Connect with us

Alabama

Former Navy SEAL challenges Alabama’s Senate front-runners to debate: ‘No scripts. No handlers’

Published

on

Former Navy SEAL challenges Alabama’s Senate front-runners to debate: ‘No scripts. No handlers’


A Republican running to represent Alabama in the U.S. Senate is calling for a debate with the two front-runners after President Donald Trump’s key endorsement of U.S. Rep. Barry Moore.

Jared Hudson, a former Navy SEAL sniper who founded an organization to fight human trafficking, called out Moore and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall on Monday, requesting that they debate ahead of the May 19 primary.

“Let’s debate,” said Hudson, of Birmingham. “No scripts. No handlers. No dodging.”

Moore, in a statement, did not respond Hudson’s debate request. He said his campaign’s priority is to continue “delivering for Alabamians and uniting Republicans to advance President Trump’s America First agenda” while ensuring the Republicans win in December.

Advertisement

“Since announcing my run for the U.S. Senate, I have been fully focused on doing what I’ve always done – serving Alabamians and delivering real results on the issues that are impacting our state and nation,” Moore said.

Marshall’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Hudson’s comment came in a news release in which he vowed to remain in the Senate contest despite Trump’s endorsement of Moore, which came Saturday via a social media post.

Hudson said the race for the Senate is about “putting Alabama First,” a play on Trump’s “America First” campaign pledge. Hudson said he’s the only candidate who can do that.

“I’m in this fight for the people of Alabama, and I’m not going anywhere,” Hudson said. “I ran toward the fight in Afghanistan as a Navy SEAL sniper, and I’ll keep that same oath to the Constitution by stopping the radical Left from destroying our country from within.”

Advertisement

Hudson added, “My mission in the U.S. Senate is straightforward: deport criminal illegal immigrants, lower the cost of living, put Alabama First, and stand with President Trump to Make America Great Again.”

Trump shook up the Senate contest with the Moore endorsement, which elevates the 1st congressional district House member as an early favorite ahead of the primary election. Trump’s stamp of approval is important in Alabama ahead of a primary contest. The state is a Republican stronghold where most GOP candidates pledge loyalty to the president.

Moore has been with Trump since the beginning. He was among a few politicians who spoke at Trump’s first campaign rally at Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium in August 2015, long before other candidates would publicly endorse Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Moore received additional momentum with an endorsement from the Club for Growth, which has backed him in previous congressional campaigns.

Marshall, the state’s top law enforcement official, is also viewed as a strong primary candidate. He said on Sunday that he doesn’t plan to “back down.”

Advertisement

Hudson, along with Rodney Walker and Morgan Murphy are hoping to emerge as the breakout candidate in the contest, similar to the role Republican Mike Durant nearly played three years ago in the race eventually won by Sen. Katie Britt. Dr. Dale Shelton Deas Jr., a heart surgeon, is also qualified to run for the Senate seat.



Source link

Alabama

Kevin Turner Prattville YMCA Golf Tournament welcomes Auburn, Alabama players as guest hosts

Published

on

Kevin Turner Prattville YMCA Golf Tournament welcomes Auburn, Alabama players as guest hosts


PRATTVILLE, Ala. (WSFA) – One of the most anticipated golf tournaments of the year happens Monday — the 29th annual Kevin Turner Prattville YMCA Golf Tournament.

This year’s guest hosts are both placekickers — former Alabama kicker Michael Proctor and current Auburn kicker Alex McPherson.

Proctor, a Pelham High graduate, came to the Crimson Tide in 1992, a year after Turner was drafted by the Patriots. But he still remembers the Prattville native’s infectious personality that resonated with teammates. “I had heard about the tournament through the years,” Proctor said. “It’s a big deal. Kevin is a big deal. When he was playing here, and even after his unfortunate passing, he’s well remembered and respected. Anything I can do to help anything in his name, I would be willing to do. I met him when I was there. He came back, obviously knowing people on the team that he had played with. Anything I can do for his name … I’m sure anybody at Alabama or anybody that knew him would be willing to do anything for him because he would do the same for you.”

McPherson, a Fort Payne High graduate, came to Auburn in 2022, weathered an inflammatory bowel disease that sidelined him in 2024, and is now preparing for his fifth year as the Tigers’ kicker. And even though he never knew Turner personally, he’s looking forward to the tournament.

Advertisement

“I’m honored,” McPherson said. “I heard what the tournament was about, Kevin and his story. I heard that one of the former Alabama kickers was going to be in the tournament and that they would love to have a kicker from Auburn. They thought that I would be a great fit.”

Proctor was recruited as one of the nation’s top prep kickers and went through a high school and collegiate career where he made 184 of 185 extra points. He kicked a then-record 60-yard field goal at Pelham and nine of his 26 field goals were longer than 50 yards. He finished a four-year career as the Crimson Tide’s second leading scorer with 326 points, earning All-American honors in 1993 and 1994 after winning a national championship in 1992 and returning as the Southeastern Conference’s top kicker a year later.

McPherson was recruited as one of the nation’s top kickers and kicked a record 61-yard field goal in high school before joining the Tigers. Like Proctor, his breakout year came as a sophomore (in 2023) where he made 13 of 13 field goal attempts and 40 of 40 extra point attempts in becoming a Lou Groza Award semifinalist.

Turner went through a five-year battle with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), which was triggered by CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a disease that hits home with many collegiate players from that era who witnessed it first with Turner and more recently with former Tide running back Kerry Goode.

The tournament helps fund the “Coach A Child Scholarship Fund Campaign” which provides financial aid to make YMCA services available to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.

Advertisement

The Prattville YMCA has provided financial aid to more than 3,300 people, many of them children, at a cost of more than $400,000. This year, the goal is to raise $285,000 for the Coach A Child Fund Campaign.

Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!

Copyright 2026 WSFA. All rights reserved.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Alabama

Alabama softball No. 1 overall seed in NCAA Tournament: Who does Tide play?

Published

on

Alabama softball No. 1 overall seed in NCAA Tournament: Who does Tide play?


Alabama softball is the cream of the crop heading into the 2026 NCAA softball tournament, cemented as the No. 1 overall seed for the first time in 16 years.

The Crimson Tide’s ranking means it will host a regional and, if it advances, a super regional. The regional field will consist of USC Upstate (36-21), Belmont (40-11) and SE Louisiana (46-14).

The Tuscaloosa Regional is double-elimination. Action will run through May 15-17 on SEC Network.

Advertisement

It marks the 27th straight NCAA Tournament appearance for Alabama and the 21st-straight season it is hosting a regional at Rhoads Stadium, not including the canceled 2020 season. The Crimson Tide has advanced to the Women’s College World Series 15 times and is looking to do so for the first time in two years.

Alabama has one national championship, which came in 2012.

Alabama is coming off a championship game loss in the SEC Tournament. Seven unanswered runs led to a 7-1 fall to Texas, securing the Longhorns their first SEC Softball Tournament title during their second year in the conference on Saturday, May 9.

Friday, May 15

  • Game 1: Alabama vs. USC Upstate, noon CT
  • Game 2: Belmont vs. SE Louisiana, 2:30 p.m. CT

Saturday, May 16

  • Game 3: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, TBD
  • Game 4: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser, TBD
  • Game 5: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 3 Loser, TBD

Sunday, May 17

  • Game 6: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner, TBD
  • Game 7: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser (if necessary), TBD

Amelia Hurley covers high school and college sports for The Tuscaloosa News and USA TODAY Network. You can find her on X at ameliahurley_ or reach her at ahurley@usatodayco.com.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Alabama

Alabama mom sentenced to life for hiring hitman to kill her child’s father over custody dispute

Published

on

Alabama mom sentenced to life for hiring hitman to kill her child’s father over custody dispute


An Alabama woman was sentenced to life in prison Friday after authorities said she hired a hitman to kill her child’s father in a custody dispute.

Jaclyn Skuce, 43, of Madison, was convicted of capital murder after hiring a man to kill the child’s father in order to prevent him from gaining custody or further visitation, the Morgan County District Attorney’s Office said.

The Hartselle Police Department was dispatched on July 24, 2020, to a residence for a welfare check after Anthony Larry Sheppard failed to appear in court for a scheduled custody hearing.

His attorney had asked officers to check on him, investigators said.

Advertisement

Upon arrival, police discovered Sheppard’s storm door shattered and the main door ajar.

Jaclyn Skuce, 43, was sentenced to life in prison for hiring a hitman to kill her child’s father Anthony Larry Sheppard. Morgan County District Attorney’s Office

Officers later found Sheppard dead with multiple gunshot wounds.

Investigators determined that Skuce hired Logan Delp to kill Sheppard in order to prevent him from gaining custody or further visitation with his child.

Prosecutors said Skuce used social media to hire the hitman, who lived in Hartselle, according to the Hartselle Enquirer. She allegedly offered to pay $30,000.

The Morgan County District Attorney’s Office said Skuce wanted to prevent Sheppard from gaining custody or visitation. Morgan County District Attorney’s Office

“There are never any winners in a case like this,” Chief Assistant District Attorney Garrick Vickery said following the verdict.

Advertisement

“This jury was incredibly thorough and took their time to make sure they made the right decision, both for Mr. Sheppard and for the defendant.”

Vickery added, “We are glad that they convicted her for the choice she made to take Mr. Sheppard away from his family.”

Skuce was found guilty of three counts of capital murder: murder for hire, murder of a witness, and murder committed by shooting into an occupied dwelling.

The Hartselle Police Department said Skuce offered to pay $30,000 to the hitman. Hartselle Police Department

Four other defendants have been charged with capital murder in connection with Sheppard’s death.

Delp was convicted of capital murder in October 2025, the DA’s office said. Another defendant has pleaded guilty, and two others are awaiting trial.

Advertisement

Skuce will be imprisoned without the possibility of parole in the Alabama Department of Corrections.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending