Alabama
Kalen DeBoer Explains Alabama’s New A-Day Format
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — For years, Alabama’s annual spring game featured a matchup between the Crimson team and the White team. But in Kalen DeBoer’s first season, the new Crimson Tide head coach is switching things up.
Instead of Crimson vs. White, it will be offense vs. defense without pre-divided teams. DeBeor explained his reasoning during Thursday evening’s press conference.
“I like to look at as practice No. 15,” DeBoer said. “We’ll see a lot of great scrimmaging out there, but it’s a chance for us to get better. It’s a chance for us to take a next step, a chance for us to evaluate as well. And so try to get down to the bare bones of really trying to play some football. It gives us a chance to really also celebrate what we’re doing and where we’re at and enjoy the moment with the fans.”
Much to the delight of the players, not all spring game traditions are going away. Even though the scoring and team divisions will be a little different, there will still be a “winner” and “loser” on A-Day with both sides being able to score points with the score being kept on the field. And DeBoer plans on upholding the tradition of the steak and beans dinner with steak and all the fixings for the winners, and beans and hot dogs for the losers.
“There’s traditions that the guys bring up that have certainly been important, that they feel strong about,” DeBoer said. “I’m still learning some of those, things that maybe haven’t come up yet. You’re still learning some of those really neat things that are important to these guys because it’s happened in the program for many years.”
In Nick Saban’s first A-Day at Alabama in the spring of 2007, more than 90,000 fans filled out Bryant-Denny Stadium, and DeBoer hopes to see a similar environment this weekend when the Crimson Tide takes the field at 3 p.m. for the annual spring scrimmage.
“Excited to see a packed stadium there and looking forward to seeing everyone come and support our program.”
Alabama
2019 Alabama Prison Escapee Now Facing Florida Charges For Walnut Hill Machete Carjacking : NorthEscambia.com
A man who escaped an Alabama prison facility and allegedly staged a local carjacking in 2019 has been extradited to Escambia County, Florida.
Travis Wyatt Dawson was served with outstanding warrants and extricated last week for felony carjacking with a weapon and misdemeanor battery. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $102,500.
The charges stem from a July 14, 2019, incident on Miller Road in Walnut Hill. Dawson, who had escaped from a Loxley, Alabama, work release center four days prior, allegedly grabbed a victim from behind, brandished a machete, and stole a 2016 Dodge Caravan. As Dawson fled the scene, a witness jumped into the back of the minivan to try to stop him. The vehicle was later found abandoned after running out of gas at Interstate 65 and Government Street in Mobile.
Dawson eluded capture until May 2020, when he was apprehended in Louisiana.
At the time of his escape, Dawson was serving a 20 years sentence for a 2013 convocation for possession of a controlled substance in Escambia County, Alabama.
A man who escaped an Alabama prison facility in 2019 and allegedly staged a local carjacking has been extradited to Escambia County, Florida.
Travis Wyatt Dawson was served with outstanding warrants and extricated last week for felony carjacking with a weapon and misdemeanor battery.
The charges stem from a July 14, 2019, incident on Miller Road in Walnut Hill. Dawson, who had escaped from a Loxley, Alabama, work release center four days prior, allegedly grabbed a victim from behind, brandished a machete, and stole a 2016 Dodge Caravan. As Dawson fled the scene, a witness jumped into the back of the minivan to try to stop him. The vehicle was later found abandoned after running out of gas at Interstate 65 and Government Street in Mobile.
Dawson eluded capture until May 2020, when he was apprehended in Louisiana.
At the time of his escape, Dawson was serving a 20 years sentence for a 2013 convocation for possession of a controlled substance in Escambia County, Alabama.
Pictured top: Officers from the Alabama Department of Corrections speak to an Escambia County (FL) deputy and a citizen a roadblock on Miller Road in Florida on July 12, 2019. Dawson allegedly carjacked a minivan just a few yards from this location on July 14, 2019. Pictured below: An Escambia County (FL) Road Prison K-9 team searches near a Rockaway Creek Road bridge that spans the Alabama-Florida state line. Pictured bottom: An Escambia County (FL) deputy helps maintain a perimeter around a neighborhood along Rockaway Creek Road at Grubbs Street in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Some Alabama downtowns just feel made for a slow walk and a good coffee, and a new ranking says there’s plenty of them.
World Atlas recently highlighted 10 small towns with the best downtowns in Alabama in a recent travel roundup, pointing to walkable streets, historic storefronts and locally owned shops that give each destination its own sense of place.
The list reflects a growing interest in small-town travel, where downtown districts serve as hubs for dining, shopping and community life.
Standout Alabama downtowns highlighted by World Atlas
A few of the towns on the list stand out for especially distinctive downtown experiences. Here’s what World Atlas had to say.
In Fairhope, a waterfront downtown meets a historic shopping district, where Fairhope Avenue leads to Mobile Bay and the city’s iconic pier stretches into wide coastal views. Independent bookstores, antique shops and cafes anchor a walkable core that feels both coastal and classic.
Opelika has transformed its railroad heritage into a lively downtown scene. Brick storefronts line North Railroad Avenue, now home to breweries and distilleries like John Emerald Distilling Company, along with a growing cluster of locally owned restaurants and tasting rooms.
In Eufaula, antebellum architecture defines the downtown experience. Grand historic homes, courthouse squares and the Yoholo Micco Creek Trail combine history and nature in a setting that feels deeply preserved and unusually expansive for a small city.
And in Monroeville, literary history shapes nearly every corner of downtown. The courthouse square and surrounding district reflect the legacy of To Kill a Mockingbird, with museums, sculptures and shaded public spaces that reinforce its identity as Alabama’s Literary Capital.
Some of the most unique features on the list
Several towns also stand out for their one-of-a-kind attractions:
- Montevallo features more than 50 intricate tree carvings hidden throughout Orr Park
- Abbeville is home to Huggin’ Molly’s, a 1950s-style diner inspired by a local ghost legend
- Fairhope’s pier and coastal park system offer one of the most scenic downtown waterfronts in the state
World Atlas’s 10 best downtowns in Alabama
- Fairhope: waterfront pier, bookstores and bayside views.
- Opelika: railroad district and craft distilleries.
- Eufaula: 700+ historic structures and scenic trail.
- Cullman: German heritage and Oktoberfest events.
- Wetumpka: Coosa River views and historic district.
- Abbeville: 1950s neon and Huggin’ Molly’s diner.
- Tuscumbia: Helen Keller birthplace and Spring Park.
- Montevallo: arts scene and tree carving park.
- Monroeville: “To Kill a Mockingbird” courthouse.
- Sheffield: Tennessee River views and arts venues.
Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@usatodayco.com.
OZARK, Ala. (WTVY) – Dale County Schools Superintendent Ben Baker has been named Alabama’s Superintendent of the Year.
The honor was announced at the State School Superintendent Association Conference, which celebrates leaders who champion public education and academic progress.
Under Baker’s leadership, Dale County Schools scored a 95 on the state report card, the highest score recorded by a county school in state history.
Baker was recognized by State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey. He said the award reflects the work of his staff.
“I recognize that it has a lot to do with the good people that work for Dale County Schools, that work hard every day to try to create opportunities for our students,” Baker said. “Superintendents across our state really work hard to provide the best opportunities for our students, and I’m excited to have this platform because I’m going to use this platform to share the great things going on in Dale County, and also the great things going on in the state of Alabama.”
Baker was one of nine finalists up for the award.
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