Alabama

RFK Jr. echoes father's call for unity in speech at Alabama, nearly 60 years later – WVUA 23

Published

2 years ago

January 25, 2024

RFK Jr. echoes father's call for unity in speech at Alabama, nearly 60 years later – WVUA 23

By WVUA 23 News Reporter Peyton Newman

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited the University if Alabama Wednesday to tout his reasons why he is running for U.S. president as an independent candidate.

Lifelong Tuscaloosa resident and UA Alumna Kay Reyes watched Robert F. Kennedy Sr. speak on UA’s campus 56 years ago. She met RFK Sr. and attended Wednesday’s event in hopes of meeting his son. RFK Jr. is the fourth Kennedy to run for president.

Kennedy’s speech focused on appealing to college students, presenting policy changes on their key issues such as loans and reinstating the “American Dream”. More so, he wanted to connect with students. He made a joke about himself saying he personally sued Trump twice, “successfully” he added. That caused the reception hall to erupt in laughter.

Given that youth voter turnout has been steadily increasing, attendees thought his move to campuses was strategic for his campaign.

“It’s very much an election that will be decided by the youth vote,” Nolan Adam, UA freshman, said. “And, I think it’s great that he’s including college campuses and the fresh, young, new opinions.”

After Kennedy’s stop on campus, students said they wanted more political events, like this one, in the future.

“Our campus body is able to engage with politics from all different perspectives,” said UA Junior Hannah Adams. “You know, we hosted the Republican debate here at UA and that was such a great way for people to see democracy in action. So, now RFK Jr. getting to come to campus too.”

RFK Sr. spoke on UA’s campus on March 21, 1968. His speech focused national reconciliation. Below is part of his speech at UA from 1968.

“I have come here because our great nation is troubled, divided as never before in our history; divided by a difficult, costly war abroad and by a bitter, destructive crisis at home; divided by our age, by our beliefs, by the color of our skin. I have come here because I seek to join with you in building a better country and a united country. And I come to Alabama because I need your help.”

“For this campaign, in this critical election year, must be far more than a matter of political organization, of courting and counting votes.”

“This election will mean nothing if it leaves us, after it is all over, as divided as we were when it began. We have to begin to put our country together again. So I believe that any who seek high office this year must go before all Americans: not just those who agree with them, but also those who disagree; recognizing that it is not just our supporters, not just those who vote for us, but all Americans, who we must lead in the difficult years ahead.”

-kn

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Alabama

Katie Windham Highlights Alabama Areas of Improvement on The Joe Gaither Show

Published

9 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Katie Windham Highlights Alabama Areas of Improvement on The Joe Gaither Show

Let’s crank up a Thursday edition of “The Joe Gaither Show on BamaCentral” with Mason Woods and Katie Windham as we start getting ready for next week’s College Football Playoff game between Alabama and Oklahoma. Windham detailed how the Crimson Tide can improve over the next few weeks, we discuss the team’s health and look back at our last road trip to Norman. The show then discusses the Heisman Trophy finalists before addressing a Kalen DeBoer coaching rumor.

The program opens by power ranking the holidays before discussing Windham’s three areas the Crimson Tide can improve over the next week. Our trio picks the easiest area the team can improve and how Alabama must perform in Norman. Windham details our last trip to Oklahoma as we go down memory lane to the Sooners’ 24-3 victory last season.

The show continues on by getting Windham’s thoughts on Alabama’a College Football Playoff selection and if the Crimson Tide actually deserved its place in the field. She brings up a unique aspect of Alabama’s blowout loss in the SEC Championship and how it played into the program’s inclusion in the College Football Playoffs.

We move from next week’s game into a small discussion on Notre Dame’s reaction of being left out of the field and how it relates to Alabama’s future home-and-home dates with the Fighting Irish. Will the two esteemed programs still face off in a few years?

The show heads into the only college football action of the weekend by highlighting the strong Heisman Trophy finalist field. Who brings home the bronze statue?

Lastly, we spend the final bit of the show talking about Michigan firing Sherrone Moore and the reports of the Wolverines considering persuing Kalen DeBeor for their next head coach. Will DeBoer leave Tuscaloosa for Ann Arbor?

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Alabama

New Alabama law raises penalties for porch piracy

Published

21 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

New Alabama law raises penalties for porch piracy

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – As holiday deliveries ramp up, a new Alabama law aims to deter package theft by raising penalties for so-called “porch piracy.” The law, which went into effect on October 1, 2025, makes repeated package theft a felony and can carry prison sentences of up to 10 years in the most serious cases.

What changed

Previously, many package thefts in Alabama were charged as misdemeanor theft because the value of individual stolen packages often fell below felony thresholds. Under the new law however, lawmakers established penalties that focus on the number of homes targeted rather than the dollar value of items stolen:

Stealing from 1 to 9 homes: most serious misdemeanor
Stealing from 10 to 29 homes: felony
Stealing from 30 or more homes: can result in up to 10 years in prison

The law also increases penalties if stolen packages are used to commit identity theft or fraud. In addition, anyone who knowingly receives packages stolen by a porch pirate can be charged under the new rules.

Lawmakers weigh in

Senator April Weaver, one of the bill’s sponsors, said the change was meant to protect Alabama families during the holidays.

“It was really important to protect the people not only in my district but throughout the state of Alabama and to make sure their hard-earned money is going to their children’s Christmas,” she said.

On camera, Senator Weaver added with holiday humor, “It means the Grinch may have stolen Christmas in Whoville, but if he does it in Alabama, he’ll have plenty of time in state prison for his heart to grow three sizes.”

What police recommend if your package is stolen

If you discover a stolen package, law enforcement recommends:

Report the theft to police immediately.
Preserve any doorbell or surveillance footage that may show the theft.
Contact the delivery company right away to report the missing item.
Consider requiring a signature on delivery to reduce the risk of theft.

The law went into effect on October 1, 2025; this December marks the first holiday season it is in effect. Alabama is now one of more than a dozen states that have passed laws specifically targeting package theft. Supporters say the law sends a stronger message that porch piracy will no longer be treated as a minor offense.

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Alabama

Roll Tide: Lilly selects Alabama site as location for $6B API facility

Published

2 days ago

December 9, 2025

Press Room

Roll Tide: Lilly selects Alabama site as location for B API facility

Eli Lilly has unveiled the location of the third of its four large-scale manufacturing facilities that it plans to build in the U.S. | Eli Lilly has unveiled the location of the third of its four large-scale manufacturing facilities that it plans to build in the U.S. The drugmaker has selected Huntsville, Alabama, as the site of a $6 billion plant that will produce APIs for small molecule and peptide medicines.

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