Off The Record: The latest rumors and rumblings in North Alabama
Allen making moves
You might be seeing more of Secretary of State Wes Allen popping up across the state. For quite a while now it’s been rumored Allen will be running for lieutenant governor in 2026 to fill the spot of current Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, who is term-limited. Allen will reportedly be shoring up support throughout the state in the coming months. Meanwhile, flat-Earther and former gubernatorial candidate Dean Odle announced his candidacy for the position this past week. There’s also former Secretary of State John Merrill, who is reportedly close to announcing his run for lieutenant governor.
Crime and punishment
Among the many issues state lawmakers will wade into as the ‘25 session approaches, urban crime and supporting law enforcement will be on the docket. Rising crime rates in Alabama’s largest cities are causing friction among their mayors and the legislators who represent them and could crescendo this year. Countless wars of words have been fought between the “tough on crime” attitude of the Legislature and the “gun violence prevention” posture of mayors such as Randall Woodfin of Birmingham and Steven Reed of Montgomery. Will they ban Glock switches as one bill introduced calls for? Or will the governor and attorney general begin to appoint the local police chiefs of their choosing as another bill calls for? With session just a few weeks away, it won’t be long until we find out.
College softball on deck
The team at Toyota Field is prepping for huge crowds for the upcoming NCAA Softball Showcase set to get underway Feb. 19-23. The five straight days of college softball will feature 13 schools including Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State at the home of the Rocket City Trash Pandas. The opening night’s headliner pits Women’s College World Series participant Alabama against Jacksonville State. Perhaps not coincidentally, the Trash Pandas are holding a job fair Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Positions range from ushers to grounds crew to concessions to retail.
Brews and BBQ
Fancy a beer with that Bar-B-Q? Beer and wine could be coming to Ted’s Bar-B-Q in Madison. The city council approved a request Monday for an on premises beer and wine license for the location on Madison Boulevard. In addition to Madison, there is a long-standing Ted’s in Huntsville’s Five Points. Might I suggest going on a Wednesday, also known as Brisket Day among the Ted’s faithful.
