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Miss Alabama USA 2024: Miss Southern Plains wins the crown

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Miss Alabama USA 2024: Miss Southern Plains wins the crown


Diane Westhoven, a student at Auburn University, is the new Miss Alabama USA.

Westhoven, who competed as Miss Southern Plains, was crowned Saturday night during a ceremony at the Gogue Performing Arts Center in Auburn. She’ll move on to compete in the Miss USA pageant later this year.

Westhoven was one of 34 women vying for the title of Miss Alabama USA 2024. She participated in interview, swimsuit and evening gown segments during preliminaries, and moved on to the finals Saturday night.

READ: Miss Alabama USA 2024: Meet 34 women competing for the crown

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Sophie Burzynski, Miss Alabama USA 2023, crowned her successor at the pageant, which was streamed online via PageantsLive.

Westhoven, from Vestavia Hills, is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority at Auburn. Her goal is to become a physician’s assistant focusing on “the total health of young women,” according to the Miss Alabama USA pageant. Westhoven previously competed for Miss Alabama USA 2023, and took third place last year as Miss Southern Plains.

Ashlyn Powers, who competed as Miss Fairhope, was named first runner-up on Saturday. Allyssa Weyant, Miss Lake Jordan, took third place. Olivia Burchfield, Miss Magic City, came in fourth. Halle Sullivan, Miss Northport, rounded out the top five.

Anna DuVall, who competed as Miss North Alabama, won the People’s Choice Award on Saturday. That meant she raised more money than the other contestants before the pageant began, via $1 online votes. Samantha Huver, who competed as Miss Samantha, won the Congeniality Award. Olivia Burchfield, Miss Magic City, won the Photogenic Award.

Ava LeBlanc is the new Miss Alabama Teen USA. She competed in the 2024 pageant as Miss Shelby County Teen.(Courtesy of RPM Productions)

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The Miss Alabama Teen USA pageant also was held this weekend at the Gogue Center. Ava LeBlanc, who competed as Miss Shelby County Teen, won that competition, besting 32 other contestants. She’ll move on to compete for Miss Teen USA 2024. Kensey Collins, Miss Alabama Teen USA 2023, crowned LeBlanc as her successor on Saturday.

READ: Miss Alabama Teen USA 2024: Meet 33 girls competing for the title

Georgia Busby, who competed as Miss Queen City Teen, was named first runner-up on Saturday. Presley Kauffman, Miss Thompson Teen, took third place. Britain Fuller, Miss North Mobile Teen, came in fourth. Andie Pfannkuch, Miss Auburn Teen, rounded out the top five in the teen group.

Alyssa Peak, who competed as Miss West Blocton Teen, won the People’s Choice Award among the teen group. Cammie Rivers, Miss Saraland Teen, won the Photogenic Award. Lauren Sutherland, Miss Tennessee Valley Teen, won the Congeniality Award.





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What is Alabama’s best burger? Foodie picks this local favorite

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What is Alabama’s best burger? Foodie picks this local favorite


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Every year, Americans devour an estimated 50 million burgers, a sizzling testament to the nation’s enduring passion for beef, buns and bold toppings.

From roadside diners to upscale gastropubs, the hamburger has become a culinary symbol, with each state offering its own unique twist.

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The team at Foodie has taken on the delicious challenge of finding the very best burger in every state. By combing through hundreds of customer reviews, spotlighting local award winners and even digging into regional news coverage, they’ve crafted a list that celebrates standout spots from coast to coast. 

And when it comes to Alabama, one burger rises above the rest.

What is the best burger in Alabama?

In Alabama, Vicki’s Lunch Van in Montgomery claims the top spot.

What sets it apart? According to Foodie, the small, no-frills spot is “darn-near flawless,” known for freshly made cheeseburgers that taste exactly how a classic burger should.

If there’s one dish that defines the experience, it’s the Gunter Pile. This decadent creation layers a juicy burger patty with gravy and a mixture of fried and crispy onions, all atop a bed of fries. It’s messy, indulgent and distinctly Southern.

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How to grab your burger at Vicki’s Lunch Van

If you want to try Vicki’s Lunch Van, note that this Montgomery favorite typically operates during limited lunch hours. Vicki’s is located at 106 Coliseum Blvd. 

A lasting legacy

According to posts shared on Facebook, the restaurant’s owner, Vicki Lammon, passed away in February 2026.

The news brought an outpouring of support and memories from devoted customers. Many spoke not just of the quality of the food, but also of the welcoming atmosphere and personal touch that made the place special.

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.



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No. 16 Alabama Slugs Its Way To Series-Opening Win Over No. 11 Oklahoma

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No. 16 Alabama Slugs Its Way To Series-Opening Win Over No. 11 Oklahoma


The tone was set on the first pitch of the game.

Bryce Fowler sent a no-doubter over the left field wall, the first of four home runs that No. 16 Alabama would hit in the first two innings, as the Crimson Tide slugged its way to a 10-7 over No. 11 Oklahoma in the series opener.

Justin Lebron flew out immediately after Fowler’s leadoff blast, but Brady Neal then nearly went yard himself. The ball was about an inch from clearing the wall, and instead bounced off it for a triple. Neal would come in to score off a two-out John Lemm single, giving Alabama a 2-0 lead after the opening frame.

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The Sooners would get one back in the bottom of the inning, but Alabama flipped the game upside down in the second. Justin Osterhouse and Brennan Holt were plunked, bringing Fowler back up with two on and one out. Fowler then demolished a ball to right field for the first multi-home run game of his career.

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“He’s just a tough competitor, man. That’s Bryce Fowler in a nutshell,” head coach Rob Vaughn said. “The bigger the moment, the better he is. Not only the swings last weekend, but the defense in center last weekend, and then the unbelievable at-bats really set the tone today.”

Justin Lebron then drew a five-pitch walk and, per usual, stole second. He came about as close as he has all season to getting thrown out, but slid in safely for his 24th stolen base of the season, most in the SEC by a significant margin. The shortstop then came home on a single from Neal, which marked the end of starter LJ Mercurius’ evening.

Mercurius’ season ERA rose from 3.53 to 5.11 as Alabama scored seven off him. He was replaced by his brother, Xander, who did not fare much better in that second, as Jason Torres took his first pitch of the day deep, extending Alabama’s lead to seven runs.

After Lemm recorded another hit, Osterhouse added the exclamation point with the third home run of the inning. As Oklahoma finally left the field after a Luke Vaughn groundout, Alabama held a 10-1 lead.

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Tyler Fay settled in on the mound for Alabama, putting together 1-2-3 frames in the second, third and fourth innings. On the flip side, Xander Mercurius put together a very impressive relief appearance, giving up just one more hit and keeping Alabama off the board for the rest of his night as the freshman worked into the eighth.

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The Sooners added three runs in the fifth off a pair of home runs, but that was all the offense to speak of. Fay ended up going 6.0 innings, allowing seven hits and four runs in a performance that, while obviously not at the level of his last two dominant outings, was more than enough given the run support.

Oklahoma put three more on the board in the ninth, forcing reliever Sam Mitchell out of the game after a leadoff home run and then a two-out, two-RBI triple that cut the deficit to three. Oklahoma had the tying run on deck, but Matthew Heiberger came in and recorded a strikeout to end the game and give Alabama the opener.

Alabama will play for the series win earlier than expected, as Saturday’s game was moved up from 6:30 to 1 p.m. CT due to expected inclement weather. The contest will air on SEC Network+.

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Explosive Kentucky wide receiver earns Alabama offer, locks in official visit

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Explosive Kentucky wide receiver earns Alabama offer, locks in official visit




Cam Wade earned an Alabama football offer earlier this week and locked in a return visit date for an official.

Wade is a 2027 recruit, and he attends Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah, Kentucky. Alabama is the latest program to offer the junior, but he holds previous offers from Florida, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Maryland and others.

The Kentucky product said earning an Alabama offer means a lot to him.

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“As a kid growing up watching college football, you always dreamed about Alabama,” Wade said. “Just a wonderful experience, and I’m grateful.”

Wade was on campus for a visit when he earned his offer from the Tide, and the visit was a success.

“You can feel the intensity as soon as you walk in the door,” Wade told Touchdown Alabama. “I loved that, also how close the coaching staff was with each other was also great.”

Alabama will get Wade on campus on the weekend of May 29-31 for his official visit.

Wade is an explosive wide receiver with proven speed. He holds a PR of 10.6 in the 100-meter dash and a 21.6 in the 200-meter dash. This speed translates over to the field, and it makes him dangerous in different aspects of the game.

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Watch Cam Wade’s Highlights Below:







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