Alabama
Exports, stolen bus, quiz results: Down in Alabama
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Made in Alabama
Alabama’s businesses again broke the record for exported goods in 2023, reports AL.com’s William Thornton.
Companies shipped out $27.4 billion worth of vehicles, aerospace parts, minerals, metals and more to 190 countries last year. That’s a 6% increase over their 2022 exports. Vehicles led the way at $11.5 billion.
The top destination for Made in Alabama goods last year was Germany, which imported $5.1 billion worth from our companies. Germany was followed by Canada, China and Mexico, all with more than $3 billion worth.
Catching the bus
A school bus was reported stolen from near West Jefferson Town Hall, reports AL.com’s Carol Robinson.
If you’re not familiar with the location of the town of West Jefferson, I can help: It’s on the western edge of Jefferson County.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office’s Lt. Joni Money said the bus was parked by Town Hall on Friday afternoon. But when the bus driver showed up Monday morning, it was gone.
Money said the bus was found Monday afternoon in — as some of you might’ve expected — Walker County.
Wetlands forever
A collaboration among conservation groups has resulted in the preservation of 8,000 acres of Mobile-Tensaw Delta known as the Land Between the Rivers, reports AL.com’s Dennis Pillion.
The Nature Conservancy, along with Patagonia’s Holdfast Collective and an undisclosed donor, closed a deal worth more than $15 million — they’re not giving specifics. The Land Between the Rivers is located in Clark County and includes area between the Tombigbee and Alabama Rivers where they meet to form the Delta. It’s part of what they call America’s Amazon — an area containing an incredible volume of the nation’s biodiversity and wildlife.
No break for the bomber
Olympic Park and abortion-clinic bomber Eric Rudolph’s request for a new sentence was denied by an appeals court, reports The Associated Press.
Rudolph’s request was in response to a 2019 Supreme Court ruling that found a statute on “crime of violence” penalties wasn’t clear. He’s serving life after admitting to four bombings, including the Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta during the 1996 Summer Games.
Here in Alabama he set a bomb at an abortion clinic in Birmingham that killed a police officer and injured a nurse at the clinic.
The judge wrote in the opinion that when Rudolph negotiated to avoid the death penalty, he committed to the terms of his sentence.
More Alabama news
Quiz results
Yesterday’s Week in Review quiz was clearly way too easy. We even had our first 100% question — every single person who took the quiz through midnight yesterday got it right.
We shouldn’t be shocked it was about Nick Saban.
Here are the answers and how well we did on each question:
The crawfish harvest this year is well below typical levels, according to sources from southern Louisiana. A reason for this is:
- Drought conditions this past summer and fall dried mud under and around many ponds. (CORRECT) 76.8%
- Storm surge from past tropical storms have increased salinity of bayou waters. 10.1%
- Crawfish poachers from Arkansas have put a dent in the population. 0.7%
- Oyster-drill snails have moved inland in search of a better food supply. 12.3%
An Alabama-based spinoff reportedly in the plans to follow the Rick & Bubba Show is:
- The Rick Burgess Show (CORRECT) 86.2%
- The Bubba Bussey Show 5.8%
- Outdoor Weekend with Rick & Bubba 7.2%
- The Rick & Bubba Fitness Challenge 0.7%
It’s been announced that Nick Saban will be:
- Joining the ESPN GameDay panel. (CORRECT) 100.0%
- Running for governor in 2026. 0.0%
- The new GM for the Detroit Lions. 0.0%
- On the upcoming season of Dancing With the Stars. 0.0%
A new law cut the state’s sales tax on groceries from 4% to 3% this past September and tied further cuts to growth in the state’s tax revenues. Beginning this coming September the rate will be:
- 0% … 8.0%
- 1% … 5.1%
- 2% … 25.4%
- 3% (CORRECT) … 61.6%
Thieves reportedly stole this unlikely object.
- A radio tower (CORRECT) 90.6%
- A refrigerator 2.2%
- A brick pizza oven 3.6%
- A football goal post 3.6%
The podcast
Alabama
Alabama NAACP Releases 2026 Selma Jubilee Weekend Schedule
The Alabama State Conference of the NAACP has announced its official schedule for the 2026 NAACP-sponsored Selma Jubilee Bridge Crossing Weekend, set for March 6–8 in Montgomery and Selma.
Held under the theme “A Time for Standing,” the annual commemoration honors the Foot Soldiers of the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery marches and recognizes the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis and Rev. Jesse Jackson for their roles in advancing civil rights and voting access.
The three-day event will bring together national, state and local leaders, along with youth and college chapters, faith partners and community members for activities focused on reflection, education and civic engagement.
Scheduled events include a civic discussion titled “The New Civic Path” on March 6 at the Montgomery Interpretive Center at Alabama State University, followed by a Jubilee Gala that evening at Embassy Suites in Montgomery. On March 7, the Birmingham Metro Branch will host a bus trip to Selma, while a statewide civic engagement training will take place in Montgomery.
SEE ALSO: Bridge Crossing Jubilee to honor Rev. Jesse Jackson’s legacy in Selma
SEE ALSO: 16th Street Baptist Church: Keeping a Legacy Alive 63 Years Later
On March 8, participants will take part in the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Parade, voter activation efforts, worship services at Brown Chapel AME Church and Tabernacle Baptist Church, and the traditional bridge crossing at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge.
Organizers say the weekend will emphasize continued civic participation and community engagement across Alabama.
—–
March 6 — Alabama NAACP Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Gala 5:30PM Embassy Suites by Hilton, 300 Tallapoosa St, Montgomery, AL 36104
March 7 — NAACP Birmingham Metro Branch Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Bus Trip 8AM–5PM Broad Street and Water Avenue in Selma Alabama
March 7 — Alabama State NAACP Statewide Civic Engagement Training 8–4:15PM Homewood Suites, 7800 EastChase Pkwy, Montgomery, AL 36117
March 8 — Alabama State NAACP in the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Parade 8AM–10AM Begins at 1722 Broad St and concludes at the National Voting Rights Museum
March 8 — Alabama NAACP Statewide Bridge Crossing Jubilee Bus Trip 8AM–5PM Alabama State University, Untenese and Mobile Branch and University of Alabama, Oakwood University, Broad Street and Water Avenue, Selma
March 8 — Alabama NAACP Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee Participation in Worship Services 10AM–2PM Brown Chapel AME Church and Tabernacle Baptist Church, Selma
March 8 — Alabama NAACP Youth and College Civic Engagement Voter Activation 8AM–2PM Broad Street and Water Ave, Selma
March 8 — Alabama NAACP Statewide Bridge Crossing 11:15PM – Line up Alabama NAACP Tent on Waters Ave or at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, Selma
Alabama
3 Alabama players who helped their draft stock at 2026 NFL combine
Each player had a pivotal role on the Crimson Tide in 2025.
Alabama had a multitude of former players who performed at an elite level at the NFL combine this past weekend.
Former Alabama star quarterback Ty Simpson was among those who put his talents on full display in Indianapolis, as Simpson continues to emerge as a top quarterback prospect available in April’s draft.
Numerous Crimson Tide stars on both sides of the football were able to have an excellent showing at the combine as well, with each playmaker a vital component to the Tide’s success in 2025.
Here are three Alabama players who helped their draft stock rise at the NFL combine.
Ty Simpson, Quarterback
Simpson is widely regarded as the best quarterback prospect available outside of Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. The talented redshirt junior put on an absolute show at the NFL combine, as Simpson delivered multiple perfect throws and put his talents on full display throughout Saturday’s events.
The former Alabama star is a candidate to potentially shine day one in his campaign in the NFL, as Simpson’s draft stock continues to rise prior to April.
Jam Miller, Running Back
Miller is an extremely fast and athletic running back, despite struggling in the Tide’s backfield last season. The star running back recorded an impressive 4.43u 40-yard dash time, as Miller could very easily shine in the NFL next season with consistent playing time.
Miller was nothing short of elite throughout his entire performance at the combine in Indianapolis, as the former Tide running back continues to rise in a multitude of draft rankings around the football world.
Kadyn Proctor, Offensive Tackle
Proctor played a crucial role on Alabama’s offensive line last season. The star lineman reportedly slimmed down prior to the NFL combine, as Proctor displayed elite speed and athleticism throughout Sunday’s combine in Indianapolis.
Proctor is widely expected to be a mid-to-late first round selection in April, as the talented lineman’s efforts during the combine could quickly begin to work in Proctor’s favor during next month’s draft.
The 2026 NFL draft will take place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania starting on April 23, as each Crimson Tide star will look to shine throughout their rookie campaign in the NFL.
Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
Alabama
Husband, 19, fatally shot wife, 24, himself at Alabama hospital moments after welcoming their first child
A husband fatally shot his wife before turning the gun on himself at an Alabama hospital just moments after they welcomed their first child on Sunday.
Kynath Terry Jr., 19, gunned down 24-year-old Precious Johnson before fatally shooting himself inside the Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital around 9:30 p.m. Sunday night, WTVM 13 reported.
Johnson delivered a healthy baby just before she was murdered. It’s not immediately clear if the baby was present during the shooting, but police said that Terry and Johnson were the only ones injured.
Terry’s mother told the outlet that the couple were having some marital issues leading up to Johnson’s due date, but nothing that made her fear her son would become violent.
She told the outlet that Terry completed Army National Guard training before tying the knot with Johnson.
She noted that Johnson didn’t want Terry’s side of the family at the hospital for her child’s birth, but it’s unclear if anyone from the mother-to-be’s own family was there.
The hospital was plunged into a lockdown “out of an abundance of caution” while police investigated reports of a shooting. It wasn’t lifted until hours later when they determined there was “no active threat to patients, team members or the public,” the outlet reported.
The Homewood Police Department described the tragedy as “an apparent murder-suicide and is domestic in nature.”
Danne Howard, the president of the Alabama Hospital Association, told the outlet that the chilling attack “was an isolated incident” unlike anything she’d encountered during her three decades working in the state.
Howard said, in the wake of the tragedy, the Baptist Health Brookwood Hospital would undergo a security overhaul implementing “lessons learned” from a mandated after-action report.
Just three months ago, in a town six miles outside of Homewood, a beloved sports reporter was fatally shot by her husband before taking his own life. Their 3-year-old son, who was unharmed, led his grandfather to his parents’ bodies.
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