Alabama
Selma’s police, Methodist rules, campus protest: Down in Alabama
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Frustrated in Selma
We mentioned yesterday that the mayor in Selma had suspended the police chief. He said he would speak on the topic, and on Wednesday he certainly did.
AL.com’s Carol Robinson reports that Mayor James Perkins let loose on the police department at a press conference. He gave examples of what’s been frustrated him, including a complaint that Selma PD failed to show up to provide extra protection at two Selma schools after two high school students were shot over the weekend. And he spoke about big “Freaknik-style” block parties that have taken place outside the police department, including one at which he said there were more than 100 shots fired yet no police action. And he said the city takes a constant stream of calls complaining about such issues.
Perkins suspended Selma Police Chief Kenta Fulford Tuesday. It’s the second time the mayor has suspended the chief; the City Council reversed his previous suspension.
The UMC’s new same-sex views
Possible changes that led the more conservative congregations to leave the United Methodist Church denomination over the past couple years have already happened.
AL.com’s Greg Garrison reports that the denomination’s bans on the ordaining of openly gay clergy and the officiating of same-sex weddings were lifted Wednesday at the United Methodist General Conference in Charlotte, N.C.
The changes to the “Book of Discipline” do not require clergy to perform same-sex weddings or churches to permit them at their locations, however.
Here’s the ideological impact of the UMC’s split: An issue that previously split the denomination passed 692-51. That’s over 90 percent voting in favor.
More than half Alabama’s UMC-affiliated churches have disaffiliated.
Gaza to Tuscaloosa
Protests calling for a ceasefire in Gaza have made their way to the University of Alabama campus, reports AL.com’s Rebecca Griesbach.
A few dozen protesters gathered, but they weren’t alone. Opposite their waving Palestinian flags were counter-protesters waving American and Israeli flags and even Donald Trump banners. But if you need some feel-good in the middle of all the acrimony, there was a moment where both sides were chanting a really ugly thing about President Biden.
The primary protesters were calling on the severing of ties between the university and defense contractor Lockheed Martin, the maker of weaponry that’s been used by Israel in its ongoing war against the Hamas government in Gaza that was triggered by the October 7 Hamas terror attacks in Israel.
The demonstrators would like the school to rename Hewson Hall, which was named after former Lockheed CEO Marillyn Hewson after her $15 million gift, to prohibit Lockheed from recruiting on campus, and to stop doing research that gets funding from the Defense Department, among other things.
Quoting
“I’ve been watching the Legislature for (more than a) half century, and the most serious of act of financial malpractice and the most serious act of the failure of this state is to not have a lottery. It has probably easily cost us $1.5 billion.”
Jess Brown, retired political science professor at Athens State University.
By the Numbers
That’s where Montgomery ranks nationally with an STD rate of 1,323 cases per 100,000 residents, according to recently released CDC statistics. Philadelphia was the highest city in the U.S. with a rate of 1,504 cases per 100,000.
More Alabama News
Born on This Date
In 1941, former major league relief pitcher Clay Carroll of Clanton. During the 70s in Cincinnati he had some great seasons out of the bullpen for the Big Red Machine.
In 1950, the late Randy Colley of Alexander City. Y’all know him as former WWF Tag Team champion Moondog Rex of the Moondogs.
The podcast
SPANISH FORT, Ala. (WALA) – The YMCA of South Alabama held a Healthy Kids Day at Spanish Fort Town Center Park.
Saturday’s event featured games and demonstrations, along with interactive activities featuring police and fire vehicles.
“I think just seeing so many organizations come together that serve kids, and just seeing kids have fun,” said Gwen Summer, CEO of the YMCA of South Alabama.
Marissa Rennaker, director of development for the YMCA of South Alabama, said the event exposed children to new activities.
“I think it’s been seeing all the kids laugh and try different things that they probably haven’t tried before,” Rennaker said. “There was a big group doing pickleball and yoga. We had ballet earlier, so just getting them out and exposed to things, I think it’s been great.”
The event was designed to kick off a healthy, active summer.
The YMCA of South Alabama is located at 27080 Pollard Road in Daphne.
Copyright 2026 WALA. All rights reserved.
Former Alabama star Will Anderson Jr. has reportedly signed a three-year, $150 million extension with the Houston Texans, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Anderson instantly solidified himself as one of the top defensive players in football throughout his rookie campaign in 2023. The star defensive end was named as the Rookie of the Year in 2023, as Anderson’s extension will officially keep him in Houston long-term, as well as make him the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Anderson recorded an impressive 12 sacks on the Texans’ defensive line in 2025, as the former Alabama star has made history following his head turning extension with Houston.
Anderson was nothing short of a superstar throughout his time at Alabama. Houston drafted the talented lineman with the third overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft, as Anderson was widely regarded as one of the top overall selections from his class.
The former Crimson Tide superstar has officially inked a massive extension with the Texans, as Anderson will undoubtedly continue playing a critical role on Houston’s defensive line over the coming seasons.
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Alabama head coach Rob Vaughn said that No. 4 Texas would be “hungry” against the No. 11Crimson Tide coming off its first series loss of the season to Texas A&M.
The Longhorns certainly were, as they pounced all over Vaughn’s team, striking out 17 Alabama batters en route to a 10-2 win.
“The story of the game was they just kind of kicked our tail in every phase tonight,” Vaughn said.
Alabama starter Tyler Fay had been elite over his past four starts, dating back to his complete-game no-hitter against Florida, allowing just six earned runs over the 26.0 innings pitched in those games. That changed instantly on Friday evening, as leadoff batter Aiden Robbins opened the game with a double and catcher Carson Tinney took him deep for a two-run blast moments later.
Texas added a third run in the first off an Ethan Mendoza RBI double, setting the tone for a dominant day. Alabama did not record a hit until the fourth inning as Longhorn ace Dylan Volantis tore through batters, striking out 12 over six innings.
Fay ended up going 5.1 innings, just the second time he did not make it through the sixth. The other, against Auburn, was only due to Vaughn wanting to keep his pitch count down in the wake of the no-hitter. He allowed season-highs of seven earned runs and 12 hits in the loss.
The Longhorns added a run each in the third and the fifth, before Alabama put the slightest amount of pressure on Texas in the top of the sixth. Bryce Fowler and Justin Lebron scored on the basepaths off an error and a wild pitch, respectively, to cut the Texas lead to three runs.
“You’ve got to find ways to score,” Vaughn said. “Those two guys just created two runs for us, and did a great job creating those runs and we crawl back in at 5-2, and it’s like, ‘Let’s go back to work…’ So thought we had that chance in those middle innings.”
The Longhorns effectively put the game to bed in the next frame, responding with three runs as Fay was relieved by Connor Lehman. Texas would add two more runs on the day, with the only silver lining coming in the fact that Alabama avoided a run-rule.
The Crimson Tide has now lost four straight SEC games after winning three consecutive series. Zane Adams takes the mound with the series on the line on Saturday, in a game that has been moved up to 12 p.m. CT due to anticipated rain in Austin.
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