Mar 03, 2025

Hey, we're back!

Apologies for the misfire on Friday's edition. We've kept the weekly quiz live (link below) and promise to try to keep our usually lineup of news headlines, briefs and links coming early every weekday morning.

Thanks for reading,

Ike

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Alabama's attorney general has voiced his disagreement with Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey's decision to commute Rocky Myers' death sentence to life in prison, reports AL.com's Howard Koplowitz.

Steve Marshall issued a statement Friday night to say he was astonished at the decision.

After she received a clemency plea from Myers, the governor said she had too many questions about the case -- such as a lack of a murder weapon and physical evidence. Marshall, who had sent a 16-page letter to the governor arguing against the commutation, said Myers' claims have already been litigated.

Myers, who's now 63, has been on Death Row for more than 30 years for the stabbing death of Ludie Mae Tucker.

R&B singer Angie Stone died in a Montgomery County car crash, reports AL.com's Heather Gann.

The 63-year-old Stone was part of the female hip-hop trio The Sequence. Her solo hits include "No More Rain (In This Cloud)" and "U-Haul."

Stone had performed at the MAGMA Grand Marshal's Ball in Mobile on Friday night and was en route to Atlanta.

According to ALEA, the van Stone was riding in overturned in a single-vehicle crash about five miles south of Montgomery, then was stuck by a tractor trailer.

Eight other people in the van were injured.

Birmingham-born actress Barret Swatek has found plenty of success in Hollywood since leaving Alabama.

If you don't know her from "Lethal Weapon 4," "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" or the "7th Heaven," series, then you might know her turn as Victoria Jenkins on "Yellowstone." She married a now-retired hedge-fund manager, and a few years ago they bought a $45 million home in Maui.

Apparently they then renovated the $45 million Maui home. The need to renovate perhaps explains that rock-bottom price.

Well, as many in our audience have shared with me, Alabama has a way of calling people home. And sometimes that call is because of young'ns.

Swatek gave birth to the couple's daughter, Dixon, last year, to add to two other girls from her husband's previous marriage. And according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, plan to move to her parent's horse farm near Birmingham.

In this story, here's the good news for any of you looking to go the other direction from Alabama: There is a home in Maui that will be put up for auction April 10.

Because of a misfire on last Friday's newsletter, we're going another day on the latest news review quiz. Answers and results will be in Tuesday's edition of Down in Alabama.

Opp

This week's Alabama place name is Opp. And it's not as mysterious as some of these other place names.

Opp was named after Andalusia Mayor Henry Opp, who held that office at the beginning of the 20th century.

Opp was also a lawyer. According to the Andalusia Star-News and the City of Opp (and other sources), during some railroad legal wrangling he was instrumental in the L&N Railroad's efforts to extend from Georgiana through Covington County, including a stop just south of the former town of Hallton. The Hallton Post Office was moved down to the railroad station and Alabama's legislature established the town of Opp in 1901.

“I’ve actually pulled into that (Leeds) Buc-ee’s 15 to 20 times. It’s so packed every time I’ve never been in. For some reason, people think when I go into places I want to talk to them.”

Charles Barkley, on ESPN during last week's Auburn-Ole Miss game

In 1949, Army colonel and astronaut Jim Voss of Cordova. He flew space shuttle missions and worked aboard the International Space Station.

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