Alabama
Rabies warning issued after fox attacks person in Alabama
Does that animal have rabies? Here are signs and symptoms to look for
Rabies is an infectious disease that affects the central nervous system in mammals. Here’s what to look for in pets.
The Republic
State health officials are urging people to keep their pets vaccinated for rabies after a fox in Elmore County and a raccoon in Lee County tested positive for the virus.
On May 1, the raccoon was spotted acting strangely near Auburn, and the fox emerged from a wooded area and attacked a person in Tallassee, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. The person has sought medical treatment.
“Rabies is not seasonal, and we continue to see cases year-round, but late spring is a time when activity peaks, particularly in wildlife,” said Dr. Dee Jones, state veterinarian for the ADPH, “The primary risk of rabies from wildlife is our pets, and keeping them up to date on rabies vaccine is critical.”
Alabama state law requires that dogs, cats and ferrets 12 weeks of age and older be current with rabies vaccination. In addition to vaccination, area residents are advised to take the following precautions to avoid possible exposure to rabies:
- Do not leave uneaten pet food or scraps near your residence.
- Do not allow pets to run loose; confine them within a fenced-in area or with a leash.
- Do not illegally feed or keep wildlife as pets.
- Do not go near wildlife or domestic animals that are acting in a strange or unusual manner.
- Caution children not to go near any stray or wild animal, regardless of its behavior.
Contact Montgomery Advertiser reporter Marty Roney at mroney@gannett.com. To support his work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
ADOW Names Eddie Wiggins as Chief Inspections Officer
MONTGOMERY – Alabama Secretary of Workforce Greg J. Reed announced today that Eddie Wiggins has been appointed to the role of Chief Inspections officer. In this role, Wiggins will lead the Elevator and Boilers Division, the Mining Division, and the Child Labor Division. These divisions are responsible for regulating and ensuring safety for all Alabamians.
“I am confident Eddie will be a significant asset to our organization,” said Reed. “His years of experience, professionalism, and commitment to safety will result in a safer Alabama for all of us.”
Wiggins has been employed with the agency since 2020. Prior to his promotion, he worked as the agency’s Chief Elevator/Boiler Inspector and was responsible for overseeing the Inspections and Child Labor Department and ensuring the safe operation and compliance of elevators, boilers, and pressure vessels. Before his employment with ADOW, Wiggins worked as a Boiler/Elevator Inspector and Loss Control Engineer in the insurance industry. He has performed inspections in most of the United States. He also served on the Alabama Boiler Board and the National Board Inspection Code committees. Since his employment with the agency, Wiggins has served as a member of the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors.
Wiggins has been married to his wife, Beverly, for 45 years. They have a son, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
The Alabama football offense has its share of questions heading into the 2026 season. But none may be bigger than one.
Can Alabama find stability in its 2026 run game?
Alabama struggled to run the ball in 2025, finishing with the second-worst run game in the SEC averaging a little more than 100 rushing yards per game. Will the Crimson Tide improve in 2026?
Here are three questions about the Alabama’s 2026 running back room.
How much of a load will EJ Crowell carry in Alabama football run game?
In Kalen DeBoer’s ideal world, EJ Crowell would make an impact immediately as an Alabama freshman.
While Crowell spent the spring navigating a lower-body injury — attending 2026 A-Day on a medical scooter with a boot on his right foot — DeBoer told The Tuscaloosa News in May he wants Crowell to “get incorporated full-fledged with some urgency with as much as he can handle.”
When Crowell was healthy at Jackson High School, he was electric, needing only three seasons to accumulate more than 6,000 rushing yards and 91 rushing touchdowns.
Alabama hasn’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Brian Robinson. TJ Yeldon was the last Crimson Tide freshman back to eclipse 1,000 yards. Could Crowell be next?
Can Daniel Hill or Kevin Riley take next step?
Daniel Hill showed flashes of success. He was the bellcow back in Alabama’s regular season loss to Oklahoma, leading the team in carries and rushing yards and scoring two touchdowns.
Kevin Riley’s days came in blowouts, recording 69 yards against Louisiana Monroe and two touchdowns against Eastern Illinois.
Both Riley and Hill are back. If Crowell takes awhile to adjust, or is still recovering from injury, both would likely shoulder the run game workload.
Can Alabama flourish if Hill and Riley are at the top of the depth chart?
Will lack of run game force Alabama to be one-dimensional offensively?
One Alabama back had a 100-yard game in 2025.
In Alabama’s 30-14 home win against Vanderbilt, Jam Miller had 136 rushing yards on 22 carries, adding a 20-yard touchdown run. The run game, as a whole, averaged 3.8 yards per carry.
With Miller’s 100-yard performance, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson added 340 passing yards and two touchdown passes.
The 2026 offense looks similar to 2025, at least from a quarterback perspective. Neither Austin Mack nor Keelon Russell have a career start, and both bring even less experience than Simpson had.
Can a stagnant run game in 2025 be revived in 2026, especially for an offense that may desperately need it?
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter or Instagram @colingaytnews.
(WHNT) — Residents of North Alabama made it out to the polls on Tuesday for the 2026 Primary Runoff Elections, and News 19 is following the results as they come in.
We are following several runoff races, including multiple state races.
News 19 is updating the election results as they become available. You can find the results for each runoff race below:
-
Missouri3 minutes ago
Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for June 17, 2026
-
Montana10 minutes ago
Montana Lottery Powerball, Lotto America results for June 17, 2026
-
Nebraska18 minutes agoBandits back in the win column with tournament-opening victory in Nebraska – East Idaho News
-
Nevada25 minutes agoLETTER: Don’t target Nevada EVs with taxes
-
New Hampshire28 minutes agoHusband kills wife, then himself, in N.H. home, officials believe
-
New Jersey33 minutes agoShooting investigation underway at South Jersey residential complex, source says
-
New Mexico40 minutes agoRio Fire grows to 128 acres
-
North Carolina43 minutes agoCollege World Series finals set: North Carolina vs. Oklahoma for the national title
