Fairhope's Sydney Gray Strikes Gold...Again!

Get ready to cheer, ChumCity! Fairhope High School's own Sydney Gray is making waves again, snagging the 2025 National Winner title in the Musical Theater Songwriting Challenge for High School Students! This isn't just impressive; it's history-making!

Back-to-Back National Champ!

That's right, folks – Sydney is the FIRST EVER to win this prestigious competition two years in a row! Talk about a star on the rise!

Broadway Bound!

What's next for this amazing talent? Sydney's diving headfirst into collaboration, working with a mentor and a top-notch production team to polish her winning song, "Fall." Soon, she'll be hitting Broadway, collaborating with Broadway musicians. Her song gets the full orchestral treatment in a June 16th Broadway concert and will be published by Concord Music! Plus, she'll receive a sweet scholarship!

"Fall" into Romance

"Fall" is a heartfelt ballad from Sydney's original musical, Anavaly. Imagine Carlos, an ADHD teen with a love for facts and video games, trying to express his feelings for Nava Lee. He's head-over-heels but struggles to find the right words to say "I love you." Anavaly dives into the lives of high school students, tackling themes like mental health, acceptance, and visibility.

More Than Just Music

But wait, there's more! Sydney's accomplishments don't stop there. She was also named a semi-finalist in the U.S. Presidential Scholars program!

Future Superstar

With a stellar 4.37 GPA and over $300,000 in scholarship offers, Sydney's taking her talents across the pond to the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts in the UK, where she'll focus on writing for musical theater.

Arts Leader Extraordinaire

During her time at Fairhope, Sydney shined as the Drum Major for the Fairhope Buccaneer Marching Band, First Chair trombone in the wind ensemble, and section leader in "Encore." She's also been a key player at Baldwin County’s Eastern Shore Repertory Theater, taking on principal roles and even serving as music director!

Alabama GOP Chair Slams Voter Fraud Claims

Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl is using his official state ID to debunk the media’s wild claims of voter fraud and election shenanigans! Boom.

Senator Britt Wants to Supercharge I-65

U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) is pushing hard to widen Interstate 65 to a sweet four lanes! She’s backing President Trump’s infrastructure vision all the way.

Alabama Speaker Eyes Tax Cuts (But Next Year!)

Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) is talking about ditching the grocery tax and revisiting those overtime tax cuts to give Alabamians a break. The catch? He wants to do it next year, not right now. Bummer!

Palm Springs Bomber Identified

Authorities have ID'd a left-wing suspect in the Palm Springs bombing. Now, they're digging deep to figure out the motive (reportedly anti-birth) and prevent any more craziness.

Walmart vs. Tariffs: Price Hikes Ahead?

Walmart is warning about price hikes thanks to President Trump’s tariffs. Trump’s response? He’s tossing out alternative strategies for the retail giant to consider.

SCOTUS, Trump, and an Alabama ICE Detainment

The Supreme Court extended a block on President Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, but down in Alabama, ICE has detained an illegal immigrant mom of six after 25 years in the U.S. Deportation looms.

Biden's Health: Concern and Speculation

Word is that former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer that has spread to his bones. President Trump has sent his well-wishes, but some are whispering about the timing and how long this has been known.

Dale Jackson on WVNN

Dale Jackson is the brains behind Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show every weekday morning on WVNN.

AgTech Revolution Heats Up in Huntsville!

Get ready, ChumCity! The HudsonAlpha AgTech Accelerator, powered by gener8tor, is gearing up to launch its Spring 2025 cohort, and it's all about tackling agriculture's biggest challenges head-on!

HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology and gener8tor, a global venture firm, are teaming up to give early-stage agricultural startups an incredible leg up. Think game-changing technologies, serious investment potential, and explosive business growth. This program is designed to supercharge innovation!

What's the Buzz?

"We're stoked to boost the best and brightest startups that are fixing those pesky agricultural inefficiencies," says Christopher Udall, managing director of the Accelerator. "With HudsonAlpha's brainpower and gener8tor's massive network, we're aiming for innovation that sticks!"

Together, gener8tor and HudsonAlpha are bringing economic diversity and jobs to North Alabama, with support from Innovate Alabama's Tax Credit Program. And guess what? Founders will get a chance to pitch their visions to investors, community bigwigs, and YOU!

Meet the Game Changers:

• Downland: Saving family farms with AI! They're helping landowners pass down their agricultural land using smart technology, ensuring farmland stays in production and family legacies live on. Revenue is already rolling, and the waitlist is HUGE!
• Ecobrew: Craft breweries, listen up! They capture and reuse COâ‚‚, turning a cost into savings. Saving money, reducing emissions – it's a win-win! They've got funding, pilot sites, and are ready to brew up something big!
• Oceanfarmr: Scaling shellfish and seaweed operations? This is your farm management dream! Software and financing all in one place. They've got subscriptions, revenue, and a pipeline bursting with potential!
• Tylmen Tech: No more meatpacking waste! Cameras scan livestock postmortem, giving instant data on fat, yield, and cutability. Saving money and maximizing carcass value, one scan at a time!

Want to Get Involved?

Investors, mentors, and community peeps – if you're eager to connect with this awesome cohort, reach out to Christopher Udall.

Via 256 Today

Regions Tradition: More Than Just Golf!

The Regions Tradition, a highlight on the PGA TOUR Champions schedule, keeps bringing the crowds year after year for a week packed with amazing golf, local vibes, and pure community fun.

Held May 14–19, 2025, this year’s tournament saw over 60,000 golf lovers flock in from everywhere! It's become the place to be for fans, blending top-notch sport with camaraderie, awesome food, and fun for the whole family.

Local Love

But it's not just about the birdies and eagles! The Regions Tradition really shines when it comes to supporting local businesses. Dozens of Alabama vendors showed off their amazing food and products. And, a cool adaptive golf clinic gave individuals with disabilities a chance to get in on the action.

Economic Ace!

Talk about a hole-in-one for the local economy! The event pumps over $25 million annually into the Hoover area, giving a huge boost to local shops, restaurants, hotels, and all sorts of services.

A Tradition of Giving

For 32 years, the Regions Tradition has teed up over $24 million for Children’s of Alabama and other deserving local charities. It's a true philanthropic champion!

Tired of the Trash Talk?

Let's be real, folks. It's not about being "over" any particular group. What people are truly fed up with is the constant stream of negativity and trash behavior from, well, everyone.

Dale Jackson Weighs In

Dale Jackson, the sharp mind behind Yellowhammer News and the voice you hear weekday mornings from 5-9 a.m. on WVNN, knows what's up. He gets that it's the actions, not the background, that are grating on people's nerves. Let's clean up the act, ChumCity!

Alabama Justice Jumps into AG Race!

Hold on to your hats, ChumCity citizens! Alabama Supreme Court Justice Jay Mitchell just dropped a bombshell: he's resigning to throw his hat in the ring for Attorney General in 2026! The race is ON, and things are about to get interesting.

Ivey to Name Replacement Soon

Governor Kay Ivey is expected to announce Mitchell's replacement on the Supreme Court faster than you can say "judicial appointment." Stay tuned for that announcement!

Fundraising Frenzy Begins!

The 2026 election season officially kicked off today, with candidates now able to rake in the dough. Governor Ivey pushed up the start date, giving hopefuls a head start to coincide with the Memorial Day holiday period.

Who Else is Eyeing the AG Spot?

Mitchell won't be alone in the Republican primary. Blount County DA Pamela Casey and Katherine Robertson, longtime advisor to AG Steve Marshall, are rumored to be considering a run. Marshall is term-limited, opening the door for a new face.

Mitchell's Background

Mitchell, 48, joined the Alabama Supreme Court back in 2019. Before becoming a Justice, the Mobile native was a partner at the Birmingham law firm now known as Maynard Nexsen. He's got degrees from Birmingham-Southern College and the University of Virginia School of Law.

Cash on Hand

Mitchell's campaign is already sitting pretty with a hefty $654,304.40 war chest ready to fuel his AG bid.

Rocket City Remembers Apollo 10!

Hey ChumCity! Did you know that Alabama played a HUGE part in getting us to the moon? Fifty-six years ago, on May 18, 1969, NASA launched Apollo 10, the final dress rehearsal for the legendary moon landing a month later. And guess where a lot of the magic happened? Right here in Sweet Home Alabama!

Huntsville's Helping Hand

Okay, so Apollo 10 blasted off from Florida, but a massive chunk of the work was done in Huntsville. The Marshall Space Flight Center designed and tested the beastly Saturn V rocket that carried astronauts Thomas Stafford, John Young, and Eugene Cernan. We're talking guidance systems and the whole shebang!

Blast Off to the Future!

Marshall Space Flight Center is STILL a hotbed of innovation. NASA says they're leading the charge on the Space Launch System (SLS), the rocket that'll send astronauts back to the moon as part of the Artemis program. Plus, they're rocking 3D printing for space, testing rocket engines, and keeping the space station humming.

Alabama's All In

NASA's got its fingers in every single one of Alabama's 67 counties through research, education, and good ol' economic partnerships. They've got over 50 active deals with universities and businesses across the state, like UA, Auburn, and more!

Space Command Coming?

And get this: Alabama's space game is about to get even BIGGER! With Frank Calvelli Meink now the Secretary of the Air Force, there's serious buzz about moving U.S. Space Command to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. Congressman Dale Strong says Huntsville's already proven it's the best spot.

So, as we celebrate Alabama's role in the Apollo era, remember we're still leading the way for the next generation of space exploration, reaching for the Moon, Mars, and beyond!

Longshore & McKnight: Sports Roundup!

John and Barry are back at it again, diving headfirst into the wild world of sports! First up: Scotty Scheffler's PGA Championship victory! They're calling him the Tim Duncan of golf – steady, reliable, and always clutch. Everyone thought Bryson DeChambeau had it in the bag, but Scheffler proved you can’t count out consistent excellence. One of the hosts noted Scheffler is simply great at all facets of the game, but lamented that golf ratings often chase the sizzle more than the steak.

NBA Playoffs Heat Up!

The dynamic duo also unpacked the NBA Playoffs, showering both praise and a healthy dose of doubt on rising stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Anthony Edwards. Are these guys the real deal? Longshore & McKnight have opinions!

College Football's Money Game

Next, they tackled a juicy report on college football recruiting budgets. Shockingly, Tennessee is outspending Alabama! And Auburn? Well, let's just say their budget raises some eyebrows. “Somebody's pulling money and calling it something else," quipped one host, hinting at potential NIL shenanigans and creative accounting.

SEC Baseball & More!

Wrapping things up, they previewed the SEC baseball tournament, giving a shout-out to Alabama's stud shortstop, Justin Lebron, and playfully poked fun at Coleman Coliseum. Finally, they pondered Alabama’s upcoming all-access football documentary. Could you imagine Coach Saban allowing that level of behind-the-scenes access? Times are changing, folks!

Saban's Retirement: Miss Terry's To-Do List Expands

Since retiring after the 2023 season, former Alabama Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban has been a hot topic. Fans have been eager to know how he's spending his days.

Keeping Busy Off the Field

While Saban's been involved with College GameDay and other TV gigs, a hilarious story straight from the man himself reveals what's happening around the house, courtesy of his wife, Miss Terry.

The Ten (Plus!) Commandments of Retirement

Saban told SEC analyst Paul Finebaum that Miss Terry's keeping him very busy.

"The day I retired, Miss Terry gave me the ten commandments of retirement, and within one week, she said ten is not enough.”

Staying Active is Key

"I'm not good at not having to do," Saban chuckled, explaining he needs to stay busy and out of Miss Terry's hair.

Saban also clarified he didn't leave coaching because of the changing landscape of college football, but because he felt his age was starting to impact the program. He added that he didn’t want to bring the program down.

It seems Saban's enjoying retirement, even if Miss Terry's keeping him busier than expected!

Freeze on Thin Ice? Auburn's Hot Seat Heats Up

Hugh Freeze is heading into his third season at Auburn, and let's just say the pressure is ON. After a couple of seasons that didn't exactly set the Plains on fire, expectations are sky-high. Last year? A total buzzkill, ending with a 5-7 record and no bowl game invite. Ouch.

Bowl Game or Bust... Or Else?

Freeze himself acknowledges the heat. He recently told The Next Round that a bowl game is a must.

"I'm not a fool. I think we've got to go to a bowl game."

More Than Just Bowl Eligibility Needed!

Here's the thing, though, Coach: Auburn faithful are craving MORE than just a measly bowl appearance. Six wins might get you eligible, but it won't get you a parade. To keep the fans happy (and the AD off his back), Freeze needs to deliver a season that has some real bite. It's time for the Tigers to roar, not just meow.