Alabama has a proud history of producing standout performers on American Idol, including winners Ruben Studdard and Taylor Hicks leading the way. The state has also celebrated finalists like Bo Bice, Jessica Meuse, Dexter Roberts, and C.J. Harris, along with more recent Top 10 contestants Walker Burroughs, Mia Matthews, Triston Harper, and Paul McDonald. Their […]

Birmingham will step onto the national country music stage this fall when the city welcomes its first major country festival, the Iron Hills Country Music Festival, on October 11-12 at Sloss Furnaces. Festival organizers Johnny Grimes, Chad Johnson, and Josh Williams said their goal was to design an event that goes beyond the typical music […]

As Mobile’s mayoral race nears its final stretch, former Baldwin County Sheriff Huey “Hoss” Mack has endorsed candidate Spiro Cheriogotis, urging voters not to “take this election for granted.” Mack, who retired in 2024 after 33 years in law enforcement, voiced his support in a Facebook post this week. “To my friends in Mobile. Do […]

The Alabama Farmers Federation has endorsed State Rep. Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) for re-election in Alabama House District 9, which covers portions of Morgan County. “Rep. Scott Stadthagen is an outstanding leader for us in the House of Representatives and at home,” said Mike Reeves, president of the Morgan County Farmers Federation. “He shares our same […]

Huntsville officials have withdrawn a proposal to equip city garbage trucks with artificial intelligence cameras following weeks of public pushback. The decision came on Thursday after strong opposition from residents, advocacy groups, and labor organizations. The city announced it would withdraw a proposed contract with City Detect, a Tuscaloosa-based company that provides AI camera systems. […]

Anusha Alapati Davis has built a career around more than square footage and leases — she has built it around people, vision, and community. A Huntsville native and Vice President of Retail at Crunkleton Commercial Real Estate Group, Davis is helping to shape some of North Alabama’s most notable retail destinations. Her leadership, innovative approach, […]

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey is voicing support for President Donald Trump’s moves to deploy the National Guard in cities facing violent crime, saying Alabama stands ready if called upon. President Trump has already sent federal National Guard forces to Washington, D.C., to address crime there, and Memphis, Tennessee, is next in line. The White House […]

Regions Bank has launched a digital borrower portal for its Real Estate Banking clients to streamline construction draw requests, improve collaboration among project stakeholders, and increase transparency across active developments, the company announced Monday. The portal is powered by Built, a real estate and construction finance platform. Regions says the modern, cloud-based system connects lenders, […]

For Cindy Harris, leadership has never been about titles or recognition. As Vice President and Group Manager of Emerging & Disruptive Technologies at Radiance Technologies, she has dedicated her career to building a workplace culture where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered. Her approach centers on service, humility, and integrity—principles that guide how she leads […]

A World War II veteran marked a milestone this week as friends, family, and state leaders came together to celebrate his 106th birthday. The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs and the staff at the Bill Nichols State Veterans Home hosted a party on Friday in honor of Willie Bennett, who was born in 1916 in […]

The Fort Payne Police Department and the FBI are investigating a robbery that occurred at the PNC Bank in downtown Fort Payne on Tuesday morning, September 9. According to Fort Payne Police, the incident took place around 9:20 a.m. at the branch located at 200 Gault Avenue North. Police said a white male entered the […]

Labor Day in Millbrook brought more than grilling and family gatherings — it featured the first-ever Uncle Bob’s All-American Hot Dog Eating Contest at the 17 Springs recreation complex. The competition, held on Monday, September 1, challenged contestants to eat as many hot dogs as possible within 10 minutes. At the buzzer, two challengers had […]

On Friday, Governor Kay Ivey introduced the Siemens family of Dothan as participants in Alabama’s CHOOSE Act, the state’s education savings account program. Parents Brady and Hannah Siemens have three children—Gabriel, an 11th grader; Remington, a 7th grader; and Annalise, a 3rd grader—who are all enrolled with support from the program. “Brady and Hannah Siemens […]

A South Alabama family stumbled onto quite the discovery while fishing along a riverbank — the fossilized shell of a 32-million-year-old leatherback sea turtle, according to a news release issued jointly by the McWane Science Center, Poarch Creek Indians, and the Learning Campus. The specimen, nearly four feet long and three feet wide, represents a […]

The U.S. Department of Education announced this week that it will stop awarding discretionary grants to a range of Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) programs over concerns that the funding is unconstitutional because it is tied to racial and ethnic quotas. The decision follows a determination by the U.S. Solicitor General in July that Hispanic-Serving Institution programs […]

The Alabama Forestry Association drew record-breaking attendance at its 2025 annual meeting this weekend in Orange Beach. More than 450 industry leaders from across Alabama and the Southeast took part in the three-day gathering. AFA President and CEO Chris Isaacson praised the event’s momentum. “This year’s Annual Meeting was a tremendous success for the forest […]

Beth Chapman’s life and career read like a portrait of what it means to live with purpose, integrity, and an unyielding commitment to others. As Alabama’s 51st Secretary of State, a three-time statewide elected official, a respected national leader, and now the founder of her own successful government relations firm, Chapman has spent decades shaping […]

The University of South Alabama (USA) is reporting its largest freshman class in school history this fall, marking the third consecutive year of overall enrollment growth, according to data released by the university. Total enrollment climbed to 14,285 students, an increase from 14,003 last year. The surge was driven largely by undergraduate growth, including 2,137 […]

State Rep. Mark Shirey (R-Mobile) has officially announced his re-election campaign for Alabama House District 100. Shirey, who has represented the district for almost a full term, said he plans to continue drawing on his three decades of experience in healthcare and business to continue serving West Mobile. “As a lifelong Republican, I believe in […]

For Birmingham attorney and author Erin Brown Hollis, life has been a winding path of professional achievement, family devotion, and a calling to encourage others. A member of Bradley’s Litigation Practice Group, she has built a career handling complex litigation while balancing the roles of wife, mother, author, and mentor. Her early career included a […]

A coalition of Alabama business leaders has announced support for Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate in his campaign for Lt. Governor in 2026, citing his record as a business owner and commitment to economic growth. The group, called Business Partners for Rick Pate, launched this week and is actively recruiting other leaders from across the state. […]

For State Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover), public service is more than a title or career path — it’s a calling. A Mississippi native who built a successful career in finance with Compass Bank before spending 20 years as a stay-at-home mother, DuBose has emerged as one of the most active voices in Montgomery, balancing deeply […]

Alabama-born supermodel Abby Champion has married actor Patrick Schwarzenegger, son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, in a ceremony held over the weekend at the Gozzer Ranch country club in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Champion, a native of Vestavia Hills, graduated from Vestavia Hills High School where she was a cheerleader before pursuing her modeling career. […]

Lee Marshall’s life story is one of resilience, vision, and devotion to a mission bigger than herself. Born into foster care and adopted at the age of two, she experienced firsthand the life-changing power of a forever family. That foundation not only shaped her path but gave her a calling: to be a voice for […]