Alabama
Geneva’s Kiera Howell, 16, auditions for ‘American Idol’ season 24
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Kiera Howell of Geneva, Alabama, has been a singer since she could speak. When she turned 16, Howell decided to put her voice and confidence to the test.
She must be doing something right because the nation will get to watch her audition for season 24 of ABC’s “American Idol” when the Feb. 9 episode airs.
“I’ve been watching ‘American Idol’ since I was a little baby, since I could comprehend it,” said Howell. “It’s always been a dream of mine. I just didn’t know when the time was right. I turned 16, which is in the age limit, and I was like, ‘You know what? I might as well go for it.’ “
It was thrilling but being on the show wasn’t an easy experience. Still, Howell can’t wait for everyone to see her performance. Since she made it to the audition, one phrase has been going through her head.
“Whatever happens is in God’s hands,” she said. “I can’t complain about anything. It’s all just amazing, and being here is definitely in God’s plans.”
Home life for Howell in Geneva
Howell attends Geneva High School, and has a large family. Along with her mom, dad, sister and half-brother, Howell said she’s got a “bunch of grandparents and a bunch of cousins.”
Did Howell ever do home concerts for them when she was little?
“All the time,” she said. “I used to sing in our living room, and the TV would have karaoke in the back. I would never stop.”
For now, Howell said that she doesn’t have favor one particular musical genre.
“I literally do everything,” Howell said of her music style. “I’m so indecisive, I can never make a choice. I do anything from Journey to Adele, Lauren Daigle, to a little bit of Carrie Underwood, the Beatles. I’m indecisive.”
One thing Howell recently had to make her mind up about was being in the school band program, which she’d been a part of for years.
“This past year, I actually had to drop out of band,” she said. “My schedule is so full … Honestly, it was best for me to take one thing off of my plate.”
Teen singer is growing in confidence
Being a part of “American Idol” has improved her artistry, she said.
“It’s given me confidence,” Howell said. “It was a hard thing to audition in the first place. When I got there, I was terrified. I was really scared. It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
The experience has also helped in areas outside of singing.
“I used to be afraid of posting to my social media account, but honestly I’ve become a lot more comfortable after meeting all these people who post all the time,” Howell said.
Not the only Alabamian on the episode
Howell will have a little bit of Alabama with her on the Feb. 9 episode: 25-year-old Montgomery artist Trew TheStar will also be auditioning.
“I am so excited. I got to meet Trew in our audition, and he is the nicest person,” Howell said. “I’m excited to watch his audition, because I didn’t get to see it. I can’t wait to see everything.”
Watch party in Geneva
Geneva will be gathering for a watch party for Monday’s episode at the Vintage Room, 512 S. Commerce St. It starts at 6:30 p.m., a half hour ahead of the 2-hour episode.
“It’s an open invite,” Howell said. “Anybody who wants to come is more than welcome to come.”
Come hungry. A food truck will be on site, Howell said.
“I can’t wait for everybody to come on down,” she said.
Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com. To support his work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
Alabama
Gov. Kay Ivey sets execution date for Jeremy Williams
Governor Kay Ivey on Thursday set an execution date for death row inmate Jeremy Williams, who was convicted in the 2021 kidnapping, rape and murder of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland in Phenix City.
Williams is scheduled to be executed by the state’s three-drug lethal injection during a 30-hour window beginning at 12 a.m. August 13 and ending at 6 a.m. August 14. The execution date comes after the Alabama Supreme Court granted a request from Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office on June 16, authorizing the state to carry out the sentence.
In a letter to Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner Greg Lovelace, Ivey said the Supreme Court’s June 16 order serves as the official death warrant for Williams.
“By law, I am required to specify the time frame for carrying out the sentence of death,” Ivey said. “Accordingly, I hereby order that Jeremy Lee Williams’s sentence of death be carried out within a time frame beginning on August 13, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. and ending on August 14, 2026, at 6:00 a.m.”
Ivey noted that she retains the authority to commute the sentence before the execution takes place.
Williams, 34, was convicted in April 2024 on four counts of capital murder stemming from Holland’s death. Prosecutors charged him with capital murder during a kidnapping, capital murder during a rape, capital murder during first-degree sodomy and capital murder of a child younger than 14.
Authorities said Holland disappeared from her family’s home in Phenix City on December 13, 2021. Her body was discovered two days later inside an abandoned house less than a mile away. An autopsy determined that she had been sexually assaulted and strangled.
In addition to the death sentence, Williams received several other prison terms. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for human trafficking and for knowingly producing recordings depicting the sexual abuse of a child. He also received another life sentence for a separate sexual abuse conviction, along with a 20-year sentence for conspiracy to commit human trafficking and a 10-year sentence for abuse of a corpse.
Unlike most death row inmates, Williams sought to speed up the execution process. During a hearing, he told the court that he accepted responsibility for his actions and wanted the sentence carried out.
In 2025, Williams dismissed his attorneys and informed the court that he wished to waive any remaining appeals and proceed with his execution. Russell County Circuit Court Judge David Johnson determined that Williams was competent to make that decision and allowed him to forgo further legal challenges.
Under Alabama law, capital convictions automatically receive appellate review. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals subsequently affirmed Williams’ conviction and death sentence in March.
After that review concluded, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office petitioned the Alabama Supreme Court in May to authorize an execution date. The court granted the request earlier this week, clearing the way for Ivey to schedule the execution.
If carried out as scheduled, Williams’ execution would occur nearly five years after Holland’s death and a little more than two years after he was sentenced to death.
Williams’ execution would be Alabama’s first by lethal injection since April 2025. The state’s three most recent executions were carried out using nitrogen hypoxia, which Alabama began using in 2024.
Alabama
Kids take center stage at Alabama Shakespeare Festival summer camp
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – You don’t find too many camps where you learn how to slap someone. But this summer, you will in Montgomery. It’s one of many kids camps put on by the Alabama Shakespeare Festival.
“We have our Camp Shakespeare Junior which is our half day for the littles, kindergarten through 3rd grade,” said Cameron Williams, the ASF director of education. “We have Big Kid Shakespeare camp and everyone is learning all about ‘Much Ado About Nothing’.”
They learn about on stage combat, different acting techniques, and also how to be creative and think on their feet.
“I think theater skills are life skills. So, what makes this camp special is we’re doing more than just boosting literacy and doing theater things. We’re doing life skills, learning what it means to be team players, about discipline, and working with people who may have different personalities than you.”
Different kids have different talents. And even if your child isn’t up for a lead role in the next play, this place can leave a lasting impact.
“If you’re looking for a place where your kid can come out of their shell, to learn how to speak in front of a group, and develop some confidence, this is the place to be.”
It’s a place that’s a real treasure in Montgomery, and its mining some young gems, who one day, could be on the big stage themselves. There are still more ASF camps going on this summer for pre-teens and even adults.
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Copyright 2026 WSFA. All rights reserved.
Alabama
Alabama Defense Contractor Agrees to $507K Settlement Over Cybersecurity Allegations
Huntsville-based defense contractor LOGZONE Inc. has agreed to pay $507,144 to resolve allegations that it failed to comply with cybersecurity requirements in contracts with the U.S. Department of the Navy, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The settlement resolves claims brought under the False Claims Act alleging that LOGZONE knowingly submitted claims for payment while not meeting certain cybersecurity standards required under two Navy contracts.
Federal officials alleged that between May 2021 and March 2025, LOGZONE did not implement specific cybersecurity controls outlined in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-171. The standards are designed to protect sensitive defense information handled by government contractors.
According to the Justice Department, the deficiencies were identified during an assessment conducted by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). The evaluation resulted in LOGZONE receiving a score of -170 on a scale ranging from -203 to 110, indicating significant gaps in compliance with required security controls.
The government alleged that the missing cybersecurity measures could have increased the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information or the exploitation of company systems.
The settlement does not include a determination of liability. As part of the agreement, LOGZONE will pay $507,144 to resolve the allegations.
Federal officials said the enforcement action reflects ongoing efforts to ensure government contractors comply with cybersecurity obligations tied to federal contracts, particularly those involving sensitive defense information.
The investigation and settlement involved the Justice Department’s Civil Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama, the Department of the Navy, the Defense Contract Management Agency, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.
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Additional details regarding corrective actions taken by the company were not immediately available.
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