MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – The Alabama Senate approved SB 178, also known as the “Speedy Trial Act,” on Thursday. The bill, drafted by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office, aims to expedite trials for violent criminal cases, reduce court backlogs, and provide swift justice for victims.

Marshall, who believes the legislation will bring fairness, efficiency, and swift justice to Alabama courts, was at the Alabama State House to watch the vote, which was unanimous.

“Today’s action by the Senate sends a strong message about our justice system: we are taking critical steps toward a safer, more efficient Alabama, where victims receive the justice they deserve and violent criminals are swiftly held accountable,” Marshall explained.

Currently, some of Alabama’s criminal cases take years to work their way through the judicial process before reaching a trial. There are several reasons for the delays, including a lack of judges available to hear the cases. Under SB 178, a system would be created to use retired judges. It would also provide resources for district attorney offices to try the cases.

Marshall says speedy trials are a constitutional right for defendants, but victims also deserve swift justice.

“You’ve seen multiple efforts to address violent crime in our state. The MACS program here in Montgomery that’s gone to find offenders that need to be taken off the street,” Marshall explained. “This is additional layer to the work that we’re trying to do, and so very pleased with the response of communities and law enforcement, victims’ advocates across the state.”

The legislation now moves on to the full Alabama House where the AG is urging swift passage of House Bill 307.

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The sights and sounds of college football include much more than just what happens on the gridiron. They come from the marching band, as well.

In episode 3 of the Fox Nation series, “The Tides That Bind,” the Alabama Crimson Tide’s ‘Million Dollar Band’ is showcased during practices and before major football games. 

As the latest installment explores, perhaps the loudest sound of all is the immense pride that’s shared among members of the band — to whom it’s much more than just an extracurricular activity.

“It became a big goal of mine to make the drumline at Bama,” drumline member of the ‘Million Dollar Band’ and University of Alabama senior Cade Wilson said in the new episode. “It was probably the best day of my life so far.”

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For Wilson, it’s an honor and a legacy; both his parents were members of the band in their younger years. His father was a drummer and his mother was a member of the Crimsonettes, the baton-twirling group that performs alongside the ‘Million Dollar Band.’

“Fulfilling that family legacy meant a lot,” Wilson explained.

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The episode also spotlighted the Crimsonettes, during which captain Sally Otts expressed how intimidating the road environments are for the Crimson Tide — especially when the team travels to Knoxville to play their rivals, the Tennessee Volunteers.

“This week, we will talk about how to react in a positive manner when things aren’t going well,” Otts said.

“Because that environment [Tennessee] is so negative and scary, and if we lose, it can be really intense,” she explained of the Volunteers fan base, known for being passionate and, to some, downright annoying.

Wilson stressed the significance of being part of such a historic band before kickoff between the Crimson Tide and the Volunteers.

“I’m an ambassador of the university every time I put on that script ‘A’,” Wilson said. “I’m in uniform with all my best friends. I have a purpose to serve.”

“You have a chance to represent the university at the highest level. That is as far as you can go without being literally on the football team.”

To watch the first three episodes of “The Tides that Bind,” subscribe to Fox Nation.

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TUSCALOOSA — It was not the outcome Mark Sears or the rest of Alabama’s five seniors were hoping for on Senior Night. The Crimson Tide fell 99-94 to No. 5 Florida, suffering a frustrating second-straight loss after a buzzer beater sunk Alabama against Tennessee on Saturday.

That made it a bittersweet moment for Alabama’s star player after the game. Sears won 79 times heading into his final game at Coleman Colieaum. Fittingly, he led Alabama with 30 points, continuing a superb run of form that fans have become accustomed to and will hope to see a few more of as Alabama heads toward postseason play.

Sears was unable to get win No. 80. But that won’t change how he feels about the building he first visited as a seventh-grader and where he made so many memories for Tide fans.

“This place is always going to be my home,” Sears told reporters after the game. “It sucks how it ended in Coleman, but this place will forever be my home.”

The loss is certainly frustrating. And the competitor in Sears will be focused on rebounding against No. 1 Auburn on Saturday. But Alabama’s best player got some much-deserved recognition from Tide fans after the game. Coach Nate Oats expressed his appreciation for those fans who stayed after a tough loss to celebrate an in-state product and one of the best to don an Alabama jersey.

“He’s done a lot for us, obviously,” Oats said. “He was our leading scorer in our first and only Final Four we’ve ever played in. He’s a National Player of the Year candidate going into the year. We’ve been a top-10 team all year. He’s been our leader. I think he’s playing really hard. He didn’t shoot it great from 3 tonight, but he’s had some pretty efficient games here over the last month. He’s given us pretty good effort on D.

“So, for a kid from Alabama to do what he’s done these last three years here at Alabama. It would have been nice to send him out with a win on senior night.”

Sears’ past accolades speak for themselves. He was the second-leading scorer on Alabama’s 2022-23 team that earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Sears built on that performance by becoming a consensus second-team All-American and leading Alabama to its first Final Four in school history. He set a program record with 797 points during that season and currently ranks in the top-10 in career points, with his eyes set on adding to that tally.

It’s what’s still to come for Sears that Oats is the most excited about. The Alabama coach has maintained that Sears has been playing the best basketball of his decorated career over the past few weeks. His effort on defense is a response to being benched earlier in conference play against LSU, and his leadership will be critical as the Tide aims to recover from its late-season struggles as it prepares for an NCAA Tournament run.

Along with Sears, four other players got to enjoy senior day recognition. Tuscaloosa native Chris Youngblood, Tide forwards Grant Nelson and Clifford Omoruyi and walk-on Max Scharnowski all played their last games in Coleman. Scharnowski has been a fan favorite his entire career, getting raucous cheers from the Coleman faithful whenever he’s able to enter the game. The other trio of scholarship seniors haven’t spent as much time at Alabama as Sears. But have all had memorable moments over their respective Tide careers.

Oats is confident his veteran group can rally Alabama after back-to-back losses. He ended his statement about the Tide’s seniors with a call to action that is fitting for a group that has earned high expectations. Now it’s up to the Tide’s leaders to answer that call and take advantage of opportunities to re-ignite Alabama’s pop and turn a spoiled senior day into postseason success.

“But, it was good the amount of people who stayed and recognized [Sears] and the other three seniors. Grant’s had a really good two years here and then Youngblood’s from Tuscaloosa originally and back home. It would have been nice for him to play a little better. He is one of those that just seemed like he’s a little tied. So, we gotta try to figure out how to get his legs back up under him. Cliff, one of the nicest kids you’d ever meet. I thought that O-board where we hit the 3 off it, off Grant’s miss at the free-throw line was big. I thought maybe it could give us a little bit of lift and get us going. He made some plays like that.

“So, everybody’s capable of doing more. We’ve just gotta get them all doing more.”