Think your holiday shopping list is the only thing growing this season? Think again.

Scammers are working overtime, turning the rush for gifts and deliveries into a goldmine of fraud. From fake shipping alerts to too-good-to-be-true deals, criminals are using the chaos of the season to steal your money and personal information.

Fraudsters use the chaos of package deliveries as a ruse to steal your information and money. We call that a non-delivery scam. It’s big business for criminals.

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, non-delivery related scams cost American consumers $785 million last year. Credit card fraud accounts for nearly $200 million more in losses.

“From fake websites and ‘too good to be true’ offers to porch pirates, fraud and theft during the holiday season will peak over the next few weeks,” said Jeff Taylor, head of Commercial Fraud Forensics at Regions Bank. “Fraudsters will continue to use these tactics, so it pays for everyone to be fraud aware.”

According to the FBI, non-delivery scams use the confusion of the season to take advantage. Some examples to look out for:

• Unsolicited messages – you might receive texts, emails, or social media messages about a problem with a delivery or an account. Don’t remember the order? That’s the point.
• Urgency – to resolve this, you must act immediately.
• Suspicious links – fraudsters may send links in texts or emails that lead to bogus websites. The intention is to get you to provide personal information.
• Prices too good to be true – the perfect Christmas gift is available for a price you never imagined!
• Funky websites – they’ll send you somewhere, then your radar goes off immediately due to bad spelling, grammar, or typos. Trust your gut.

7 FBI tips to protect you from non-delivery scams

• Don’t click any suspicious links or attachments in emails, on websites or on social media.
• Be wary if a company asks you to update your password or account information.
• Check each website’s URL to make sure it’s legitimate and secure. Web addresses should begin with “https://” and include a locked padlock icon.
• Inspect gift cards before purchasing. Check for signs of tampering.
• Be wary of any online transactions that use wire transfers, virtual currency, gift cards, or cash as payment options.
• Be wary if something asks for payment with pre-paid gift cards. Never wire money directly to a seller.
• Always get tracking numbers for items you buy online.

“Stay alert!” said Kimberly Reece, Financial Crimes Customer Advocacy Manager for Regions. “Protecting yourself from non-delivery scams starts with skepticism and smart checks. Don’t click on unverified links and remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

If you think you are a victim of a non-delivery scam, report it immediately to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov).

Think your holiday shopping list is the only thing growing this season? Think again.

Scammers are working overtime, turning the rush for gifts and deliveries into a goldmine of fraud. From fake shipping alerts to too-good-to-be-true deals, criminals are using the chaos of the season to steal your money and personal information.

Fraudsters use the chaos of package deliveries as a ruse to steal your information and money. We call that a non-delivery scam. It’s big business for criminals.

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, non-delivery related scams cost American consumers $785 million last year. Credit card fraud accounts for nearly $200 million more in losses.

“From fake websites and ‘too good to be true’ offers to porch pirates, fraud and theft during the holiday season will peak over the next few weeks,” said Jeff Taylor, head of Commercial Fraud Forensics at Regions Bank. “Fraudsters will continue to use these tactics, so it pays for everyone to be fraud aware.”

According to the FBI, non-delivery scams use the confusion of the season to take advantage. Some examples to look out for:

• Unsolicited messages – you might receive texts, emails, or social media messages about a problem with a delivery or an account. Don’t remember the order? That’s the point.
• Urgency – to resolve this, you must act immediately.
• Suspicious links – fraudsters may send links in texts or emails that lead to bogus websites. The intention is to get you to provide personal information.
• Prices too good to be true – the perfect Christmas gift is available for a price you never imagined!
• Funky websites – they’ll send you somewhere, then your radar goes off immediately due to bad spelling, grammar, or typos. Trust your gut.

7 FBI tips to protect you from non-delivery scams

• Don’t click any suspicious links or attachments in emails, on websites or on social media.
• Be wary if a company asks you to update your password or account information.
• Check each website’s URL to make sure it’s legitimate and secure. Web addresses should begin with “https://” and include a locked padlock icon.
• Inspect gift cards before purchasing. Check for signs of tampering.
• Be wary of any online transactions that use wire transfers, virtual currency, gift cards, or cash as payment options.
• Be wary if something asks for payment with pre-paid gift cards. Never wire money directly to a seller.
• Always get tracking numbers for items you buy online.

“Stay alert!” said Kimberly Reece, Financial Crimes Customer Advocacy Manager for Regions. “Protecting yourself from non-delivery scams starts with skepticism and smart checks. Don’t click on unverified links and remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

If you think you are a victim of a non-delivery scam, report it immediately to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov).

Think your holiday shopping list is the only thing growing this season? Think again.

Scammers are working overtime, turning the rush for gifts and deliveries into a goldmine of fraud. From fake shipping alerts to too-good-to-be-true deals, criminals are using the chaos of the season to steal your money and personal information.

Fraudsters use the chaos of package deliveries as a ruse to steal your information and money. We call that a non-delivery scam. It’s big business for criminals.

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, non-delivery related scams cost American consumers $785 million last year. Credit card fraud accounts for nearly $200 million more in losses.

“From fake websites and ‘too good to be true’ offers to porch pirates, fraud and theft during the holiday season will peak over the next few weeks,” said Jeff Taylor, head of Commercial Fraud Forensics at Regions Bank. “Fraudsters will continue to use these tactics, so it pays for everyone to be fraud aware.”

According to the FBI, non-delivery scams use the confusion of the season to take advantage. Some examples to look out for:

• Unsolicited messages – you might receive texts, emails, or social media messages about a problem with a delivery or an account. Don’t remember the order? That’s the point.
• Urgency – to resolve this, you must act immediately.
• Suspicious links – fraudsters may send links in texts or emails that lead to bogus websites. The intention is to get you to provide personal information.
• Prices too good to be true – the perfect Christmas gift is available for a price you never imagined!
• Funky websites – they’ll send you somewhere, then your radar goes off immediately due to bad spelling, grammar, or typos. Trust your gut.

7 FBI tips to protect you from non-delivery scams

• Don’t click any suspicious links or attachments in emails, on websites or on social media.
• Be wary if a company asks you to update your password or account information.
• Check each website’s URL to make sure it’s legitimate and secure. Web addresses should begin with “https://” and include a locked padlock icon.
• Inspect gift cards before purchasing. Check for signs of tampering.
• Be wary of any online transactions that use wire transfers, virtual currency, gift cards, or cash as payment options.
• Be wary if something asks for payment with pre-paid gift cards. Never wire money directly to a seller.
• Always get tracking numbers for items you buy online.

“Stay alert!” said Kimberly Reece, Financial Crimes Customer Advocacy Manager for Regions. “Protecting yourself from non-delivery scams starts with skepticism and smart checks. Don’t click on unverified links and remember that if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

If you think you are a victim of a non-delivery scam, report it immediately to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov).

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) thinks a U.S. District Court Judge should lose his job for abusing his authority when he authorized the Biden Justice Department to spy on several Republican U.S. Senators – himself included.

Tuberville joined U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) in writing a letter to D.C. Circuit Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan calling for the administrative suspension of Chief Judge James Boasberg while Congress considers Articles of Impeachment for abusing his judicial authority to target the Trump administration, sitting Republican Senators, and conservative organizations.

“Articles of Impeachment have been filed against Judge Boasberg for his BLATANT abuse of judicial authority,” Tuberville said on X. “He authorized the Biden DOJ to SPY on the phones of sitting U.S. Senators. SUSPEND AND IMPEACH BOASBERG.”

https://x.com/SenTuberville/status/1990845211539616085

On November 4, 2025, Articles of Impeachment were filed against Judge Boasberg for his role in Operation Arctic Frost, the Biden administration’s effort to target and spy on sitting Republican Senators, including Sen. Tuberville.

Judge Boasberg is accused of improperly granting gag orders to shield Jack Smith’s political witch hunt.

“There is precedent for administratively suspending a judge pending an impeachment inquiry,” the Senatos wrote.

“The most recently impeached judge, G. Thomas Porteous, Jr. of the Eastern District of Louisiana, was administratively suspended prior to his impeachment while the Judicial Conference of the United States investigated allegations against him of bribery and fraud. As Chief Judge of the applicable circuit judicial council, you are tasked with overseeing the Article III remedial process for the misconduct of the appellate and district judges of your circuit.”

Tuberville also discussed the issue Tuesday on Newsmax.

“We need to make sure, especially on my end, I was on that list, that you put crooked judges like Boasberg, you impeach him, and you put Jack Smith, who was a crooked Department of Justice employee that did this behind the scenes, put him in jail,” Tuberville said.

“That’s what we have to do. We cannot circumvent this. We’ve got to go after them. We’ve got to do the right thing for everybody involved, and get this nipped in the bud at the end of the day, and not let it happen again.”

https://x.com/NEWSMAX/status/1990836536003158043

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) criticized his colleagues in the U.S. Senate for adding in a provision to the government funding bill that allows several senators to sue the federal government for spying on their phone records.

The FBI revealed last month that during the Biden administration, Special Prosecutor Jack Smith’s team tracked the private communications and call records of nearly a dozen GOP lawmakers, including Tuberville.

At the last minute, language was added in the continuing resolution that allows Tuberville and the other senators involved to be able to sue the federal government.

“It was put in our clean CR at the last moment,” Johnson told reporters Thursdays.

“I’m just being honest. I’m very transparent with you. I was very angry about it. I was. And a lot of my members called me and said, ‘Did you know about it?’ We had no idea that was dropped in at the last minute. And I did not appreciate that, nor did most of the House members. Many of them are very angry about that. So we will be bringing that up. We’ll probably pass it on suspension early next week, and we’ll send it over to the Senate.”

https://x.com/cspan/status/1988784589435728306

The House voted 222-209 to approve the CR. President Donald Trump’s signed the bill Wednesday night, formally ending the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history.

The language in the legislation that Johnson was reacting to states, “[A]ny senator whose Senate data, or the Senate data of whose Senate office, has been acquired, subpoenaed, searched, accessed, or disclosed in violation of this section may bring a civil action against the United States if the violation was committed by an officer, employee, or agent of the United States or of any federal department or agency.”

Johnson said he hopes the Senate will follow the House’s lead next week and pass the suspension on the provision.

“I had a conversation with Leader Thune early this morning about it. I think he regretted the way it was done, and we had an honest conversation about that. I didn’t ask him for any commitment at that time, because I had a lot on my plate today, and I’ve been busy ever since that conversation we had early this morning, but I’m going to speak as truthfully to him as I am to all of you and tell you that I think that was way out of line,” Johnson said. “I don’t think that was a smart thing to do. I think it was the right thing to do, and the House is going to reverse it. We’re going to repeal that, and I’m going to expect our colleagues in the Senate to do the same thing.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

A provision included in the spending package to fund the government will also help U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) get payback from the federal government for spying on him.

The FBI revealed last month that during the Biden administration, Special Prosecutor Jack Smith’s team tracked the private communications and call records of nearly a dozen GOP lawmakers, including Tuberville.

According to a report from the New York Times, language in the new continuing resolution would allow Tuberville and the other senators involved to be able to sue the federal government.

“[A]ny senator whose Senate data, or the Senate data of whose Senate office, has been acquired, subpoenaed, searched, accessed, or disclosed in violation of this section may bring a civil action against the United States if the violation was committed by an officer, employee, or agent of the United States or of any federal department or agency,” the language in the legislation states.

The provision is retroactive to 2022 and would allow the affected senators could sue for $500,000 on each claim.

RELATED: Marsha Blackburn plans lawsuit against Jack Smith over FBI surveillance of GOP Senators including Tommy Tuberville

The idea of suing Smith and the federal government over the spying scheme gained traction last month when one of the affected senators, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), said she planned to sue the former Special Council.

“We cannot find the predicate,” she argued.

“It is a violation of our first and fourth amendment rights, the separation of powers, the Stored Communications Act and the Speech and Debate Clause. And yes, the eight of us are looking at filing charges against the Biden FBI, the Biden DOJ and Jack Smith.”

The U.S. Senate-passed CR also ensures full-year military funding, a massive priority for Alabama, while keeping critical operations at agencies funded and ensuring federal workers receive back pay.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

A Choctaw County man was arrested late Tuesday after allegedly making credible threats of violence against multiple synagogues in Alabama and neighboring states, as well as against political officials, according to law enforcement authorities.

Authorities identified the suspect as Jeremy Wayne Shoemaker of Needham, a small community in rural Choctaw County.

The FBI, along with the 1st Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office and the 1st Judicial Circuit Special Response Team (SRT), received intelligence indicating Shoemaker had allegedly issued threats targeting houses of worship and government leaders.

Investigators executed a search warrant at Shoemaker’s residence, where they recovered several firearms, a suitcase containing ammunition, body armor, and additional materials believed to be linked to potential acts of violence, officials reported.

Law enforcement officials said Shoemaker had expressed intentions not to be taken alive and may have been planning attacks on unnamed public figures.

Authorities believe his arrest prevented multiple acts of violence.

“This is an ongoing investigation that will involve numerous federal agencies,” officials stated. “Multiple federal charges are likely.”

Shoemaker currently faces local charges of resisting arrest and possession of a firearm by a person prohibited from owning one, pending further federal review.

The 1st Judicial Circuit Special Response Team comprises deputies and officers from multiple law enforcement agencies who receive ongoing training in tactical response operations.

Agencies assisting in the operation included the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office, Choctaw County Sheriff’s Office, and police departments from Jackson, Grove Hill, Thomasville, and Butler.

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) blasted cell phones providers on Thursday for handing over phone records of GOP Senators to the Biden administration.

The FBI revealed earlier this week that Special Counsel Jack Smith’s team tracked the private communications and call records of nearly a dozen GOP lawmakers, including Tuberville.

Tuberville, who is also a candidate for Governor of Alabama in 2026, discussed the issue on the “Alex Jones Show.”

“AT&T, what gives you the right to give the Department of Justice a sitting United States Senator’s information without calling or saying, ‘Listen, this is what you’re trying to do’? This is absolutely insane that we have a company that doesn’t push back on this. ‘Wait a minute. These people are United States senators. You sure you want to do this?’ I mean, you have to have some kind of criminality behind this subpoena. And there was zero. So I’ve got a lot of questions to ask about that.”

https://x.com/RealAlexJones/status/1976345188214722808

The FBI document at issue, dated September 2023, states that an agent on Smith’s team “conducted preliminary toll analysis” on numbers associated with Republican U.S. Senators.

“Basically, Jack Smith, he brought a group together, and the FBI, and said, ‘Listen, I’m gonna tap y’all as the ones that’s gonna look into these eight senators. You’re the ones that’s gonna do this.’ So you heard earlier in the week after this came out, that Kash Patel fired these people,” Tuberville explained.

“They needed to be fired. That should have never happened. But again, this is all goes back to a corrupt Department of Justice that has been consumed by the deep state. And if we don’t do something about this, our country won’t survive.”

Tuberville said he believes there will be even more that comes out revealing the deep corruption at the DOJ under Biden.

“This investigation, Alex is the tip of the iceberg,” he argued. “It just started, and I’m anxious to see where it all goes. But if it hadn’t been for the whistleblowers that come out and told Kash Patel and Dan Bongino, ‘listen, this is where you look. This is what they did. This is where it’s at.’ We would have never known what was going on. They were criminals. Jack Smith shouldn’t even be a dog catcher I mean, it is absolutely embarrassing for somebody like that to represent the United States of American Department of Justice.”

That list also included U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska).

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall criticized former President Joe Biden and former special counsel Jack Smith for previously launching an investigation in 2012 into Turning Point USA, which is the nonprofit co-founded by conservative activist Charlie Kirk, and other conservative and Republican organizations.

Last week during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released audio and records related to the investigation titled “Arctic Frost,” which examined 92 GOP groups and some individuals linked to those groups.

“Since the Trump administration took power, many FBI agents have been removed,” Grassley, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said. “The removals included agents and prosecutors who became partisan weapons that lost their way, and I’ve made records public to prove it.”

Marshall, who is also a candidate for U.S. Senate in 2026, discussed the issue during a recent appearance Fox Business Network’s “Mornings With Maria,”

“No, absolutely, and disappointing – but not surprising, Maria,” Marshall said. “When you look at what Joe Biden learned at the feet of Barack Obama, who weaponized the IRS to come after conservatives, conservative groups and religious organizations, and then even during the initial period of COVID where the FBI, rather than using their mission of attacking violent crime, instead were going after parents showing up at school board meetings, looking after the Catholic Church and investigating their activities.”

Marshall said even his office was investigated as a part of the FBI operation.

“Highly disappointing in 2022 when violent crime was on its apex in this country, that rather than attacking that problem that affected public safety, they’re looking at Republican attorneys general like me, Republican governors across our country,” he argued. “Charlie Kirk, turning point, other supporters of President Trump, we shouldn’t be surprised, but yet, really proud of Senator Grassley and Judiciary for exposing this fall to the American people.”

The attorney general praised Grassley for his efforts, and also said he’s glad to see the Trump administration working hard to fix the problems at the FBI and other areas of the federal government.

“I think what we’re going to see is a very active Senate Judiciary Committee diving into the cause and the root of what was going on,” he explained.

“You’ve seen Kash Patel be able to attack the FBI in a way, to be able to rid it of those partisan agents who weren’t doing their job. Look, the American voters took the opportunity to give President Trump a mandate to be able to reshape our government, and he’s doing exactly that.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

From Dr. Wernher von Braun and his rocket team to the space program’s growth to the Base Realignment And Closure moves to the most recent FBI expansion on Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville has a long history of welcoming major military-related moves.

With Tuesday’s announcement of the U.S. Space Command moving its headquarters here, the Huntsville, Madison County and Limestone County area is well-prepared.

“City, county, state, and federal partners have worked side by side to prepare for this opportunity,” said Madison County Commission Chairman Mac McCutcheon. “Now, we’re ready to welcome Space Command and help facilitate its long-term success.”

Huntsville’s history of relocating major federal agencies to Redstone – including Army Materiel Command, Army Aviation and key FBI operations – validates its capability to manage this transition. With 65 federal agencies already based there, the region offers unmatched experience and mission support.

“Our community has a proven track record of supporting the Department of Defense when they have moved key functions and stood up new operations,” said Chip Cherry, CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. “We will use that experience to support the personnel associated with Space Command and their families as they relocate to the Huntsville region.”

Huntsville has invested heavily to ensure mission readiness, including:

• $400+ million in completed transportation improvements, with $250+ million in active construction projects 
• $600 million in K–12 school enhancements to support growing families 
• $200+ million in healthcare expansions, including upgrades at Huntsville Hospital 
• Over $150 million invested in quality-of-life improvements: recreation and community complexes, parks and greenways 
• Key Redstone-related projects include: 
• Completed: Zierdt Road improvements; widening Research Park Boulevard 
• Under construction: I-565 widening to I-65; Martin Road widening (Gate 7 to Huntsville International Airport) 
• In design: Resolute Way (connecting I-565 to Gate 9/Redstone Gateway Park); Arsenal East Connector (linking I-565 to proposed Redstone Gate near Triana Blvd) 

“These investments reflect years of long-range planning to prepare our city for future growth,” Huntsville Mayor Battle said. They demonstrate Huntsville’s commitment to being mission-ready from day one.”

State Rep. Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville) will represent future SPACECOM constituents in Alabama House District 21, which covers territory spanning from downtown Huntsville, all the way Northeast to New Market.

Reynolds, Mayor Battle, Chairman McCutcheon, and other officials were together at City Hall on Tuesday to coordinate as the announcement came down from Washington, D.C.

“We, as Legislators, look forward to welcoming Space Command to Huntsville and stand ready to provide the necessary resources to ensure the transition is successful,” Reynolds wrote on Tuesday.

While the thousands of coming jobs will be on Redstone, the move will also have a tremendous economic ripple effect throughout the metro area.

“As the fastest-growing county in Alabama, Limestone County is perfectly positioned to support this expansion, offering quality workforce development, excellent infrastructure, and the community support these service members and their families deserve,” said Beth Shockney, president and CEO of the Limestone County Economic Development Association.

“Our region has successfully executed similar major relocations before, and that experience will serve us well as we welcome Space Command to the Tennessee Valley.”

Courtesy of 256 Today.

The ongoing Los Angeles riots that erupted in support of illegal immigration is stoking a fierce law-and-order backlash from conservatives — including President Trump and U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville — who are zeroing in on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s refusal to intervene.

On Monday, that exchange got heated and direct between Tuberville and Newsom.

RELATED: Alabama’s U.S. Senators on violent LA riots: ‘Terrorism and anarchy WILL NOT BE TOLERATED’

“Gavin Newsom has failed to do his job,” Tuberville (R-Auburn) posted on Monday  morning. “LA looks like a third world country — anarchists are in charge, law enforcement is being attacked, and the rule of law is nonexistent.”

“Lock him up,” Tuberville said.

https://x.com/CoachForGov/status/1932150258139881528

Tuberville was echoing a suggestion from President Donald Trump, who, when asked if Governor Newsom should be arrested for obstructing federal immigration operations, responded, “I would do it if I were Tom [Homan]… Gavin likes the publicity, but he’s done a terrible job. He’s grossly incompetent.”

RELATED: Alabama’s Democrats are absolutely silent on the violence taking place in Los Angeles right now

As Los Angeles burns, Newsom took the time to deflect Tuberville’s direct statement at the expense of the Yellowhammer State.

“Alabama has 3X the homicide rate of California,” Newsom posted. “Its murder rate is ranked third in the entire country.”

“Stick to football, bro.”

https://x.com/GavinNewsom/status/1932166178790920360

Within minutes, Tuberville fired back a reply.

“You’re burning Los Angeles to the ground to protect illegal aliens,” he said. “I would say stick to governing, but you CLEARLY aren’t doing a very good job of that.”

With up to 700 Marines on standby, President Trump has already deployed 300 National Guard troops into Los Angeles as of Monday afternoon.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

As rioters continue their warpath in Los Angeles through vandalism and violence, Alabama’s two Senators are calling out Democrats and the liberal media for their continued roles in defending those attacking authorities.

In posts on social media, U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) promised prompt accountability in response to the growing chaos.

Calling Democrats the “party of destruction and lawlessness,” Tuberville stressed that the violence will not be allowed to continue.

“Democrats have become the party of destruction and lawlessness,” Tuberville said. “Terrorism and anarchy WILL NOT BE TOLERATED under President Trump. Those wishing to harm our country and our citizens have NO PLACE here.”

https://x.com/SenTuberville/status/1932077008990663052

Britt criticized two elected officials in particular for failing to address the quickly deteriorating situation.

“While Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass refuse to act as dangerous, violent rioters attack ICE officers, President Trump is stepping up to protect these hardworking men and women,” she said. “It’s simple. Democrats want open borders, Republicans stand for law and order.”

https://x.com/SenKatieBritt/status/1931816074967687391

On her campaign X account, Britt pointed to Democrats and ‘left-wing media figures’ as defenders of the rioters.

“Democrats and left-wing media figures are defending this lawless activity, as vehicles burn, ICE officers are assailed by mobs, and roads are swarmed. All in the name of open borders and keeping dangerous criminal illegal aliens roaming American streets.”

https://x.com/KatieBrittforAL/status/1931877373403705400

Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement regarding the immigration raids on Friday that preceded the riots.

“As Mayor of a proud city of immigrants, who contribute to our city in so many ways, I am deeply angered by what has taken place,” said Bass. “These tactics sow terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city. My Office is in close coordination with immigrant rights community organizations. We will not stand for this.”

FBI Director Kash Patel, who has already dispatched hundreds of agents to the city, countered Bass’ statement, assuring the Mayor that he did not require her approval to act.

“Just so we are clear, this FBI needs no one’s permission to enforce the Constitution,” Patel wrote. “My responsibility is to the American people, not political punch lines. LA is under siege by marauding criminals, and we will restore law and order. ”

“I’m not asking you, I’m telling you.”

https://x.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1931931704094023812

Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten.

7. Carlee Russell, who faked her own kidnapping and was convicted for it, has paid only $500 of the $18,000 restitution she owes in $50 monthly installments and is getting crushed by the Attorney General’s office.

6. A proposed police immunity bill in the Alabama State House has sparked controversy, with critics warning it could lead to more black people being killed by giving a “green light for black folks to get killed” to excessive force.

5. The Alabama State Senate’s proposed pornography filter bill nears passage to mandate device-level content restrictions with one lawmaker saying, “this is far worse than library books.”

4. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) remains noncommittal about a potential 2026 gubernatorial run, causing the speculation he undoubtedly loves.

3. State Sen. Robert Stewart (D-Selma) passed legislation in the Senate to potentially legalize gambling in Lowndes County. Aiming to boost local revenue, it’s a backdoor way to legalize gambling in one county.

2. The Trump administration is exploring reductions in tariffs on Chinese goods to ease trade tensions and is being touted as a backtrack by the president.

1. FBI Director Kash Patel, alongside U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery), announced a major expansion of the agency’s presence on Redstone Arsenal to support the relocation of 500 agents.

In one of his first official field visits as FBI Director, Kash Patel toured the bureau’s growing “HQ 2” campus at Redstone Arsenal alongside U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville on Wednesday with a clear message: Huntsville is not just the future of the FBI — it’s already central to its mission.

The visit comes at a turning point for Alabama’s opportunity to expand its home to the federal government workforce, including a forthcoming announcement about the headquarters of U.S. Space Command.

RELATED: 500 additional FBI agents headed to Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal as one of Director Kash Patel’s first orders of business

After touring FBI Redstone’s state-of-the-art intelligence and cyber facilities, Patel celebrated that more than 500 FBI personnel will move to Huntsville by the end of the year, with plans already underway for another major wave of permanent staff as two additional buildings come online by 2027 — enough space for 1,500–1,600 more.

“The Redstone Arsenal is one of the gems in the FBI crown jewel. It truly is.”

“One of the things that we’ve been working on together is to tackle violent crime across the country. But in order to do that, you need a place for people and experts to train — that’s right here in Redstone,” Patel said.

“You need a place for people to live in a community that’s safe — that’s right here in the State of Alabama, right here in Huntsville. These Senators have been working tirelessly to shine the light on what Redstone Arsenal has been doing, and so I’m so appreciative that they let me come down and visit it with them.”

For both Britt and Tuberville, the visit was the culmination of intense advocacy. From confirmation hearings to private letters and public attention, Alabama’s Senate delegation worked hard for Patel to make today’s visit a priority. 

“During the confirmation process, I talked to Director Patel about the incredible work being done here in Huntsville,” said Britt (R-Montgomery) who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee. “I asked him directly in his hearing to come see it for himself — and today, he’s here. This is one of his very first trips as Director, and that speaks volumes.”

“It is imperative that the FBI get back to doing its job keeping Americans safe and secure,” Britt added. “That is exactly what FBI Director Kash Patel has made his number one priority. Let good cops be cops, getting back to law enforcement, making sure we are tackling the opioid epidemic and that we are giving people faith again in this department that serves them.”

RELATED: ‘I’ll come to Alabama and let’s fill those seats’ – Patel gives Katie Britt commitment to Redstone Arsenal’s FBI footprint

Tuberville (R-Auburn) praised the work that began under former U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, crediting him with the vision to bring the FBI to Redstone in the first place.

“This all started back several years ago, when Senator Shelby saw the foresight of coming, bringing FBI to Redstone Arsenal,” Tuberville said. “He had the ability to see how cyber was going to affect our country and worldwide. And so he started the process of appropriating enough money to do something behind the wall here, and get the FBI started in the right direction. And it has really blossomed.”

“I don’t know if you have seen it — it’s a great secret, if you hadn’t seen it. It is beautiful buildings. They’re about maybe 60–70% finished, and it’s going to go about three more years of building. So a lot of things happening for the FBI here.”

Tuberville also made light of the broader growth the project is bringing to North Alabama.

“If you’re a home builder, you’re in the right business,” he said, pointing to Huntsville’s population growth. “There’s a lot more families moving here from the FBI.”

Redstone Arsenal is already home to U.S. Army commands and NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, but the ongoing FBI expansion in concert with the all-but-guaranteed development of U.S. Space Command’s headquarters, Huntsville is being cemented as a total powerhouse of the federal government workforce.

RELATED: Could FBI’s Redstone ‘HQ2’ replace D.C. office?

Patel said that the move to Huntsville isn’t just about space — it’s about unmatched capabilities.

“Everyone knows about Quantico and its storied history, where new agents go, where new Intel analysts go,” Patel said. “But agents and Intel analysts don’t stop training there. They get expertise in places like Redstone Arsenal, because these facilities can’t be replicated and built elsewhere. And so we’re sending people with experience not only here to train on a temporary basis — we’re sending them here permanently to do the work that requires that expertise and then take that expertise out to the field.”

RELATED: FBI Redstone HQ was fully funded in 2023, despite reports it was cut from 2024 budget

Patel said that Redstone will host not only domestic FBI units, but will become a training hub for interagency and international partners.

“So we have one of the things that we were talking about during the confirmation process — in what we call the National Capital Region, there’s about 11,000 full-time FBI employees, give or take, and there’s 38,000 in the entire force. But violent crime isn’t just in the National Capital Region. And so we’re not just talking about what we say 1811 brick agents – we’re also talking intel analysts, support staff and specialists, and those are all going to move here based on what the mission is.”

“And they’re going to do the thing that Coach and Senator Britt said — we’re going to get after violent crime, we’re going to crush down the narcotics trade, we’re going to seal up our borders, but we’re also going to train our interagency partners, and we’re going to train our international partners,” Director Patel said.

Patel concluded by sharing a reciprocal promise that Britt and Tuberville made to him.

“I’m humbled to be with you, Katie and you, Coach. And I made them promise me one thing: I got to go to an Alabama-Auburn game with them,” Patel said. “But I’m not going to pick a side on who’s winning.”

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong has a firestorm response to critics over his approach to town halls and public meetings.

In an interview on WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show”, Strong (R-Monrovia) said he was elected to represent North Alabama in Congress – not liberal news outlets or George Soros activist groups.

“I’m not going to change how I’ve done business,” Strong said.

“The three-quarters of a million people in North Alabama’s 5th Congressional District – I placed my name on the ballot, and they overwhelmingly said that they chose me to represent them in the 5th District. It wasn’t any of these media outlets, and I’ll promise you this right here: I’m not gonna bow down to George Soros and his bunch of funded agitators.”

Strong said his constituent engagement efforts, which have been ongoing since he first took office, have included more than 30 mobile office hours across some of the smallest communities in the 5th District, more than 1,500 district meetings – and most importantly – results.

RELATED: Rep. Dale Strong selected to serve on House Appropriations Committee

“We’re fighting for the jobs at Marshall, we’re fighting for DOD, we’re fighting for ATF, FBI. We’re working with Science, Space, and Technology Chairman [U.S. Rep. Brian Babin] out of Texas to be sure he knows our capabilities,” Strong said.

“And then you go and look – as a sophomore, I am on Appropriations, and I’m the Vice Chair of CJS, which is Commerce, Justice, and Science. That right there is what funds Marshall Space Flight Center, and people can take it to the bank: I’m going to be fighting with everything in me. And again, if we find waste that is out there, I want to know about it.”

The congressman also blasted wasteful federal spending by Democrats, including “$22 billion being spent for free housing and cars for illegal aliens; $45 million for DEI scholarships in Burma; $40 million to improve socioeconomic inclusion of migrants; $8 million to promote LGBTQI in Africa.”

“I’ve never seen anything like this in my life. It’s worse than anybody ever thought,” Strong said.

RELATED: Dale Strong ‘bullish’ that Huntsville will soon become U.S. Space Command’s final headquarters destination

He related voters’ overwhelming decision to elect a full GOP sweep in Washington during the 2024 election to the political shift that’s taken place in Alabama since 2010 — and the conservative governance that has produced.

“Think about this: The Democrats ran this state for over 100 years, and you look at what they did to Alabama. Then all of a sudden, they lost every major office in the state of Alabama. And then you think about it, Dale, I’m the first chairman Republican to ever serve on the Madison County Commission. And look what we did. We created thousands of jobs, paid down the debt, we went in here, reduced the size of government, reduced it by 16.2%,” Strong said.

“This is what people asked elected officials to do, and now it’s the same thing that’s going on at the federal level. But I promise you right now, if they think that I’m gonna bow down to the Soros group, it’s not going to happen. This job isn’t for the weak in the stomach, I promise you. You’ve got to have a backbone, and we are full steam ahead.”

Law enforcement authorities with various federal agencies have been working together to track down and arrest illegal aliens across the southern portion of the state, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office in Mobile announced today.

As of February 4, agents have arrested a combined 137 individuals through various operations in places like southern Baldwin County.

“FBI Mobile, in conjunction with HSI Mobile, would like to provide some approximate arrest numbers in reference to immigration enforcement from February 4th, 2025, to the present day,” FBI’s Mobile office said today.

“As of today, the total number of individuals taken into custody stands at 137. On a daily average, the arrest teams have encountered at least one individual with a previous violent criminal history. We always make a priority of arresting dangerous criminals as part of our mission to keep our communities safe.”

“In many ways, these efforts rely on our existing partnerships and relationships with HSI and our other federal, state, and local partners.”

Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten

Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel is relocating 500 agents from Washington D.C. to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. FBI managers received notification last Friday at a meeting, shortly after Patel was sworn in as the next Director.

https://x.com/KenDilanianNBC/status/1893065613599482108

The move follows a targeted effort from Alabama’s federal lawmakers, in particular, U.S. Senators, Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville. The pair urged Director Patel to immediately fill 1,000 of the open slots at the FBI’s Redstone campus in a letter just days beforehand.

RELATED: ‘I’ll come to Alabama and let’s fill those seats’ – Patel gives Katie Britt commitment to Redstone Arsenal’s FBI footprint

“Given the strategic investments at Redstone Arsenal and how its synergies align with your mission of restoring the FBI’s focus to the safety and security of the American people, we urge you to assign an additional 1,000 employees to FBI-Redstone as a first step to ultimately filling the approximately 4,000 open slots the campus can accommodate,” the Senators wrote. “This will send a message to our adversaries that the FBI’s leadership is back to prioritizing the pressing threats to our homeland. We look forward to working closely with you to Make America Safe Again.”

In his confirmation hearing, Patel confirmed to Senator Britt that he will be working to bring a significant portion of the FBI’s workforce to Huntsville.

“Senator, you have that commitment,” Patel told Britt. “This is a great example real quick of the FBI’s capabilities and infrastructure systems around the country that already exist to the tune of billions. And not only is it, I believe, a 38,000-acre sprawling campus, this Congress billeted 2,500 seats, but 4,000 seats still remain open. So let’s go to work. I’ll come to Alabama and let’s fill those seats.”

Redstone Arsenal currently has over 1,300 FBI personnel on base. According to Reuters, the bureau had over 9,000 employees in Washington as of June 2024.

Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten

FBI Director Kash Patel told Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville he will fill open positions at the FBI’s campus on Redstone Arsenal.

Patel’s comments came ahead of his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week. He was confirmed today by the full Senate.

Britt (R-Montgomery) and Tuberville (R-Auburn) sent a letter to Patel today following his confirmation urging him to immediately fill 1,000 of the open slots at the agency’s campus in Huntsville.

“We are proud to represent the great state of Alabama, home to Redstone Arsenal which is the epicenter of the FBI’s technological capabilities and advanced training,” they wrote. “As threats to our nation become more sophisticated, FBI-Redstone Arsenal’s operations will need to continue growing.

“… we urge you to assign an additional 1,000 employees to FBI-Redstone as a first step to ultimately filling the approximately 4,000 open slots the campus can accommodate. This will send a message to our adversaries that the FBI’s leadership is back to prioritizing the pressing threats to our homeland.”

At Patel’s committee hearing last week, Britt extended him an invitation to visit Huntsville’s state-of-the-art FBI facilities and secured a commitment from Patel to fill the open jobs.

“Senator, you have that commitment,” he said. “And this is a great example, real quick, of the FBI’s capabilities and infrastructure systems around the country that already exist to the tune of billions. And not only is it, I believe, a 38,000-acre sprawling campus . . . but 4,000 seats remain open.

“So, let’s go to work. I’ll come to Alabama. Let’s fill those seats.”

Courtesy of 256 Today.

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) praised President Trump’s pick to be FBI Director, Kash Patel, during his confirmation hearing Thursday.

Britt also highlighted Patel’s commitment to the FBI’s presence at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.

“I don’t have enough time in my three minutes to dive into all of the incredible work that’s doing there. But just want to reiterate that the workforce occupying these facilities, they were moved from DC to Huntsville,” Britt said to Patel in the hearing.

“They are working diligently each and every day to make sure that men and women in uniform are the best trained, equipped and ready that there is. And I would love a commitment from you just to come with me to visit those facilities, see what those men and women are doing, what they’re learning and all of the training that’s right there at their fingertips.”

Grateful for @KashPatel‘s commitment to visit Redstone Arsenal’s FBI footprint and fill the 4,000 jobs these facilities can accommodate. Huntsville stands ready to make Americans safer and secure our homeland. Looking forward to showcasing and utilizing Alabama’s capabilities! pic.twitter.com/IcEhQFzoWK

— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) January 31, 2025

Patel, former Chief of Staff to the United States Secretary of Defense, responded that he committed to the work being done in Huntsville.

“Senator you have that commitment, Patel said. “And this is a great example, real quick, of the FBI capabilities and infrastructure systems around the country that already exist to the tune of billions. And not only is it, I believe, a 38,000 acre, sprawling campus, but this Congress billeted 202,500 seats – but 4,000 seats still remain open. So let’s go to work. I’ll come to Alabama and let’s fill those seats.”

RELATED: Trump FBI Director Kash Patel: Alabama ‘lucky to have Sen. Britt representing them’

After the hearing, Britt told Fox Business that Patel might be one of Trump’s best choice to serve in his administration.

“Look, he nailed every one of their questions,” Britt said. “They absolutely came to play political theater. You have people that are already trying to run for President. They didn’t actually take the time to get down to the nuts and bolts of what he would actually be doing at the FBI…He was fantastic. He was masterful both with information and with his ability to take those question and put them right back on them.”

Kash Patel showed true leadership in today’s hearing, focusing on what matters: restoring faith in the FBI, prioritizing Americans’ safety, and upholding our Constitution.

While others played politics, he demonstrated the serious leadership we need to reform the Bureau. pic.twitter.com/sGw0EWljwf

— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) January 31, 2025

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, on Monday, a federal judge ordered that 39-year-old Kyle Nathan Carlisle, a resident of Phenix City, Alabama, receive a sentence of 92 months in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges related to loans received through the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.

The CARES Act, a sweeping federal law passed in March 2020, was billed as emergency financial relief to help Americans weather the economic storm created by COVID-19. However, like many massive government programs, it became a breeding ground for fraud and abuse.

The EIDL program, administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA), was intended to support small businesses by providing funds for essential expenses like payroll and utilities.

However, according to Carlisle’s plea agreement and other court records, between July 2020 and April 2021, he applied for 23 EIDL loans online, many of which were duplicates. Five of the loans were ultimately funded. Carlisle made multiple false statements and misrepresentations in his applications, including the businesses’ revenue, the number of employees, and that he had no felony convictions in the last five years. Records indicate he had two 2016 felony convictions in Russell County, Alabama. Carlisle further admitted to submitting forged documents with the applications including fake or altered business licenses.

As a result of his scheme, Carlisle received approximately $600,000 for four separate applications. Part of the funding was recovered before it cleared Carlisle’s accounts. The total amount sought in the scheme was $3,470,832. Carlisle was also convicted of money laundering for using the illegal proceeds to purchase a vehicle, among other unauthorized personal expenses.

In addition to the prison sentence, the judge ordered that Carlisle pay the Small Business Administration $547,846.54 in restitution. Carlisle was also ordered to forfeit the same amount to the United States government.

“Kyle Carlisle fabricated lies and forged documents in a scheme to divert taxpayer money for his own self-enrichment,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “The EIDL program was intended to provide relief to actual struggling businesses during a pandemic that created an enormous economic burden on the entire country. My office remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue those who engage in activities that threaten the integrity of government programs.”

The FBI Mobile Field Office investigated this case, with assistance from the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General and the Alabama Department of Labor. Assistant United States Attorney J. Patrick Lamb prosecuted the case.

Following his prison sentence, Carlisle will be on supervised release for three years. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.

The FBI is continuing to grow its presence on Redstone Arsenal.

The agency has transformed the base into a second headquarters of sorts, complete with more than a thousand employees, the latest technology, and cutting-edge field training.

At the annual Redstone Update, Johnnie Sharp Jr., assistant director of the bureau’s IT Infrastructure Division, went into detail about the progress taking place, specifically the organization’s Innovation Center.

“The Innovation Center will provide space dedicated to training cyber threat intelligence, digital forensics, and analytical tool development,” Sharp told the sold-out crowd at the Von Braun Center. “We understand 21st century threats are rapidly changing and evolving which requires us to not only be well-trained, but better prepared to defeat them.”

Sharp elaborated on the potential of the facility for agents and organizations partnered with the FBI.

“The Innovation Center will be the epicenter of the FBI’s technology infrastructure and tool development, centralizing our tech talent tools in a connected campus environment,” he said. “Once this building comes online, our goal is to not only utilize the space for training purposes but also for an increased focus on collaboration within the FBI. As well as our partners within the intelligence community, law enforcement, industry, and academia.

“We’re setting a new standard having more of the capabilities that the Innovation Center will house.”

With some 4,000 agents and employees in Huntsville, Sharp said the center’s mission is clear.

“The FBI recognizes that next-generation threats require next-generation assets,” he said. “Creating, fostering, training on, and enhancing our mission with those assets is what the Innovation Center is all about.”

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on  X @ShipleyAusten

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville is continuing to support relocating the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s national headquarters to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. In a video posted to his X account Thursday, Tuberville (R-Auburn) said the decision made by President Joe Biden to keep the organization’s main base of operations in Maryland could soon be reversed and that it is not “set in stone.” He also noted that he plans to show President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, Kash Patel, all that Redstone offers.

“You know, we’re looking for a permanent place for all of the FBI,” said Tuberville (R-Auburn). “There’s no better place than Huntsville. There’s a lot of water underneath the bridge for the next month or so to kind of get all the ducks in a row with this.”

https://x.com/SenTuberville/status/1867364376371409380

Tuberville believes in consolidating the agency’s resources into one location.

“But we’re in great shape in Huntsville, behind the wall at Redstone Arsenal with the FBI,” he said. “We’re still continuing to build. We’ve got a lot more work to do there. We have more people that will move in. But wouldn’t it be great to have the entire FBI agency in Huntsville, Alabama?

“It would be perfect.”

Tuberville first came out in support of the plan to move the FBI to Huntsville in July 2023.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominees to his cabinet, currently before the U.S. Senate for confirmation, are making the rounds with Alabama Sen. Katie Britt — including his nominee to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kash Patel.

With a sizable legacy project at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, the Bureau views the state as a key resource in both in the strength of domestic law enforcement as well as the ability to defend the homeland from foreign threats. Britt met with Patel in Washington on Thursday.

“It was amazing meeting with Senator Katie Britt this morning. As a former Congressional staffer, it’s inspiring seeing a former Congressional staffer serving as a senator. Alabamans are lucky to have Sen. Britt representing them in the Senate,” Patel said after their meeting.

In his statement, Patel reciprocated the duty that Britt (R-Montgomery) brought to their conversation today about the future of the Bureau and its ability to keep Americans safer through an increasing presence in Alabama.

RELATED: FBI Redstone HQ was fully funded in 2023, despite reports it was cut from 2024 budget

“The FBI’s focus should be protecting Americans from terrorists, hostile foreign actors, and violent criminals. Kash and I discussed how FBI Redstone in Huntsville is in prime position to be an invaluable partner in achieving this shared goal,” Sen. Britt said after their meeting. “Looking forward to hosting Kash in Huntsville soon and to Redstone being instrumental in fulfilling the FBI’s core mission for decades to come,” Sen. Britt said after their meeting.”

https://x.com/Kash_Patel/status/1867379340301750770

Trump announced Patel’s nomination in November, lauding him as a “brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter” dedicated to exposing corruption and upholding justice.” His nomination follows the resignation of FBI Director Christopher Wray, who stepped down this week amid a loss of faith by lawmakers and a failure to handle politically-sensitive investigations.

Grayson Everett is the state and political editor for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270