Alabama State News

Bob Carlton, longtime writer who has covered food and all things Alabama for 45 years, retiring from AL.com

Tue, 20 May 2025 23:11:07 +0000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- On his X profile, the bio for Bob Carlton is short, yet covers far more than any one sentence ever could.

"I write about Southern food and culture and all things Alabama for The Birmingham News, AL.com, This is Alabama and It's a Southern Thing," the line reads.

It's a description that has covered the breadth of Carlton's work for decades at The Birmingham News, then transitioning into the digital age with AL.com and its subsidiary, This is Alabama, working as everything from a copyeditor to a book reviewer, film critic, feature writer and food reporter since 1980. On May 30, Carlton will retire from the news organization he has spent his entire professional life.

"My whole career has been a real rewarding career for me, especially these last couple of months that I've gotten to reconnect with people I've worked with and people I've written about," Carlton said on the "Down in Alabama" podcast with Ike Morgan Monday.

Carlton, who first started at The Birmingham News as a summer intern in 1979 while a student at the University of Alabama, is one of the longest tenured journalists at AL.com, covering a large swath of Alabama culture in the decades he's worked at the News.

Although his career has covered everything from writing about Jimmy Nabors' pool table to the 40th anniversary of the Woodlawn/Banks high school football game, Carlton's best known work in recent years has been his coverage of Southern food and those who make it, many of those newspapers pieces nailed to the walls of countless restaurants across Birmingham and the whole of the state.

During his time covering food, which he took over for former News food editor Jo-Ellen O'Hara in 2008, Carlton has covered the rise of Birmingham's food scene on the national stage, from Frank Stitt's Highlands Bar and Grill named Most Outstanding Restaurant in America by the James Beard Foundation in 2018 to a local scandal a few years later when the foundation disqualified Timothy Hontzas of Johnny's Restaurant in Homewood from getting an award after a report of him allegedly yelling at an employee and several customers.

Among the countless stories he has written throughout his career, Carlton counted his obituary of Bright Star owner Jimmy Koikos as among his favorite pieces. It was an assignment he received after getting a call from the late restauranteur in the early part of 2019.

"He said 'Come out to the restaurant. I want to talk to you about something,'” Carlton recalled. "He had found out he was dying of cancer and he said 'I want you to write my obituary.'"

Carlton worked for months on the piece, talking to everyone from former Alabama football coach Gene Stallings to members of Koikos' family. The piece ran on November 16, 2019, the day Koikos died.

"It was really special that he trusted me to write that story," he said. "In a bittersweet way, it was one of my favorite things that I’ve ever worked on."

Carlton said he has different things he'd like to do in life after journalism, from travelling with his family to volunteering, but don't expect him to go away entirely.

"I have the opportunity, and I believe I’m going to take advantage of it, to do freelance work on a limited basis, so you might not see the end of my byline" he said. "I may be back on the site again in a very sporadic basis in a couple of months after I take some time off."

Looking back over his career, Carlton said he has had a rewarding career.

"The thing I enjoy most about my job is that I get to meet everyday people who do everyday, but remarkable, things and they're unsung heroes, if you’d like," he said. "You get to interview them and hear their stories. Some of them I’ve become friends with through writing about them because they’re just nice people ,neat people, people you’d like to know better. I couldn’t pick one person from that, but there are dozens of people like that I meet and continue to meet."

You can listen to the full interview here.

WEATHER AWARE until 2 AM for severe storms with damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes

Tue, 20 May 2025 22:51:02 +0000

Weather Aware Tuesday Between 5 PM and 2 AM

A strong cold front will move into Alabama this evening into early Wednesday morning. Severe storms, first as individual cells and then into a line, are expected to form along the front and move across Central Alabama between 5 PM and 2 AM.

There is a Level 3/5 Enhanced Risk for much of Central Alabama down to Chilton County, and a Level 2/5 Risk for the rest of Central Alabama. The main threat will be damaging winds, but a few storms could produce large hail to golf ball size and tornadoes.

A few tornadoes could be strong (EF-2+) along and north of I-59. The severe threat ends once the storms move across Central Alabama by 2 AM.

Game 4 of the SEC Tournament could have an issue with the storms. This will be something to watch. Wednesday morning will be mostly clear and cooler with lows in the 60s.

SEC Baseball Tournament: The weather will be great Wednesday through Friday with plenty of sunshine, lower humidity, and highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s. Warmer and more humid air returns this weekend with some pop-up afternoon storms. Highs will be in the lower to middle 80s. Don't forget your sunscreen!

A drier air mass will move into Alabama on Wednesday. We will be mostly sunny and less humid with high temperatures in the lower 80s. Wednesday night will be clear, cooler, and comfortable with lows in the upper 50s to lower 60s. Thursday will be mostly sunny, warm, and dry with highs in the lower 80s. A dry cold front arrives on Friday. This will keep us less humid with sunshine, but it will turn cooler in the middle 70s. It will be perfect for the SEC Baseball Tourney.

Weekend Outlook: The ridge of high pressure will move east of Alabama for the weekend, bringing in warmer and more humid conditions. Saturday and Sunday will be partly cloudy, with a chance for pop-up storms each day. High temperatures will be in the lower to middle 80s.

Jobs Plus grant program aims to break down barriers in Selma

Tue, 20 May 2025 22:25:56 +0000

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

A new $2.3 million dollar grant program in Selma is providing employment and education assistance to people in public housing.

The Jobs Plus program aims to help break down the barriers that prevent people from becoming self-sufficient.

The program offers up to four years of childcare, transportation and other assistance — to help residents go to work or school.

The program is open to residents between the ages of 18 and 64 years old — who live in the GWC and Felix Heights complexes.

“Any barrier that you may have that stops you from working, whether it’s childcare, transportation, education any of those things, we are assisting with that,” said Jobs Plus Director Natalie Lewis.

“And with the employment part of the grant there is a four year or 48 month which ever comes first rent incentive where no matter how much money you make your rent does not increase.”

For more information about the Jobs Plus program — call 334-874-6271 Ext. 309.

Categories: News, West Alabama

Pike Road Schools names new athletic director

Tue, 20 May 2025 21:46:48 +0000

Pike Road Schools has named its new athletic director.

Officials say Coach Mike Atkins will take on the new role.

Atkins has 22 years of experience in teaching and coaching, including six years as an athletic director.

School officials say for the past five years, Atkins has been a part of the Pike Road High School team.

Atkins lives in Pike Road and his wife, Valerie, is the school counselor at Pike Road Junior High School. The couple has three kids.

Categories: High School, Montgomery Metro, News, Sports

A Severe Storm Threat Tonight Into Early Wednesday Morning

Tue, 20 May 2025 21:33:12 +0000

We have a strong to severe storm threat for our area tonight into early Wednesday morning. The NOAA weather radio transmitters will not be operational tonight. You will need to have other ways to receive warnings. We encourage you to download our weather app and stay weather aware.

The storm threat will increase as we go into the late evening hours. Storms will enter West Alabama around 8pm and advance eastward. Some of the storms will be capable of damaging wind gust up to 60 mph, quarter size hail and we can’t rule out a few tornadoes. We expect the storms to weaken and exit our southern counties around 3am.

The rest of the work week is looking rather nice! High pressure will build over the deep south and that will help provide us mainly clear and dry conditions. The air mass will be less humid leading to some really nice mornings. Temps will fall into the upper 50s to lower 60s for lows and daytime highs in the mid 80s for several days.

Memorial Day weekend will have the chance for showers and t-storms each day. We should see an increase in rain/storm coverage on Monday. Temps will climb into the mid 80s for highs and lows in the lower to mid 60s.

Categories: Daily Forecast

George Wendt, who played a beloved barfly on ‘Cheers’ and found another home onstage, dies at 76

Tue, 20 May 2025 21:32:17 +0000

NEW YORK (AP) — George Wendt, an actor with an Everyman charm who played the affable, beer-loving barfly Norm on the hit 1980s TV comedy “Cheers” and later crafted a stage career that took him to Broadway in “Art,” “Hairspray” and “Elf,” has died. He was 76.

Wendt’s family said he died early Tuesday morning, peacefully in his sleep while at home, according to the publicity firm The Agency Group.

“George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him,” the family said in a statement. “He will be missed forever.” The family has requested privacy during this time.

Despite a long career of roles onstage and on TV, it was as gentle and henpecked Norm Peterson on “Cheers” that he was most associated, earning six straight Emmy Award nominations for best supporting actor in a comedy series from 1984-89.

The series was centered on lovable losers in a Boston bar and starred Ted Danson, Shelley Long, Rhea Perlman, Kelsey Grammer, John Ratzenberger, Kirstie Alley and Woody Harrelson. It would spin off another megahit in “Frasier” and was nominated for an astounding 117 Emmy Awards, winning 28 of them.

Wendt, who spent six years in Chicago’s renowned Second City improv troupe before sitting on a barstool at the place where everybody knows your name, didn’t have high hopes when he auditioned for “Cheers.”

“My agent said, ‘It’s a small role, honey. It’s one line. Actually, it’s one word.’ The word was ‘beer.’ I was having a hard time believing I was right for the role of ‘the guy who looked like he wanted a beer.’ So I went in, and they said, ‘It’s too small a role. Why don’t you read this other one?’ And it was a guy who never left the bar,” Wendt told GQ in an oral history of “Cheers.”

‘Where everyone knows your name’

“Cheers” premiered on Sept. 30, 1982, and spent the first season with low ratings. NBC president Brandon Tartikoff championed the show, and it was nominated for an Emmy for best comedy series in its first season. Some 80 million people would tune in to watch its series finale 11 years later.

Wendt became a fan favorite in and outside the bar — his entrances were cheered with a warm “Norm!” — and his wisecracks always landed. “How’s a beer sound, Norm?” he would be asked by the bartender. “I dunno. I usually finish them before they get a word in,” he’d respond.

While the beer the cast drank on set was nonalcoholic, Wendt and other “Cheers” cast members have admitted they were tipsy on May 20, 1993, when they watched the show’s final episode then appeared together on “The Tonight Show” in a live broadcast from the Bull and Finch Pub in Boston, the bar that inspired the series.

″We had been drinking heavily for two hours but nobody thought to feed us,” Wendt told the Beaver County Times of Pennsylvania in 2009. “We were nowhere near as cute as we thought we were.”

After “Cheers,” Wendt starred in his own short-lived sitcom “The George Wendt Show” — “too bad he had to step out of Norm and down so far from that corner stool for his debut stanza,” sniffed Variety — and had guest spots on TV shows like “The Ghost Whisperer,” “Harry’s Law” and “Portlandia.” He was part of a brotherhood of Chicago Everymen who gathered over sausage and beers and adored “Da Bears” on “Saturday Night Live.” In 2023, he competed on “The Masked Singer.”

Second career on stage

But he found steady work onstage: Wendt slipped on Edna Turnblad’s housecoat in Broadway’s “Hairspray” beginning in 2007, and was in the Tony Award-winning play “Art” in New York and London.

He starred in the national tour of “12 Angry Men” and appeared in a production of David Mamet’s “Lakeboat.” He also starred in regional productions of “Death of a Salesman,” “The Odd Couple,” “Never Too Late” and “Funnyman.”

“A, it’s by far the most fun, but B, I seem to have been kicked out of television,” Wendt told the Kansas City Star in 2011. “I overstayed my welcome. But theater suits me.”

Wendt had an affinity for playing Santa Claus, donning the famous red outfit in the stage musical “Elf” on Broadway in 2017, the TV movie “Santa Baby” with Jenny McCarthy in 2006 and in the doggie Disney video “Santa Buddies” in 2009. He also played Father Christmas for TV specials by Larry the Cable Guy and Stephen Colbert.

“I think it just proves that if you stay fat enough and get old enough, the offers start rolling in,” the actor joked to the AP in his Broadway dressing room.

Born in Chicago, Wendt attended Campion High School, a Catholic boarding school in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, and then Notre Dame, where he rarely went to class and was kicked out. He transferred to Rockhurst University in Kansas City and graduated, after majoring in economics.

He found a home at Second City in both the touring company and the mainstage.

“I think comedy is my long suit, for sure. My approach to comedy is usually not full-bore clownish,” he told the AP. “If you’re trying to showboat or step outside, it doesn’t always work. There are certain performers who almost specialize in doing that, and they do it really well. But that’s not my approach.”

Cheers for beer

He had a lifelong association with beer. He had his first taste as an 8-year-old and got drunk at 16, at the World’s Fair in New York.

His beer knowledge was poured into the book ″Drinking With George: A Barstool Professional’s Guide to Beer,” co-written with Jonathan Grotenstein. One line: “Will Rogers once said he never met a man he didn’t like. I feel the same about beer.”

Part autobiography, part beer drinker’s guide, the book had Wendt’s conversational tone and lists, such as “Five Good Bar Bets,” ″77 Toasts from Around the World” and ”(More Than) 100 Ways to Say That You’re Drunk,” which alphabetically lists 126 synonyms from “annihilated” through “zozzled.”

He is survived by his wife, Second City alum Bernadette Birkett, who voiced Norm’s never-seen not-so better half, Vera, on “Cheers”; his children, Hilary, Joe and Daniel; and his stepchildren, Joshua and Andrew.

“From his early days with The Second City to his iconic role as Norm on ‘Cheers,’ George Wendt’s work showcased how comedy can create indelible characters that feel like family. Over the course of 11 seasons, he brought warmth and humor to one of television’s most beloved roles,” National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson said in a statement.

Categories: National News, News

Leeds Council approves new districts ahead of election

Tue, 20 May 2025 21:27:40 +0000

The following article is by Nathan Prewett for the Trussville Tribune:

LEEDS, Ala. (Trussville Tribune) -- The Leeds City Council accepted a redrawn map of the city’s council districts during its meeting on Monday before approving the Motors on Main event after hearing from a resident who urged that it be put on the agenda.

The approval of the revised map was done several weeks after a previous proposal from the firm ESRI was met with dissatisfaction from both the public and the council after it grouped two councilors in the same district.

Mayor David Miller once again explained that data is collected into census blocks that are population blocks used to balance districts. Districts have to be balanced within 5% of each other and there has to be at least one minority district as required by the criteria.

“This map does meet the criteria that’s been discussed with the council people,” Miller said. “And so it comes down to me to vote on it. The requirement is that we have an approved district map that meets all the requirements no later than May 26.”

The map was approved unanimously. Specific details about the new district lines can be found on the agenda packet online.

During public comments, Shandi White spoke in favor of placing the Motors on Main Street car show on the agenda after she said an anonymous complaint that was filed.

White said that plans for the event were approved by ALDOT and by the Finance Committee. She also requested that the council expedite a TCP traffic control plan.

During the following discussion, Miller suggested that it be approved as a one-time event as a trial, but White disagreed and said that it should be approved through to October at least. A compromise was reached to approve the event one time that is subject to reapproval.

According to its website, Motors on Main is a monthly event occurring every fourth Friday that raises awareness of special-needs nonprofits and supports local businesses. The first event is scheduled for June 27.

Additionally, the council voted to accept a donation of 10 wooden benches from Leeds Main Street as part of their Leeds Legacy Benches project. In a letter to the city Leeds Main Street Executive Director Kristi Biddle explained that the project aims to enhance the “walkability, beauty, and comfort” of the downtown district.

The city was given handcrafted, 10 foot long benches that each have engraved plaques recognizing those who made them possible. One plaque memorializes Robert Carswell, a wrestling coach at Leeds High School that passed away in 2005.

The benches are ADA compliant and will allow for “flexible relocation” during events or sidewalk maintenance. Some will be placed near local shops, restaurants, and gathering spaces.

In other business the council:

Declared buildings at properties on 11^th Court and Moton Street to be unsafe,
Amended and updated the city’s credit card holder list,
Annexed the historic Rowan House 1900 Montevallo Road following an engineering error that was discovered,
Authorized a service agreement for Ethernet VLS for the Leeds Jane Culbreth Public Library,
Authorized a tax compromise agreement with a corporate taxpayer for $36,823.98 and
Approved a three-way stop at Rowan Springs Drive, and Rowan Springs Circle.

Leeds City Council meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of every month at City Hall on 1400 9th Street Northeast. Agenda packets can be seen online at the City of Leeds website.

Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.

Suspects wanted in Tallassee shooting that injured three

Tue, 20 May 2025 21:27:03 +0000

Tallassee police are looking for two people wanted for a shooting earlier this week that injured three people.

The incident happened around 4:53 p.m. Monday in the 3000 block of Highway 229.

Once officers and fire medics arrived, they found two juvenile victims with gunshot wounds. Both victims were taken to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

While processing the scene, Tallassee police were notified of an additional adult gunshot victim who was dropped off at Tallassee Community Hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

The adult victim was transported to Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery for further medical treatment.

Investigators say identified Devonte Tyus and Jartavious Jackson, both of Tallassee, as the suspects.

Warrants were secured on both suspects for Attempted Murder and Discharging a Firearm into an Occupied Vehicle.

Police say the incident is still being actively investigated and additional charges are pending.

If anyone has any information regarding this shooting, please contact the Tallassee Police Department at (334) 283-6586 or Crime Stoppers at 215-STOP.

Categories: Crime, East Alabama, News

UAB Medicine St. Vincent’s opens new primary care practice in Trussville

Tue, 20 May 2025 20:53:59 +0000

TRUSSVILLE, Ala. (Trussville Tribune) -- UAB Medicine St. Vincent’s has opened a new primary care practice in Trussville within its existing building located at 7201 Happy Hollow Road.

“We have heard from our patients, physicians, associates and community members that increased access to primary care is a top priority in their health care journey. We are thrilled to announce the expansion of our primary care network in Trussville,” said UAB Medicine St. Vincent’s Medical Group COO Summer Tappan.

“We know access to primary care is a critical component in preventive medicine, and we are committed to continuing to increase access to care for patients wherever they need us.”

Suzanne Cantley, DSN, will be the treating provider for the practice. A graduate of UAB with a doctorate in nursing, Cantley brings 20 years of experience as a family medicine practitioner.

She is also familiar with Trussville, having served as the nurse practitioner at Brookwood Baptist Health Trussville until it closed earlier this year.

Cantley has a special interest in treating patients with types 1 and 2 diabetes, metabolic disorders, asthma, and acute illnesses, incorporating the latest technology to assist patients in managing their disease.

“I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a child, and helping patients manage and better take care of themselves is my passion,” Cantley said. “I feel as though I was born to be a caregiver, and I’m thrilled to be back in the Trussville community serving patients.”

UAB Medicine St. Vincent’s Primary Care Trussville is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call (205) 508-6270.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin proposes $591 million budget

Tue, 20 May 2025 20:42:31 +0000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin presented a proposed $591 million Fiscal Year 2026 operating budget Tuesday.

The budget focuses on advancing a public safety strategy, recruiting more police and investing in youth. Woodfin's plan includes $21.8 million to increase neighborhood revitalization. It also includes another $15 million for street resurfacing.

“This budget represents our shared priorities,” Woodfin said in a statement. “We will continue to invest in our neighborhoods to resurface streets, invest in sidewalks and traffic calming, and remove blight. These are common requests from our residents that we are committed to providing.”

Community violence intervention programs will receive $1.5 million to support ongoing initiatives. Below is a summary of the proposed budget:

Neighborhood revitalization

Street paving: $15 million
Weed abatement: $3 million (up $250,000)
Demolition: $2 million (up $500,000)
Sidewalks: $1 million
Traffic calming: $500,000
Recycling: $300,000

Public safety and violence reduction

Police vehicles: $1 million (part of $6 million rolling stock investment)
Common ground conflict resolution in BCS: $1 million
Park and Recreation Safe Haven Initiative: $625,000 (up $125,000)
Park and recreation youth sports program: $500,000 (new funding recommended by the independent Birmingham Crime Commission)
RESTORE Youth Re-entry Initiative: $450,000 (up $225,000)
Additional community violence intervention: $1.5 million

Youth investments

Birmingham Promise for BCS students: $2 million
Birmingham City Schools (mental health): $1 million
Financial literacy curriculum in BCS: $1 million
Common ground conflict resolution in BCS: $1 million
Small magic early childhood education: $250,000
Park and Recreation Safe Haven Initiative: $625,000 (up $125,000)
Park and Recreation youth sports program: $500,000 (new funding)
Kids and jobs: $210,000

Homelessness

Services for the unhoused: $1.5 million (new funding)
Community development block grants: $800,000 (estimated, annually)

Public transportation

Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority: $11 million
Birmingham Xpress Bus Rapid Transit: $3 million
Birmingham on Demand powered by VIA: $2.5 million

City employees

1% cost of living adjustment for all employees: $4.225 million
5% merit pay for eligible employees: $3.9 million
Longevity pay for eligible employees: $1 million
The city covers all healthcare benefit increases for city employees to prevent new out-of-pocket costs: $3.6 million
City contribution to pension fund: $40 million (estimated pending actuary’s report)

The full proposed budget can be found here.

Suspect charged in Royal Carriage Drive homicide

Tue, 20 May 2025 20:38:38 +0000

Montgomery police have made an arrest in a fatal shooting over the weekend.

The shooting happened around 3:00 a.m. Sunday in the 3300 block of Royal Carriage Drive.

Once officers arrived, they found 26-year-old Ki’era Campbell, of Montgomery, dead from a gunshot wound.

Montgomery police say 19-year-old Lepedro Grant has been charged with two counts of capital murder.

Grant was taken into custody Tuesday and is currently in the Montgomery County Detention Facility.

Categories: Crime, Montgomery Metro, News

Hyundai In High Gear Part 2: Then and Now

Tue, 20 May 2025 20:35:58 +0000

20 years, that’s how long the Hyundai plant has been in existence. At least two things haven’t changed since the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Plant began operations in 2005. Its employees: Jeffery Granville and Mark Wyatt. Both have been here since day one, But in that time, things have changed.

“Today our production time is way faster now, we have more robots and team members and the efficiency of building that unit is way better than 2005,” said Jeffery Granville, a Hyundai Team Member.

Since that first 2006 Sonata rolled off the line, the time to build a unit or car like they Hyundai GV 70 has gone down from 15 hours to 8 hours. They can build 1600 cars a day. “It’s more tech know now and we have the electrical unit that we build in the GV 70 so it’s very different from the 2005 sonata that we built,” said Granville.

“the plant has expanded several times over the 20 year period. Every few years the cars change, the parts change, the looks of the cars change and the types of cars that we’ve built over the years have changed,” said Mark Wyatt, a Hyundai Team Member.

So have the number of people working for HMMA. About 4200 employees, compared to 2000 when it first opened, currently play a role in getting each new unit off the line, Including Hyundai Team Member Mark Wyatt. “No 1 person can build a car, it takes a team of people to build a car, and that’s one thing that kind of stuck with me. It takes a team, truely a team effort when you do this kind of work.”

Jeffery Granville knows what its like to be part of a team. Though the years each of his three daughters have come to work with him at HMMA. “I“m very proud to have them follow in my footsteps. To have all 3 of my daughters working here, very proud,” said Granville

Another things that’s changed, there’s another Hyundai plant in North America. The Hyundai Meta Plant outside Savanah, Georgia opened in April 2025. It’s going to focus on Hybrid and EV models.

Categories: News

Tags: HMMA, Hyundai Motor Company

Sylacauga police searching for suspect in fatal shooting

Tue, 20 May 2025 20:10:07 +0000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- Sylacauga police are searching for a suspect who is allegedly connected to a fatal shooting that occurred May 11.

Police received reports of a shooting around 4:50 p.m. around E Fifth Street in Sylacauga. A few minutes later, authorities received calls of a vehicle being shot into on Curran Street off N Broadway Avenue.

Police found two people shot. Both victims were transported to Coosa Valley Medical Center. Christopher Keith was transported to UAB Hospital and later died from his injuries.

It was determined that the shooting occurred at the intersection of N Louisville Avenue and E Fifth Street. Police are seeking assistance in locating the suspect. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 334-215-7867.

Alabama Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell resigns; Gov. Ivey appoints replacement

Tue, 20 May 2025 20:08:26 +0000

Alabama Supreme Court Jay Mitchell has resigned from his position.

Governor Kay Ivey’s Office confirmed to Action 8 News that Mitchell submitted his resignation Monday to the governor.

Mitchell didn’t give an exact reason for his resignation, but says he feels “called to play a larger role” in the state.

To complete the rest of his term, Governor Ivey has appointed Judge Bill Lewis to the seat.

Governor Ivey appointed Lewis to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals in February 2024. Prior to that, Lewis served as circuit court judge for the 19th Judicial Circuit in Elmore County.

“Judge Bill Lewis continues demonstrating justice and fairness under the law, as well as a willingness to serve the people of Alabama,” said Governor Ivey. “His decades of experience will serve the Supreme Court of Alabama well, and I am confident he is the best choice.”

Judge Lewis’ appointment is effective immediately.

Governor Ivey’s office says the appointment to fill Judge Lewis’ vacant seat on the Court of Civil Appeals will be announced soon.

Categories: Montgomery Metro, News

ADOC searching for escaped inmate

Tue, 20 May 2025 19:52:28 +0000

Authorities are looking for an inmate who walked away from a job assignment in Montgomery County.

ADOC says around 10:30AM Tuesday, 38-year-old Stephen Murphy left from an assigned job location in Hope Hull.

Murphy is described at 6’0″ and weighs 180 lbs. with multiple tattoos. He was last seen wearing white pants, black and gray shirt with red and black shoes.

Officials say Murphy was in ADOC custody for a robbery charge out of Morgan County.

Categories: Crime, Montgomery Metro, News

Scattered rain and thunderstorms expected Tuesday night

Tue, 20 May 2025 17:54:55 +0000

Categories: Daily Forecast, News

Weather Aware Tuesday: Strong to severe storms during the afternoon and evening

Tue, 20 May 2025 17:20:39 +0000

Weather Aware Tuesday Between 5 PM and 2 AM

Most of Tuesday will be partly to mostly cloudy, hot, and humid with just a few showers. High temperatures will be in the upper 80s, and the heat index will be in the middle 90s.

A strong cold front will move into Alabama Tuesday evening into early Wednesday morning.

Severe storms, likely in a line, are expected to form along the front and move across Central Alabama between 5 PM and 2 AM.

There is a Level 3/5 Enhanced Risk for NW Alabama, and a Level 2/5 Risk for the rest of Central Alabama. The main threat will be damaging winds, but a few storms could produce large hail and a few tornadoes. The greater tornado threat will be over NW AL and into Tennessee. The severe threat is over once the storms move across Central Alabama by 2 AM. Wednesday morning will be mostly clear and cooler with lows in the 60s.

SEC Baseball Tournament Day 1: The first 3 games should be good weatherwise, but game 4, depending on when the first pitch occurs, could have an issue with the storms toward the latter innings. This will be something to watch.

A cooler and drier air mass will move into Alabama on Wednesday. We will be mostly sunny and less humid with high temperatures in the lower 80s. Wednesday night will be clear, cooler, and comfortable with lows in the middle to upper 50s. This will be great weather for day 2 of the SEC Baseball Tourney.

Fantastic weather is on tap for Thursday and Friday as high pressure builds across the Southeast U.S. It will be mostly sunny, less humid, and mild for late May. High temperatures will only be in the middle 70s. Each night will be cool with lows ranging from the upper 40s in the colder spots to the middle 50s. How nice does that sound? And it will be perfect for the SEC Baseball Tourney.

Weekend Outlook: The ridge of high pressure will move east of Alabama for the weekend bringing in warmer and more humid conditions. Saturday and Sunday will be partly cloudy with a chance for a pop-up storm each day. High temperatures will be in the upper 70s to lower 80s.

Be sure to follow the CBS 42 Storm Team:

Follow Us on Facebook: Chief Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum, Meteorologist Michael Haynes, Meteorologist Alex Puckett, and Meteorologist Jacob Woods.

Weather Around the Clock: Afternoon Edition 5/20

Tue, 20 May 2025 16:57:57 +0000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- Tuesday: There will be storms this evening and tonight is capable of producing damaging winds, large hail, tornadoes, along with some isolated flooding issues. The latest outlook from the Storm Prediction Center has most of central Alabama in a level three out of five enhanced risk.

The primary threat is going to be damaging winds for most of central Alabama. There could be some tornadoes north and west of Birmingham.

Private development in Northport aims to provide luxury beach getaway, without the beach

Tue, 20 May 2025 15:32:18 +0000

NORTHPORT, Ala (WIAT) – Northport residents feel their voices are not being heard after the city council voted 3-2 in favor of a rezoning for a private development.

The University Beach project is a multi-million-dollar private development. It is being built off McFarland Boulevard just a mile down the road from city hall. Several residents have expressed opposition from the start.

“If we thought this would be good for Northport, we wouldn’t be trying to stop it,” Tuffy Holland said.

Holland filed an open records lawsuit against the City of Northport once ground started to break and studies were not being shown.

“In the past we’ve sued the city to get that impact study, and it sounds like the city has had it for the last two weeks,” Holland said. “Which I don’t know why they didn’t make it public.”

During the public hearing, an impact study was shown to the council by Kent Donahue. Donahue is the project developer, and Holland is weary about him. The information shown from the impact study was:

Projected Taxation Impact First 10 Years
- State of Alabama: $130,858,000
- Tuscaloosa County: $51,679,000
- City of Northport: $61,660,000
Projected Taxation Impact Over 30 years
- State of Alabama: $539,918,000
- Tuscaloosa County: $213,227,000
- City of Northport: $254,408,000

The developer, Kent Donahue, told CBS 42 News that the impact study was done over a year ago by a third party company, Hotel and Leisure Advisors.

The study, at least what was shown in the public hearing, also showed hundreds of thousands of visitors would come to Northport to stay at the resort-style development – 55% being out of state.

“The developer behind the project has no verifiable history in competing a project to this scale,” Holland told city council in the public hearing.

Donahue touted a 30 year career in large scale developments but would not tell CBS 42 what those were. Instead, when CBS 42 asked why he would not say what his portfolio included Donahue responded:

“I can, but I’m not going to do that right now.”

Donahue refused to answer any more questions from CBS 42 news.

Some residents have expressed lack of transparency with the developer as reason to why Northport should pause moving forward until more questions are answered.

That’s the same reason District 5 Councilor Anwar Ankin voted no.

“I will give the developer credit, he’s made a lot improvements as far as trying to accommodate as much as he can – but when it comes to the infrastructure I’m still not sold,” Ankin said.

Ankin is worried about flooding, and other drainage problems on and near the property. Residents like Holland voiced similar concerns in Monday’s public hearing.

Another concern is, once University Beach LLC builds the 275 single family residential properties on site – who’s going to buy them?

The latest renderings of the University Beach LLC private development were unveiled Monday night. Residents snickered as Donahue played a video.

The private development aims to give a luxury beach getaway – without the beach. At the end of the presentation, Donahue said “we’re excited," one resident shouted back “we’re not.”

“I don’t even know if it would be viable if they put this in Birmingham, to be perfectly honest with you,” Holland said.

Trussville Board of Education elects Steve Ward as president

Tue, 20 May 2025 15:07:59 +0000

The following report was written by Chris Basinger, news editor for the Trussville Tribune.

TRUSSVILLE, Ala. (TRIBUNE) – The Trussville City Schools Board of Education selected its officers for the next year, electing Dr. Steve Ward as board president and Sherrye Tolbert as vice president during its meeting on Monday.

The board elects its own leadership every year during its May meeting.

At the start of the election, Tolbert removed herself from consideration for board president, citing the need to be with her family following the loss of her mother, and thanked the board for their love and support.

“Your kindness means more than words can express,” Tolbert said.

She went on to nominate Ward for president, saying, “I trust he will be dedicated and he will lead us in the right direction.”

He was elected unanimously.

“I want to thank each of you very much and Sherrye thank you for that great testimony, I appreciate that,” Ward said.

“Being nominated for being president is quite an honor, of course, very humbling. I look forward to working with each of you as we have over the years, but I can only hope to maintain the standards that have been set by Kim DeShazo, Kathy Brown, Bill Roberts, Sid McNeal, and all those I can’t name at this time but I appreciate it very much.”

Ward, who was first appointed to the board in 2017, succeeds Kim DeShazo in the position.

“Thank you all for the opportunity to serve as the president these last two years,” DeShazo said. “It’s been an honor, it has been a journey, it’s been fun at times, it has been hard at times, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve and look forward to continuing to serve on the board.”

DeShazo nominated Tolbert to again serve as vice president of the board. She was elected unanimously.

Superintendent Dr. Patrick Martin was also confirmed as executive secretary of the board as required by law.

The board also acknowledged Kathy Brown’s reappointment and congratulated her as she begins her third term on the board.

“I really appreciate the opportunity, thank you to the city council and thank y’all,” Brown said. “I love working with this board, it’s a great group of people and it’s an honor.”

Huntsville Police looking for missing teen last seen in March

Tue, 20 May 2025 11:24:07 +0000

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The Huntsville Police Department is asking for the public's help in finding a missing 17-year-old.

HPD said it needs the community's help in finding Adriana "Starr" Jones, 17.

The department said she was last seen in the area of Joslin Street on Saturday, March 22, and has not returned home.

Adriana “Starr” Jones (Huntsville Police Department)

HPD said Jones was last seen wearing a pink bonnet, red pajama pants, and a gray shirt. Authorities said her direction of travel the last time she was seen is unknown at this time.

HPD said anyone with information on Jones's whereabouts should call Investigator Brady at 256-746-4135.

Alabama family says call police if missing grandfather from Kenya found

Tue, 20 May 2025 02:30:49 +0000

CALERA, Ala. (WIAT) -- The wife of a missing 72-year-old grandfather from Kenya is holding out hope her husband will be found.

“We are praying, and we are so hopeful that he’s going to get back home,” Elizabeth Waithaka said.

As of Monday, Reuben Waithaka has been missing for more than four days after growing confused and leaving his son’s home in the Timberline subdivision in Calera.

Calera police received a tip late Saturday night that Reuben Waithaka may have been spotted in Cullman. Calera Police Chief David Hyche said he's hoping Reuben Waithaka is out of the area after their search of private property over several days didn't turn up anything.

Police said he was given two rides that they know of. One was to the Chevron gas station across the street from the Timberline subdivision entrance.

The family believes he’s still out there and is pleading with the public not to give him any more rides but to call police instead.

“If he asks for one more ride, please just distract him until you call the police," said Emily Barua, the daughter of Reuben Waithaka.

Reuben Waithaka -- Calera PD

Barua said she and her husband drove to Birmingham on Sunday to look for her dad.

“Went to Birmingham, looked around the shelter, asked a few people at the Amtrak station, and we went to the jail,” Barua said.

She said they also searched the area around the Greyhound bus station, where she saw people sleeping and checked to make sure he wasn’t one of them. She said the people were very helpful but told them that they had not seen him.

After an extensive search led by Calera police and fire departments and other agencies over four days on private property off Highway 25, the family believes someone else may have given him a ride.

“We don’t want him to go any farther,” Barua said. “So we are hoping that somebody can just distract him and call 911 until we bring him home.”

Reuben Waithaka and his wife had flown to the U.S. from Nairobi, Kenya, on Wednesday to be here for their firstborn grandson’s graduation from Calera High School on Tuesday night.

“I’m the firstborn grandson, and so it’s a special moment, especially in African culture," Bryon Waithaka said.

He said his faith and his family are his anchor at this difficult time.

“I just know God has a plan that he’s safe and sound,” Byron Waithaka said. “Hopeful that somebody will show us the way.”

Byron Waithaka, who is graduating with honors, still plans to walk across the stage Tuesday.

Anyone with who may have seen Reuben Waithaka is asked to contact Calera police at 205-668-3505 or call 911.

Vestavia Hills Elementary School West temporarily closed following weekend flooding

Tue, 20 May 2025 01:01:23 +0000

VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. (WIAT) -- Vestavia Hills Elementary School West will remain closed Tuesday following flooding that affected many parts of the school over the weekend.

Surveillance footage showed water coming through different parts of the school Sunday as a torrential downpour swept through the building. As a result, the school was closed Monday and will remain closed Tuesday as crews clean up the areas.

"Steady progress has been made today in restoration, cleaning, and disinfection of all areas affected by yesterday’s severe weather at West," school officials wrote in a message. "A special thank you goes to Brookstone Restoration, whose large crew has worked tirelessly through the night to restore the building. Humidity levels inside the school have returned to normal, and their team is continuing to monitor and evaluate all affected areas."

Classes are set to resume Wednesday.

Unidentified remains exhumed from Walker County cemetery

Tue, 20 May 2025 00:12:04 +0000

JASPER, Ala. (WIAT) -- Remains of an unidentified woman who was found dead alongside an Alabama highway 40 years ago were exhumed from Oak Hill Cemetery on Friday.

According to Walker County Sheriff's Office cold case investigator Mike Cole, the woman was found alongside Alabama State Route 5 in October 1984. The WCSO exhumed her remains in collaboration with medical examiners and pathologists from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences as well as the Jasper Police Department.

Cole stated her identity could not be determined because of the limited forensic technology available in the 1980s. The ADFS, however, was awarded a grant to fund the advanced testing required to identify the remains. Those procedures typically cost around $15,000 to $20,000, according to Cole.

Area residents attended the woman's funeral. Her footstone reads "Only God Knows."

Cole stated the WCSO is hopeful to discover the woman's name and find any surviving family members.

Alabama weather radios to be out of service for 72 hours

Mon, 19 May 2025 23:45:13 +0000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- NOAA weather radios are not working due to a planned software outage, according to the National Weather Service.

Officials are urging the public to have multiple ways to get alerted about severe weather ahead of tomorrow expected storms. The National Weather Service says nationwide systems are being upgraded and they have a July 1 deadline to do so. Here in Alabama, the National Weather Service planned this outage months ago, hoping this would be a quiet weather week but that’s not the case.

A message that says the weather station is off air will be played until at least Wednesday on NOAA weather radios throughout Alabama. National Weather Service Warning System Meteorologist John De Block says even though the radios are off air, his office will continue their work during tomorrow’s storms.

“We are going to be working closely with our partners, our media partners, extra communications, and the chat program we have to give them the latest information so the meteorologists can get on air and let the people know. We are going to be issuing the watches and warnings still here, they just can’t go over the weather radios unfortunately,” remarked De Block.

The outage is due to a planned hardware upgrade which De Block says will allow the National Weather Service to use the latest technology over the radio. The upgrade was planned months ago before the weather service knew about tomorrow’s expected severe weather.

“Unfortunately in Alabama, tornado season runs from January 1 to December 31. We picked a time that we thought would have less of an impact, unfortunately it turns out we have some severe weather in mid-May. We put it off as long as we could but we have to get it done,” added De Block.

With weather radios being out, the Jefferson County EMA is urging everyone to have multiple ways to get weather alerts. Phones and apps are a great way to keep informed if you don’t have a cell phone. EMA Deputy Director Chris Tate says there are steps you should take.

“They need to be reaching out to friends and families to help support them during this time, I guarantee someone has those cell phones with different apps available to them. The Jeff Co. alerts app will call them to their landline, it will also send emails if they have those,” remarked Tate.

The CBS 42 app is a great way to stay alerted to weather conditions. You can turn on notifications and find out when severe weather comes into your area.

St. Clair County man killed in motorcycle crash

Mon, 19 May 2025 23:29:59 +0000

ST. CLAIR COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) -- A Ragland man was killed in a motorcycle crash Monday morning, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

Randall Foster, 35, was fatally injured around 6:19 a.m. when he lost control and thrown from the Harley-Davidson motorcycle he was riding. A garbage truck then hit Foster, who died at the scene.

The crash happened on U.S. 231 about one mile north of Pell City. Troopers with the ALEA Highway Patrol Division investigated the crash.

Leeds Creek Bank Festival postponed to May 24

Mon, 19 May 2025 23:02:17 +0000

LEEDS, Ala. (TRIBUNE) – This year’s Creek Bank Festival & Car Show has been rescheduled to its rain date of Saturday, May 24 due to inclement weather.

The event, which marks the 30th edition of the festival, will be held at Leeds Memorial Park.

This year’s gathering will feature all sorts of family activities including balloon art, face painting, hot dog eating and hula hooping contests, and the ever-cute Creek Bark Dog Pageant.

The always-popular Cruising the Creek Bank Car Show will also return this year with proceeds benefiting two local nonprofits–Backpack Buddies and Leeds Outreach.

There will also be dozens of vendors, offering everything from handcrafted items and fun gifts to festival food and frozen treats, perfect for a warm spring day.

The festival will kick off its live entertainment for the day with Heath Green and Adam Guthrie, two talented musicians who are new to Creek Bank and ready to bring energy to the stage

Additional performances will include singer/songwriter Lynnox Poe plus the return of crowd-favorite Terry Padgett with his popular Elvis tribute.

Festival-goers can also enjoy a lively performance from the Cash Domino Killers, known for their entertaining 50s and 60s rock and roll show.

Miss Leeds Area Samantha Hennings will also be part of the festival lineup.

There will also be a limited supply of commemorative 30th Anniversary Creek Bank Festival shirts at the Leeds Chamber booth.

For more information, email amy@leedsareachamber.com or visit creekbankfestival.com.

When is a 'destructive' severe thunderstorm warning issued?

Mon, 19 May 2025 22:45:32 +0000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- A severe storm pushed through portions of Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Jefferson and Shelby counties that prompted a "destructive" severe thunderstorm warning Sunday morning.

People were woken up very early Sunday to their phones buzzing from an Emergency Alert System notification for up to 80 mile per hour winds. While people expect the emergency system to alert them during a tornado warning, some wondered why this alarm was also sounded for a severe thunderstorm warning.

In 2021, the National Weather Service rolled out new branding for severe thunderstorm warnings by creating categories based on the threat level. For instance, it was realized that a severe storm producing extreme winds or hail should earn its own label compared to a standard severe storm with relatively less destructive winds or hail.

The definition of a severe thunderstorm warning is a storm producing winds of at least 58 miles per hour or up to quarter-sized hail in diameter.

That 2021 decision led to two new types of severe thunderstorm warnings. The "considerable" type is for winds of at least 70 miles per hour or golf ball-sized hail. The "destructive" warning is for winds of at least 80 miles per hour or baseball-sized hail.

When a "destructive" severe thunderstorm warning is issued, the EAS is prompted to alert cell phones and televisions, which is why many people were caught off guard early Sunday because there was no tornado warning.

While that isn't the first severe thunderstorm warning with a "destructive" tag in central Alabama, this part of the country does not receive them often. Typically, only about 10% of severe thunderstorm warnings have a destructive tag associated with them.

Meteorologists urge people to take shelter when a "destructive" tag is issued since those winds are reaching hurricane-force strength, which is strong enough to produce substantial damage similar to a weak tornado or hurricane.

Be sure to follow the CBS 42 Storm Team:

Follow Us on Facebook: Chief Meteorologist Dave Nussbaum, Meteorologist Michael Haynes, Meteorologist Alex Puckett, and Meteorologist Jacob Woods.

Hewitt-Trussville High School reschedules graduation ceremony

Mon, 19 May 2025 20:12:20 +0000

TRUSSVILLE, Ala. (Trussville Tribune) -- In anticipation of inclement weather, Hewitt-Trussville High School has moved up its graduation ceremony to earlier in the day.

The ceremony is now scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. tomorrow, May 20.

Graduating seniors must arrive for line-up between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.

The school said the change will apply no matter if the ceremony is held at Hewitt-Trussville Stadium or indoors at Bryant Bank Arena (HTHS gymnasium).

School officials will make a final determination by 10 a.m. on Tuesday about the location of the ceremony.

Tuscaloosa man sentenced to 24 years in prison for drug crimes

Mon, 19 May 2025 20:11:38 +0000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- A Tuscaloosa man was sentenced for his involvement in a drug conspiracy, according to U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona on Monday.

Hanston Clark, 33, of Tuscaloosa, was sentenced to 24 years in prison. He was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl and use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in November.

Terrance Stevens, 41, of Anniston, and Yannick Wolf, 35, of Anniston, were previously sentenced for a role in the drug conspiracy.

“This sentencing marks the final chapter in dismantling a dangerous drug trafficking network that pumped deadly fentanyl and methamphetamine into our communities,” said Drug Enforcement Administration New Orleans Division Special Agent in Charge Steven Hofer in a statement. “The DEA, alongside our federal, state, and local partners, remains steadfast in our mission to hold traffickers accountable and protect the public from the devastating impact of these illicit substances.”

Angel Cabrera wins rain-delayed Regions Tradition

Mon, 19 May 2025 19:44:23 +0000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Angel Cabrera rolled in a 6-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole Monday morning to complete an 8-under 64, and it proved to be a winner in the rain-delayed Regions Tradition that gave the Argentine his first senior major.

Cabrera had to wait to see if 54-hole leader Jerry Kelly could force a playoff. Kelly fell two behind with a bogey on the 17th, and could only manage a birdie at the last for a 68.

Storms interrupted the final round, and when the leaders finally began it was too late for them to finish. Kelly had completed 14 holes and Cabrera was though 15 holes when they returned to Greystone on Monday morning.

Cabrera finished at 20-under 268 and won for the second time on the PGA Tour Champions in the last two months. He won in Florida, his first title since being released after two years in an Argentine prison for gender violence.

Cabrera is a two-time major champion — the U.S. Open at Oakmont in 2007 and the Masters in 2009. He joins Miguel Angel Jimenez as the only multiple winners on the PGA Tour Champions.

Y.E. Yang finished another shot back in third place.

Most head north to Congressional for the Senior PGA Championship that starts Thursday. The Regions Tradition is the only one of five senior majors that does not provide entry to a similar tournament on the PGA Tour.

Cabrera earned $390,000 for his second Champions title.

Birmingham Stallions hosting conference championship game against Michigan Panthers June 8

Mon, 19 May 2025 17:28:13 +0000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- The quest for a fourth-consecutive championship continues for the Birmingham Stallions as they will host its conference championship game against the Michigan Panthers.

The Stallions host the Panthers on Sunday, June 8 at Protective Stadium in the USFL Conference Championship. Birmingham lost to the St. Louis Battlehawks Friday, 29-28, but clinched a spot in the conference championship with a Houston Roughnecks loss to the Panthers.

Tickets are available now. Those interested can click here.

'Dilbert' creator Scott Adams announces he has same prostate cancer as Biden, will likely be 'checking out' sometime this summer

Mon, 19 May 2025 17:11:24 +0000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- Scott Adams, who took his fame as the creator of the long-running comic strip "Dilbert" and parlayed that into a second chapter as a controversial political commentator, has revealed that he has prostate cancer and expects to not live past the summer.

While discussing former President Joe Biden's recent prostate cancer diagnosis during an episode of his online show "Real Coffee with Scott Adams" Monday morning, the cartoonist revealed that he too also has prostate cancer and, like Biden, it had spread to his bones.

"Well, I've decided that today is the day that I wanted to take the opportunity, since a lot of you are here, to make an announcement of my own. Some of you have already guessed, so this won't surprise you at all, but I have the same cancer that Joe Biden has, so I also have prostate cancer that has also spread to my bones, but I've had it longer than he's had it; well, longer than he's admitted having it, so my life expectancy is maybe the summer. I expect to be checking out from this domain sometime this summer."

Adams, 67, did not say when he was diagnosed with the disease, but said he had undergone different treatments last year, including ivermectin, that were unsuccessful. Today, Adams said he has been using a walker to get around for the last few months and that with the exception of his morning show, he is in too much pain to do much else.

"I can tell you that I don't have good days," he said. "So if you're wondering 'Hey, Scott. Do you have any good days?' Nope. Nope, every day is a nightmare and evening is even worse."

Adams said one reason he had put off going public with his diagnosis was that he would not be looked at as "the cancer guy" for the remaining time he has.

"Once you go public, you're just the dying cancer guy and I didn't want you to have to think about it and I didn't want to have to think about it," he said.

However, with news of Biden's diagnosis, coupled with the disgust at some of the cruel comments sent his way in the aftermath, Adams thought it would be good to tell his story as well.

"When Joe Biden went public with his situation, I thought to myself 'You know what? I'm going to slide under his story and he's going to take away a lot of the attention,'" he said. "I thought it would be just a little easier for me to tag onto that."

Despite the pain, Adams said he has had time to accept his circumstance, saying it "sort of is what it is."

"I have to say everybody has to die, as far as I know, and it's kind of civilized that you know about how long you have so you can put your affairs together and make sure you've said your goodbyes and done all the things you need to do," he said. "So, if you had to pick a way to die, this one is really painful, like really, really painful, but it's also kind of good that gives you enough time while your brain is still working to wrap things up."

"Dilbert," which captured the mundanity of white-collar office culture, was carried by hundreds of newspapers for over 30 years, making Adams a household name and one of the most successful cartoonists in America. However, over recent years, Adams has used his public profile to speak on political issues, gaining both fans and critics alike for his early support of President Donald Trump to skepticism against COVID-19 protocols.

In 2023, Adams received widespread criticism for advising white people to "get the hell away from black people," based on a Rasmussen poll where 26% of Black people disagreed that is was "okay to be white." While Adams said his comments were taken out of context and that he wasn't racist, the backlash caused many newspapers to drop "Dilbert" from circulation. Adams said losing his "Dilbert" syndication deal cost him nearly 80% of his income.

In an interview with Chris Cuomo on NewsNation, Adams said he had intentionally caused the scandal in order to have a "productive argument" and was not sorry for what he had said.

However, Adams still publishes the cartoon, only now through his website.

“If global cancellation is my price for free speech, it was worth it,” Adams said. “I’m probably the only white man in America who has free speech today because I can say whatever the hell I want and I can’t get further canceled.”

Adams said that outside of his online show, he spends most of the day sleeping.

"So this is the only thing I do and I'll keep doing it for as long as I can tolerate it," he said.

Adams has been married twice and has a stepdaughter.

Juvenile suspect arrested, charged in Tuscaloosa County shooting

Mon, 19 May 2025 16:05:34 +0000

TUSCALOOSA COUNTY, Ala. (WIAT) -- A juvenile was arrested and charged with a shooting that occurred early Sunday morning.

The juvenile suspect was charged with first-degree assault, discharging into an occupied vehicle, and certain persons prohibited from possessing a pistol. Capt. Jack Kennedy says more charges are expected. The suspect is in the Tuscaloosa County Jail, and identifying information will not be released due to their age.

Officers arrived to the intersection of 21st Street and Alston Ave. around 1:30 a.m. Sunday. They located a woman who was suffering from gunshot wounds and transported her to DCH Hospital with serious injuries.

Authorities say the shooting occurred when a group of people met and continued an ongoing argument they had been involved in for a few days. During the argument, the suspect began shooting and the victim was struck. After interviewing multiple people, a suspect was determined, and a search warrant was executed at their residence. The gun was located and determined to be stolen.

Murder-suicide reported in Birmingham over the weekend

Mon, 19 May 2025 15:42:45 +0000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- Two people were killed in a murder-suicide in Birmingham over the weekend.

A shooting was reported along Oxmoor on Friday night. The victim, 34-year-old Britney Nashaye Summerhill, was pronounced dead on Saturday.

Another person, 30-year-old Jaron Trevell Bishop, also died Saturday. According to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office, Bishop died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

No other details surrounding the shooting have been shared.

The Birmingham Police Department is investigating the case.

Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato discusses renovations to The Met ahead of SEC Baseball Tournament

Mon, 19 May 2025 15:40:42 +0000

HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT) -- Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato joined CBS 42 Morning News Monday to discuss the upcoming SEC Baseball Tournament.

Brocato discussed the $23 million renovation, three-year renovation to the Hoover Met. Some of those renovations included changing the locker rooms for the athletes, new entrances, parking lot renovations, chair-back seating, and more. The Hoover Met will host the SEC Tournament through at least 2028.

The tournament begins Tuesday, May 20.

31-year-old Birmingham man killed in shooting identified

Mon, 19 May 2025 14:39:42 +0000

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- A 31-year-old Birmingham man injured in a shooting Sunday night has died.

Literrance Leon Bratton was shot while on the 2700 block of 30th Street Ensley shortly before midnight Sunday, the Jefferson County Coroner's Office reports. Bratton was taken to UAB Hospital for treatment where he was pronounced dead around 1:08 a.m. Monday.

Birmingham police are investigating Bratton's death as a homicide at this time.

Regions Tradition makes economic impact off the course

Mon, 19 May 2025 10:19:22 +0000

HOOVER, Ala. (WIAT) -- A tournament organizer for the Regions Tradition says over 60 thousand fans so far have made their way to Hoover this year for the tournament.

They have come from all over the country to cheer on their favorite PGA Tour Champions golfer.

We caught up with Chelsea resident Reed Kelly on the course. He says this is not his first time at the Regions Tradition.

“I come here just about every single year,” Kelly said.

He says he loves to see some of the best golfers in the world come to his state. But what keeps him coming back every year is something different.

“A lot of the local vendors who come and support the place, year in and year out, is a lot of fun to see,” Kelly explained.

Those local vendors see a huge benefit from the tournament. Gene Hallman, the president of Eventive Sports, who organizes the tournament, says that benefit adds up to a $20 million impact on local businesses.

“We want to make this more than a golf tournament. We want to make this a social event, so it’s important to us we use local vendors, food vendors, a wide variety of them, to make sure that when people come out there is something they can eat and enjoy,” Hallman said.

The Regions Tradition tournament will continue play Monday morning.

2 Vestavia Hills City Schools impacted Monday due to Sunday morning storms

Mon, 19 May 2025 01:10:10 +0000

VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. (WIAT) -- Two schools in the Vestavia Hills City School System will be cancelled or delayed Monday due to the impact of Sunday morning's storms.

Sunday morning, the City of Vestavia Hills announced on Facebook that a portion of Merryvale Road was closed due to sections of the pavement eroding. Vestavia Hills Elementary West will be closed Monday due to flooding and cleanup efforts both at the school and on Merryvale Road.

The school system has not yet determined if school will be impacted Tuesday.

The Vestavia Hills High School Freshman Campus will operate on a two-hour delay Monday due to a power outage. The school's exam schedule for the day can be found here.

Any updates can be found on the Vestavia Hills City Schools Facebook page.