Jun. 26, 2025

We've had recurring segments on the podcast that looked at This is Alabama's "Unsung Alabama" summer story series. Check out today's episode for that -- and then submit your nomination for the most unsung Alabama barbecue joint.

Thanks for reading,

Ike Morgan

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P.J. Lavoie of Homeland Security said that, on Tuesday, authorities detained 36 people believed to be in the country illegally who were working at the construction site for a Gulf Shores High School facility, reports AL.com's Patrick Darrington.

Lavoie said 20 of the 36 had some form of criminal history, though not all of those are suspected of violent offenses. One is facing federal charges over allegedly assaulting a federal agent.

Tips from citizens led to the raid. Lavoie said that, during the raid, several of the construction workers ran off and even drove through a fence to get away.

The City of Gulf Shores and Gulf Shores City Schools released a joint statement saying the general contractor was responsible for the construction site and workers.

Longtime Huntsville Times sports journalist John Pruett passed away after a long illness, reports AL.com's Creg Stephenson and Ben Thomas.

Pruett was at the Times for more than 40 years. He was the sports editor and columnist for years until his 2008 retirement.

He was named Alabama's sportswriter of the year 17 times by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. He won the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame's Mel Allen Media Award, twice won the Alabama Sports Writers Association's Henry Kirby Award for story of the year, is in the ASWA Hall of Fame and was named as one of ASWA's 50 Legends.

Pruett, who was originally from Cullman, was 83 years old.

State Rep. Matt Woods, a Walker County Republican, is jumping from the House to the Senate after winning Tuesday's special election, reports AL.com's Mike Cason.

The election was to fill a seat left vacant when former Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed left to work in Gov. Kay Ivey's administration.

Tuscaloosa Police are looking for someone who broke into the Highway 82 Duncanville Quick Stop while wearing a Scooby-Doo costume, reports AL.com's Heather Gann.

The intruder activated the alarm at 3:45 a.m.

So far he's gotten away with it, too. Although police do have video of the suspect, and they shared images that are a lock to go viral. They say the suspect looks to be a 5-foot-9 white male and stole cash and coins.

(Image courtesy of the Tuscaloosa Police Department)

“My husband himself even being from Iran supported Trump, his immigration policies and understood he was trying to protect the American people and was praying he helped free the Iranian people.”

Morgan Karimi, to Newsweek, after her husband was detained by ICE in Locust Fork. Ribvar Karimi is a former member of the Iranian Army who, according to the Department of Homeland Security, could be deported because he did not complete a procedural step to become a citizen. Morgan said Ribvar's military service allowed him to obtain a passport and leave Iran.

14

That's how many vehicles Hyundai’s Montgomery plant produced for export this month as it turned its focus to producing automobiles for domestic sale under President Trump's 25% tariff on imported cars and trucks.

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Today we welcome with Haley Laurence for some updates on the Unsung Alabama series.

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