MOBILE, Ala. (NBC 15) — Two new Alabama laws are aimed at tackling blight in the city of Mobile. One speeds up the city’s ability to deal with abandoned properties that have become neighborhood eyesores. The other gives neighboring homeowners the first chance to buy abandoned properties before they ever reach a public auction.

For Earl Moore, the overgrown lot on Boykin Blvd. is more than an eyesore. He says he can’t get home insurance because the large tree limbs from the vacant lot hang over his house.

“I’ve been trying to get that straight for the longest,” said Moore.

A new law sponsored by Rep. Barbara Drummond could help. If the property – and others like it – go through the city’s municipal code lien foreclosure process, Moore and other neighboring property owners will get the first opportunity to buy it.

“If it’s affordable, I’d be glad to jump on it,” said Moore.

“This law will simply say that before you put it out to the public, you have to notify Mr. Moore or even the next property owner,” said Drummond. “This way the people in the neighborhood, who are living this every day, will have knowledge that what you have right next door to you is for sale, and if you choose to buy it, and you can, you can extend his property rights. I think it’s going to help us in the long run.”

Drummond says complaints about blight come up at every community meeting she attends. She says the goal is to give residents a chance to invest in and improve their own neighborhoods.

“We have too much blight, and this way we’re going to give citizens an opportunity to help us rid the city of that blight by making them become owners,” said Drummond.

Drummond also sponsored a bill that was signed into law that speeds up the city’s municipal code lien foreclosure process. Both laws only apply to Mobile.

“These specific properties are going to be ones that were identified via code enforcement 99.9% of the time, ones that need to be demolished. So, that’s where that code lien comes from,” said Baxter Bishop, Mobile’s Housing Improvement Program Director.

Under the new law, foreclosure sales will be able to occur 30 days after a court order instead of 45 days, and the deed must be executed within 30 days of the sale instead of 90 days.

“So, instead of having to wait an extra month or two, you know some of these timelines were 90 days and we cut them down to 30, that’s allowing the city to move faster and hoping that we can get that property turned back over into productive use,” said Bishop.

Both laws go into effect on October 1st this year.

Additional performers include Chuck Leavell, Act of Congress, Roman Street, Will McFarlane and the Muscle Shoals All-Stars, Anthony Crawford and Savana Lee, the Montevallo Community Band and numerous other artists representing Alabama’s diverse musical traditions.

Beyond the music, visitors will find historical reenactments, military encampments, battle demonstrations and the popular America’s Stories presentation series, where historians and costumed interpreters bring pivotal moments from American history to life.

The festival will also showcase Alabama’s culinary heritage through America’s Kitchen, featuring live cooking demonstrations and competitions from chefs across the state, including Columbiana native Jonathan Harrison.

Families can expect a full lineup of children’s activities, hands-on educational experiences, games, crafts, puppet shows and performances by Perondi’s All-Star Stunt Dogs.

One unique addition to the July 4 schedule will be a screening of “Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero” at 6:30 p.m. inside the West Wing Theatre. The animated film tells the true story of America’s most decorated war dog and is designed as a family-friendly tribute to service, courage and patriotism.

Organizers say Sweet Home 250 will also place special emphasis on Alabama’s role in the nation’s story.

In addition to exploring America’s founding, the event will highlight Alabama’s contributions to 250 years of American history through music, art, education and cultural programming.

“The Semiquincentennial gives us a rare opportunity to pause and consider the remarkable journey of our country,” Steed said. “We can honor the courage of those who came before us while also thinking about the kind of nation we want to continue building together.”

The celebration will culminate with a fireworks display over Independence Hall on the evening of July 4, providing a fitting finale to Alabama’s largest America 250 event.

For organizers, however, the festival’s lasting impact will extend beyond concerts, exhibits and fireworks.

“We hope people leave inspired,” Miller said. “We want families talking on the drive home about what they saw, what they learned and what it means to be part of this ongoing American story.”

As America approaches its 250th birthday, Sweet Home 250 offers Alabamians an opportunity not only to celebrate the nation’s past but also to reflect on the principles that continue to shape its future.

“America’s story is still being written,” Miller said. “Every generation adds its own chapter. Sweet Home 250 is a chance for all of us to celebrate the chapters that came before us and consider what we will contribute to the next ones.”

The Philadelphia 76ers selected Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. with the 22nd overall pick of the 2026 NBA draft Tuesday night.

Philon is the first pick of the Mike Gansey era after he replaced Daryl Morey as the team’s president of basketball operations.

Who is Labaron Philon Jr.?

Philon, 20, led the Crimson Tide in scoring last season, averaging 22.0 points on nearly 40% shooting on 3-pointers. He was the focal point of one of the nation’s most potent offenses, as Alabama led the country in points per game in the 2025-26 season. The Crimson Tide (No. 16) finished the season with a 25-10 record and went 13-5 against conference opponents.

Philon, who helped lead Alabama to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament, earned Third-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC honors in his sophomore season.

In 33 games last season for Alabama, Philon scored 725 total points, which is ranked third-most by a player in a single season in program history.

Philon was the 34th-ranked basketball recruit in the country entering his freshman season at Alabama, according to 247sports. The four-star guard initially committed to playing at Auburn, but decommitted. He then signed a letter of intent to play at Kansas, but didn’t play there, either. He then committed to the Crimson Tide in April 2024.

Philon impressed as a freshman at Alabama and averaged 10.6 points in 37 games. He declared for the 2025 NBA draft but then withdrew and returned for his sophomore season, where he saw his scoring average jump more than 10 points.

Philon is a Mobile, Alabama, native and played at Baker High School in Mobile County, where he scored 2,334 points in three seasons. He was named the Class 7A Player of the Year twice. 

As a junior, he averaged 35 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists and was named Alabama Mr. Basketball, which is given to the best high school boys’ basketball player in the state. Philon transferred to Link Academy, a boarding school in Missouri, for his senior year of high school.

Philon now joins a backcourt headlined by Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe heading into the 2026-27 season. Quentin Grimes could return to Philadelphia next season and add even more depth, but he’s an unrestricted free agent.

The pick the Sixers used to pick Philon was acquired in the deal that sent Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline.

Labaron Philon Jr. scouting report

CBS Sports had Philon ranked as the 14th-best prospect in the 2026 NBA draft.

Here are his strengths and weaknesses, according to CBS Sports:

Strengths

• On-ball creator who made an extreme leap as a sophomore, ranking in the 99th percentile in isolations (was 24th percentile as a freshman) and 94th as a pick-and-roll handler (was 32nd percentile as a freshman). Combines smooth attack with sudden change of speed and direction, dexterity, and finishing craft in the lane.
• Shot-maker who can make tough shots off both the catch (36% on contested catch-and-shoot 3-pointers), dribble (38% from deep), and has extreme gravity when he’s spacing the floor (46% on unguarded catch-and-shoot 3-pointers).
• Shown pliability to thrive in different roles over the years and is a similarly versatile creator, because he’s a scoring threat at multiple levels and also an accurate, and somewhat creative, passer with both hands off the dribble.

Weaknesses

• Inconsistent defensive approach. Showed more engagement and potential as a freshman, but couldn’t maintain that as a sophomore when taking on a bigger offensive role.
• Lacks overwhelming physicality or highest level explosiveness, and didn’t add any notable muscle mass between his freshman and sophomore seasons (175 pounds at 2025 combine and 176 at 2026 combine).
• Unclear how well his creation scales to the NBA level when he will have less usage and volume coupled by more physicality in opposing defenders.