Ever been traveling Interstate 65 in Alabama and been looking for something to eat and don’t want the usual chain exit stops? Luckily for us all, there are plenty of restaurants right off the interstate that are just what you are looking for.
For the sake of this article, I narrowed it down to places just a couple of miles from an exit. If you have to travel a while to make it to the restaurant, it didn’t make this list.
Also: I know there are plenty of great places I missed. (Interstate 65 is awfully long, after all.) If you have a suggestion, send my way!
The counters with sugared nuts and fudge are popular with customers at Buc-ee’s in Leeds, Alabama.(Mary Colurso | mcolurso@AL.com)
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Buc-ee’s
2328 Lindsey Lane, Athens
Exit 347
You can’t have an interstate stop list without having Buc-ee’s on there, right?
Sure, it’s technically not a restaurant, but you can find plenty of food at the Texas-based mega-convenience store. Buc-ee’s is most well-known for its brisket and beaver nuggets, but I’ll argue its burritos (both breakfast and lunch/dinner) are the stars of the show. Grab a couple of bags of candy (Buc-ee’s gummies are fresher than the ones you’ll find at other gas stations) and a massive fountain drink and you’ll have plenty of food for your road trip.
(And don’t forget about the clean restrooms while you’re there.)
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READ MORE: 5 things you should buy at Buc-ee’s
The orange rolls at the All Steak Restaurant in Cullman, Ala., are featured on the Alabama Tourism Department’s list of 100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die. (Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)
All Steak Restaurant
323 3rd Ave. SE, Cullman
Exit 308
Looking for a nicer meal instead? Just a couple miles off Interstate 65 is one of Cullman’s most iconic restaurants: All Steak.
All Steak, which goes back to the 1930s, has a menu ranging from Gulf seafood to prime rib to smashburgers. (And there’s a kid’s menu, too, if you have young ones with you.)
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But the real stars of the show are All Steak’s orange rolls, which have been named as one of the “100 dishes to eat in Alabama” by the state tourism department. When these rolls are piping hot, they’re some of the best treats you’ll ever eat. (And when they’re cold, they’re still pretty near perfect.) Make sure to get some for the road – you’ll want them later.
READ MORE: Reviving an Alabama classic at All Steak
Annie Mae’s Wing Stop in Warrior. (Tamika Moore)Haley Laurence
Annie Mae’s Wing Stop
9943 Cooper Drive, Warrior
Exit 282
Locals are mighty proud of Annie Mae’s Wing Stop and after one bite it’s pretty easy to see why. The small eatery serves up plenty of wing flavors ranging from Jamaican Jerk to Garlic Parmesan to Brown Sugar Bourbon. And if you’re not in the mood for wings, that’s totally fine. (OK, it’s not fine, because you’re missing out.) Annie Mae’s also serves catfish filets, cheesesteak rolls, pork chops and more, and you’ll be satisfied with whatever you order.
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No matter how full you are, don’t miss out on the banana pudding. A year ago, my colleague Tamika Moore stopped by Annie Mae’s after a recommendation from locals, and she’s still gushing about the banana pudding.
I’ll say this: The restaurant isn’t fancy. It’s a bit of a hole-in-the-wall. But we all know by now that those are the best places, right?
Sushi Village in Gardendale, Alabama. (Tamika Moore)Tamika Moore
Sushi Village
592 Fieldstown Road, Gardendale
Exit 271
I’m a huge Sushi Village fan. Is it the state’s best sushi? No. But it does serve above average sushi at a pretty reasonable price, and I’m more than good with that.
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You can find the best deals here at lunchtime. My go-to is the Maki Roll special; you get to choose any two rolls plus get salad and a soup as well, all for less than $15. At lunchtime the restaurant also offers bento boxes, hibachi specials, teriyaki platters and more at good prices.
It’s easy to overlook Sushi Village – it’s in a strip mall right off of the busy Fieldstown Road, but it’s definitely worth the stop.
Tony Pettus works the steam table line at Niki’s West in Birmingham, Ala.(Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)
Niki’s West
233 Finley Ave., Birmingham
Exit 262B
My colleague Bob Carlton has called Niki’s West “the mothership of Birmingham meat-and-threes,” and I can’t think of a better description for the iconic Magic City cafeteria-style restaurant. If you want a taste of Birmingham, then Niki’s West is it.
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The meat-and-three offers a huge, almost overwhelming variety of meats, fishes, veggies and desserts on its steam table each day to thousands of guests. If you’ve never been to Niki’s West before, I’ll warn you ahead of time: The line gets long, but it goes pretty fast because you’re expected to know what you want by the time you get to the front. It’s not a time to ask a zillion questions about the food. But if you don’t know what you want by the time it’s your turn, use my method: Just point at the first items you see. You might find some new favorites that way.
READ MORE: The story of Niki’s West
Smoked wings at Creekside BBQ in Pelham, Ala.(Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)
Creekside BBQ
1020 Oak Mountain Park Road, Pelham
Exit 246
Located in a former Waffle House building, Creekside BBQ is far from your typical BBQ joint. Fronted by Chef Eric Pippert, you can find plenty of smoked meats and elevated sides on the menu. The restaurant, open since 2021, is well known for its barbecue and smash burgers, but my colleague Bob Carlton (who knows a lot about Alabama food) named another menu item one of his favorite eats of 2022: The smoked wings.
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“Pippert covers the wings with a dry rub and smokes them for a couple of hours before flash-frying them and tossing them in an Alabama white sauce combined with some more dry rub,” Bob wrote. “They’re crispy on the outside and smoky on the inside with a little hint of heat on the back end.”
Order some wings and cheesy grits (or whatever else your heart desires on the menu) and get a seat on the outdoors patio, where you can watch TV or enjoy a view of Bishop Creek.
Durbin Farms Market in Clanton, Ala.(Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)
2130 7th St. S., Clanton
Exit 205
Durbin Farms is an Alabama treasure. Stop by in the summer, and you’ll find a huge parking lot full of cars. That’s because people stop by on their way to and from the beach – and continue to do that, year after year.
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You’ll find plenty of fresh fruits and veggies at the market, along with knick knacks available to purchase. Stop by the restaurant portion of the market to order a hot or cold sandwich, then grab some homemade desserts. The ice cream is splendid, and the peach ice cream also made the “100 dishes to eat in Alabama” list by the Alabama Tourism Department.
READ MORE: The history of Durbin Farms
The view from Capitol Oyster Bar. (Jared Boyd)Jared Boyd
Capitol Oyster Bar
617 Shady St., Montgomery
Exit 173
If I lived in Montgomery, I’d be at Capitol Oyster Bar every week.
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The restaurant is just the very definition of good vibes – it’s lowkey, non-fussy and has a relaxed atmosphere that makes it seem more like a locals-only beach restaurant than a seafood joint in Alabama’s Capital City. (It’s probably due to the restaurant being on the Alabama River, which you can get a lovely view of on Capitol Oyster Bar’s patio.)
The restaurant has a pretty tasty menu – the fried gator tails have never disappointed me, just FYI – and the oysters are pretty solid. (We named it the state’s best oyster bar back in 2016.) It’s a couple of miles off Interstate 65, but it’s worth it to check out one of the state’s best-kept secrets.
READ MORE: 5 things to know about Capitol Oyster Bar
BBQ 65 in Greenville.Haley Laurence
BBQ 65
2391 Pineapple Highway, Greenville
Exit 128
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On a somewhat recent-ish trip south to Dauphin Island, my family and I stopped at a gas station off I-65. Right when we got out of the car, we were assaulted with the most wonderful barbecue aromas we’ve ever smelled. We had just eaten lunch, but we kept saying, “Do we need to eat again? Where is that smell coming from?”
Turns out it was right across the street from us at another gas station, where BBQ 65 is located. And oh, BBQ 65 has some mighty delicious food (and some heavenly sweet tea). From the barbecue chicken to the pulled pork, the meats are cooked perfectly. Don’t overlook the sides – the mac and cheese is top tier, and there are usually plenty of seasonal options.
And while you won’t always find Alabama white sauce in south Alabama barbecue joints, you’ll find it here. All in all, a must visit for any Alabama barbecue fan.
READ MORE: Have you taken our Alabama BBQ IQ quiz yet?
A cracked black pepper sausage dog at the Conecuh Sausage gift shop in Evergreen, Ala.(Bob Carlton/bcarlton@al.com)
Conecuh Sausage Gift Shop
200 Industrial Park Road, Evergreen
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Exit 96
There are no Alabama food brands more beloved than Conecuh Sausage, and the Conecuh Sausage Gift Shop lives up to the brand’s popularity.
Inside the shop, there’s a food court where you can grab a few hot Conecuh dogs and smother them with toppings. (There’s also usually a daily special like a soup or stew that incorporates the sausage into the dish if you’d prefer to go that route.) Grab a homemade dessert and eat on the covered outdoors area – you can people watch while you eat. Best of all, the dogs are pretty inexpensive and one of the cheaper meals you can find, well, anywhere in 2024, honestly.
While you’re there, browse the gift shop – there are plenty of T-shirts, locally made goods and Conecuh meats to choose from. And pro tip: Use the restroom while you’re there. It’s absolutely one of the nicest restrooms you can stop at off the interstate.
READ MORE: The Conecuh Gift Shop is hog heaven, y’all.
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Stagecoach Cafe in Stockton, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com).
Stagecoach Cafe
52860 AL 59, Stockton
Exit 31
If you’re looking for Southern comfort food and a server who affectionately calls you “hun,” then Stagecoach Cafe has you covered. The casual restaurant is a couple of miles off the interstate and serves meats, veggies and desserts that will make you leave and say, “Why did I eat so much?”
You can order off a menu or get food from the buffet. You can never make a bad decision by getting the fried chicken from here – it’s outstanding.
If you have stretchy pants, wear ‘em. You’ll need them.
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Breakfast gumbo is served starting at 2:30 a.m. every day at Satsuma Chevron Breakfast & BBQ. (Michelle Matthews/mmatthews@al.com)
Satsuma Chevron
6105 US 43, Satsuma
Exit 19
If you’re not from Alabama, you may be saying, “But Haley, this is a gas station. Why is this a must-stop for food?”
And as a lifelong Alabamian, I’d have to respond, “Oh, you sweet soul. Some of our best food comes from gas stations.”
And Satsuma’s Chevron has some of the best food around. All of the food served is stellar, but it’s best known for its breakfast gumbo. Yes, say that again with me, breakfast gumbo.
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The dish is cheesy grits topped with Conecuh sausage, Applewood-smoked bacon, scrambled eggs, green onion and diced sausage patties, and after one bite you’ll discover why people come from all over to try it – and why we named it one of the state’s best breakfasts.
Alabama CHOOSE Act draws a record number of applicants in its second year
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THE FORECAST. ALL RIGHT. JASON. WELL, THIS WEEK IS NATIONAL SCHOOL CHOICE WEEK MEANT TO GIVE PARENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AWARENESS OF THE OPTIONS THEY HAVE FOR THEIR CHILD’S EDUCATION. AND SOME RECENT POLLS IN ALABAMA SHOW THAT HAVING THAT CHOICE IS GROWING IN POPULARITY WITH PARENTS. A POLL COMMISSIONED BY NEW SCHOOLS FOR ALABAMA SHOWS THAT 67% OF THOSE SURVEYED SUPPORT A PARENT’S RIGHT TO CHOOSE WHERE THEIR CHILD GOES TO SCHOOL. NOW, THOSE POLLED ALSO SHOWED A 30 POINT JUMP IN OVERALL SUPPORT FOR OPTIONS LIKE CHARTER SCHOOLS, WHICH ARE A PUBLICLY FUNDED SCHOOL OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY FROM A SCHOOL DISTRICT. HERE IN ALABAMA, IT’S EASIER THAN EVER FOR PARENTS TO CHOOSE DIFFERENT AVENUES OF EDUCATION FOR THEIR CHILDREN. ALABAMA’S CHOOSE ACT GIVES PARENTS THE ABILITY TO PAY FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHOOLING THROUGH WHAT’S CALLED EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. WVTM 13 SARAH KILLIAN HAS A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW THIS WORKS AND THE IMPACT IT’S HAD ON FAMILIES IN OUR AREA. FOR JOEY, BETH AND JOSH BUGG OF HOOVER, HOMESCHOOLING THEIR DAUGHTERS WASN’T JUST A CHOICE, IT WAS A CALLING. WE REALLY FELT A VERY STRONG PEACE FROM GOD TO BE LIKE, THIS IS THIS IS THE RIGHT THING FOR YOUR FAMILY. BUT THAT CALLING WAS IN JEOPARDY IN 2024 WHEN JOSH LOST HIS JOB. HOMESCHOOLING IS VERY EXPENSIVE. CURRICULUM AND TECHNOLOGY AND PRINTERS AND PAPER AND MATERIALS ADDS UP VERY, VERY QUICKLY. WITH THAT FINANCIAL BURDEN LOOMING, A FRIEND OF CHURCH TOLD THE COUPLE ABOUT THE CHOOSE ACT ALABAMA SCHOOL CHOICE LAW. IT JUST WENT INTO EFFECT IN 2025. IT PROVIDES REFUNDABLE TAX CREDITS THROUGH EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, UP TO $7,000 FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND $2,000 FOR HOMESCHOOL STUDENTS. IT IS A LOT OF WORK TO GET IT AND TO GET THE ACCOUNT AND USE IT CORRECTLY AND SUBMIT IT. SUBMIT FORMS TO GET YOUR CURRICULUM OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE. BUT FOR US, IT WAS DEFINITELY WORTH IT. IT WAS HARD WORK, BUT IT WAS WORTH IT. AND IT’S BEEN WORTH IT FOR THOUSANDS OF OTHER FAMILIES IN ALABAMA. ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE AND THE TAX YEAR, 23,206 STUDENTS WERE APPROVED FOR EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS, AND OF THOSE STUDENTS APPROVED, MORE THAN 19,000 RECEIVED THE MONEY, AND THE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS ARE IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS. WHILE MORE THAN 7000 HOMESCHOOL STATE REPRESENTATIVE DANNY GARRETT OF TRUSSVILLE WAS ONE OF THE SPONSORS OF THE CHOOSE ACT. HE SAYS HE FELT STRONGLY THAT THE STATE NEEDED TO ADDRESS A GROWING TREND. EVERYTHING IS ABOUT CUSTOMIZATION, FLEXIBILITY AND CHOICE, AND EDUCATION IS NO DIFFERENT. ALABAMA IS ONE OF 18 STATES THAT FUND EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. SOME CRITICS SAY THAT THESE TAKE AWAY FROM FUNDING PUBLIC SCHOOLS. EVERY YEAR. WE’VE INCREASED THE EDUCATION BUDGETS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS EVERY YEAR ARE GETTING MORE EVEN WITH THE CHOOSE ACT, THE $100 MILLION OF AN $11 BILLION BUDGET THAT’S SETTING ASIDE FOR TUESDAY, THEY’RE STILL GETTING MORE MONEY. AND PUBLIC EDUCATION LEADERS IN THE STATE ARE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON THAT. RYAN HOLLINGSWORTH IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS OF ALABAMA. HE FOLLOWED THE CHOOSE ACT CLOSELY AS IT MADE ITS WAY THROUGH THE STATE LEGISLATURE. THE LEGISLATION IS A PRETTY NICE IMPROVEMENT OVER SOME OTHER THINGS ACROSS THE NATION. IN ALABAMA, WE, THE LEGISLATURE, OUR LEADERSHIP, AND SET UP A SEPARATE ACCOUNT. SO THE ESSA ACTUALLY COMES OUT OF THE FUND, NOT DIRECTLY OUT OF THE EDUCATION BUDGET. AND WHILE HE AGREES THAT AS OF RIGHT NOW, PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE NOT BEEN SHORT CHANGED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE, HE DOES WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE. YOU’RE SEEING THE EDUCATION REVENUE START TO FLATTEN. IF OUR REVENUES FLATTEN, THEN HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GROW A CERTAIN PROGRAM WITHOUT TAKING AWAY FROM ANOTHER PROGRAM? STATE REPRESENTATIVE GARRETT IS QUICK TO ASSURE THAT FUNDING FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION ISN’T GOING ANYWHERE. BUT THINGS ARE CHANGING. WE’VE NOT SEEN ANY STATE THAT’S HAD SCHOOL CHOICE SEE A MASS EXODUS FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE A CONTINUED SHIFT. I THINK MORE AND MORE FEWER AND FEWER TO PRIVATE SCHOOL, MORE TO THE HOMESCHOOL MICRO SCHOOL. THOSE THOSE CONCEPTS SEEM TO BE REALLY GROWING AND GAINING, GAINING STEAM. THE HOMESCHOOL MOVEMENT HIT ITS PEAK DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND IT CONTINUES STRONG TODAY. APPROXIMATELY 3 MILLION STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY HOMESCHOOL, AND WHEN THE BUCK FAMILY STARTED THEIR HOMESCHOOL JOURNEY IN 2023, THEY WEREN’T ALONE. SO THE LORD PUT IT ONTO MY HEART TO REACH OUT TO MY CHURCH FAMILY AND TALK TO DIFFERENT MOMS. AND BEYOND THAT, HE JUST REALLY STARTED BLESSING WITH MANY, MANY DIFFERENT MOM FRIENDS THAT WERE EITHER HAD BEEN HOMESCHOOLING FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR WERE CONSIDERING HOMESCHOOLING, AND TOGETHER THE BUGS AND OTHER FAMILIES AT HUNTER STREET BAPTIST CHURCH IN HOOVER STARTED THEIR OWN HOMESCHOOL COOPERATIVE, THE HUNTER HOMESCHOOL COOPERATIVE IS IN ITS SECOND YEAR AND HAS 63 STUDENTS GRADES ONE THROUGH FOUR. BRITTANY QUINN IS THE ADMINISTRATOR. PARENTS DROP THEIR KIDS OFF FROM 830 AND WE STAY UNTIL 130, SO TWO HALF DAYS A WEEK AND WE COVER ACADEMICS. WE HAVE CHAPEL EVERY DAY, TIME FOR RECREATION. YOU’VE GOT A GOOD HALF DAY, TWICE A WEEK OF ACADEMIC LEARNING, BUT THEN YOU ALSO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO DO THAT AT HOME, BY YOURSELF, WITH YOUR PARENTS, OR WITH A GROUP, OR AT THE PARK, OR AT THE LIBRARY OR ON YOUR COUCH. FOR THE FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE CO-OP, IT OFFERS COMMUNITY. I FEEL LIKE IT HAS JUST OPENED UP A WORLD OF DIFFERENT THINGS FOR OUR DAUGHTER AND OUR UPCOMING DAUGHTER TO LEARN ABOUT AND SEE THAT SHE MIGHT NOT HAVE GOTTEN OTHERWISE. AND FOR THE BUGS, HOMESCHOOLING WOULD BE THEIR CHOICE. WITH OR WITHOUT THE CHOOSE ACT, WE KNOW THAT IT’S THE RIGHT FIT FOR OUR FAMILY. IT MIGHT NOT BE THE RIGHT FIT FOR EVERY OTHER FAMILY, AND WE SUPPORT THOSE FAMILIES IN WHATEVER JOURNEY THAT THEY HAVE GOING ON, AND WE ARE JUST INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR THIS IS WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR OUR FAMILY IN HOOVER. SARAH KILLIAN WVTM 13. THE APPLICATION FOR THE CHOOSE ACT FOR THE 20 2627 SCHOOL YEAR IS NOW OPEN. THE DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MARCH 31ST. YOU CAN FIND THE LIST OF
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Alabama CHOOSE Act draws a record number of applicants in its second year
Updated: 10:29 PM CDT Apr 8, 2026
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Gov. Kay Ivey announced Wednesday that Alabama’s education savings account program, known as the CHOOSE Act, drew a record number of applicants in its second year, with nearly 49,000 students seeking participation.The application period for the 2026–27 school year closed March 31 with 29,341 applications representing 48,927 students, according to the governor’s office. That total includes 18,832 new applications covering 29,986 students and 10,509 renewal applications representing 18,941 students.“The CHOOSE Act has changed the lives of thousands of Alabama families by enabling them to choose schools that best align with their priorities and their child’s specific needs,” Governor Ivey said in a statement. “The increase in applications for the upcoming school year shows that the people of Alabama want school choice, and I am proud that we are able to give it to them.” Families from a range of educational backgrounds applied to the program. Private school applicants made up the largest share with 21,351 students, followed by 13,425 homeschool applicants and 8,961 students from public and charter schools. Among homeschool applicants, 8,264 were new and 697 were renewals.Applications spanned all grade levels, from incoming kindergarteners through high school seniors. There were 24,305 female applicants and 24,611 male applicants. Of the female applicants, 9,480 were renewals and 14,825 were new, while male applicants included 9,458 renewals and 15,153 new submissions.>> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from WVTM 13The program also saw participation from 5,115 students with special needs, including 1,973 renewals and 3,142 new applicants. Additionally, 1,121 applications came from active-duty military families living in priority school districts, including 356 renewals and 765 new applicants.Families are expected to be notified of funding decisions in mid-April, with approved students able to begin using CHOOSE Act funds for eligible expenses starting in July.
Gov. Kay Ivey announced Wednesday that Alabama’s education savings account program, known as the CHOOSE Act, drew a record number of applicants in its second year, with nearly 49,000 students seeking participation.
The application period for the 2026–27 school year closed March 31 with 29,341 applications representing 48,927 students, according to the governor’s office. That total includes 18,832 new applications covering 29,986 students and 10,509 renewal applications representing 18,941 students.
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“The CHOOSE Act has changed the lives of thousands of Alabama families by enabling them to choose schools that best align with their priorities and their child’s specific needs,” Governor Ivey said in a statement.
“The increase in applications for the upcoming school year shows that the people of Alabama want school choice, and I am proud that we are able to give it to them.”
Families from a range of educational backgrounds applied to the program. Private school applicants made up the largest share with 21,351 students, followed by 13,425 homeschool applicants and 8,961 students from public and charter schools. Among homeschool applicants, 8,264 were new and 697 were renewals.
Applications spanned all grade levels, from incoming kindergarteners through high school seniors. There were 24,305 female applicants and 24,611 male applicants. Of the female applicants, 9,480 were renewals and 14,825 were new, while male applicants included 9,458 renewals and 15,153 new submissions.
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>> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from WVTM 13
The program also saw participation from 5,115 students with special needs, including 1,973 renewals and 3,142 new applicants. Additionally, 1,121 applications came from active-duty military families living in priority school districts, including 356 renewals and 765 new applicants.
Families are expected to be notified of funding decisions in mid-April, with approved students able to begin using CHOOSE Act funds for eligible expenses starting in July.
The Alabama Legislature has given final passage to HB98, the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers’ Family Scholarship Act, which provides up to $2,500 in tuition assistance per academic period to the spouses and children of long-serving law enforcement officers.
The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Allen Treadaway (R-Morris), was originally part of Governor Kay Ivey and House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter’s Safe Alabama Package in 2025. It is intended to help retain experienced officers at a time when law enforcement agencies across the country are struggling with staffing shortages.
Under the bill, scholarship funds may be used for an undergraduate course of study at any public or private technical school, college, or university in Alabama. The Alabama Commission on Higher Education will administer the program and is required to report annually to the Legislature on its progress.
The bill also establishes the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers’ Family Scholarship Fund and authorizes the Department of Revenue to create a blackout license plate, with proceeds directed to the fund.
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Existing law already provides financial assistance to children and spouses of law enforcement officers killed or totally disabled in the line of duty. HB98 expands that support to the families of long-term city, county, and state law enforcement officers still actively serving.
“Our law enforcement put it all on the line every day they go to work, and so do their families,” Ivey said. “I am proud we will support long-serving law enforcement families through dependent scholarships. I look forward to signing HB98 into law, and I thank Speaker Ledbetter for making this a priority.”
Ledbetter called the legislation a long overdue recognition of law enforcement families.
“The passage of HB98 is a long overdue show of thanks for Alabama’s law enforcement officers and the families supporting them as they work to protect and serve this great state,” Ledbetter said. “Over the course of the last two sessions, the men and women of the House have led the charge in delivering additional resources and support to law enforcement in an effort to bolster public safety. It is one thing to say your state is pro-law enforcement, but it is another to put action behind those words. Today, Alabama did exactly that.”
Tuesday was the 27th day of the 2026 legislative session. There are 2 days remaining.
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Sawyer Knowles is a capitol reporter for Yellowhammer News. You may contact him at [email protected].
The work to become a top three to top five defense across the board in college football for the University of Alabama starts in spring practice.
What Desmond Umeozulu will bring to the Alabama defense
Kalen DeBoer returned experience – especially in the secondary – but his coaching staff also grabbed much needed players from the NCAA transfer portal. One of those athletes looks to develop his name into a marquee edge rusher.
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Desmond Umeozulu, a transfer from South Carolina, means a lot to Kane Wommack. The Crimson Tide’s defensive coordinator spoke highly of the Maryland native early in practice. He called Umeozulu a ‘big win’ for Alabama out the portal.
Alabama Linebacker Desmond Umeozulu (9) in action during the Scrimmage at Thomas-Drew Practice Fields in Tuscaloosa, AL on Friday, Mar 27, 2026.
“It was really fortunate for us to get Desmond Umeozulu,” Wommack said.
The 6-foot-6, 253-pounder has worked at the ‘Wolf’ position in practice.
He looks to emerge as a second edge rusher to help Yhonzae Pierre. Umeozulu has been giving the first-team offensive line a challenge. Jackson Lloyd, a redshirt freshman, has taken notice of the talented transfer.
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“I have been going against them all for a while,” Lloyd said Monday about the challenge of facing Alabama’s pass rushers in practice. “They are all great pass rushers. Dez [Umeozulu] coming in … He has been good. He’s giving me a good look.”
Umeozulu totaled 30 tackles across 36 career games at South Carolina.
He also had 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in three years of developing behind names such as Bryan Thomas Jr. and Dylan Stewart. Umeozulu is part of iron sharpening iron for the Tide.
BREAKING: Former South Carolina Edge commits to Alabama
It will be interesting to watch him perform on A-Day.
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Stephen M. Smith is a team writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
Stephen Smith is a 2015 graduate of the University of Alabama.
He is a seasoned writer that has covered Alabama football for Touchdown Alabama Magazine since 2009. Smith has extensive knowledge within the program, which has made him among the most respected journalist in his field. Throughout his career, Smith has been featured on ESPN and several other marquee outlets as an analyst.
