7. Forbes is the latest media organization to tout its love for the Yellowhammer state and the city of Huntsville calling it the “The South’s Best Kept Secret Destination” and tipping more people off to the Rocket City. Forbes touted the food, Space Camp, the outdoor activities, museums and even the Alabama Constitution Village.
6. New polls and new leader with a recent poll by the University of Massachusetts Amherst showing a significant 7-point swing in the 2024 presidential race, with 43% supporting Kamala Harris and 40% backing Donald Trump. This shift, largely influenced by young voters, blacks, Hispanics, and moderates, contrasts with previous polls where Trump led Biden 39% to 36%. This is the latest in a trend that show Harris gaining ground on Trump in multiple states and taking the lead in the popular vote.
5. A study by SmileHub has ranked Alabama as the most religious state in America, considering factors like religious interest, places of worship, educational opportunities, careers, and religiously affiliated organizations. Alabama scored highest in religious interest and places of worship, placed fifth in religious education and careers, and ranked 13th in religious organizations. Gov. Kay Ivey attributed this ranking to Alabama’s everyday values, with SmileHub evaluating 11 metrics on a 100-point scale to determine the state’s overall religiousness.
4. ISIS is apparently trying to stoke a war with the Swifties. Taylor Swift’s Vienna concerts were canceled after two men were arrested for allegedly plotting terror attacks on her shows after a large police operation led to the arrests and the discovery of several chemical substances at one suspect’s home. Barracuda Music stated that the decision to cancel was made for everyone’s safety, and all tickets will be automatically refunded within the next 10 business days.
3. U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) are joining other U.S. senators and advocating against biological men competing in women’s sports by endorsing a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker, urging policy changes to ensure fairness. The letter, led by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), emphasizes that the core of sports is fair competition and that women deserve an even playing field and is partly in response to recent controversies in high school sports and at the Olympics, as well as the Biden administration’s changes to Title IX, which now include “gender identity” in its definition of discrimination.
2. It appears Hoover High School head football coach Drew Gilmer and defensive coordinator Adam Helms are all but sure to be terminated after having been placed on administrative leave, Hoover City Schools confirmed. State Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham) is now representing the “victim” in the case and says the player experienced “physical abuse, extreme humiliation” which seems a bit much as does the description of the acts as “pervasive, perverted, abusive, extreme, outrageous and beyond all possible bounds of human decency.” But the writing is on the wall here.
1. Vice president candidate Tim Walz’ clear act of stolen valor is being declared right-wing attacks but the Minnesota governor’s behavior on multiple occasions cross the line into the stolen valor category, but even CNN acknowledges this was true before downplaying the facts. Walz chose to retire from the National Guard just before his battalion’s deployment to Iraq in 2005. Thomas Behrends, who took his place, called Walz a “traitor,” then Walz misrepresented his service record multiple times in public statements, interviews, and used inaccurate information in campaign materials.
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