TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) – Two major universities in Alabama are working to make college a little more affordable and they’re starting with high school students.

The University of Alabama and Jacksonville State University are reducing their dual enrollment tuition rate by hundreds of dollars.

Officials at both schools believe this makes it more affordable for students to get a financial break on their college education.

Jacksonville State leaders say it just made sense when it comes to affordability. The reduction there is about 80%.

“Our dual enrollment tuition has been lower than our traditional students for several years now, and affordability continues to be a primary factor for consideration here,” said JSU associate vice president of enrollment management, Jessica Wiggins.

Here are the new numbers; Jacksonville State reduced its dual enrollment tuition to $33 per credit hour or $99 for a standard 3-hour course.

“So this will hopefully make it much more affordable for our families,” said Wiggins.

And Jacksonville State’s not alone. The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa is offering the same reduction – a drop of more than 90%, according to university officials.

Wiggins says so far there have been positive reactions from parents and high school counselors through phone calls, emails and social media, but it’s still too early to say just how many high schoolers will take advantage of the tuition drop. However, Wiggins anticipates a major uptick in enrollment based on what happened last fall, before the reduction was even considered.

“In the fall of ’24, we saw a 20% increase in our dual enrollment population from the prior fall, so we are certainly prepared for that,” said Wiggins.

Jacksonville State leaders say students in high school must have a 3.0 GPA and be in the tenth grade before they can enroll in the dual enrollment program.

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Alabama basketball fans were left stunned when the news dropped that Labaron Philon would be returning to Tuscaloosa for a second season.

With only 28 minutes to the withdrawal deadline for the 2025 NBA Draft, UA’s NIL collective Yea Alabama announced that the Mobile native removed his name to come back to college, adding to a wild day for what X users call “IBOB Twitter” hours after Tahaad Pettiford said he will play his sophomore season at Auburn. Exactly a month after he declared for the draft, Philon told media on May 14 that the “door was closed” on a comeback at UA.

Those who tune in for Crimson Tide hoops had accepted the fact that Philon was a one-and-done wonder. He wouldn’t grace the court in Coleman Coliseum again, or lift a trophy for a historic national championship. As of late Wednesday night, that’s fiction.

HOW WE GOT HERE: How did Alabama basketball react to Labaron Philon’s decision not to return, move forward in NBA Draft?

REQUIRED READING: Which 2025-26 Alabama basketball player will inherit No.1 from Mark Sears?

Philon said it best in an Instagram post inspired by his idol, Michael Jordan: “I’m back.”

Here were some of the top reactions from social media.

Alabama basketball fans left ‘shocked’ by return of Labaron Philon

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.

If you see hazy skies across the coast of Alabama, rest assured that your eyes are not playing tricks on you.

A plume of Saharan dust is making a 6,000-mile journey from Africa, crossing the Atlantic and drifting into the southern U.S.

The dust can lead to stunning sunsets, reduced air quality and hazy conditions across the coastal region.

Here’s what to know:

What is Saharan Air Layer and how will it affect Alabama?

Each summer, a natural event called the Saharan Air Layer (SAL) sends dust from the Sahara Desert across the Atlantic Ocean. This dust often causes hazy skies and vivid sunrises and sunsets. Made up of fine sand and minerals like iron, quartz and clay, the dust can also affect air quality, worsening symptoms for people with allergies or respiratory issues.

When will the Saharan Dust arrive in Alabama?

While the peak usually happens from late June to mid-August, the WTVY First Alert Weather Team in Dothan is already tracking this year’s dust as it moves across the Caribbean. Forecasters expect the plume to reach the Gulf Coast by the weekend.

On the bright side, the dust can help stabilize the atmosphere, limiting the development of showers and thunderstorms. That means Alabama could be in for beautiful, sunny summer days ahead.

What is the Sahara Desert?

The Sahara Desert stretches across North America, covering an area roughly the size of the U.S. Spanning more than 3.5 million square miles, it’s the world’s largest hot desert, with temperatures reaching up to 136 degrees.

Despite the heat, the Sahara is home to a surprising mix of life, from people and wildlife to scattered oases, mountains and plateaus.

The dry, windy conditions of the Sahara help lift millions of tons of dust into the atmosphere each year. Some of that dust eventually reaches the southern U.S. and turns skies hazy from the Texas to the Florida Panhandle.

Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@gannett.com.