Construction of a new oversized vehicle tunnel and premium RV infield parking section at Talladega Superspeedway is still on schedule to be completed in time for the April NASCAR race, despite large amounts of rainfall and unusual groundwater conditions underneath the track.
Track Chairman Grant Lynch, during a news conference Wednesday at the track, said he’s amazed the general contractor, Taylor Corporation of Oxford, has been able to keep the project on schedule.
“The amount of water they have pumped out of that and the extra engineering they did from the original design, basically to keep that tunnel from floating up out of the earth, was remarkable,” Lynch said.
Alabama’s auto workers built nearly 1.6 million engines last year, as the state industry continues to carve out a place in global markets with innovative, high-performance parts, systems and finished vehicles.
Last year also saw major new developments in engine manufacturing among the state’s key players, and more advanced infrastructure is on the way in the coming year.
Hyundai expects to complete a key addition to its engine operations in Montgomery during the first half of 2019, while Honda continues to reap the benefits of a cutting-edge Alabama engine line installed several years ago.
Political and business leaders gathered for a groundbreaking at Alabama’s newest aerospace plant gave credit to the formation of the many key partnerships that made it possible.
Governor Kay Ivey and several other federal, state and local officials attended the event which celebrated the construction of rocket engine builder Blue Origin’s facility in Huntsville.
"Frontier Airlines will begin direct flights from Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport on April 11, the airline announced today. Frontier Airlines will start by offering direct service to Denver, Orlando and Philadelphia from Birmingham. Introductory prices will start at $39."
"The Pittsburgh Steelers are hiring Crimson Tide defensive line coach Karl Dunbar as their defensive line coach, according to a source."
"This gets Dunbar back to the NFL, where the 50-year old had been for most of his coaching career before heading to Alabama in 2016 as the replacement for Bo Davis."
"It will be the fifth NFL team he's worked for after stints as the defensive line coach for the Chicago Bears (2004), Minnesota Vikings (2006-11), New York Jets (2012-14) and Buffalo Bills (2015)."
"At 87, Clint Eastwood is not only trying new things, he’s trying daring new things, and his new film 15:17 to Paris represents one of the most audacious gambits of his career. To dramatize the tale of three Americans who tackled and subdued a heavily armed Islamist terrorist on a train out of Amsterdam in 2015, Eastwood cast the young men, none of whom had professional acting experience, as themselves. It’s a decision with little precedent in the entire history of motion pictures."
Watch live: Alabama AG Steve Marshall joins Trump for White House discussion on drug trafficking
(Jeff Poor/YHN)
Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. CT, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall will join President Donald Trump at the White House to participate in a discussion on the impact of drug trafficking at and between points of entry at the United States-Mexico border.
VIDEO: Trump finally gets his State of the Union, Shelby working on a border/budget deal, Democrats in other states complicate things for Doug Jones and more on Guerrilla Politics …
Radio talk show host Dale Jackson and Dr. Waymon Burke take you through this week’s biggest political stories, including:
— Did President Donald Trump set an achievable agenda with his State of the Union address?
— Can Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) help seal a border security deal that keeps the government open?
— Will the Democratic Party’s obsession with unpopular abortion measures hurt red state Democrats like Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL)?
On the third anniversary of the show, Jackson and Burke are joined again by their first guest, former Congressman Parker Griffith.
Jackson closes the show with a “parting shot” addressing the continued contrast between the mainstream media’s interpretation of matters involving President Trump with the views of the American public.
VIDEO: Trump finally gets his State of the Union, Sen. Richard Shelby is working on a border/budget deal, Democrats in other states complicate things for Sen. Doug Jones and more on Guerrilla Politics …
Brooks: How much ‘American blood’ on will be on hands of Pelosi, Schumer until they help with border security?
(Jeff Poor / Yellowhammer News)
On Sunday, GOP Representative Mo Brooks (AL-5) joined Dale Jackson on Yellowhammer News’ “Guerrilla Politics” to weigh in on the ongoing partial government shutdown.
Brooks slammed Democratic leadership, suggesting House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have “American blood” on their hands for their unwillingness to cooperate with President Donald Trump and the Republicans on border security.
“It is a very tough position that the Democrats have put us in. On the one hand, you have got thousands of Americans who are dead each year because of the Democrats’ refusal to secure the border,” Brooks told Jackson. “Those Americans are dying, either because they have been murdered by illegal aliens, vehicular homicides by illegal aliens or the illegal narcotics that are shipped into the country by illegal aliens and their drug cartels with the drug overdoses that are in the tens of thousands of lost American lives per year.”
VIDEO: Shutdown goes on, disinformation campaign in the Alabama U.S. Senate race draws the AG's attention, best/worst of 2018 and more on Guerrilla Politics …
Brooks then questioned how much blood it would take for the Democrats to end the charade of protecting illegal aliens and assist Trump and the GOP with border security.
“So, the question is going to be how much blood, American blood, do you have to have on the hands of the Democrats leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer before they will help us with border security? Or is their craving for power such that they are willing to accept the loss of American lives?” he asked.
Brooks later added, “The American people ought to be infuriated about it.”
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) joined CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday and said the shutdown made lawmakers look “silly” and insisted that leaders, from both political parties, must “move away from the blame game.”
Kyle Morris also contributes daily to Breitbart News. You can follow him on Twitter @RealKyleMorris.
VIDEO: U.S. bails on Syria, Alabama AG Steve Marshall is cleared by the ethics commission, Senator Doug Jones benefited from dirty tricks and more on Guerrilla Politics …
Radio talk show host Dale Jackson and Dr. Waymon Burke take you through this week’s biggest political stories, including:
— Why are we leaving Syria?
— Are Alabama’s campaign finance laws too weak if national Political Action Committees are exempted?
— How many dirty tricks were used in U.S. Doug Jones’ win over Roy Moore?
Jackson and Burke are joined by former Republican consultant Stan McDonald to discuss campaign finance issues and dirty campaigning.
Jackson closes the show with a “parting shot” directed at Republicans who should learn that criticizing this President from the right will change his actions.
Watch: Mobile’s FOX 10’s Bob Grip signs off for retirement after 35 years as anchor
(Screenshot/YouTube)
Thursday night, long-time WALA FOX 10 news anchor Bob Grip signed off for the last time as he is retiring after a 35-year career on television in Mobile.
Over the years, Grip had become a well-known entity and a household name in southwest Alabama.
He is perhaps known to folks in Alabama outside of the Mobile-Pensacola, Fla. television market for his statewide and local election night coverage on social media, a medium that Grip had come to master.
Thank you for watching tonight. While I’m retiring from Channel 10, this isn’t the closing of a book. It’s the beginning of a new, still-to-be-written chapter. All of you watching have been through hurricanes, elections and more during our times together, and I hope that I’ve been some service to you because that’s why I got into this wonderful business and that’s to help people.
I never wanted to entertain you, though we have had some fun along the way. I did want to inform you about things that would impact all of our lives and to that extent, I hope I’ve been successful. Coming to you every night is a team effort and putting together a live broadcast is not an easy thing to do.
After decades in this business, the list of people who worked in front of the camera and behind it, is a mile long. And I want to thank everyone who has made our newscast possible and will continue to maintain its success whether on-air or online, especially our general manager Gary Yoder and news director Scott Flannigan who are here in this studio tonight who have made this last year an easy one for me.
But I especially want to thank all of you at home for watching for all these years and, by doing so, allowing me to raise my family from kindergarten through high school and beyond without having to uproot them. I’m glad you adopted this Connecticut Yankee and made him feel welcome. So, until we meet again, good night.
Watch live WAAY-TV Election Night coverage — Yellowhammer News’ Dale Jackson, Jeff Poor joined by political scientist Dr. Waymon Burke
(YHN / Jeff Poor)
As Tuesday’s election results come in, watch Yellowhammer News’ Dale Jackson and Jeff Poor, who will be joined by Calhoun Community College’s Dr. Waymon Burke, offer news and analysis.
Not only is control of Congress on the line, but a full slate of state offices as well.
VIDEO: Immigration takes center stage, Democrats think Alabama is terrible, Alabama has its own fake news media problem and more on Guerrilla Politics…
Radio talk show host Dale Jackson and Dr. Waymon Burke take you through this week’s biggest political stories, including:
— Is the issue of illegal immigration a strong one for the president of the United States to close with for the 2018 midterms?
— Who is to blame for the tone of our political debate, President Donald Trump or the media?
— Why can’t Alabama Democrats get away from the “Alabama sucks” campaign strategy?
VIDEO: The “October Surprise” that wasn’t, George Soros dumps money into Alabama, Saudi Arabia creates an international incident and more on Guerrilla Politics…
Radio talk show host Dale Jackson and Dr. Waymon Burke take you through this week’s biggest political stories, including:
— Why is the Maddox campaign trying to win an election by claiming the Governor is sick?
— Why did George Soros dump $200,000 into Alabama elections?
— What in the world was Saudi Arabia thinking when they approved the killing of a U.S.-based journalist?
Joann Bashinsky has had one of the biggest hearts in Alabama, but most just know her as “Mama B.”
Her long history of being one of the state’s most generous philanthropists has been documented by Yellowhammer News before, and now she and the folks with the Auxiliary of Big Oak Ranch are at it again.
On September 25, they unveiled a brand new boutique store made to look like a castle, which Bashinsky calls the “granddaddy of them all.”
Big Oak Ranch is an Alabama-based “Christian home for children needing a chance,” founded 44 years ago by John Croyle. Over 2,000 children have called Big Oak home, and the organization takes no state or federal money. Therefore, it relies solely upon the generosity of individuals like Bashinsky.
In 2006, she began personally planning and designing a boutique for the girls at the home, so that they could shop for clothing, make-up and accessories just like any other young child. In a short matter of time, the old Big Oak warehouse was revamped and converted into a shop.
“There’s not a place in Birmingham that you can find anything like it. It has everything: clothes, makeup, shoes, records, you name it,” she said.
The original store even includes a section for even younger girls, known as “Boutique Too.”
But there is a catch – the girls do not just get to go into the store just because they are a Big Oak resident. Bashinsky instituted a points system, wherein the children had to acquire points from good grades, good deeds and memorizing Bible verses to make their purchases with.
After the opening of the girls boutique, the boys immediately wanted one for themselves, so Bashinsky got right back to work. The boys got their own shop, which is called “Outfitters” and designed in the style of a Bass Pro Shop. There, the kids can use their points to buy toys, games and even outdoor items like Kayak boats.
Now, the new boutique is ready to shine.
Watch:
“This is the third boutique, and this is the grandaddy of them all, because I don’t think I’ll be here to build any more,” Bashinsky said.
She added, with a laugh, “I don’t mean I’ll be dead, I just won’t be building.”
Once a month Mama B and the Auxiliary open the boutique so the girls can come and spend their points on everything from shoes and clothes to toys and everything in between — really anything girls could want, the new store has it.
Brodie Croyle, the founder’s son and now Big Oak’s executive director himself, told Yellowhammer News that he is “very excited” about the new boutique and “pumped up” for the girls that will get to enjoy it.
“How it works is our girls earn points by getting good grades, doing chores, helping Mama with stuff that maybe she didn’t ask them to do, come in here learning bible verses, or doing the different things they have to do to earn these points,” Croyle said. “There is never money that swaps hands in here.”
This system teaches the girls that you only buy what you can afford, that you must earn the privilege of having it, and how to budget and save money.
Croyle praised the beloved Bashinsky for her longtime, genuine love of the kids at Big Oak.
“She’s been around so long, and she’s been a part of our family – and I don’t say that lightly – for such a long time,” he emphasized. “This is her heart, this is what she loves and she loves our kids just like she loves her own.”
Many people have supported Big Oak Ranch in various ways since it was founded in 1974, yet Mama B has reached a legendary stratosphere. In August 2006, Bashinsky and Phyllis DePiano felt God was calling them to organize a support mechanism for the home. After much planning, the Auxiliary of Big Oak Ranch was formed and became a public 501(c)(3) non-profit. This means that the Auxiliary functions as a fundraising and volunteer service group for Big Oak, promoting and furthering its mission of helping children needing a chance.
At the end of the day, Big Oak exists to meet the needs of abused, neglected and abandoned children by giving them a solid, Christian home and a chance to realize and fulfill God’s plan for their lives. Their motto: “Our children are not bad kids, they just come from bad circumstances.”
Their cornerstone has remained fundamentally rooted in Isaiah 61:3 –
“And they shall be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that He may be glorified.”
Bashinsky pointed to the importance of the religious pillar of the organization as crucial to its success and the wellbeing of the kids.
“One thing that I’m proud of is Big Oak Ranch takes no federal or state money and operates debt free. So they can’t tell us what we can and can’t do,” Bashinsky added.
Big Oak currently serves 140 children. For more information about Big Oak Ranch Auxiliary, click here.
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn.
This report was compiled with the help of Yellowhammer Radio’s Ford Brown, who also produced the video content.
Listen to the Ford Faction on Yellowhammer Radio every day from noon to 3:00 p.m. on WYDE 101.1 FM.
VIDEO: Democrats get their FBI investigation, Doug Jones’ ‘no’ could be a big problem, Alabama Democrats’ statewide candidate cannot get traction and more on Guerrilla Politics…
Radio talk show host Dale Jackson and Dr. Waymon Burke take you through this week’s biggest political stories, including:
— Will any investigation into Judge Brett Kavanaugh be enough for his detractors?
— Should Senator Doug Jones consider renting in Washington D.C. or does he have a real chance to win re-election after a “no” vote?
— Will any statewide Democrats put up a real fight in November?
WATCH: The Ford Faction’s final thoughts on Doug Jones, Kavanaugh investigation and more …
Ford Brown of “The Ford Faction” breaks down the topics of the day, October 1.
The show’s “Final Thoughts” segment touches on:
– Doug Jones, whose office number is (202) 224-4124
– NASCAR’s newest course, “The Roval”
– French Rapper, Nick Conrad, has a new music video – “Hang White People”
– Brett Kavanaugh FBI investigation
WATCH: The Ford Faction’s final thoughts on third Kavanaugh accuser, Bill Cosby and more…
“The Ford Faction” host Ford Brown breaks down the topics of the day, September 26.
The show’s “Final thoughts” segment touches on:
– Brett Kavanaugh has another accuser
– Bill Cosby sentenced to three-10 years
– Alexander Titus
– College president praised and then apologizing for funneling beer
– Spirit week at a Louisiana middle school
WATCH: The Ford Faction’s final thoughts on second Kavanaugh accuser, Rosenstein and more…
“The Ford Faction” host Ford Brown breaks down the topics of the day, September 24.
The show’s “Final thoughts” segment touches on:
– Brett Kavanaugh has a list of accusers
– Trump VS Rosenstein Thursday
– Michigan High School gets rid of “Homecoming Queen”
– East AlabamaWorks!
– Kaepernick might be back in NFL
WATCH: The Ford Faction’s final thoughts on the ACLU suing Merrill, Doug Jones dodging questions and more…
Ford Brown of “The Ford Faction” breaks down the topics of the day, September 20.
The show’s “Final Thoughts” segment touches on:
— the ACLU suing John Merrill because they don’t like his Twitter
— Corey Booker’s #MeToo history
— Doug Jones dodging questions
— more Kavanaugh
— Maryland shooting
WATCH: The Ford Faction’s final thoughts on ‘In God We Trust’ in Cullman County Schools, Brett Kavanaugh allegations and more…
Ford Brown of “The Ford Faction” breaks down the topics of the day, September 17.
The show’s “Final Thoughts” segment touches on:
– Brett Kavanaugh allegations
– National motto “In God, We Trust” to be displayed in Cullman County Schools
– Launchpad Alabama to help Alabama entrepreneurs
– Industry coming back to the USA
– Tech making it hard to cheat
WATCH: The Ford Faction’s final thoughts on Kavanaugh allegations, Tim Allen and more…
Ford Brown of “The Ford Faction” breaks down the topics of the day, September 14.
The show’s “Final Thoughts” segment touches on:
– Brett Kavanaugh allegations
– Texas high schooler wearing makeup
– Tim Allen asked about President Trump
– Nikki Haley’s curtains as reported by the New York Times
WATCH: The Ford Faction’s final thoughts on Hurricane Florence, Pope Francis cover-up and more…
“The Ford Faction” host Ford Brown breaks down the topics of the day, September 13.
The show’s “Final Thoughts” segment touches on:
⁃ Hurricane Florence
⁃ Spain Park High School student racist video
⁃ Pope Francis, cover-up or investigation?
⁃ Victoria Secret model “insensitive”
⁃ Carlos Zetina emails every single girl named Nicole at his college for an awesome reason
WATCH: The Ford Faction’s final thoughts on Woodfin’s new PAC, politicized hurricane and more…
The Ford Faction’s Ford Brown breaks down the topics of the day, September 12.
The show’s “Final Thoughts” segment touches on:
– Political hurricane
– Apple’s new iPhone
– Reaction to Colin Kaepernick in Alabama
– Mayor Randall Woodfin new PAC
– AFF- Alabama Futures Fund that grants small businesses start up money
WATCH: The Ford Faction’s final thoughts on Serena Williams, Mallory Hagan and more…
The Ford Faction’s Ford Brown breaks down the topics of the day, September 10.
The show’s “Final thoughts” segment touches on:
– Serena Williams’ meltdown
– Mallory Hagan trying to beat out incumbent Mike Rogers for the 3rd Congressional District seat in Alabama
– Tim Allen’s Show “Last Man Standing” is back on Fox
– CBS CEO Les Moonves gets #MeToo’d by 12 women
– Broadway Star Carol Cook on President Trump
– ‘Where’s John Wilkes Booth when you need him?’
WATCH: The Ford Faction’s final thoughts on Ivey-Maddox audio, Roy Moore and more…
The Ford Faction’s Ford Brown breaks down the topics of the day, September 7.
The show’s “Final thoughts” segment touches on:
⁃ Gov. Kay Ivey cuts up part of Walt Maddox audio
⁃ Roy Moore Sues Sacha Baron Cohen’s show “Who is America”
⁃ NY Times’ “I Am Part of the Resistance, Inside the Trump Administration” op-ed
⁃ San Francisco now a drug users dream
WATCH: The Ford Faction’s final thoughts on Trump-Sessions, Cory Booker and more…
The Ford Faction’s Ford Brown breaks down the topics of the day, September 6.
The show’s “Final thoughts” segment touches on:
– Did Trump really call Jeff Sessions a “dumb southerner?”
– NY Times’ “I Am Part of the Resistance, Inside the Trump Administration” op-ed
– Cory Booker tries a “GOTCHA” technique with Brett Kavanaugh
– Latest NFL poll
– Should parents be held accountable for their kids’ actions?
