Families can ring in the New Year early with a pair of cougar-themed “Zoo Year’s Eve” celebrations at the Birmingham Zoo on Wednesday, December 31. The zoo will host two family-friendly events designed for guests who prefer not to stay up until midnight. Both celebrations will feature a large illuminated “2025” lantern display with cougars, […]

The Zoghby family name is a well-known name in Mobile. One of the family matriarchs has died at age 90. Cecilia Theresa Zoghby had a visitation and Rosary on Monday December 29 at 5 p.m. and a funeral Mass at 1:30 p.m. on December 30 in Mobile. In the cathedral where she was memorialized, Cecilia […]

Kick off 2026 with fresh air and a sense of adventure while enjoying some of Alabama’s most scenic views by participating in a First Day Hike at an Alabama State Park. Alabama State Parks will again offer First Day Hikes on Jan. 1, giving everyone the chance to explore Alabama’s breathtaking natural landscapes with guided hikes at more than […]

As Alabama enters the final stretch of 2025, the state’s housing market stands at an important crossroads. After several years of post-pandemic fluctuations, ranging from rapid price growth to strained inventory, conditions have begun to level out. Buyers who spent the last few years competing in tight markets are finding more options, while sellers who […]

From Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama to Nashville and Waylon Jennings’s Waylors to Christmas music with Lynette Dove, Jerry ‘Jigger’ Bridges has written, produced and played a broad spectrum of music genres over the decades. On December 6, 2025, his bronze star in Muscle Shoals was unveiled. He was already an inductee of the […]

As families across Alabama gather for Christmas, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) delivered his annual holiday message with a reminder that, as Christians, the season is ultimately about the birth of Jesus Christ, and the life-changing hope we still share from it today. “We’ve come to that special time of year again, when we celebrate […]

From large-scale drive-thru extravaganzas to underground holiday displays, Alabama offers a wide variety of Christmas light experiences each season. Here are some of the best Christmas light shows in Alabama: Best drive-thru Christmas light shows Lights of Noel — Birmingham Racecourse Lights of Noel is billed as Alabama’s largest drive-through animated Christmas light show, featuring millions […]

Many folks think that Christmas trees cannot be grown in Alabama, that it takes the mountains of Tennessee, North Carolina and Northern Georgia. Well, here is my story of growing one of Alabama’s early Christmas tree farms — the Zeigler Christmas Tree Farm outside of Sylacauga. My father, Bloise Zeigler, was raised on an 80-acre […]

Alabama has shaped generations of Southern music, but when it comes to Christmas songs that actually mention the Yellowhammer State by name, the list is surprisingly short. But what Alabama’s Christmas soundtrack lacks in variety, it makes up for in the legendary artists who recorded them: Grammy Award-winning band, “Alabama” and Jimmy Buffett, who called […]

A major philanthropic gift is helping drive momentum behind Tuscaloosa Academy’s Building Excellence Capital Campaign, courtesy of Chloé and Ric Mayers. Tuscaloosa Academy’s Building Excellence campaign aims to address longstanding facility limitations by constructing a modern athletic center that can better support the school’s growing academic and athletic programs. Ric Mayers, a real estate developer […]

Fairhope has earned national recognition as one of the best small towns in the country to visit for Christmas. HGTV put Fairhope, Alabama, on the list of 50 small towns, highlighting the city’s signature holiday traditions, coastal charm and festive atmosphere along Mobile Bay. HGTV said Fairhope stands out for hosting Alabama’s most well-known Christmas parade, […]

The nation of Israel was birthed – or re-birthed – in May, 1948. Since that time, large numbers of American Christian leaders have visited “the Holy Land.” Earlier this month, the largest group ever of American Christian leaders visited for a week on a mission with a purpose. The group included pastors and Christian leaders […]

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville met with members of the Alabama National Guard deployed in Washington, D.C. earlier in December as many of the troops concluded their mission and returned home to their families ahead of Christmas. Tuberville shared a message following the visit, saying, “Honored to meet some of the brave men and women from […]

A new Netflix documentary series will revisit the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, the Mountain Brook teenager whose 2005 disappearance during a high school graduation trip to Aruba became one of the most closely followed missing-person cases in the world. Nearly two decades later, the series brings renewed attention to a tragedy that began in Alabama […]

Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) brought a moment of comfort and holiday cheer to young patients this week during a visit to Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Mobile. Troopers from ALEA’s Mobile and Grove Hill posts delivered Trooper Teddy Bears to children receiving care at the hospital, offering reassurance and smiles to […]

A Tuscaloosa florist has returned home after helping decorate the White House for Christmas. Tammy West, owner and creative director of Glow Floral Event Design, was selected earlier this year to assist with decorating the White House for the 2025 Christmas season, a rare honor extended to designers from across the country. West and her […]

As the holiday season ramps up across the country, Birmingham is earning national recognition for its Christmas spirit. The Magic City ranked No. 12 overall on WalletHub’s 2025 list of the Best Cities for Christmas, placing it among the top festive destinations in the United States and ahead of several much larger metro areas. WalletHub […]

As winter settles over North Alabama, Cullman transforms into a place where Christmas comes to life. Each year, this small Southern town of just 20,000 people transforms with remarkable intention into a storybook-worthy European village, home to the beloved Cullman Christkindlmarkt. What has emerged is one of the nation’s most authentic German-style Christmas markets, a place […]

She called and asked if I’d like to look through her father’s library since she needed to empty the house. I found some old classics, and a book by Millard Fuller that I thought was unavailable. Fuller established Habitat for Humanity after his time at Koinonia Farms in Americus, Georgia. Koinonia was founded by Clarence […]

The local sports community in the city of Birmingham was shaken up this week by news that former WBRC sports reporter Christina Chambers was found dead in Hoover. Chambers, a longtime reporter on both high school and collegiate sports in Alabama, was highly admired in the local sports media landscape. Since her death, many have posted […]

For decades, Alabamians have turned to James Spann when storms turn deadly — now, the nation is hearing his story. The longtime ABC 33/40 chief meteorologist appeared on Fox Weather’s “Chillin’ with Bob Van Dillen” this week, discussing the moments that shaped his career and his ongoing mission to protect lives during severe weather. Van […]

Jared Isaacman, the new NASA administrator, plans to donate his salary to U.S. Space Camp, in Huntsville, Alabama. The billionaire entrepreneur was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on a 67-30 vote Wednesday. He was previously nominated by President Trump in January but the president pulled his nomination in late May before renominating Isaacman last month. […]

Sleigh bells are ringing and the Parks & Recreation department has it on good authority that Santa is making his way to Huntsville for the third annual Big Spring Jingle this week. Big Spring Park in downtown Huntsville will transform into a winter wonderland for all to enjoy as Huntsville Parks & Recreation is hosting […]

As Alabama enters the final stretch of 2025, the state’s housing market stands at an important crossroads. After several years of post-pandemic fluctuations, ranging from rapid price growth to strained inventory, conditions have begun to level out. Buyers who spent the last few years competing in tight markets are finding more options, while sellers who […]