AGP Executive Report

School Safety: With Alabama students back in class, drivers are being reminded of the rules for school buses—stop when a bus is loading or unloading and its signals are operating, and on divided four-plus-lane roads only drivers traveling the same direction as the bus must stop. Defense & Industry: Hanwha Aerospace says its U.S. unit will build prototypes for the Army’s Mobile Tactical Cannon program, a deal tied to wheeled self-propelled artillery and possible follow-on systems. Huntsville Crime: A former payroll employee in Jackson County faces dozens of theft charges after investigators allege she skimmed about $185,000 from co-workers’ paychecks. Education & Security: Tuscaloosa City Schools is set to vote on adding cameras at multiple campuses and district offices to boost security. Community & Events: Gulf Shores’ Shrimp Fest poster contest winner Tara McMeans will headline the festival’s marketing, and Orange Beach is opening registration for a Sept. 25-26 kids fishing tournament benefiting Make-A-Wish Alabama. Sports: Alabama is ranked No. 13 in the AP preseason poll as fall camp continues, while AAMU’s homecoming gospel lineup adds Todd Dulaney and Dante’ Pride.

Politics: Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones will hold a Marshall County town hall Saturday, Aug. 22, at 2 p.m. in Guntersville, joined by running mate Jeff McLaughlin. Transportation: ALDOT is moving ahead with a $6.7 million painting and joint-repair project on the US-431 Veterans Memorial Bridge in Guntersville, with lane closures planned mostly off peak and a Dec. 1 deadline. Public safety: A fox near Billingsley in Autauga County tested positive for rabies; ADPH says no human exposure was reported and dogs are getting booster shots. Health/education: UAB and Cincinnati Children’s researchers say indigo-enriched indoor lighting may help prevent myopia in a tree-shrew model, pointing to a possible new approach for kids’ vision. Local roads: Decatur will use about $475,000 in Rebuild Alabama funds for multiple road repairs. Sports: Alabama opens the season at No. 13 in the AP preseason Top 25, and a preseason AP All-America team named Georgia safety KJ Bolden and Alabama DB Bray Hubbard. Crime: An Alabama high school coach resigned after a public intoxication arrest at a preseason jamboree.

Alabama Football Preview: Alabama opens the 2026 season at No. 13 in the AP Top 25, its lowest preseason spot since 2008, as Ohio State takes No. 1 and Oregon lands No. 2. Offensive Line Focus: With Alabama’s rushing attack struggling last year, the Tide’s most intriguing newcomer is new O-line coach Adrian Klemm, tasked with fixing the trenches while running back AK Dear and EJ Crowell deal with injuries. Local Education & Heat: Tuscaloosa City Schools keeps classrooms cool during dangerous heat, and UA health experts say sleep is key to academic success. Public Safety & Courts: A former Alabama Department of Corrections officer, Mario Grant, was sentenced in a Kilby contraband case. In Morgan County, a murder trial for ex-Decatur officer Mac Marquette is delayed pending an Alabama Supreme Court ruling. Community & Business: ProjectXYZ donated $250,000 to the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering in Huntsville, supporting a research institute and a women’s dorm. Road & Daily Life: Two lanes of I-65 northbound near Valleydale Road closed due to broken pavement, and cooling stations opened in Montgomery and Elmore counties as extreme heat continues.

College Football (Alabama): The preseason AP Top 25 is out, with Ohio State No. 1 and Oregon No. 2. Alabama sports: Alabama lands at No. 13—outside the top 10 for the first time since 2008—while Ole Miss is No. 9, Georgia No. 3, Texas No. 5, and Texas A&M No. 8, giving the SEC nine ranked teams. Alabama courts: The Alabama Supreme Court extended Republican gubernatorial nominee Tommy Tuberville’s briefing deadline in his residency lawsuit to Aug. 27. Public health: Alabama’s ALL Kids program says an Alabama child became eligible for FDA-approved gene therapy for rare inherited deafness, with treatment performed at Boston Children’s Hospital. Weather: Extreme heat warnings are in effect across much of central Alabama until 9 p.m. Monday, with heat indices forecast around 105–113. Safety: An Amber Alert was issued for two Atlanta sisters police believe were abducted by their babysitter.

Tennessee soccer: No. 24 Tennessee opened its 2026 season with a 2-0 win over South Alabama at Regal Soccer Stadium. First-career goals: Ayva Jordan scored on a header in the 27th minute, and Devin Davis added a second goal on a corner in the 79th to give the Lady Vols their first clean sheet. Local arts: Whole Backstage Theatre in Guntersville is renovating Dot Moore Auditorium, including new seating, refinished floors, and updated lighting, with help from a $50,000 Alabama Arts Council grant. North Alabama families: In Huntsville, families gathered to honor children lost to gun violence, sharing meals and support. Mobile sentencing: A 76-year-old Mobile man, Walter Thames, received 20 years for the July 4, 2025 shooting death of Patricia Odoms. Education update: Leeds City Schools says an assistant principal at Leeds Elementary, Kyle Winningham, resigned after an internal misconduct allegation was found to be unsubstantiated. Community safety: Alabama’s driver’s license delay “point system” under Taylor’s Law is being clarified by ALEA.

Heat Alert: Alabama is under First Alert Weather Days again through Monday, with many areas in the upper 90s to near/over 100 and heat index values around 105–110; officials urge limiting outdoor time and staying hydrated. Local Government: Prichard Mayor Carletta Davis is exploring options to revitalize Prichard Stadium, with a Public Works & Public Safety committee meeting set for Monday. Public Health: The Urology Health Foundation will host free prostate cancer screenings Aug. 22 (ages 40+), no appointment needed, at the Perry County Health Department in Marion. Economic Development: The Mobile Chamber says Airbus plans to invest more than $82 million in Mobile projects and create 50 new jobs, including a new central distribution center opening in early 2027. Safety & Justice: A Prichard man, Delando Travon Perkins, was sentenced to 46 months for illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon and assaulting Homeland Security Task Force officers. Outdoor Life: Alabama wildlife officials shared an example alligator catch from permit holders in the West Central Alligator Management Area. Community News: The body of a missing Hartselle man was recovered from Wheeler Lake, according to ALEA.

Criminal Justice: Cullman County man James Michael Doss has been transferred to Kilby Correctional Facility to serve a 325-year sentence after pleading guilty to 12 child sex crime charges, with prosecutors calling it the “final chapter” in the case. Public Safety: ALEA is asking for help identifying the driver of a black Toyota 4Runner believed to have struck and killed a 16-year-old on Capshaw Road in Madison County; the driver fled. Local Development: Hoover broke ground on the South Haven Surgical Plaza, an 80,000-square-foot outpatient medical office with six operating rooms and imaging suites. Data Centers Debate: Huntsville-area lawmakers and local officials are weighing how much control cities should have over data center and mining projects, with Roanoke considering a moratorium after concerns about power and water capacity. Community & Health: A Scottsboro fishing fundraiser, Castin N Catchin, raised a record $254,896 for congenital heart research at Children’s Hospital of Alabama. Sports (Alabama ties): Former Alabama QB Ty Simpson impressed in his Rams preseason debut, throwing two TDs in a win over the Chiefs.

Mobile River Bridge: The Alabama Toll Road, Bridge and Tunnel Authority approved financing and toll policy for the $3.2 billion Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project, with construction expected to start in October and an ALGO Pass toll set at $3 per trip. Montgomery Public Safety & Accountability: A Montgomery man arrested in an ADOC contraband case with 19 pounds of marijuana and $30,000 is described as appearing tied to a City-funded anti-violence effort Mayor Steven Reed promoted, raising new questions about oversight. Search & Rescue on Wheeler Lake: ALEA Marine Patrol is continuing to search for a missing Hartselle man after his fishing boat was found adrift on Wheeler Lake without him onboard. Fatal ATV Crash: Alabama State Troopers say a Brundidge man died after his ATV hit a deer in Coffee County. Defense Aviation Safety: The U.S. Army ordered a temporary stand-down of AH-64 Apache training flights after a fatal crash near Salado, Texas, killing two pilots. Statewide Heat Alert: Central Alabama is under First Alert Weather Days and a heat advisory, with dangerous heat index values expected through the weekend. Local Community & Culture: The Alabama Black Belt Birding Festival was named the first “Black Belt Signature Event,” and the Hank Williams Museum announced a Sept. 12 103rd birthday celebration in Montgomery.

Maternal Health Crisis: A new March of Dimes report says 1 in 3 Alabama counties are maternal health care deserts, leaving expectant mothers with no nearby maternity wards or obstetric providers and forcing long drives for prenatal and postpartum care. Local Business & Jobs: West Alabama Ready Mix cut the ribbon on a new Jasper facility, a major investment that expands concrete services and local opportunities. Education & Leadership: Jasper High student Lucy Fields represented Alabama at the American Legion Auxiliary’s Girls Nation in Washington, D.C., learning how the U.S. Senate works and what responsible citizenship looks like. Sports—NFL & College: The Seahawks agreed to sign former Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold despite felony charges, while Alabama soccer opened its season with a 2-1 win over Saint Louis on a late goal. Public Safety: The Army identified two Apache pilots killed in a Fort Hood crash in Texas. Weather & Outdoors: Barbour WMA campgrounds temporarily closed for repaving, with hunting seasons still set to follow the posted schedule.

School Safety: DeKalb County is seeing a troubling run of three separate school threat reports in a week, with Fort Payne, Fyffe High, and Ider all concluding the threats were false alarms after law enforcement investigations. Public Safety & Crime: Investigators arrested Sebastian Ira Brooks of Union Grove on alleged child sexual abuse material possession after a tip led to a phone seizure and a warrant; a second man, Blake Austin Huckabee, was also charged after being found hiding and giving a false name. Alabama Justice: Alabama carried out its first execution of 2026, putting Jeremy Williams to death for the 2021 rape and murder of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland. Local Spotlight: Cullman was named a Hallmark “Merriest Christmas Town” Top 25 finalist, and voting runs through Sept. 4. Health Care Business: Memorial Hermann and DASCO formed a joint venture to expand home medical equipment services in the Houston area. Weather/Travel: A Jefferson County crash blocked northbound I-459 lanes Friday morning, with lanes expected to remain closed while troopers investigate.

Extreme Heat Safety: Alabama Public Health and local schools are urging heat precautions as triple-digit temperatures hit and high school football practices ramp up, with teams shifting workouts to mornings and using misting fans, cold tubs, and emergency plans. Capital Punishment: Alabama executed Jeremy Williams for the 2021 rape and strangling murder of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland, with officials citing the case’s brutality and the victim’s family seeking closure. Local Crime: Auburn police arrested Blair Marie Robertson on attempted murder and resisting arrest charges after a July stabbing during a domestic disturbance. NFL & Alabama Sports: Seahawks are set to sign former Alabama cornerback Terrion Arnold after the Lions cut him amid felony legal trouble; meanwhile, Alabama’s QB battle remains a focus as the team searches for QB1 after Ty Simpson’s Rams move. Community & Education: Alabama School of Fine Arts accepted 100 students for 2026-2027, including eight from Trussville and Pinson. Local Sports Facilities: Clay-Chalkville will defend its state title in a new stadium, the “Thunderdome,” opening Sept. 18.

Execution Watch: Alabama is set to carry out the lethal-injection execution of Jeremy Williams on Thursday for the 2021 rape and murder of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland, after he dropped appeals; the same day also includes executions in Tennessee and Oklahoma, a rare three-state cluster not seen in nearly 16 years. Prison Policy: The Alabama Department of Corrections is phasing out tobacco statewide, starting with major facilities including Elmore, with canteens stopping tobacco sales Sept. 1 and tobacco treated as contraband after Oct. 1. Public Health—Heat: ADPH is warning Alabamians to take precautions as extreme heat pushes toward triple digits, highlighting heat cramps, exhaustion, and life-threatening heat stroke. Public Health—Coast Safety: Health officials are also urging caution during “flesh-eating” Vibrio vulnificus season, especially for people with open wounds and those exposed to Gulf waters. Local Crime Data: Elmore County reported 7 drug-category bookings for the week ending Aug. 9, while Autauga County logged 3 domestic-category bookings. Sports: Caleb Woodson, a Virginia Tech transfer linebacker, was named to the Butkus Award watch list in his first Alabama season.

Banking Expansion: PeoplesSouth Bank is set to open a new Bass Road location in Montgomery, joining other recent financial growth along the corridor. Local Politics: Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones held a town hall in Montgomery, pressing on affordability, healthcare, and concerns about AI data centers. Fair Housing: Fair housing groups are suing HUD over new Fair Housing Initiative Program funding rules that they say will shrink services for vulnerable Alabamians. Public Safety & Courts: A former Cullman County detention deputy sued Sheriff Matt Gentry, alleging an unlawful cellphone search and retaliation after he reported a security flaw. Health & Weather: Alabama remains under heat advisory conditions through Friday, with dangerous heat index values expected to continue into the weekend. Community & Crime: Huntsville police say the family of an Alabama A&M student killed at a gas station is remembering Ta’Lyjah Moore; two men face charges. Missing Person: Atalla police released new surveillance photos of Nathaniel Lucas Jackson, missing and endangered. Business/Tech: ACCS is launching a statewide broadband fiber push to connect all 24 community and technical colleges by end of 2027.

Extreme Heat Alert: A heat advisory is in effect across north Alabama through Friday, with mid- to upper-90s temperatures and heat index values up to 110. The Alabama Department of Public Health is urging residents to watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke—especially older adults, people with high blood pressure, and anyone working or exercising outdoors. Local Government & Growth: Brookwood’s Planning and Zoning Commission advanced annexing and rezoning 374 acres for a second major data-center plan, sending the proposal to the City Council for a Sept. 15 vote. Jobs & Industry: Gov. Kay Ivey announced 2A USA will invest $32 million to expand its Auburn aluminum die-casting and machining operations, creating 50 jobs. Education Policy: Alabama schools must display a Ten Commandments poster in history classrooms starting Oct. 1, with costs covered by private donations—setting up likely legal challenges over church-state separation. Public Safety: Russell County approved plans for a new sheriff’s substation in Crawford, aimed at improving access for pistol permits and reports. Sports & Community: Phenix City’s 12U team punched its ticket to the Little League World Series for the first time in 27 years after a 4-0 Southeast Regional win.

Voting Rights Act anniversary: Alabama advocates marked 61 years since the Voting Rights Act, warning that Supreme Court rulings have weakened protections and made it harder to safeguard Black voting power. Special congressional primaries: Voters in redrawn districts headed back to the polls, with Republicans winning key nominations—Jerry Carl (District 1), Rhett Marques (District 2), Gary Palmer (District 6), and Ammie Akin (District 7)—setting up November matchups against Democrats. Maternal health crisis: A new ACLU of Alabama report says Black women face the deadliest odds in pregnancy and childbirth, citing long travel times, barriers to care, and inadequate mental-health support. Prison legal spending: Rep. Chris England delayed $33 million in Alabama Department of Corrections contract increases tied to federal prison lawsuits, seeking more answers on strategy. Golden Dome: Huntsville defense officials discussed how the Golden Dome command-and-control system could evolve, including possible links to overseas military forces. Outdoor access: TVA funding helped expand mobility-friendly recreation at Lake Guntersville State Park with a new trackchair/terrain vehicle. Business/industry: Hanwha’s unit offered to buy Austal USA’s Mobile shipyard and other sites, signaling a shift in U.S. shipbuilding investment. Sports (local): Northeast Alabama Community College men’s soccer fell 2-1 in an exhibition against Chattanooga Red Wolves, while Alabama fall camp coverage continued.

Missile Defense in Huntsville: Raytheon won a $745 million SM-3 Block IIA contract for production and sustainment, with RTX citing a Alabama facility expansion to boost interceptor capacity. Counter-Drone Push: The U.S. Army is seeking ways to adapt a 50mm chain gun to track and shoot down small drones, with industry demos tied to the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville. Hypersonic Supply Chain: Lockheed tapped Albany Engineered Composites for a low-cost aeroshell for the Next Generation Glide Body, as the Army looks to shift hypersonic manufacturing by fiscal 2029. Public Safety on I-22: A Birmingham woman died after a single-vehicle crash into a river near Cordova on Interstate 22; investigators say she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. Food Safety: Taylor Farms expanded a salmonella recall tied to jalapeño products, with Alabama among 26 states listed. Alabama Politics: Voters head to special congressional primaries Tuesday after redistricting, with multiple districts on the ballot. Local Law Enforcement: Clay County police arrested a wanted man after a check scheme led to a bench warrant and a quick takedown.