AGP Executive Report

College Sports: The U.S. Senate is set to vote soon on the Protect College Sports Act, a major push that supporters say will stabilize college athletics while opponents warn it could restore power to exploitative systems. Alabama Football: Alabama faces South Carolina and QB LaNorris Sellers for the third straight season, with coach Kalen DeBoer pointing to Sellers’ growth as a passer and runner. Education & Politics: A PARCA survey finds most Alabamians rank education as a top priority, with strong support for public schools and calls for voucher-funded private schools to meet public-school standards. Energy & Environment: A Sierra Club report gives Alabama Power an F (5/100) over clean-energy planning, criticizing continued coal reliance. Public Safety & Courts: A Clarke County man was fatally shot in a domestic violence case; authorities say a judge had ordered no contact between the couple. Local Government/Infrastructure: Lawrence County approved a $125,000 bridge study on County Road 387 to address decades of flooding. Business: WSB announced it is acquiring Poly, an Alabama-based engineering firm, expanding its municipal and federal design work. State Leadership: Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Ben Stimpson Jr. as conservation commissioner.

Alabama Football: No. 8 Alabama is 3-0 and opens SEC home play Saturday vs. South Carolina, after erasing a 21-6 deficit to beat Florida State 50-36 and following an SEC opener that saw Alabama outscore Kentucky 32-0 after halftime. Coach Kalen DeBoer pointed to the team’s response to slow starts, while defensive coordinator Kane Wommack vowed a bounce-back after a “highly disappointing” pass-defense showing. Recruiting Buzz: A 2028 safety target, CJ Craig-James, visited Tuscaloosa during the FSU game, and another 2028 edge prospect, Elijah Tillman, sent a nine-word message saying he’s “more interested in Alabama” after his visit. Local Agriculture: The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries launched an Alabama Hay Listing webpage for farmers to buy and sell hay, warning about email scams. Workforce Update: Alabama’s Department of Workforce is rolling out Login.gov identity verification for initial unemployment claims starting Sept. 30. State Politics & Policy: Alabama libraries face renewed pressure over transgender-related books in youth sections, while a sports-betting debate is heating up again as lawmakers consider whether to regulate online wagering. Community & Culture: The Alabama State Council on the Arts awarded more than $3.9 million statewide, supporting performances, festivals, exhibitions and arts education.

Local Tragedy: Huntsville authorities say Matthew Kimbrel, a former Atlanta Braves minor leaguer and brother of Royals pitcher Craig Kimbrel, died in a motorcycle crash on U.S. 431 after colliding with a dump truck. Sports & Community: Alabama OC Ryan Grubb apologized after comments about “boo birds” during the Tide’s win over Florida State sparked backlash. College Football Preview: Alabama hosts South Carolina Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN after a 50-36 FSU comeback that included two weather delays. Public Safety: Lee County investigators arrested 11 men in an Opelika hotel child-predator sting. Voting Rights Fight: AG Steve Marshall asked the U.S. Supreme Court to restore states’ authority over voter qualifications, including removing noncitizens from voter rolls. Jobs & Infrastructure: Alabama Port Authority’s $100M Montgomery inland rail terminal remains on track for early 2027, aiming to move containers by CSX rail. Health: Alabama marked National Opioid Awareness Day as overdose deaths fell 46% over two years, with naloxone distribution and treatment expansion cited. Weather: West Alabama braces for strong to severe storms Tuesday, with damaging wind gusts and frequent lightning possible.

Alabama Football: Ryan Grubb issued an apology after comments about “boo birds” during Alabama’s slow start in the Florida State win, as the Tide prepares to host South Carolina with AK Dear and Noah Rogers returning to practice. Public Safety & Courts: A federal judge temporarily blocked DHS from entering Alabama construction sites without warrants, after agents arrested a U.S. citizen multiple times. Health: Alabama marked National Opioid Awareness Day with new data showing overdose deaths down 46% and continued push to expand naloxone access. Local Government: Guntersville City Schools approved its 2027 budget, projecting a 3.49-month reserve and about $32.16 million in revenue. Environment: Arab homeowners say construction sediment from the new Arab High School is flooding properties; ADEM issued a violation notice to the contractor. Community & Education: The UA National Alumni Association ended an endowed Culpepper scholarship, and Springville Intermediate received a Blue Cross Blue Shield “Be Healthy” grant. Sports Beyond Football: Will Pettry and the Bluecoats won a world championship, and Central High School is charging for game-day parking to fund student costs.

College & Parenting Costs: A New York Times report spotlights “surrogate mom” concierge services where Alabama parents pay thousands for help with college kids—laundry, room cleaning, prescription pickup, and birthday deliveries—priced from about $999/semester to $1,500/semester. Public Health: Alabama marks National Opioid Awareness Day with a 46% drop in substance-related overdose deaths from March 2024 to March 2026, while warning fentanyl and other synthetic opioids still drive risk; the state says it has distributed more than 222,000 naloxone kits since 2019. Education & Tech: The Alabama Board of Nursing cyberattack has left systems offline, forcing more than 80,000 nurses to renew licenses by hand. Local Schools: New readiness data shows Chambers County (75.2% of Black students college-ready) and Elmore County (71.4%) improving year over year. Business & Jobs: Alabama’s Community College System/Alabama Training Network is set to receive nearly $2.2M to help manufacturers adopt AI, robotics, and automation. Housing: Zillow reports Montgomery County’s typical home value at $166,373 (+2.5% year over year). Safety: A Somerville woman died and a 10-year-old was injured in a single-vehicle crash on AL-36 near Hartselle.

Alabama Football: No. 8 Alabama got revenge on Florida State, rallying from a slow start and two weather delays to win 50-36 at Bryant-Denny Stadium, with QB Keelon Russell throwing for 320 yards and three TDs and adding a rushing score; the Tide’s offense surged late after a 21-6 second-quarter deficit. Weather & Safety: The FSU-Alabama game was repeatedly delayed by lightning near Bryant-Denny, and a separate fatal crash on I-20 in St. Clair County left a 21-year-old man dead and a second person injured. Local Sports: Rocket City’s Trash Pandas edged the Biloxi Shuckers 5-4 in Game 1 of the Southern League title series, taking a 1-0 lead heading to Game 2 in North Alabama. Higher Ed & Community: UA’s new School of Leadership and Policy is taking applications for a Master of Public Policy launching Fall 2027, and UA hosted its annual study abroad fair. Public Health & Tech: The Alabama Board of Nursing is dealing with a cyberattack, forcing nursing license applicants to submit paper forms while online systems are down. Climate Justice: An Alabama family’s fight against Big Oil—featured in “Black Soil Rising”—is set to be brought to NYC during Climate Week on Sept. 26.

Alabama Football: No. 10 Alabama rallied after two lightning delays to beat Florida State 50-36, with QB Keelon Russell throwing for 320 yards and 3 TDs and adding a 57-yard rushing score as the Tide improved to 3-0. Local Sports & Schools: Tuscaloosa County High School fired coach Cris Bell after an 0-5 start, naming defensive assistant Matthew Carden as interim head coach. Road Safety: A single-vehicle crash shut down southbound I-59 in DeKalb County near the 241-mile marker, and an ALEA probe continues after a fatal Covington County crash killed a 72-year-old man. Justice: An 18-year-old woman convicted in the death of her newborn after throwing him into a trash compactor was sentenced to life in prison. Infrastructure & Local Economy: South Alabama secured a $2.5 billion federal loan for the Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project, and Mobile is set to consider expanding entertainment district boundaries to include Regions Arena. Weather: Central Alabama faces another hot day with a few possible storms, plus a chance of scattered storms Monday.

Alabama Football: No. 10 Alabama rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat Florida State 50-36 in Tuscaloosa, with Keelon Russell throwing for 320 yards and three TDs and running for another as lightning delays twice pushed the game around. Local Sports: North Alabama made history at Bank Independent Stadium, beating Alcorn State 38-20 in the Lions’ first home game on campus. South Alabama Football: South Alabama topped Ohio 41-36 in Mobile, building a 24-7 halftime lead behind a big rushing effort from Keenan Phillips and company. Community Help: Decatur Police teamed with the Food Bank of North Alabama to distribute food to about 500 families as rising costs squeeze budgets. Animal Welfare: Humane Society of West Alabama is spotlighting bonded siblings Rio and Rebel, now ready for adoption. Arts Funding: Alabama State Council on the Arts awarded more than $3.9M in grants statewide to support local arts programs.

Alabama Football (FSU rematch): No. 10 Alabama is back at Bryant-Denny for a revenge showdown with Florida State, kicking off at 2:30 p.m. CT Saturday on ABC, after last season’s 31-17 loss in Tallahassee. Game prep & depth chart: Starting right guard Michael Carroll is back; running back AK Dear is questionable, and Alabama’s projected lineup was released ahead of the matchup. Local sports spotlight: Alabama A&M swept Central Michigan 3-0 in Miami, while UAB and other regional teams posted results across volleyball and cross country. Local government: Cullman City Council adopted a $158.8M FY2027 budget, effective Oct. 1, with a $58.4M general fund and major funding for water and sewer. Education data: New Alabama college-readiness figures show Athens City’s white students at 93.8% ready in 2023-24, alongside other district-by-district readiness snapshots. Health & community: A Greensboro nurse practitioner earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice from UA, and Montgomery’s Perennial made The New York Times’ 2026 Restaurant List. Politics & policy: U.S. Rep. Dale Strong’s agroterrorism preparedness bill cleared the House unanimously, and a Wall Street Journal report says Sen. Katie Britt’s office sought tariff exemptions privately for Alabama firms.

Alabama sports, Friday night focus: Central High pulled away late for a 47-20 win over Paul W. Bryant, while Handley held off Talladega 28-13 on homecoming night and Alabama Christian beat Prattville Christian in Montgomery. College football buzz: No. 10 Alabama opens a big Week 3 rematch storyline with Florida State, with plenty of injury and matchup chatter swirling ahead of kickoff. SEC women’s soccer: No. 10 Alabama topped Arkansas 2-0, with goals from Larkin Thomason and Reece Ward. Local governance & courts: A Baldwin County judge blocked AHSAA from enforcing a Robertsdale coaching suspension against Justin Jones, at least temporarily, as the dispute heads to court. State politics & policy: Gov. Kay Ivey proclaimed Sept. 19 as POW/MIA Recognition Day. Public safety & health: Alabama officials withdrew objections to federal marijuana rescheduling, and the state’s nursing license system faced a cyberattack outage. Arts & community: Alabama State Council on the Arts awarded $3.9M in grants statewide, including support for groups in Pinson, Center Point, Leeds, Irondale, and Trussville.

Local Government: DeKalb County Commission approved its FY2027 budget, setting spending at about $29.75 million—roughly 2% higher than FY2026—after a public discussion that included general fund revenue and a projected surplus. Community & Education: Sand Mountain Cooperative Education Center won a $610,000 New Pluralists grant to expand its cooperative folk school, adding a Birmingham site and a rural Guntersville location. Public Safety: Tuscaloosa County authorities are investigating a second, separate threat at Duncanville Middle School this week; the school was briefly secured while investigators worked. Health Watch: CDC’s measles tracker shows 3,471 cases nationwide as of Sept. 17, with Alabama among the reporting jurisdictions. Local Events: Montgomery Zoo’s Zoobilation fundraiser drew support for a new reptile building, and the Montgomery River Region is packed with weekend events including Fall Fest and Bark in the Park. Education Spotlight: UA Early College named 494 students to the director’s list, including Aiden McKenzie.

Rural Health Crisis: Alabama rural hospitals are under pressure as the state’s Medicaid expansion holdout leaves working adults uninsured, with advocates warning up to 155,000 could gain coverage and noting 24 rural hospitals face closure risk. Education Watch: Local ACT results show mixed progress across Morgan County schools, with statewide proficiency rising in English, math and science after years of declines. Election Prep: Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen says sample ballots for the Nov. 3 general election are now posted online for all 67 counties. Public Safety & Courts: Alabama executed Jeffery Lee by lethal injection for a 1998 pawn shop double murder, while a Chilton County case found David Anthony Le guilty of criminal mischief and trespass. Health Access: Medical cannabis reached North Alabama with Bama Bloom’s new Athens dispensary opening. Sports (Local): Auburn volleyball opened its home slate with a 3-1 win over UAB. Weather/Fire Risk: Drought conditions are worsening across Alabama, raising wildfire risk as the state heads toward drier months.

College Football Spotlight: Morgan Freeman is set to be ESPN’s guest picker for College GameDay ahead of LSU-Ole Miss in Oxford, adding star power to Lane Kiffin’s return to The Grove. Alabama Sports Preview: Arkansas heads to Tuscaloosa for a Friday matchup with No. 11 Alabama after beating Texas, while Alabama enters SEC play 8-1 with a strong scoring and shutout record. State & Local Watch: Auburn City Council approved amendments to the FY26-27 biennial budget, including adding an in-house city attorney starting in FY27. Public Safety: Montgomery police arrested Douglass Rogers in connection with an Aug. 27 shooting that left two men with life-threatening injuries. Consumer Protection: Alabama-linked headlines are part of a broader $694 million multistate settlement with subprime auto lender Credit Acceptance, aimed at cash and debt relief for harmed borrowers. Weather: Drought worsened across Alabama and the Southeast as heat and limited rain persist, with a chance of improvement over the weekend.

Alabama Justice & Courts: Alabama is set to execute Jeffery Lee on Thursday night via lethal injection, after a judge blocked the state from using nitrogen gas three months ago. Local Arts & Community: A North Birmingham artist is using Studio 2500 to preserve history and push back on injustice through public-facing art and civic engagement. Space & Science: NASA’s New Horizons data is being re-examined, with a new analysis suggesting liquid nitrogen may have flowed on Pluto’s surface more recently than expected. Sports—High School Football: Section V’s Super 10 rankings are out for Week 3, with East High/World of Inquiry hosting Monroe in a top matchup. Sports—High School Girls Soccer: A new look at 2026 girls soccer lays out classifications and what to watch as the season gets underway. Food & Community: Food Bank of North Alabama is marking Hunger Action Month, urging residents to turn north Alabama orange on Sept. 29. Sports—College Football: No. 12 Alabama routed Kentucky 45-17 in the SEC opener, turning a halftime lead into a dominant second-half surge.

Alabama Football: Will Stein says RB CJ Baxter’s hand injury isn’t a concern heading into Kentucky’s SEC road opener, after Baxter taped up and took every rep in practice. Local Sports & Schools: Maplesville High School was placed on probation and ordered to forfeit two wins after an AHSAA eligibility violation involving an ineligible player. Public Safety: Oxford, Mississippi is adding extra mounted patrols from Mobile and New Orleans for the LSU-Ole Miss game, as officials expect one of the biggest crowds in city history. Community & Health: Mobile-area groups are gearing up for the 26th annual blood drive for sickle cell warriors on Sept. 26. Local Government: Tallapoosa’s vacant property ordinance is delayed until Jan. 1, 2027, after proposed amendments and discussions with property owners. Business/Community: Grimaldi’s Pizzeria franchisees took over a Fort Myers location and plan to expand across Southwest Florida.

U.S. Supreme Court: The court rejected Trump’s push to restrict mail ballots for the Nov. 3 midterms, keeping long-used state mail voting rules in place. Alabama Elections: Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen says sample ballots for the Nov. 3 General Election are now online, including Walker County. Local Voting Integrity: A Walker County citizens group urged commissioners to address alleged election integrity problems and regain local control; the county is reviewing the concerns. Public Safety/Crime: Birmingham police announced an arrest tied to a 2024 homicide, with the suspect taken into custody in Miami. State Leadership: Gov. Kay Ivey announced ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship will retire, naming Ben Stimpson Jr. as his replacement. Sports (Alabama): No. 10 Alabama opens Week 3 focus with a Florida State rematch framed as “revenge,” after a 45-17 SEC opener win over Kentucky. College Football Playoff: A new CFP tier outlook reshuffled teams’ paths after Week 2 results.