Lynn Layton Nissan Team of the Week: James Clemens Jets 22 Oct 7:42 PM (4 hours ago)
MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) — The James Clemens Jets' win over the Austin Black Bears last Friday was a wild one and earned them the team of the week.
The Jets won off a long field goal from kicker Thai Lyles.
"Seeing the ball go through the uprights, it was just a different feeling," Lyles said. "It was the first time that I really got a deeper field goal that Coach Johnson gave me the chance to get, and I took full advantage of it."
The win put the Jets in second place in Class 7 Region 4 and in a prime position to host a playoff game in coach Juan Johnson's first season with the program.
"We've been really consistent about just doing our jobs consistently, our o-line has continued to progress. Obviously, it was a back-and-forth game. It was a great football game to watch. It was my first time playing in Decatur, in the River City," Johnson said. "Austin has a tremendous team. Coach Perkins did a really good job at preparing his kids. We were able to make one more play."
Standout running back MJ Giedon says getting to host a playoff game would be a huge deal.
"It felt great, we needed that win to host a playoff game, and that's what we all wanted, so going out there and getting the win feels great," Gideon said.
"It would mean a whole lot, especially hosting it for the seniors and everything, so it would mean a lot," Gideon said.
The Jets will finish region play at home against the Albertville Aggies on Friday.
Huntsville community gathers at a candle light vigil for the Anderson family 22 Oct 7:36 PM (5 hours ago)
HUNTSVILLE, Ala (WHNT) — A heartbroken community joined hand-in-hand Wednesday night.
"I hope everyone gets to experience the love Mark showed his family, his daughters and the people who surrounded him," one speaker said.
Many are grieving the lives of those lost far too soon.
"We come to you tonight in broken hearts as we grieve the loss of Ellie, Lainey, Mark, and Stella," said another.
Shockwaves ran across Huntsville, North Alabama and now the nation, after hearing the news of a father and his two daughters killed in a Montana plane crash.
"You may not know the Andersons well, or you may not know about their faith, but this story has affected so many people," said one of the pastors speaking at the event.
Countless people gathered as they shared stories, tears, a few laughs, and many thoughtful words about a family who means so much to their community.
"I pray that everyone can have a friend like we did with Ellie Anderson," said one student speaker.
In the midst of this tragic event, many are clinging to their desperate prayer for the mother and wife, Misty Anderson, left behind.
"I pray for healing for this community and healing for Miss Misty and that she hears all of our prayers and our support," one speaker said.
While it will take a long time to heal the wounds felt by Mark, Ellie, and Lainey's absence,
The community is trying to find peace in the thought that their grieving together.
If you would love to support the Anderson family, there is a GoFundMe set up. You can also find updates on the Anderson Family Facebook page.
Alabama Senator Katie Britt discusses Government Shutdown latest 22 Oct 7:20 PM (5 hours ago)
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Wednesday marked the 22nd day of the government shutdown. The Senate once again failed to pass a bill that would end the shutdown, falling short by just six votes.
News 19 spoke with Alabama Senator Katie Britt on Wednesday afternoon. She said it's time for both republicans and democrats to come together.
"The proper thing to do for the American people is to put politics aside and actually allow the government to function," Sen. Britt said.
She said it's time to reopen the government, because people are hurting.
"People are not getting paychecks, we are about to run out of benefits in a number of areas, and there are real consequences to real people," she said.
The Senate stalemate is linked to the Affordable Care Act and health care subsidies, which democrats want to extend, and republicans don't.
Senator Britt blames the situation on democrats.
"This is a democrat created program, with a democrat created subsidy, with a democrat created expansion, with a democrat created extension, with a democrat created date," Britt said.
Britt told News 19 that she wants to vote to reopen the government and then tackle issues related to health care subsidies.
"I think there are a lot of questions that need to be answered about how this thing is framed up, and that doesn't happen overnight," she said.
She then doubled down on democrats, dragging on the shutdown.
"This is absolutely political theater," Britt said, taking aim at Senate Minority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer.
"Go look at Chuck Schumer's political poll numbers, they were like terrible," she said. "So he's trying to figure out how in the world to save his own political future, and he's doing it at the cost of the American people."
Meanwhile, Sen. Schumer is calling on President Donald Trump for a meeting to discuss health care issues.
"President Trump has an obligation to negotiate with us and solve this problem," Schumer said.
The President said he will only meet with democratic leaders once the government reopens.
Wednesday, the Senate voted 54 to 46 on a House-passed bill to fund the government through November 21. Republicans came up short of the 60 votes needed to pass the bill by just six votes.
Both of Alabama's Senators, Sen. Katie Britt and Sen. Tommy Tuberville, voted in favor of the bill.
The Senate could vote again as soon as Thursday.
News 19 reached out to Sen. Tommy Tuberville's office for comment on the shutdown and today's vote, but at this time, we haven't heard back.
2 arrested on multiple drug charges in Lawrence County 22 Oct 6:29 PM (6 hours ago)
LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — The Lawrence County Sheriff's Department says two people were arrested on drug charges on Wednesday.
According to LCSO, the Lawrence County VICE/Narcotics Unit, with help from Lawrence County Community Corrections and the District Attorney’s Office, carried out a search warrant at the home of Avery Cooper in the Town Creek community.
LCSO said agents found Christopher McBride on the property, who tried to run, but was quickly caught.
During the search, LCSO said agents found over 56 grams of methamphetamine, more than 150 grams of synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia consistent with the distribution and resale of illegal narcotics.
Both people were taken into custody and taken to the Lawrence County Jail.
(Courtesy of Lawrence County Sheriff's Office)
(Courtesy of Lawrence County Sheriff's Office)
Avery Cooper was charged with the following:
- Trafficking in Methamphetamine
- Trafficking in Synthetic Marijuana
- Distribution of a Controlled Substance
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Christopher McBride was charged with the following:
- Attempting to Elude Law Enforcement
- Possession of a Controlled Substance
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Rain chances by the weekend 22 Oct 6:23 PM (6 hours ago)
The Weather Authority team is tracking rain for the back half of the weekend. After days of pleasant weather, a low-pressure system will slowly move in from the west this weekend. Showers could develop as soon as Sunday morning. Heavier rains could develop by the late afternoon and evening, but we're still trying to figure out the exact timing.
Rain showers will continue at times on Monday and a stronger system that could bring storms will move through on Tuesday. We're still gathering information and will have the latest on timing as we get closer. In addition, winds could get gusty. Stay with News 19 as we update the forecast.
Leaders talk 'The Alabama Solution' and next steps 22 Oct 4:27 PM (8 hours ago)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WHNT) — At a meeting today of the Joint Prison Committee, leaders discussed the drug problems, abuse, and need for accountability inside Alabama’s prison system.
These are well documented in “The Alabama Solution,” an HBO film that leaders say is proof of the need for reform in prisons.
Earnestine Council is the mother of Robert Earl Council, an inmate in The Alabama Solution documentary. After seeing what her son faces with her own eyes, she wants to see leaders take action.
“It brought light to a dark place," Council said. "You can always speak something, but this was not only speaking it with the mouth, but they were able to see for themselves what is behind them walls.”
“I can’t, with good conscience, tell anybody that we’re making progress, when they see that," Rep. Chris England (D-Tuscaloosa) told John Hamm, commissioner of the Department of Corrections.
Hamm said changing the culture in prisons will take time.
"The culture that you mentioned- oh, it’s there," he responded to England. "And that’s something we’ve been working on for quite some time. And, as you know, it’s tough.”
Rep. England said "The Alabama Solution” documents the culture of excessive force and civil rights abuses. That’s coming from officers within the system.
“You would get the impression from watching the film, and also looking at your own evidence, that the system not only encourages it, but it also enables it," England said. "So, in order to root that sort of thing out, and make the public know that we’re aware of those things, folks like that can’t work for us.”
England said bringing in an independent agency would help root out those issues.
“There has to be something within the system, systems we change, oversight that we create, accountability we create, so we can actually start making a difference."
Representative England said constituent services recently created by the Department of Corrections have helped inmate families better communicate their concerns. But ultimately, he said more oversight is needed for Alabama’s prisons.
5 times the White House underwent major renovations 22 Oct 4:11 PM (8 hours ago)
(The Hill) – President Trump's construction of a grand ballroom attached to the White House — starting with the demolition of part of the East Wing this week — will not be the first time a president has left a lasting mark on the people's house.
Presidents from Teddy Roosevelt to Barack Obama have remade parts of the building to their liking. And Harry Truman oversaw a major modernization of the White House, built in 1792.
"The South Portico, the North Portico, the East Wing, the West Wing, and the Truman Balcony all raised concerns at the time — but today, we can’t imagine the White House without these iconic elements," the White House Historical Association said this week.
However, nothing done in the past matches Trump's ambitions, Ed Lengel, who served as the chief historian for the White House Historical Association from 2016-18, told The Hill.
“There’s never been anything like that before. And I think I can say that with total confidence. There’s been nothing on that scale, even close to that scale, has ever been done before," he said.
Trump envisions a massive ballroom, paid for by private donors, attached to the East Wing for entertaining world dignitaries and other guests.
The White House has hit back at criticism of the project, calling it "a bold, necessary addition that echoes the storied history of improvements and renovations from commanders-in-chief to keep the executive residence as a beacon of American excellence."
Here’s a timeline of other major White House renovations:
1902
The creation of the West Wing, which houses the offices of the president and his closest staff, started under former President Theodore Roosevelt and was completed under former President Taft.
Prior to 1902, presidents would work from different spaces in the executive mansion, but there was no designated spot for official business. Roosevelt wanted a central office for the commander in chief and hired workers to build a rectangular space on the west side of the White House for the first presidential office, which was later called the "Roosevelt Room."
The Roosevelt renovation was planned and carried out by the “famous” New York architectural firm McKim, Mead and White, according to the White House.
Roosevelt worked in his new office for the first time on Nov. 5, 1902, and held his first Cabinet meeting there the next day, according to the White House Historical Association (WHHA).
Taft expanded what was called a temporary executive office building into the West Wing seven years later, placing an oval-shaped office at its center.
1933
Former President Franklin D. Roosevelt added 25,000 feet of permanent office space to the West Wing when he took office three decades later, according to the White House.
“A ‘penthouse’ story and an enlarged subterranean office area with a light well were built,” the WHHA said. “The Oval Office was relocated to the West Wing’s southeast corner-its present location-to overlook the Wilson Rose Garden.”
Roosevelt also added an indoor pool in the West Terrace for the president to exercise amid his battle with polio, according to the WHHA. The $12,000 to build the pool was raised by The Daily News, which established the Roosevelt Swimming Pool Fund.
That pool has since been covered by the White House briefing room. But an outdoor pool, built under President Ford, still exists on the South Lawn. It was funded through private donations.
1948
Truman oversaw the White House's most significant construction project, moving to the adjacent Blair House after parts of the normal residence were deemed unsafe.
Truman in March 1949 asked Congress to create the Commission on Renovation of the Executive Mansion to address severe architectural inadequacies in the White House. It comprised six members: two each appointed by the president, House and Senate.
Truman and his family moved out soon after his re-election in 1948, spending much of his second term in the nearby building that now hosts foreign dignitaries during their visits.
The renovations cost approximately $5.7 million, which amounts to more than $50 million in today's dollars, according to the Truman Library Institute.
The White House was gutted, but the Trumans sought to preserve the building as much as possible, working together with architect Lorenzo Winslow.
Truman was happy with the result, if not the price tag.
“Bess & I looked over the East Room, Green Room, Blue Room, Red Room and State Dining Room. They are lovely. So is the hall and state stairway," he said of his return to the residence. "With all the trouble and worry it is worth it—but not 5 ½ million dollars."
“If I could have had charge of the construction it would have been done for half the money and in half the time!”
1973
Former President Nixon added one-lane bowling alley to the White House.
White House staffers and visitors still occasionally using the bowling alley, located under the driveway leading to the North Portico.
The underground space was paid for by private donors, according to the White House museum. However, it wasn’t the White House’s first bowling area.
Under Truman, a bowling lane was added to the space that is now used as the Situation Room in 1947. At the time, staff started a bowling league. Former President Eisenhower moved the alley to the basement beneath the Old Executive Office Building.
2009
Former President Obama converted the White House tennis court into a full scale basketball court in 2009. It was adapted for both tennis and basketball use, according to the White House.
College basketball championship teams and Wounded Warriors have played on the court, according to Obama's White House.
During his first term, President Trump added a new White House tennis pavilion. The project, overseen by first lady Melania Trump, included a refurbishment of the existing tennis court and the adjacent “Grandchildren’s Garden," according to a press release at the time.
As shutdown drags on, federal workers could miss first full paycheck next week 22 Oct 3:32 PM (9 hours ago)
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — As the government shutdown moves into Day 22, in North Alabama, that means a lot of people who are normally working are stuck in a wait-and-see mode.
And the predicted pain of the shutdown may soon grow.
Abner Merriweather, President of Local 1858 of the American Federation of Government Employees, said the last check workers received was essentially cut in half due to the timing of the shutdown. Next week was supposed to be a regular pay week, Merriweather said, adding that it may be when the hardship really begins to set in.
Redstone Arsenal has about 22,000 civilian employees and most of them are said to be furloughed. Nearly all of AFGE's 10,000 members here are furloughed. So far, layoffs don't appear to have reached Redstone Arsenal.
U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-4th, was on Washington Watch Tuesday. He said he's been on a call with House leaders and found that House Republicans remain united. He said people in North Alabama support the GOP’s position in the shutdown dispute.
"I can tell you, being in North Alabama, my constituents are very much behind what President Trump and what the Republicans are doing,” Aderholt said. “They do not support the march that you saw across the country this past weekend. They don't support the tactics of the Democrats. And so, we're holding strong."
Another issue raised by News 19 viewers is the status of Social Security during the shutdown. The Social Security Administration posted a message on its website saying Social Security offices are open, including in Alabama. They are expected to be able to help people with most services.
But, Medicare card replacements can be requested online.
News 19 asked U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville's office about his current thinking on the shutdown and what he's hearing from constituents.
They provided a quick response, saying, "His current thinking is that Democrats should join him in voting to reopen the government." Tuberville’s office did not address the question of what he’s hearing from constituents.
U.S. Rep. Dale Strong responded late Wednesday afternoon to News 19's request for comment on the shutdown.
"This government shutdown was totally avoidable and could end tomorrow if Senate Democrats would pass the clean continuing resolution," the congressman said. "Democrats are using the American people as leverage for partisan priorities, and it is having very real impacts in North Alabama. It’s past time for Congress to do its job and get the government working again."
Meta to lay off roughly 600 employees within AI unit 22 Oct 3:04 PM (9 hours ago)
(NewsNation) — Meta, formerly Facebook, has announced plans to lay off around 600 employees within its AI unit, as first reported by Axios.
The layoffs will remove roughly 600 roles from within Meta's Superintelligence Labs division.
Meta's chief AI officer, Alexandr Wang, rationalized the layoffs in an internal memo seen by Axios, stating: “By reducing the size of our team, fewer conversations will be required to make a decision, and each person will be more load-bearing and have more scope and impact."
Wang also confirmed that the company is helping affected employees find other jobs within Meta.
"This is a talented group of individuals, and we need their skills in other parts of the company," Wang wrote.
The layoffs come as Meta continues to look to enhance its AI output and is still actively recruiting for its TBD Lab unit, "an elite division tasked with developing the company's next-generation AI models," according to Business Insider.
West Decatur Elementary School closed due to heavy smoke 22 Oct 2:55 PM (9 hours ago)
DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) —West Decatur Elementary School will be closed on Thursday after a fire broke out in the building on Wednesday afternoon.
According to a Decatur City Schools spokesperson, the emergency crews were sent at about 5 p.m. to respond to an HVAC fire.
The school will be closed on Thursday to allow workers to remove the heavy smoke from the building and to repair the HVAC system.
Students served pretzels sprinkled with oven cleaner, Oregon school confirms 22 Oct 2:21 PM (10 hours ago)
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Officials at a middle school in the Portland, Oregon, suburb of Tigard have confirmed that students were served pretzels with oven cleaner sprinkled on them earlier this week.
In an email sent out to families of Fowler Middle School, officials said that the oven cleaner used was in granular form and "mistakenly applied" to the pretzels.
"Understandably, we've heard a lot of concern around Monday's food-contamination accident, in which an oven cleaner in granular form was mistakenly applied to pretzels," the email read. "We are sorry this happened. All of us at Fowler and across the District are dedicated to the well-being of our students, and when something like this occurs, it disrupts the trust that we work so hard to build."
After the incident, district officials told Nexstar's KOIN that they contacted Oregon Poison Control, identified affected students, and monitored students for symptoms, but it remains unclear how the contamination happened.
According to the email, an investigation is ongoing, but more information has not been shared.
"At this time, a formal inquiry is underway," the email read. "While we are limited in what we can share while that process is ongoing, please know that it is being handled with the seriousness and care it deserves. We are reviewing all safety protocols to ensure that an incident like this does not happen again."
On Tuesday, KOIN spoke with a parent, Kianna Bell, who received a voicemail from the school that her child had eaten one of the contaminated pretzels.
"This is Sharon Mitchell with Hazel or — Fowler Middle School, and you should have received communication sent out today regarding the food contamination. During sixth grade lunch, your student reported that they ate at least a part of a pretzel that was sprinkled with oven cleaner."
Bell, as well as other parents, are saying they deserve a clear answer about what happened.
"Because they haven't given us any contextual information, it's pretty much just like we follow protocol, we call poison control. We're managing symptoms," Bell said. "But I want accountability. I want preventative measure. I want an investigation. I want an explanation. Without that, all I can do is speculate."
Calhoun opens new respiratory therapy program 22 Oct 1:52 PM (10 hours ago)
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — Calhoun Community College hosted an open house for a new respiratory therapy program on Wednesday.
The event consisted of a guided lab tour, hands-on equipment demonstration and more.
The program is aimed at addressing North Alabama's need for respiratory therapists as chronic pulmonary conditions increase.
School officials say the addition is a major step in meeting that need.
"We're extremely excited to have this program. It's been needed again throughout the community for quite a while. And so, it is a small field. Respiratory therapy is not an enormous field. There's a lot fewer of us than there are of nurses, but they're incredibly needed," program director Christy Goodwin said.
The new lab is located at the Huntsville campus, located off Wynn Drive.
Huntsville man arrested for shooting into occupied apartment 22 Oct 1:50 PM (10 hours ago)
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The Huntsville Police Department says a man was arrested Tuesday and charged with shooting into an occupied apartment.
HPD said Mario Marcell Robinson, 42, of Huntsville, was arrested after officers responded to the 1400 block of Ascent Trail for a domestic dispute call around 11 p.m. on Tuesday.
According to police, as an officer approached the apartment, he heard several gunshots and saw a man, later identified as Robinson, immediately afterward. HPD said Robinson was detained as part of the investigation.
Police said while investigating, officers found evidence that an apartment had been hit by gunfire. HPD said officers also found the gun believed to have been used, along with a shell casing.
The department said the apartment that was hit was occupied at the time, but no one was injured.
HPD said it was determined that Robinson had gotten into an argument and then used a firearm and shot into the apartment.
Robinson was charged with discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm. Jail records show that Robinson is stil being held in the Madison County Jail.
Man found guilty of murdering Sheffield hotel owner 22 Oct 12:05 PM (12 hours ago)
COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — William Moore, the man accused of shooting and killing a Sheffield motel owner, was found guilty on Wednesday.
A grand jury indicted Moore in March 2024 for the shooting death of Pravin Raojibhai Patel, the owner of the Hillcrest Hotel.
The indictment says Moore shot Patel with a handgun on Feb. 8, 2024, causing his death.
Moore's trial began on Monday, Oct. 20, with a jury selection. The jury was selected that afternoon, and opening statements began on Tuesday morning.
All 12 jurors found Moore guilty of the shooting death of Patel on Wednesday.
Tipoff time revealed for Rocket City Classic 22 Oct 9:01 AM (15 hours ago)
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The tipoff time for the Rocket City Classic has officially been announced.
The University of Alabama Men's Basketball Team will face Kennesaw State University on Sunday, December 21 at 1 p.m. at the Von Braun Center (VBC).
Alabama finished last season by making it to the Elite Eight before losing to Duke. They had an overall record of (28-9) and a conference record of (13-5).
Kennesaw State finished the 2023-2024 season with a 17-18 overall record and a 9-11 record in conference play, placing them fifth in the ASUN Conference. They fell short the NCAA tournament last season.
Tickets for the upcoming matchup can be purchased by clicking here, or at the VBC Box Office.
Marshall County Coroner announces decision not to seek re-election in 2026 22 Oct 8:37 AM (16 hours ago)
MARSHALL COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — Marshall County Coroner Cody Nugent announced on Wednesday that he will not be seeking re-election in 2026.
Nugent said that he has a deep commitment and love for serving the people of Marshall County and appreciates the confidence the public has placed in him during his two terms as Coroner.
You can read Nugent's full statement below:
I do not take this decision lightly as I have deep commitment and love in serving the people of this county and appreciate the confidence you have placed in me during the past two terms. My wife, 11-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter deserve more attention than I can provide
them with my current responsibilities. I have had the honor to investigate and provide
answers to over 2,000 families since 2019 as Coroner and have been able to assist more than 5,600 families in some capacity as Coroner.I am proud of the advancements that have been made within the Marshall County Coroner's Office since 2019, which has eased the additional responsibilities of this office due to population and healthcare growth. These advancements include a freestanding facility, electronic record systems, a vehicle, expanded cooler space, examination room compensation for Deputy Coroner's, and advancements in investigative techniques and practices.
Many of these advancements are not known to most citizens, however, in the event they are, ever needed to provide answers for families they will prove invaluable. I leave this office to focus more on my family, church, and career. I will continue to serve Marshall County with the high level of service you have come to expect until my departure from the office in January of 2027. I am grateful for the trust this county has placed in me, and I look forward to continuing to help move Marshall County forward as a citizen.
— Marshall County Coroner Cody Nugent
The next general election that will include the Marshall County coroner's race will be on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Investigation leads to man indicted, charged with sexual abuse of a child in Lauderdale Co. 22 Oct 7:38 AM (17 hours ago)
LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — An investigation led to man being indicted and charged with sexual abuse of a child in Lauderdale County.
In March 2025, the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office received a report regarding sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old.
After an extensive investigation by the sheriff's office, the case was presented to the Lauderdale County Grand Jury in September.
After hearing the evidence, Bobby Millsaps, of Anderson, Alabama was indicted and charged with sexual abuse of a child less than 12 years old.
LCSO told News 19 that warrants were issued and Bobby Millsaps was arrested on October 7, and has since posted a $50,000 bond.
Man accused of online child solicitation, possessing obscene matter of minor arrested in Lauderdale County 22 Oct 7:07 AM (17 hours ago)
LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — A man accused of possessing obscene matter of a minor and online solicitation of a child has been arrested in Lauderdale County.
The Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office received a report stating that an inappropriate relationship was taking place between Jodie Rogers and a juvenile victim in Lauderdale County.
Upon further investigation, investigators forensically analyzed Rogers' phone which led to authorities finding 70 images of child sexual abuse material.
Additionally, text messages were also found during the analysis showing that Jodie Rogers solicited sexual acts and images from the juvenile victim.
LCSO said that Rogers was arrested on Tuesday. He has been charged with Possession of Obscene Matter of Persons Under 17 and Electronic Solicitation of a Child. He was issued a $125,000 bond and has since been released.