Alabama
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey speaks to future leaders during University of Alabama visit
Over 400 rising high school seniors gathered at the University of Alabama for the 83rd session of the American Legion Auxiliary Alabama Girls State program.
Throughout the week of June 1-6, delegates gained hands-on experience in a model state government. Participants wrote bills, debated them on the House and Senate floor, participated in party caucuses and ran for office. They also heard from a variety of speakers including Gov. Kay Ivey, a former Girls State lieutenant governor, and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, who was elected Girls State governor in 1999.
The session was scheduled to culminate with a trip to Montgomery to visit with elected officials, hold lawmaking sessions at the State House and tour the Capitol, the Alabama Supreme Court and Governor’s Mansion.
Organizers say the Girls State program provides delegates with a better understanding of how government works and a sense of patriotism while building self-confidence and lasting friendships.
“Alabama Girls State is a fun-filled, hands-on learning opportunity in good citizenship training for some of the best and brightest young women in the State of Alabama. Sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, Alabama Girls State is a premier youth leadership program which offers a one-of-a-kind experience to its delegates,” said Lee Sellers, program director, in news release.
This year featured the largest delegation of girls to have ever attended Alabama Girls State, with the more than 400 rising seniors representing high schools throughout Alabama.
UA also hosted the Boys State program May 25-31. This year marks the first time UA has hosted Boys and Girls State since 2021.
Ivey spoke to delegates June 5 at Moody Music Building on the University of Alabama campus.
During her remarks, Ivey shared her personal experiences at Girls State and how the program has influenced her political career.
“My time here at Girls State has allowed me to mentor and to be mentored by women across every corner of the state of Alabama, forming friendships that are not just good and strong, but long-lasting,” Ivey said.
After graduating from Auburn University in 1967, worked as a high school teacher and a bank officer. She served as reading clerk for the Alabama House of Representatives under then-Speaker Joseph C. McCorquodale and she served as assistant director at the Alabama Development Office
In 2002, Ivey was elected to the first of two terms as Alabama’s treasurer and in 2010, she was elected to the first of two terms as lieutenant governor. On April 10, 2017, Ivey was sworn in as Alabama’s 54th governor after the resignation of Robert Bentley. She filled out the rest of Bentley’s term before winning the gubernatorial election in 2018 and she was re-elected in 2022.
She is the first Republican woman to serve as Alabama’s governor but she’s the second woman to hold the state’s top executive office. Tuscaloosa County native Lurleen B. Wallace, a Democrat, became Alabama’s first female governor in 1966.
Ivey emphasized the importance of citizenship, the constitution and the military during her Girls State speech.
Ivey said she doesn’t let being a female in a male-dominated field discourage her and she encouraged delegates to pursue their goals.
Ivey said she believes that success should be measured by a person’s qualifications and not their gender.
“I strongly believe that whoever is the most-qualified person should be the one to get the job. And as I like to say, sometimes the best man for a job is a woman,” Ivey said.
Ivey concluded her speech by inspiring the delegates to carry the values of Girls State into their future endeavors.
“Girls State is not just a week. It’s a state of mind, an attitude and a way of thinking that has stuck with me my entire life,” said Ivey, who grew up in the town of Camden in Wilcox County.
“…. (You should) leave Girls State this week with an understanding of the beauty of our democracy is that all people, even a girl, from a little town in Wilcox County can make a difference if we try,” she said.
Reach Jasmine Hollie at JHollie@gannett.com.
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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