What's going on in Alabama

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Apr. 07, 2025

Welcome back. As the state dries out from all the weekend's rain, we're going to get caught up on some politics and more Alabamians in trouble in Panama City Beach.

Also, the quiz answers and results are below.

Thanks for listening,

Ike

 

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Wearing out our welcome?

Another spate of Alabama residents are following up their trips to Panama City Beach with Florida court dates.

AL.com's Carol Robinson reports that four Alabama teenagers are charged in two shootings.

The shooting that made big news happened in late March at Pier Park. Three people were hospitalized after the shooting, which has been described as related to Dothan-area gangs.

Panama City Beach Police Chief J.R. Talamantez announced the arrest of three teens in that case. He said an 18-year-old fired an AR-15-style rifle into a crowd. The other two arrested were ages 17 and 15.

The chief also said there likely will be more arrests.

Then on this past Thursday night, in a completely separate incident, a bizarrely poor decision led to another Dothan 18-year-old's arrest. According to police, a rumor began circulating inside Hammerhead Fred's that somebody had a gun inside. There has been no confirmation that a gun was present, but it did cause people to pour out of the place and into the parking lot, where in the midst of the chaos police say the suspect, from his car, fired four shots into the air.

With police officers a few feet away.

Read more about this story here
 

Without even a whimper

When we last left you, it was apparent that this year's effort at a lottery/gambling bill wasn't going anywhere quickly. Or slowly.

I bring it up just to do the annual thing I get to do here, and that's to close the coffin on the latest effort.

AL.com's John Sharp reports that, after Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger wasted no time saying the measure was dead for this session, state Sen. Greg Albritton, the package's sponsor, sounded like he was done with it, period.

“We’ve tried everything we can on this bill over the years,” Albritton said. “One thing has been proven is that it doesn’t matter what the bills says, period. If the word ‘gaming’ or ‘gambling’ shows up on the page, it’s a ‘no’ vote.”

Read more about this story here
 

Alabama News Quiz results/answers

Overall results:

Five out of five: 33.5%

Four out of five: 40.3%

Three out of five: 18.2%

Two out of five: 7.6%

One out of five: 0.4%

Protesters have gathered in Tuscaloosa since a University of Alabama doctoral student was detained by ICE. The student is native to what nation?

Iran (CORRECT) 60.6%

Syria 24.2%

Venezuela 15.3%

Greenland 0.0%

There has been a growing number of arrests at Redstone Arsenal over what base no-no?

Firearm possession (CORRECT) 95.3%

Drug possession 2.1%

Speeding 1.3%

Snarling Commissary checkout lines by writing a check for groceries 1.3%

Who just closed a deal to acquire the Birmingham Race Course?

Poarch Band of Creek Indians (CORRECT) 94.9%

Charles Barkley 3.0%

Retirement Systems of Alabama 1.7%

"Yella Fella" Jimmy Rane 0.4%

Using 19 metrics measuring weight, health and fitness, Wallethub released an analysis that determined this city was the "most obese" in Alabama.

Mobile (CORRECT) 60.2%

Birmingham 29.7%

Huntsville 5.5%

Mentone 4.7%

The federal health workers who lost their jobs to the Trump Administration's recent cuts include Anthony Fauci's replacement, Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, who previously worked this job in Alabama.

Infectious-disease expert at UAB (CORRECT) 87.7%

ADPH state health officer 10.6%

Chief medical officer at Huntsville Hospital 1.7%

Troy football trainer 0.0%

Read more about this story here
 

Quoting

“I gave the security guard $20, and he went in there and hunted and found it, so I have Nick Saban’s used chewing gum, his DNA, on ice at the house. How 'bout it.”

"Josh From Alabama," a caller on the Paul Finebaum Show, explaining how he procured a piece of the former Alabama coach's discarded gum at an event.

 

By the Numbers

$234,366

That's the pay raise Sid Trant received when he had the "interim" removed from his job as University of Alabama System chancellor. That puts his salary at $884,716 plus an annual performance bonus up to $105,000.

 

More Alabama News

  • Did Auburn’s shot selection cost the Tigers a shot at a national championship appearance?
  • Landscape worker killed when lawnmower flips on top of him in median off I-65 in Homewood
  • Why is Huntsville the ‘build-to-rent’ capital of Alabama?
  • Video captures ICE agents detaining Alireza Doroudi
  • Group warns Alabama families face ‘life-threatening’ risks after cuts to utility assistance program
 

Born on This Date

In 1917, prolific character actor R.G. Armstrong of Pleasant Grove. You may have seen him in Sam Peckinpah westerns or as Flint the farmer who wouldn't let his daughter wear makeup on The Andy Griffith Show.

In 1933, actor Wayne Rogers of Birmingham. He played Trapper John McIntyre on M*A*S*H.

In 1992, host of CNN's "The Source" Kaitlan Collins of Prattville.

 

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On the Podcast

We have reporter Margaret Kates on the show to talk about that recycling sorter in Montgomery that has a contract with some cities to separate recycling from trash before it goes into the landfill. She'll let us know what putting a few GPS trackers in recyclables told us.

You can find “Down in Alabama” wherever you get your podcasts, including these places:

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