venue in Birmingham’s Roebuck Springs neighborhood.(Courtesy of Steve Johnson Fine Art Photography)

If you’ve ever wanted to buy an iconic wedding venue in Birmingham, now’s your chance.

Gabrella Manor, on the edge of the Roebuck Springs neighborhood right off I-59, will be up for auction in February, reports AL.com’s Mary Colurso.

The 5-acre property includes an 8,591-square-foot, Spanish Colonial Revival-style house with five bedrooms, six bathrooms and murals and stained-glass windows all around.

The current owners are Brenda Jones and Steve Johnson. They bought the property and got married there in 1997, then opened it the next year as a venue for weddings and other occasions. If you’ve never been to a wedding there, you might’ve seen it during a tour of Roebuck Springs historic homes.

The bidding starts at $625,000.

Biopic in the works

Jazz legend Nat King Cole’s life is expected to be made into a movie, reports AL.com’s Shauna Stuart.

Cole was a native of Montgomery and it was in Birmingham, at what’s now Boutwell Auditorium, where he was assaulted by Klansmen in an event that is believed to have kick-started his civil-rights activism.

Colman Domingo talked to Variety about his plans to direct and star in the Nat King Cole movie. He’ll be making his debut directing a feature film. He’s currently up for an Oscar for his leading role in “Rustin.”

Quoting

“A man was gassed to death for 22 minutes Thursday with your permission but yes, tell us more about ‘never again seeing such evil carried out.’”

The Alabama Democratic Party, on its X account, referencing the nitrogen hypoxia execution of convicted murderer Kenneth Eugene Smith after Gov. Kay Ivey posted on the social-media platform for Holocaust Remembrance Day.

More Alabama news

On the calendar

Sunday was the 10th anniversary — 10th already! — of an event that here in Alabama we call “Snowpocalypse” or “Snowmaggedon.” It wasn’t as much snow as those words make it sound, but ice and weather circumstances wreaked havoc on roadways for days.

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Alabama

Jacob Crews scores 20 for Missouri in 85-77 win over Alabama State

Published

2 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Jacob Crews scores 20 for Missouri in 85-77 win over Alabama State

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Jacob Crews scored 20, and Anthony Robinson II added 19 in Missouri’s 85-77 win over Alabama State on Thursday night.

Crews shot 7 of 9 from the field, including 6 of 8 from the 3-point arc. Mark Mitchell added 15 points for Missouri (9-2), and Sebastian Mack added 10.

The Tigers had a 15-0 run in the first half, heading into the locker room up 52-39. Alabama State was held scoreless over a 4:19 drought in the middle of the second half to open a 9-0 run for the Tigers. The Hornets (3-8) responded with their own 10-0 run to bring the game within eight, 74-62. The Tigers regained control, though, to keep their eight-point lead the rest of the game, handing Alabama State their fourth loss in a row.

The Tigers shot 65% (33 of 51). Both teams shot 50% from the free-throw line.

Alabama State outscored Missouri in the final period, 38-33. Asjon Anderscon scored 23 for the Hornets, leading all players in scoring.

Up next

Missouri hosts Bethune-Cookman on Dec. 14.

Alabama State travels to Cincinnati to face the Bearcats on Dec. 17.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

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Katie Windham Highlights Alabama Areas of Improvement on The Joe Gaither Show

Published

14 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Katie Windham Highlights Alabama Areas of Improvement on The Joe Gaither Show

Let’s crank up a Thursday edition of “The Joe Gaither Show on BamaCentral” with Mason Woods and Katie Windham as we start getting ready for next week’s College Football Playoff game between Alabama and Oklahoma. Windham detailed how the Crimson Tide can improve over the next few weeks, we discuss the team’s health and look back at our last road trip to Norman. The show then discusses the Heisman Trophy finalists before addressing a Kalen DeBoer coaching rumor.

The program opens by power ranking the holidays before discussing Windham’s three areas the Crimson Tide can improve over the next week. Our trio picks the easiest area the team can improve and how Alabama must perform in Norman. Windham details our last trip to Oklahoma as we go down memory lane to the Sooners’ 24-3 victory last season.

The show continues on by getting Windham’s thoughts on Alabama’a College Football Playoff selection and if the Crimson Tide actually deserved its place in the field. She brings up a unique aspect of Alabama’s blowout loss in the SEC Championship and how it played into the program’s inclusion in the College Football Playoffs.

We move from next week’s game into a small discussion on Notre Dame’s reaction of being left out of the field and how it relates to Alabama’s future home-and-home dates with the Fighting Irish. Will the two esteemed programs still face off in a few years?

The show heads into the only college football action of the weekend by highlighting the strong Heisman Trophy finalist field. Who brings home the bronze statue?

Lastly, we spend the final bit of the show talking about Michigan firing Sherrone Moore and the reports of the Wolverines considering persuing Kalen DeBeor for their next head coach. Will DeBoer leave Tuscaloosa for Ann Arbor?

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Call (205) 462-7340 Extension 800 to leave your thoughts in a voicemail, and you’ll be featured on the show. You can also join us live in the comment sections Monday through Friday at 8:15 a.m. CT.

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Alabama

New Alabama law raises penalties for porch piracy

Published

1 day ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

New Alabama law raises penalties for porch piracy

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – As holiday deliveries ramp up, a new Alabama law aims to deter package theft by raising penalties for so-called “porch piracy.” The law, which went into effect on October 1, 2025, makes repeated package theft a felony and can carry prison sentences of up to 10 years in the most serious cases.

What changed

Previously, many package thefts in Alabama were charged as misdemeanor theft because the value of individual stolen packages often fell below felony thresholds. Under the new law however, lawmakers established penalties that focus on the number of homes targeted rather than the dollar value of items stolen:

Stealing from 1 to 9 homes: most serious misdemeanor
Stealing from 10 to 29 homes: felony
Stealing from 30 or more homes: can result in up to 10 years in prison

The law also increases penalties if stolen packages are used to commit identity theft or fraud. In addition, anyone who knowingly receives packages stolen by a porch pirate can be charged under the new rules.

Lawmakers weigh in

Senator April Weaver, one of the bill’s sponsors, said the change was meant to protect Alabama families during the holidays.

“It was really important to protect the people not only in my district but throughout the state of Alabama and to make sure their hard-earned money is going to their children’s Christmas,” she said.

On camera, Senator Weaver added with holiday humor, “It means the Grinch may have stolen Christmas in Whoville, but if he does it in Alabama, he’ll have plenty of time in state prison for his heart to grow three sizes.”

What police recommend if your package is stolen

If you discover a stolen package, law enforcement recommends:

Report the theft to police immediately.
Preserve any doorbell or surveillance footage that may show the theft.
Contact the delivery company right away to report the missing item.
Consider requiring a signature on delivery to reduce the risk of theft.

The law went into effect on October 1, 2025; this December marks the first holiday season it is in effect. Alabama is now one of more than a dozen states that have passed laws specifically targeting package theft. Supporters say the law sends a stronger message that porch piracy will no longer be treated as a minor offense.

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