7. Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth faced online backlash from ill-informed coaches of high school football after he wrote a social media post criticizing the AHSAA’s public-private school playoff split, warning of unintended consequences; Ainsworth urged reconsideration for fairness while private schools considered next steps after the decision, made solely because of the CHOOSE Act and school choice.

6. Israel recovered the body of the last remaining hostage held in Gaza, concluding a prolonged recovery effort with confirmation of identification and announcements to affected families.

5. After the fake Somali daycare scandal in Minnesota, Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) has launched a task force to target waste, fraud, and abuse in education programs nationwide.

4. War broke out in the 2026 race for Alabama lieutenant governor between Wes Allen and John Wahl, with both emphasizing stark differences in vision, experience, and policy priorities.

3. The White House rejected Democrat demands to alter DHS funding amid the ICE backlash, risking government shutdown; U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) expressed hope to avoid shutdown after Democrats’ calls for defunding ICE after Alex Pretti shooting.

2. Border Czar Tom Homan addressed the Minnesota ICE operation amid chaos and protests; U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) praised Trump for immigration cleanup; Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) and Shomari Figures (D-Montgomery) criticized federal agents and administration for what is happening in immigration enforcement.

1. A highly emotional, hyper-sensitive weatherman in red suspenders, James Spann forecasted cold, dry days for Alabama following the winter storm; the storm caused up to 34 deaths across multiple states, with hundreds of thousands of power outages and hazardous conditions persisting in other states.

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Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.