OZARK, Ala. (WTVY) – Dale County Schools Superintendent Ben Baker has been named Alabama’s Superintendent of the Year.

The honor was announced at the State School Superintendent Association Conference, which celebrates leaders who champion public education and academic progress.

Under Baker’s leadership, Dale County Schools scored a 95 on the state report card, the highest score recorded by a county school in state history.

Baker was recognized by State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey. He said the award reflects the work of his staff.

“I recognize that it has a lot to do with the good people that work for Dale County Schools, that work hard every day to try to create opportunities for our students,” Baker said. “Superintendents across our state really work hard to provide the best opportunities for our students, and I’m excited to have this platform because I’m going to use this platform to share the great things going on in Dale County, and also the great things going on in the state of Alabama.”

Baker was one of nine finalists up for the award.

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(WALA) – Alabama is performing better than most states when it comes to managing food assistance dollars – but the problem is getting worse.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its fiscal year 2025 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payment error rates today, measuring how accurately states determine who qualifies for SNAP and how much they should receive. The national payment error rate for fiscal year 2025 is 10.62 percent.

Alabama’s error rate came in at 9.52 percent—up from 8.32 percent in 2024. That breaks down to 8.82 percent in overpayments and 0.70 percent in underpayments.

Florida’s situation is more dire. The state sits at 12.97 percent, more than double the federal threshold of six percent that Congress set as acceptable. Florida’s errors include 11.54 percent in overpayments and 1.43 percent in underpayments.

Nationally, these 2025 errors add up to 10.1 billion dollars in improper payments. That includes both overpayments to ineligible recipients and underpayments to those who qualify.

The Trump administration is now enforcing real consequences for states that exceed the six percent threshold. States with error rates at or above that benchmark will be forced to cover portions of their own SNAP benefits, with penalties kicking in for most states starting October 1, 2027.

Both Alabama and Florida are now required to submit corrective action plans to the USDA detailing exactly how they’ll fix the problem. We have reached out to the Alabama and Florida agencies responsible for distributing SNAP benefits for comment but have not yet heard back.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said in a statement: “These payment error rates are further proof that state accountability is severely lacking in SNAP. USDA has taken historic action to help interested states curb SNAP waste, and I hope other states, regardless of political leadership, prioritize needy families and the American taxpayer over politics.”

The FY 2025 payment error rate is the first year that could be used to calculate those state penalties-making this the baseline for what’s coming next fiscal year.

The football career of former Alabama CB Terrion Arnold appears to be in serious jeopardy.

According to a report from Davie Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Arnold was arrested on Wednesday night, and the Florida State attorney’s office plans to file multiple felony charges against Arnold in connection with a February robbery and kidnapping. The charges carry a potential sentence of up to life in prison:

The allegations stem from a retaliation reportedly carried out by Arnold and his associates on Arnold’s personal driver and two associates after Arnold’s Airbnb was robbed of more than $250,000 in cash and possessions in February.

Terrion Arnold’s NFL career is in serious jeopardy after his arrest

Arnold was in the midst of preparing for his third NFL season. He’s been recovering from a shoulder injury that required surgery and ended his season early in 2025. Arnold had previously denied any involvement in the kidnapping and armed robbery case when the story first broke near the end of February of this year.

The allegations are that a group, led by Arnold’s childhood friend Boakai Hilton, took the men hostage and interrogated and pistol-whipped them for the “better part of an hour” as retaliation for the robbery at Arnold’s rental property.

Arnold is accused of “the kidnapping and robbery just hours after reporting the missing items to the Largo Police Department,” according to a press release from the State Attorney’s office.

Back in March at the NFL’s annual league meetings, Lions head coach Dan Campbell seemed to believe this legal situation was behind Arnold.

“We got all the information that says he wasn’t involved,” Campbell said, via AtoZSports. “That’s what we know. That’s all we know. That’s really all I can say. And that we’re monitoring what’s out there. I mean, as of a month ago, this was nothing. So I have no idea what this is. As far as I know, it’s still not a big deal. It seems like he wasn’t involved in this.”

The State Attorney’s office intends to file a motion to keep Arnold in jail for the duration of the trial, arguing that he poses a threat to the community if he is released.

Arnold and his agency released a statement on Wednesday night shortly after news broke of his arrest:

“There is no credible evidence linking Mr. Arnold to these allegations,” the statement read. “Instead, the government appears to be relying on testimony from multiple convicted felons who have admitted their own involvement and may have substantial incentives to shift blame in an effort to lessen their sentences.

“Mr. Arnold looks forward to his day in court and is confident that the judicial process will lead to his ultimate vindication.”