7. Auburn University will host an international soccer friendly between Argentina, featuring Lionel Messi and Iceland, at Jordan-Hare Stadium one week before Argentina begins its World Cup title defense.

6. Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer believes the Big 10 is on top of college football right now, saying perception is reality because of their recent national championships while noting the SEC remains highly competitive top to bottom.

5. First Lady Melania Trump denied all but casual ties to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell stating she crossed paths with Epstein briefly in 2000, had no knowledge of his crimes and described a 2002 email to Maxwell as polite casual correspondence, while rejecting rumors that Epstein introduced her to Donald Trump and calling for congressional hearings for Epstein survivors.

4. A new poll shows former U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) leading Rhett Marques 23 to 19 in the District 1 Congressional Republican primary with 50 percent undecided.

3. A constitutional amendment requiring Alabama public schools to allow student-led prayer at the beginning of the school day and to recite the Pledge of Allegiance with opt-out provisions for students is headed to voters in November after passing.

2. A bill that would have set minimum staffing standards for Huntsville and Montgomery law enforcement agencies died in the Alabama House on the last day of the 2026 session with State Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road) warning there will be victims because of that due to insufficient police numbers.

1. President Donald Trump criticized Iran for doing a very poor and dishonorable job of reopening the Strait of Hormuz under the ceasefire agreement with traffic at only about 7 percent of normal, while a new deadline looms and high-level U.S.-Iran talks led by Vice President JD Vance are set for Saturday in Islamabad amid continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

Listen here:

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