AGP Executive Report

Crimson Tide QB decision: Alabama has named sophomore Keelon Russell its starting quarterback for the 2026 opener vs. East Carolina, winning the job over Austin Mack after a heated spring and fall camp battle; quarterbacks coach Bryan Ellis said Russell’s playmaking is the key reason he got the nod. Local roads: ALDOT shifted southbound I-59 traffic south of Collinsville to one lane of the northbound roadway for a yearlong reconstruction phase, with concrete barriers separating traffic and single-lane closures expected until striping is finished. Montgomery-area accountability: The Montgomery County Commission declined to comment after a city- and county-funded anti-violence program was removed from the internet following charges tied to two men associated with the initiative. Education & family: A new study says family structure is a stronger predictor of school problems and depression than race or income. Sports (Alabama): St. Michael Catholic’s Gunner Rivers left early with an injury in a 41-18 loss to Battle Ground Academy; Cherokee County’s Lady Warriors rallied to win the CaroStrong volleyball tournament.

Alabama Football: Keelon Russell is expected to be named Alabama’s starting QB, a move that could reshape the offense with his dual-threat style as the Tide wraps up its quarterback battle. College Sports Buzz: Nick Saban reignited the SEC-vs-ACC debate after Mario Cristobal called him to argue the ACC is better—Saban pushed back hard, citing SEC depth. Local Sports: Alabama soccer opened strong at home, beating TCU 3-2 in a home opener that included a penalty after a VAR review. Health & Jobs: Wellstone held a job fair in Huntsville to recruit psychiatric nurses as mental health needs rise, aiming to fill 15 positions. Community Events: Mobile’s Alabama DAR plans a free “Red, White and Boom” fireworks show over Mobile Bay Saturday night. Courts: An Alabama jury ordered the New York Times to pay $9.25 million in a defamation case involving a former Alabama basketball player. Gas Prices: Crenshaw County’s lowest regular gas price hit $3.69 per gallon in the week ending Aug. 15.

College Football & Local Sports: Haralson County opened its 2026 season with a dominant 40-0 win over Sardis, while Alabama’s preseason QB talk continues as the Tide prepare for a starting job decision soon. NIL & Spending: A new report says Alabama isn’t among the sport’s top 12 most expensive rosters, pointing to the “Nick Saban discount” effect and how spending has shifted since his retirement. Public Safety & Accountability: Signal Mountain’s fire chief resigned after backlash over a TikTok video tied to a Montgomery voting-rights rally comment. Food Safety: Publix recalled frozen blueberries and mixed berries in multiple states, including Alabama, due to potential E. coli risk—don’t eat them. Health & Weather: Severe storms knocked out power for thousands across parts of Alabama, and officials warned about flooding and dangerous winds. Politics & Courts: Alabama Democrats’ contest committee certified Albert Turner Jr. as the Perry County District 1 nominee after a recount tie, and also addressed Wilcox County’s Democratic nominee decision.

Court & Accountability: An Alabama jury awarded $9.25 million to former UA basketball player Kai Spears after finding the New York Times defamed him by incorrectly reporting he was at the scene of a fatal Tuscaloosa shooting. Public Safety Tech: GOP nominee Tommy Tuberville says Flock cameras can be “very beneficial” if properly controlled, while warning against using them for routine enforcement like speeding tickets. Weather & Health: The FDA upgraded a frozen blueberry recall sold at Publix to its highest risk level after E. coli cases were reported, and a broader food recall roundup spans items from jalapeños and salsa to eggs. State Government: Alabama Public Television postponed a vote tied to a controversial survey funding plan. Local Sports: Alabama placed three defenders on the Bednarik Award Watchlist—Bray Hubbard, Zabien Brown, and Yhonzae Pierre. Business & Jobs: Ivey announced $52 million in GoMESA-funded coastal projects, while BP evacuated some Gulf workers as Tropical Storm Bertha advances.

Courts & Accountability: An Alabama jury ordered The New York Times to pay $9.25 million after finding it defamed former UA basketball player Kai Spears by incorrectly linking him to a fatal shooting. Local Politics: Democratic congressional nominee Lee McInnis held a town hall in Opelika, focusing on rural health care access, affordability, education and veterans care. Public Safety & Health: Covid case positivity is climbing in the U.S. even before flu and RSV surge, with experts urging people to consider testing and basic precautions. Sports (Alabama): Alabama’s QB battle remains officially unresolved as Kalen DeBoer says the staff is still working through it, while reports suggest Keelon Russell has the edge. Roads & Infrastructure: ALDOT says pipe replacement work on SR-605 in Rehobeth and Taylor starts Aug. 24, with temporary closures and detours. Community & Outdoors: Alabama joins a multi-state pollinator census this weekend, inviting residents to count bees and other pollinators on local flowering plants.

Coastal Investment: Gov. Kay Ivey announced more than $52 million for 21 Coastal Alabama projects funded through GoMESA, aimed at environmental education, boating access, water quality, and recreation. Local Public Safety: Montgomery Police said Highway 31 southbound is shut down due to an “ongoing investigation,” with drivers urged to use alternate routes. Crime & Courts: Jefferson County carried out a five-day child sexual exploitation sting, arresting 14 people; names weren’t released. Health & Food Safety: FDA/CDC investigations continue after Publix recalled frozen berries over E. coli concerns, with no Michigan sales reported. Community & Culture: A 175-year-old Ebenezer Baptist Church in Pennington was destroyed in a late-night fire; the state fire marshal is investigating. Business & Work: Forbes named Alabama employers among the state’s best workplaces, including Auburn University, UAB, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. Agriculture Spotlight: Sweet Grown Alabama hosted its Farm to Table Dinner at Lazenby Farms, featuring locally sourced dishes from member farms.

Auburn Football Injury Update: Auburn coach Alex Golesh says edge rusher JJ Faulk is likely to miss the regular season after a procedure Wednesday for a collarbone injury. Alabama Football Rivalry Tradition: Alabama and Tennessee will both wear home jerseys for the “Third Saturday in October” rivalry in 2026 and 2027, a return of a look last used in 1970. University Safety Concern: In Huntsville, first responders report 12 pedestrians have been hit on University Drive this year, including three deadly crashes, as residents push for safer crossings. Local Governance/Data Centers: Harpersville approved a six-month data center moratorium and will hold public info sessions starting Aug. 31. Fraud Case in Alabama: Federal prosecutors indicted a Center Point tax preparer accused of filing false returns tied to geothermal heat pump credits. Defense Industry: Hanwha Defense USA won a U.S. Army contract for prototype K9 Mobile Howitzers under the Mobile Tactical Cannon program. Sports—College Football: Alabama’s fall camp continues with a second scrimmage Thursday as the QB battle remains a key storyline.

Heat & Daily Life: Alabama’s late-summer grind continues, with “feels like” temps topping 113°F in spots, and a new survey says many people prefer setting AC to about 67°F for sleep. Public Safety & Courts: A Jefferson County judge dismissed a lawsuit trying to block Tommy Tuberville from the gubernatorial ballot, saying the court lacked jurisdiction to remove a candidate. Education Spotlight: U.S. News ranked 10 Alabama public high schools in the top 1,000, led by Huntsville’s New Century Tech Demo High School at No. 131 nationally. Local Schools in Tuscaloosa: Tuscaloosa City Schools approved adding parking-lot security cameras at five locations, with Alabama Power maintaining the system while the district keeps access to the data. Community & Grants: Wiregrass RC&D announced 2027 grant allocations, including education funding and upgrades for volunteer fire departments. Crime & Justice: Alabama executed Jeremy Williams for the 2021 rape and murder of 5-year-old Kamarie Holland. Health & Food: A major egg recall was upgraded to the FDA’s highest-risk level, but Alabama isn’t listed among distribution states.

School Safety: With Alabama students back in class, drivers are being reminded of the rules for school buses—stop when a bus is loading or unloading and its signals are operating, and on divided four-plus-lane roads only drivers traveling the same direction as the bus must stop. Defense & Industry: Hanwha Aerospace says its U.S. unit will build prototypes for the Army’s Mobile Tactical Cannon program, a deal tied to wheeled self-propelled artillery and possible follow-on systems. Huntsville Crime: A former payroll employee in Jackson County faces dozens of theft charges after investigators allege she skimmed about $185,000 from co-workers’ paychecks. Education & Security: Tuscaloosa City Schools is set to vote on adding cameras at multiple campuses and district offices to boost security. Community & Events: Gulf Shores’ Shrimp Fest poster contest winner Tara McMeans will headline the festival’s marketing, and Orange Beach is opening registration for a Sept. 25-26 kids fishing tournament benefiting Make-A-Wish Alabama. Sports: Alabama is ranked No. 13 in the AP preseason poll as fall camp continues, while AAMU’s homecoming gospel lineup adds Todd Dulaney and Dante’ Pride.

Politics: Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones will hold a Marshall County town hall Saturday, Aug. 22, at 2 p.m. in Guntersville, joined by running mate Jeff McLaughlin. Transportation: ALDOT is moving ahead with a $6.7 million painting and joint-repair project on the US-431 Veterans Memorial Bridge in Guntersville, with lane closures planned mostly off peak and a Dec. 1 deadline. Public safety: A fox near Billingsley in Autauga County tested positive for rabies; ADPH says no human exposure was reported and dogs are getting booster shots. Health/education: UAB and Cincinnati Children’s researchers say indigo-enriched indoor lighting may help prevent myopia in a tree-shrew model, pointing to a possible new approach for kids’ vision. Local roads: Decatur will use about $475,000 in Rebuild Alabama funds for multiple road repairs. Sports: Alabama opens the season at No. 13 in the AP preseason Top 25, and a preseason AP All-America team named Georgia safety KJ Bolden and Alabama DB Bray Hubbard. Crime: An Alabama high school coach resigned after a public intoxication arrest at a preseason jamboree.

Alabama Football Preview: Alabama opens the 2026 season at No. 13 in the AP Top 25, its lowest preseason spot since 2008, as Ohio State takes No. 1 and Oregon lands No. 2. Offensive Line Focus: With Alabama’s rushing attack struggling last year, the Tide’s most intriguing newcomer is new O-line coach Adrian Klemm, tasked with fixing the trenches while running back AK Dear and EJ Crowell deal with injuries. Local Education & Heat: Tuscaloosa City Schools keeps classrooms cool during dangerous heat, and UA health experts say sleep is key to academic success. Public Safety & Courts: A former Alabama Department of Corrections officer, Mario Grant, was sentenced in a Kilby contraband case. In Morgan County, a murder trial for ex-Decatur officer Mac Marquette is delayed pending an Alabama Supreme Court ruling. Community & Business: ProjectXYZ donated $250,000 to the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering in Huntsville, supporting a research institute and a women’s dorm. Road & Daily Life: Two lanes of I-65 northbound near Valleydale Road closed due to broken pavement, and cooling stations opened in Montgomery and Elmore counties as extreme heat continues.

College Football (Alabama): The preseason AP Top 25 is out, with Ohio State No. 1 and Oregon No. 2. Alabama sports: Alabama lands at No. 13—outside the top 10 for the first time since 2008—while Ole Miss is No. 9, Georgia No. 3, Texas No. 5, and Texas A&M No. 8, giving the SEC nine ranked teams. Alabama courts: The Alabama Supreme Court extended Republican gubernatorial nominee Tommy Tuberville’s briefing deadline in his residency lawsuit to Aug. 27. Public health: Alabama’s ALL Kids program says an Alabama child became eligible for FDA-approved gene therapy for rare inherited deafness, with treatment performed at Boston Children’s Hospital. Weather: Extreme heat warnings are in effect across much of central Alabama until 9 p.m. Monday, with heat indices forecast around 105–113. Safety: An Amber Alert was issued for two Atlanta sisters police believe were abducted by their babysitter.

Tennessee soccer: No. 24 Tennessee opened its 2026 season with a 2-0 win over South Alabama at Regal Soccer Stadium. First-career goals: Ayva Jordan scored on a header in the 27th minute, and Devin Davis added a second goal on a corner in the 79th to give the Lady Vols their first clean sheet. Local arts: Whole Backstage Theatre in Guntersville is renovating Dot Moore Auditorium, including new seating, refinished floors, and updated lighting, with help from a $50,000 Alabama Arts Council grant. North Alabama families: In Huntsville, families gathered to honor children lost to gun violence, sharing meals and support. Mobile sentencing: A 76-year-old Mobile man, Walter Thames, received 20 years for the July 4, 2025 shooting death of Patricia Odoms. Education update: Leeds City Schools says an assistant principal at Leeds Elementary, Kyle Winningham, resigned after an internal misconduct allegation was found to be unsubstantiated. Community safety: Alabama’s driver’s license delay “point system” under Taylor’s Law is being clarified by ALEA.

Heat Alert: Alabama is under First Alert Weather Days again through Monday, with many areas in the upper 90s to near/over 100 and heat index values around 105–110; officials urge limiting outdoor time and staying hydrated. Local Government: Prichard Mayor Carletta Davis is exploring options to revitalize Prichard Stadium, with a Public Works & Public Safety committee meeting set for Monday. Public Health: The Urology Health Foundation will host free prostate cancer screenings Aug. 22 (ages 40+), no appointment needed, at the Perry County Health Department in Marion. Economic Development: The Mobile Chamber says Airbus plans to invest more than $82 million in Mobile projects and create 50 new jobs, including a new central distribution center opening in early 2027. Safety & Justice: A Prichard man, Delando Travon Perkins, was sentenced to 46 months for illegally possessing firearms as a convicted felon and assaulting Homeland Security Task Force officers. Outdoor Life: Alabama wildlife officials shared an example alligator catch from permit holders in the West Central Alligator Management Area. Community News: The body of a missing Hartselle man was recovered from Wheeler Lake, according to ALEA.

Criminal Justice: Cullman County man James Michael Doss has been transferred to Kilby Correctional Facility to serve a 325-year sentence after pleading guilty to 12 child sex crime charges, with prosecutors calling it the “final chapter” in the case. Public Safety: ALEA is asking for help identifying the driver of a black Toyota 4Runner believed to have struck and killed a 16-year-old on Capshaw Road in Madison County; the driver fled. Local Development: Hoover broke ground on the South Haven Surgical Plaza, an 80,000-square-foot outpatient medical office with six operating rooms and imaging suites. Data Centers Debate: Huntsville-area lawmakers and local officials are weighing how much control cities should have over data center and mining projects, with Roanoke considering a moratorium after concerns about power and water capacity. Community & Health: A Scottsboro fishing fundraiser, Castin N Catchin, raised a record $254,896 for congenital heart research at Children’s Hospital of Alabama. Sports (Alabama ties): Former Alabama QB Ty Simpson impressed in his Rams preseason debut, throwing two TDs in a win over the Chiefs.

Mobile River Bridge: The Alabama Toll Road, Bridge and Tunnel Authority approved financing and toll policy for the $3.2 billion Mobile River Bridge and Bayway Project, with construction expected to start in October and an ALGO Pass toll set at $3 per trip. Montgomery Public Safety & Accountability: A Montgomery man arrested in an ADOC contraband case with 19 pounds of marijuana and $30,000 is described as appearing tied to a City-funded anti-violence effort Mayor Steven Reed promoted, raising new questions about oversight. Search & Rescue on Wheeler Lake: ALEA Marine Patrol is continuing to search for a missing Hartselle man after his fishing boat was found adrift on Wheeler Lake without him onboard. Fatal ATV Crash: Alabama State Troopers say a Brundidge man died after his ATV hit a deer in Coffee County. Defense Aviation Safety: The U.S. Army ordered a temporary stand-down of AH-64 Apache training flights after a fatal crash near Salado, Texas, killing two pilots. Statewide Heat Alert: Central Alabama is under First Alert Weather Days and a heat advisory, with dangerous heat index values expected through the weekend. Local Community & Culture: The Alabama Black Belt Birding Festival was named the first “Black Belt Signature Event,” and the Hank Williams Museum announced a Sept. 12 103rd birthday celebration in Montgomery.