7. Madison County Chief Deputy District Attorney Tim Gann defended the decision not to file charges in the August Borden Deshler High School injury case. The decision was based on provable evidence from witnesses, coaches, staff, and texts showing an accidental bear hug and fall with no criminal intent, dismissing online theories of assault and cover-up as unprovable speculation.
6. Auburn’s College of Architecture, Design, and Construction has declared that it can ignore Alabama’s Divisive Concepts law and continue to teach DEI topics like social equity and racial justice, citing NAAB (National Architectural Accrediting Board) standards; now lawmakers are considering closing the loophole.
5. Priceville Police Officer Garry Chapman, son of reality TV star “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” was reinstated by the city council after being fired following his high-speed chase that ended in Hartselle with a crash killing 17-year-old Tristan Hollis; he will be suspended for 10 days instead.
4. Former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed partial credit for the groundwork of President Donald Trump’s Israel-Hamas Gaza ceasefire deal, after Trump’s 20-point plan created an environment for peace in the region while the Biden administration allowed Iran to create chaos in the region.
3. Another arrest has been made in the Montgomery mass shooting that killed 2 while injuring 12 others. Dantavious McGhee, 19, was charged with capital murder, nine counts of first-degree assault, and three counts of second-degree assault; authorities anticipate further arrests.
2. Republicans are using the government shutdown, entering its third week, to announce layoffs, block spending bills, and keep the House in recess to extract concessions on Obamacare subsidies. Meanwhile heated Capitol confrontations continue, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries telling Rep. Mike Lawler to “keep your mouth shut” over subsidy disputes and Speaker Mike Johnson clashing with Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego on swearing in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva.
1. The President Donald Trump-brokered Middle East peace deal culminated in the release of all 20 living hostages held by Hamas after over two years in Gaza. Alabama’s congressional Republicans are thrilled with U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) calling it a global victory, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) seeing it as years of prayers answered, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) calling this a dawn of a golden age in the region, U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) saying the impossible was made possible by a true peacemaker, and U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) calling Trump the President of Peace.
Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.
