May. 30, 2025

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Ike

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With anticipation growing over the possibility of a relocation of U.S. Space Command to Alabama, a review by the Government Accountability Office was not a glowing one for current headquarters in Colorado Springs -- but it doesn't exactly clear everything up, either.

AL.com's John R. Roby reports that, according to the report, Space Command is operating in four facilities, and only two of those are on secure military installations. It also said that Space Command is struggling to hire enough civilian staffing.

And it reaffirmed that, based on the Air Force's selection criteria, Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville was a justifiable permanent site for HQ.

However, it questions a previous Air Force assessment that Space Command would save nearly half a billion dollars by moving to Redstone.

This was the second of two reviews that Congressman Mike Rogers requested. Rogers said the report affirms that Huntsville is the best location for Space Command HQ.

Congressman Jeff Crank of Colorado Springs, also a Republican, posted on social media that the report makes it clear that Colorado Springs is the best place for HQ.

Such has been the politics of the permanent placing Space Command. Remember, the Air Force identified Redstone as Space Command's preferred location in 2021, although then-ex-President Trump took credit for the selection -- something that contradicted the Pentagon's claim that the decision wasn't influenced by politics. Later, President Biden decided to keep the HQ in its temporary home in Colorado Springs.

So here we are, with Biden out and Trump back in, and anticipation building in North Alabama.

The field of official candidates for U.S. Senate grew a day after Sen. Tommy Tuberville made his run for governor official.

Yesterday we said to look for an announcement from Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, and it came quickly on Thursday: Marshall's in the Senate race.

Marshall, who joins former Navy Seal Jared Hudson as Republican candidates who've announced their intentions to run, said the nation needs strong conservative leadership and also said it needs somebody who'll move President Trump's agenda.

On the Democratic side we've already mentioned Mobile businessman Kyle Sweetser. Add Birmingham's Dakari Larriett, who said he runs a pet-care business and is a meals-on-wheels driver, and Heflin's Mark Wheeler, who works in research and development, according to his website.

Philanthropist and longtime head of Hanna Steel Pete Hanna has passed away, reports AL.com's William Thornton.

Hanna was a Ramsay High School and University of Alabama grad and a 14-year member of the Alabama Army National Guard. He was serving under the leadership of his dad, Walter Hanna, when the Guard was ordered to clean up corruption under martial law in 1954 in Phenix City.

He bought shares of Hanna Steel from his dad in 1962 and assumed leadership of the Hoover-based company in 1984.

Pete Hannah was 88 years old.

A former Thompson High baseball player finally made his major-league debut with the Oakland A's after spending seven years in the minors. And, reports AL.com's Mark Inabinett, Drew Avans deposited a sinker from Houston's Forrest Whitley into center field for a base hit in his very first plate appearance in The Show.

Avans is 29 years old.

He's the sixth player from an Alabama high school or college to make a major-league debut this season. Others are Rangers first baseman Blaine Crim of Mobile's St. Paul's Episcopal, Nationals pitcher Cole Henry of Florence High, Tigers pitcher Chase Lee of McAdory High, Rays outfielder Chandler Simpson of UAB, and the Royals' Tyler Tolbert of Hewitt-Trussville High.

The University of Alabama’s license plate will have a new look -- with a classic logo -- beginning June 1. (Courtesy of the University of Alabama)

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I have one more item here. It's from outside Alabama, but it's worth a note for those who haven't seen it yet.

The grandson of President John Tyler died on May 25, according to The Associated Press.

Depending on your status as a history buff, you have one of three questions:

1) How can that be true?

2) When was John Tyler the president?

3) Who is this John Tyler guy?

I'll answer all of them. John Tyler was president of the United States from 1841-1845. He was elected vice president but took over the presidency when William Henry Harrison died after serving in the office for one month.

Now, think of the years your grandparents were born.

John Tyler, the grandfather of recently departed Harrison Ruffin Tyler, was born in 1790.

Here's how that's possible:

John Tyler left the presidency at age 55. In 1853, when he was 63 years old, he and his wife, Julia, had son Lyon Gardiner Tyler.
Then, in 1928, when Lyon Gardiner Tyler was 75 years old, he had son Harrison Ruffin Tyler, who passed away recently at the age of 96.
Alas, Harrison stopped fathering kids in his 30s.

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