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Dangerous TikTok trends claim 4 lives in 6 months in Alabama: officials

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Dangerous TikTok trends claim 4 lives in 6 months in Alabama: officials


At least four people — including a father — have died in recent months for giving in to a new and deadly TikTok trend, Alabama authorities said.

The thrill-seekers jumped or flipped off the backs of speeding boats, only to break their necks on the wake and drown, according to Cpt. Jim Dennis of the Childersburg Rescue Squad.

“Last six months we have had four drownings that were easily avoidable. They were doing a TikTok challenge. It’s where you get in a boat going at a high rate of speed, you jump off the side of the boat, don’t dive, you’re jumping off feet first and you just kinda lean into the water,” Dennis told WBMA.

The trend — dubbed boat jumping — has been an issue for first responders over the last two years, the captain said, but has especially picked up since the beginning of the year.

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The first victim died in February after plunging into the Coosa River while his wife and their children watched from inside the boat.

“Unfortunately, she recorded his death,” Dennis said.

Despite the tragic end, three others ignored rescuers’ warnings and succumbed to the same fate.

The trend has been an issue for first responders over the last two years but has especially picked up since the beginning of the year.
nataliejillfit/TikTok

A TikTok search for “#boatjumping” or any iteration of the two words shows a stream of daredevils filming their potential brushes with what Dennis called “instant death.”

The participants range from all ages.

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 “I think people, if they’re being filmed on camera, I think they’re more likely to do something stupid because they want to show off in front of their friends for social media,” Dennis told ABC 7.

The high rate of speed of the boat combined with the still water make for a dangerous landing pad that feels similar to concrete.


A TikTok search for "#boatjumping" or any iteration of the two words shows a stream of daredevils filming their potential brushes with what Dennis called "instant death."
A TikTok search for “#boatjumping” or any iteration of the two words shows a stream of daredevils filming their potential brushes with what Dennis called “instant death.”
dayyachtcharters/TikTok

The high rate of speed of the boat combined with the still water make for a dangerous landing pad that feels similar to concrete.
The high rate of speed of the boat combined with the still water make for a dangerous landing pad that feels similar to concrete.
dayyachtcharters/TikTok

If an individual who jumps from a moving boat doesn’t protect their neck and head, they could become permanently paralyzed if not more than likely suffer an instant death.

Dennis is urging boaters to avoid the deadly trend and urge their loved ones not to participate.

“Do not do it,” he said. “It’s not worth your life.”

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Alabama

Alabama-Texas A&M free livestream: How to watch SEC basketball game, TV, schedule

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Alabama-Texas A&M free livestream: How to watch SEC basketball game, TV, schedule


The No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide play against the No. 10 Texas A&M Aggies in an SEC basketball game tonight. The matchup will begin at 7 p.m. CT on ESPN. Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.

The Crimson Tide enter this matchup with a 13-2 record, and they have won seven consecutive games. In their most recent game, the Crimson Tide defeated South Carolina 88-68.

During the victory, Alabama’s star guard Mark Sears scored 22 points and shot 7-12 from the field. He also shot 4-6 from beyond the arc, so he will try to perform similarly this evening.

The Aggies also enter this matchup with a 13-2 record, and they have won nine games in a row. The team has a 4-0 record against ranked opponents.

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In their most recent game, the Aggies defeated Oklahoma 80-78. During the victory, Zhuric Phelps led the Texas A&M offense. He scored 34 points and shot 6-10 from three-point range, so he will try to continue his great play tonight.

Fans can watch this game for free online by using the free trials offered by DirecTV Stream and Fubo TV. Alternatively, Sling offers a first-month discount to new users.



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Alabama-based content creator reacts to possible TikTok ban

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Alabama-based content creator reacts to possible TikTok ban


MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – Some social media users are bracing for a possible ban on the popular social media app TikTok.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to ban the social media platform by Jan. 19 if the Chinese-owned company does not sell the platform due to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

It’s a dilemma between free speech and national security.

“Many of the content creators on TikTok are Americans, so they are protected under the First Amendment, and it was also argued that TikTok could be seen as a public forum, and Americans have freedom of speech in a public forum,” Troy University Assistant Professor of journalism and communications Dr. Stefanie East said.

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Montgomery-raised content creator Funmi Ford says this ban could affect many Americans financially, not only content creators, but also small business owners.

“There are entrepreneurs that have used TikTok not only to get income but to get new clients,” Ford said. “There’s so many people that use this app to feed their families that I think it’s going to be really hard for them.”

TikTok has provided Ford with a way to share her culture from Accra Ghana and interact with other cultures. She fears without this social media platform, it may be more difficult to make those global connections.

“I feel like TikTok is one of the few places, because it’s video and it’s short form, you got to digest a lot of information, whether good or bad, that either widened your horizon, made you think differently, made you want to travel,” said Ford. “So with it possibly being banned, which we hope it’s not, it’s going to close a window to somebody else’s life, a window to another part of the world that you would not see otherwise.”

TikTok, as well as some of its users, have sued to block the U.S. ban contending that it violates First Amendment rights. The Supreme Court is now faced with the decision between those claims and Congress’ concern the Chinese government may have influence over the social media platform.

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President-elect Donald Trump filed a brief at the Supreme Court asking justices to temporarily block the law so he can “pursue a political resolution” once he takes office.

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SEC regular season conference winner odds for Auburn and Alabama basketball

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SEC regular season conference winner odds for Auburn and Alabama basketball


The SEC has taken the men’s college basketball world by storm this season. When this week began, the SEC had nine teams in The Associated Press top 25, including six in the top 10.

Auburn and Alabama are in the top 10 and making their marks as favorites to win the national championship. Before they cut down the nets in the Final Four, they will try to win a conference championship.

The SEC regular season conference winner odds for Auburn and Alabama show a pair of teams expected to be there at the end. That’s what we are examining today.

Note: Odds are based on the best value our experts find as of publication; check lines closer to game time to ensure you get the best odds.

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SEC regular season conference winner odds

These are the odds for each team to win the SEC regular season men’s basketball conference title from BetMGM Sportsbook:

Team BetMGM odds to win SEC regular season
Auburn -115
Alabama +450
Tennessee +500
Florida +800
Kentucky +1800
Mississippi State +2000
Texas A&M +2000
Ole Miss +5000
Arkansas 100-to-1
Georgia 125-to-1
Oklahoma 125-to-1
Texas 125-to-1
Missouri 200-to-1
Vanderbilt 200-to-1
LSU 250-to-1
South Carolina 250-to-1

The top five teams in this betting odds market rank in the top eight in this week’s AP poll. The next two are not far behind at Nos. 10 and 14. After that, the odds drop significantly, but even Ole Miss is a top-25 team.

Don’t nitpick about how the odds and rankings compare. Tennessee entered this week undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the nation but lost to Florida on the road by 30 points. With so much parity in college basketball, the regular season is more of a survival challenge than an expectation to win every game.

Auburn and Alabama were among the favorites to win the regular season title when the season began and both teams have played well thus far. They’ll be favorites if they win a large majority of their games and beat a couple of fellow contenders along the way.

Auburn SEC championship odds

Sportsbook SEC championship odds
BetMGM -115
FanDuel -130
DraftKings -105

No. 2-ranked Auburn (14-1) has lit the court on fire throughout its 14-1 start, including marquee wins over Houston, North Carolina, Iowa State and Purdue. The Tigers’ only loss came on the road against Duke.

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The biggest spark has been forward Johni Broome, who averages 18.7 points, 11.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.7 blocks. His performance has catapulted him to the top of the Wooden Award odds listed by DraftKings Sportsbook. Broome has odds of -280 while Duke’s Cooper Flagg is at +230. No other player has odds better than 16-to-1.

Broome is the MVP, but five other Auburn players average at least 10 points per game. That’s an incredible feat in this day of college basketball.

The Tigers rank fourth in the nation in points per game with 87.9. They rank first in blocks per game with 6.9 and 26th in shooting percentage allowed at 39.2%

Auburn hits the road to play South Carolina on Saturday before returning home to face No. 14 Mississippi State on Tuesday. A home game against Tennessee looms Jan. 25.

Alabama SEC championship odds

Sportsbook SEC Championship odds
BetMGM +450
FanDuel +380
DraftKings +550

No. 5 Alabama (13-2) has had an incredible season with the only blemishes being losses to Oregon and Purdue. The Crimson Tide have big wins over Illinois, Houston, North Carolina and Oklahoma.

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The whole SEC schedule will be tough, but the next three games especially stand out for Alabama. The Tide play Texas A&M on the road, Ole Miss at home and Kentucky on the road.

Like Auburn, Alabama has balanced scoring at the top. Five players average double figures, led by Mark Sears’ 18.3 points. Fellow returner Grant Nelson has been pivotal, too. He averages 13.1 points and a team-high 8.8 rebounds.

If Alabama is going to win the regular season title, it will have to earn it over the final handful of games. The Tide’s final five games are against Kentucky, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Florida and Auburn.



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