Alabama
Beloved Alabama flight instructor killed in Montana plane crash with father, sister was ‘exceptional and skilled’
An Alabama woman killed in a plane crash alongside her father and sister is being remembered as a dedicated flight instructor.
Lainey Anderson was a certified flight instructor at Sanders Flight Training Center in Jasper.
The crash happened while Anderson, her father, Huntsville pilot Mark Anderson and younger sister, Ellie, were en route to a family vacation.
Misty Anderson, the victims’ wife and mother and a Huntsville banker, was on a commercial flight to meet her family in Montana.
Lainey was a graduate of Auburn University professional flight program and a was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
“Lainey was an exceptional and skilled aviator and a beloved flight instructor at our Jasper campus,” Sanders Aviation posted on Facebook. “She was dedicated to her craft and students.”
“Her Sanders family will remember her with love and admiration,” the post read. “God Bless you and keep you, Lainey.”
Ellie was a senior at Huntsville High School.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of a cherished member of the HHS Dance Team and a friend to many of our band and color guard students,” according to a social media post from Huntsville High School Band.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends, teammates, and classmates during this difficult time.”
About 4:30 p.m. Friday, the Powell County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a possible downed aircraft.
The last known position was in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana’s northern Powell County, said Sheriff Gavin Roselles, who is also the county’s coroner.
“Air resources were deployed from Malstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls and continued to search until around midnight.”
About 9 a.m. Saturday, Roselles said, a volunteer aircraft operating under the command of the Montana Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division, working off a weak ELT signal, located the twin-engine plane.
The scene was turned over to the U.S. Air Force which also had helicopters operating in the area, the sheriff said.
The plane was located in a remote, wooded area in Youngs Creek in the Bob Marshall Wilderness- North East of Seeley Lake.
Members of the Powell County Coroner’s Office, Missoula County Search and Rescue, the Seeley Lake Rural Fire Department with assistance from the Montana DNRC, arrived on scene around 4 p.m.
Anderson and his daughters were pronounced dead at the scene.
The sheriff’s office turned the investigation over to the FAA and NTSB.
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Drought conditions lead to elevated wildfire danger this spring
Multiple parts of the country, including Florida and the Four Corners region, are at risk of dangerous wildfires this spring.
Accuweather
Alabama faces a summer of intense heat, high humidity, and occasional strong storms, with El Niño influencing shifts across the Southeast weather pattern.
While conditions will vary across the state, AccuWeather forecasters expect heat to dominate statewide. At the same time, storm and flooding risks will be concentrated in specific parts of Alabama as the season progresses.
Here’s what Alabama residents can expect for summer 2026.
Heat and Humidity to dominate Alabama summer 2026
Heat is expected to be the defining feature of the season, with much of Alabama likely to see near- or above-normal temperatures.
Even when highs are typical for late June or July, humidity will push “feels-like” temperatures significantly higher, especially in central and southern Alabama.
That means:
- More frequent 90-degree days.
- Oppressive humidity across the state.
- Warm overnight lows that offer little relief.
As a result, energy demand is also expected to rise as residents rely heavily on air conditioning during extended hot stretches.
Alabama summer storms 2026
Unlike some summers with almost daily thunderstorms, 2026 is expected to feature more distinct periods of storm activity, rather than storms developing continuously throughout the season. These storm-active windows will vary by region in the state.
Storm timing breaks down like this:
- Upper to central Alabama: Peak thunderstorm activity in June and July.
- Southern Alabama: July into August becomes the more active window.
Derecho Risk focused in northern Alabama
One of the more significant severe weather concerns this summer is the potential for derecho events across northern Alabama.
AccuWeather forecasters are highlighting a moderate risk zone in the upper part of the state, where fast-moving lines of thunderstorms could organize during peak summer instability.
These systems are rare but capable of producing widespread damage when they form.
Will there be drought relief in Alabama?
Flooding risks this summer are not widespread, but they are highly localized in two areas that will need close attention during heavy events.
The main flood-prone zones are the upper western and lower eastern corners of the state. Elsewhere, flooding risk stays within the norm for summer storms.
Bottom line: Don’t expect too much relief this summer.
Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@usatodayco.com.
Alabama has a quick turnaround to flush its first SEC series loss of the season at Tennessee as the No. 3 Crimson Tide prepares to face No. 21 South Carolina in the regular-season finale at Rhoads Stadium for a three-game series beginning on Thursday.
All three games between Alabama and South Carolina will be streaming only on SEC Network+.
Last year, the Gamecocks took two of three games from the Tide in the regular season series in Columbia under first year head coach Ashley Chastain Woodard, and then beat Alabama in the SEC tournament.
This year, Alabama (44-6, 16-5 SEC) is still fighting for a chance at the regular season conference title two games behind Oklahoma with three games to go. At a minimum, the Tide wants to secure a double-bye in the SEC tournament and as high a seed in the NCAA tournament as possible.
“We need to do our job this year, at home especially, going into the SEC tournament and possible seedings for the NCAA,” Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said. “This is a big weekend for both of us. I know she’d probably say the same thing. But this is huge for us.”
The Gamecocks are coming off back-to-back conference series wins over Missouri and Texas A&M while Alabama is coming in off its first conference series loss. Here’s everything you need to know about this weekend’s series.
How to watch: Alabama vs. South Carolina
Who: No. 21 South Carolina (30-22, 7-14 SEC) at No. 3 Alabama (44-6, 16-5 SEC)
When: Thursday, April 30 – 6 p.m. CT
Friday, May 1 – 6 p.m. CT
Saturday, May 2- 1 p.m. CT
Where: Rhoads Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
TV: SEC Network+
Radio: The Crimson Tide Sports Network on Catfish 100.1 FM in Tuscaloosa (or online) with Tom Canterbury on the call.
Series history: Alabama leads, 33-10
In Tuscaloosa: 19-2 | In Columbia: 14-7 | At Neutral Sites: 0-1
Last meeting: South Carolina eliminated Alabama from the SEC tournament in Athens, Georgia last season with a 6-2 victory over the Crimson Tide. Alabama scored two runs in the first inning, including a leadoff home run by Audrey Vandagriff, before the Gamecocks reeled off six unanswered.
Last time out, Alabama: The Crimson Tide lost to Tennessee, 4-1, in the series finale on Monday. Alabama was on the verge of being shut out for the second straight game before a pinch hit home run by Mari Hubbard in the seventh inning.
Last time out, South Carolina: The Gamecocks run ruled South Carolina State, 9-1, in six innings on Tuesday night for their final non-conference game in the regular season.
Batting average: Brooke Wells- .419
RBIs: Brooke Wells- 55
Home runs: Brooke Wells- 56
ERA: Jocelyn Briski- 1.50
Wins: Jocelyn Briski- 19
Strikeouts: Jocelyn Briski- 153
Batting average: Karley Shelton- .358
RBIs: Tori Ensley- 45
Home runs: Tori Ensley- 113
ERA: Jori Heard- 1.77
Wins: Jori Heard- 11
Strikeouts: Jori Heard- 113
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South Carolina statistical leaders:
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – After more than four years at the helm of the Alabama Department of Corrections, Commissioner John Hamm is officially retiring, Governor Kay Ivey announced Tuesday.
Hamm, who served in law enforcement for more than 35 years, came to the post in January 2022. During his tenure, state officials point to a range of developments within the corrections system, including progress on the construction of two new men’s prisons, increased recruitment and retention of corrections officers, and enforcement of stricter conduct policies for staff and inmates.
“It has been the honor of my serve to serve in Governor Ivey’s Administration, and I thank her for giving me that opportunity and empowering me to lead the Department of Corrections forward,” Hamm said. “Governor Ivey’s unwavering support for the Department has been outstanding. When I started at Corrections in 2022, Governor Ivey gave me the charge of making the Department better and with her support, as well as the support of her staff and the hardworking men and women of ADOC, we have accomplished that.”
In a statement, Ivey credited Hamm with helping advance improvements within the department, while noting that ongoing efforts remain. She also announced her appointment of corrections and law enforcement veteran Greg Lovelace as Hamm’s replacement.
She said Lovelace’s experience in corrections and law enforcement positions him to continue that work through the remainder of her term.
Lovelace brings more than 3 decades of corrections experience to the position. During his tenure within the Department of Corrections, he oversaw maintenance and construction projects while management all prisons within the system.
The Governor called him a “true public servant” who is “once again answering the call to lend his leadership to the state.”
Lovelace will begin his tenure on May 1.
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