Jan 08, 2025

It's looking a little more certain that the northern half of the state will see snow or some kind of wintry precipitation possibly beginning overnight Thursday into Friday. And before that, we're looking at really chilly temperatures tonight, likely down into the teens in the Tennessee Valley, so mind your pipes, plants, pets and kids. You can click here for more weather updates.

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Ike

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President-elect Donald Trump seems heavily focused on remaking the map of the Americas as his inauguration approaches.

(Incidentally, the Azalea Trail Maids from Mobile have been invited to participate at the Trump inauguration.)

Trump has revealed plans to reacquire the Panama Canal, to acquire Greenland, and to make Canada the 51st state.

But his latest plan actually affects Alabama's map -- or at least one of its borders.

AL.com's Heather Gann reports that Trump said he plans to rename the "Gulf of Mexico" to the "Gulf of America." He told reporters at a press conference that an announcement on the topic was coming -- and he seemed serious.

“We’ll be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring,” he said. “That covers a lot of territory, The Gulf of America. What a beautiful name.”

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, whose state of Georgia does not have a Gulf of Mexico shoreline, has promised to introduce legislation to give the Gulf "its rightful name."

If this turns out to be real and serious, then there will surely be plenty of debate, academic and otherwise, in coming weeks. But I speak for my Gulf Coast people when I say nobody who's ever called it "the ocean" should pass judgement either way.

Let's touch on two more pre-filed measures ahead of the Alabama legislative session -- one that targets those who make a threat against a school and one intended to make your marriage safer.

AL.com's Patrick Darrington reports that a bill from State Rep. Chip Woods, a Jasper Republican, would increase penalties for making terrorist threats. It also has a provision that would ban students from public-school property for an entire year if they're charged with making a terrorist threat.

Another, from State Sen. Rodger Smitherman, a Birmingham Democrat, would require couples to take a conflict-resolution class before they get married, reports AL.com's Heather Gann.

Right now, all Alabamians of age need to get married, legally, is a completed marriage document, a recording fee and a willing co-participant. Smitherman's bill would require the conflict-resolution class and proof of age but not a marriage license or ceremony.

Smitherman cited concern over domestic abuse as a reason for the measure. If it were to pass, it would apply to those who get married after Oct. 1.

The legislative session kicks off Feb. 4.

Now in her new role as a deputy Senate majority whip, Alabama's Katie Britt is bringing back legislation named after murder victim Laken Riley, reports AL.com's Howard Koplowitz.

Riley was killed on the University of Georgia campus last year by a Venezuelan man who entered the U.S. illegally, was detained and released, then later had other reported run-ins with the law but remained free.

The Laken Riley Act would require a federal agency to arrest and hold undocumented theft suspects until they can be deported. It passed the U.S. House of Representatives but was shut down by Senate Democrats.

The Senate version of the bill has a Democrat co-sponsor, John Fetterman, and faces more favorable conditions this time around with the GOP majority.

As a deputy majority whip, Britt has the responsibility of helping round up Republican votes on key legislation.

25

That's how many years a man was sentenced to prison for traveling from Arab to Boaz to meet who he thought was a 14-year-old girl for sex.

In 1977, actress Amber Benson of Birmingham.

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