Oct 08, 2024

Good morning.

One thing I want to point out so it doesn't get lost: Under the "More Alabama News" section below is a link to voting information (rules, deadlines and sample ballots).

Thanks for reading,

Ike

Looking for the podcast? Click here or check other options below.

The lawsuit over spilled frozen human embryos that ignited this year's melee over in vitro fertilization is still on after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a now-famous Alabama Supreme Court decision, reports AL.com's William Thornton.

The state's high court had allowed the case to proceed. On Monday the U.S. Supreme Court turned down a request from the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Mobile to review that decision.

Since the state Supreme Court's decision, the state has enacted a law giving IVF clinics immunity from criminal and civil lawsuits. And two of the three couples who were plaintiffs have dropped the case.

The clinic's petition argued that the state Supreme Court's decision undercut due-process protections -- that there was not fair notice that disposing of embryos could lead to civil liability.

A missing Ohio woman's car has been found at a trail head near Cheaha State Park, reports AL.com's Howard Koplowitz.

Wendy Rose had planned to go camping in Alabama then return to Marysville, Ohio, on Oct. 2. The Cleburne County Sheriff's Office is asking area residents to be on the lookout for the woman near the park. Marysville police are also searching the area.

If you see or hear something, let the authorities know.

With Birmingham homicides at a record pace this year, a state lawmaker and the co-founder of Birmingham Black Lives Matter say a solution is to get ride of the police chief, reports AL.com's Carol Robinson.

State Rep. Juandalynn Givan, a Birmingham Democrat, said Police Chief Scott Thurmond bears responsibility and hasn't persuaded the public he's in control.

BLM's Eric Hall started an online petition calling for Thurmond's removal because, the petition says, of the increase in homicides and poor morale within the Department.

Mayor Randall Woodfin's office released a statement expressing appreciation for cooperation among law-enforcement agencies, arguing that responsibility for homicides extends beyond the Police Department and into the community, and pointing out that major crimes other than homicide are down across he board.

A movie based on a Stephen King novella that was filmed in Mobile and Baldwin Counties will be released in Summer 2025, reports AL.com's Kelly Kazek.

It's called "The Life of Chuck," and it's directed by horror veteran Mike Flanagan.

Tom Hiddleston stars as Charles Krantz. The rest of the cast includes Mark Hamill, Karen Gillan and Mia Sara (who played Ferris Bueller's girlfriend).

Flanagan is no rookie at directing in the Mobile area. Previous efforts include “Oculus,” “Before I Wake,” “Hush” and “Friday the 13th Part VII.”

Alabama locations included places in Mobile, Fairhope, Daphne, Bay Minette, Spanish Fort and Foley.

Some of you may remember, back during the days when baseball was played the right way, there were a couple months in 1983 when Nolan Ryan and Steve Carlton kept passing each other for the all-time strikeout record.

Ryan would pitch and pass Carlton to become the career strikeout leader. A couple days later, Carlton would pitch and pass Ryan to regain the lead. Back and forth.

And during that time, another active pitcher -- spitballer Gaylord Perry -- wasn't far behind.

Here in the present day, there is a similar phenomenon occurring among high school football coaches.

This past Friday, Clay-Central defeated Elmore County to give coach Danny Horn his 358th career high school coaching victory. That made him the Alabama High School Athletic Association's all-time winningest football coach.

But Horn can't rest on 358. Because right behind him with 357 wins is another active football coach, UMS-Wright's Terry Curtis. The reason the record changed hands was UMS's one-touchdown loss to Citronelle.

A strong finish to the season and playoffs could put either coach out front.

But this isn't a Harris-Trump race. You actually have a third choice: Fyffe's Paul Benefield is sitting three wins behind Horn and two wins behind Curtis at 355.

That old strikeout record famously went to Ryan because he pitched another decade. Similarly, that prep football coaching wins record will likely belong to whoever sticks it out the longest.

“I didn’t come to play the game; I came to change it.”

Melanie Bridgeforth, who has resigned as president and CEO of the Women’s Foundation of Alabama.

In 1971, former NFL offensive lineman Nate Miller of Tuscaloosa.

In 1993, NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace of Mobile.

If you miss that feeling of sitting down with in-depth, local reporting, consider subscribing to the Huntsville Times, Birmingham News, or Mobile Press-Register.

By subscribing, you’ll get a new daily digital edition in an email link, or you can use an app to download the new edition every day on your smartphone or tablet. You also get exclusive access to stories written for our subscribers.

“Down in Alabama” listeners get your first month free by going to al.com/digitalsubscription/exclusive and enter the promo code DIA24.

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

We appreciate you for taking the time to read today. Hope you're able to check back soon. Meantime, reply to this email with any suggestions you might have.

If you're so inclined, we'd love it if you'd forward to friends who might be interested in reading. (And if you're someone who's been forwarded this newsletter, we encourage you to subscribe and get this in your inbox every day.)