7. As Alabama readies for a potential College Football Playoff berth and Auburn has a highly ranked recruiting class, the University of Alabama at Birmingham announced head coach Trent Dilfer survives to coach another season. Despite two challenging seasons with a combined 7-17 record, UAB has confirmed that Dilfer will remain as head football coach in 2025, citing his dedication and plans for improvement. Athletics Director Mark Ingram acknowledged the difficulties posed by NIL and the transfer portal but expressed confidence in Dilfer’s passion and work ethic to turn the program around.
6. The Prattville City Council is not willing to, nor should they, block a controversial “Pride” float featuring a drag queen in its annual Christmas parade, despite public backlash and petitions from groups like Clean Up Alabama. City officials, citing First Amendment protections, argue that rejecting the float would violate free speech rights, while residents remain sharply divided on the issue. Prattville Pride defends its inclusion, emphasizing its commitment to family-friendly participation, while opponents criticize the float as inappropriate for a Christmas celebration.
5. Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealth’s insurance division, was fatally shot outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel in what police believe was a targeted attack. The masked gunman, described as a white male in a cream-colored jacket, fled the scene after firing multiple shots at Thompson, who later died at a local hospital. Clues on the scene show a potential motive, the suspected gunman in the fatal shooting of the UnitedHealthcare CEO left a cryptic message with the words “deny,” “depose,” and “defend” inscribed on ammunition found at the crime scene outside a Manhattan hotel, police revealed.
4. The questions being asked by Supreme Court justices hearing the case about a ban on minors from receiving gender reassignment treatments in Tennessee are leading experts to believe they are going to allow the ban to remain in place. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall was in the courtroom to express strong support for Tennessee’s law banning transgender surgeries and medications for minors, arguing at the Supreme Court that scientific evidence does not support the challengers’ claims. Marshall criticized health officials and advocacy groups for misleading courts about the necessity of such treatments, emphasizing the irreversible nature of these procedures and their lack of evidence-based justification.
3. Amid escalating cartel violence and the looming implementation of President-elect Donald Trump’s stricter border policies, many migrants waiting in Mexico are choosing to return to their home countries. Migrants cite fears over Trump’s plans to eliminate a U.S. asylum scheduling app and reinstate the “remain in Mexico” policy, which leaves them “vulnerable” position. Mexican officials report an increasing number of “voluntary return” requests, as some migrants decide it’s safer to abandon their journey than face the uncertain and perilous path ahead.
2. Amid concerns over President-elect Donald Trump’s potential so-called reprisals, the Biden administration is debating preemptive pardons for public officials who could be targeted by the incoming administration, including figures like U.S. Sen.-elect Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) and Dr. Anthony Fauci. The White House faces a dilemma: offering legal protection risks implying guilt and fueling criticism while leaving officials exposed to costly investigations. The discussions highlight mounting anxieties among Democrats as Trump’s team signals an aggressive stance against perceived adversaries.
1. As the media seeks another Trump nominee’s scalp, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) continues to support Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth and FBI director nominee Kash Patel. Tuberville pointed to Patel’s role in exposing the “Russia collusion” narrative as a key reason why current FBI leadership is resistant to his nomination as FBI director under President-elect Donald Trump. Tuberville argued that Patel is uniquely qualified to overhaul the FBI, accusing the agency of corruption and political weaponization during the Biden administration. Patel, in turn, has proposed bold reforms, including transforming the FBI headquarters into a “deep state” museum and redistributing its staff to focus on field operations.
Listen here:Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and from 10-11 a.m. on Talk 99.5 and News Radio 1440, with a rebroadcast Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from 3-4 p.m.
