7. A judge ruled that the Birmingham Water Works Board can end fluoridating the city’s water, a decision said, “It is an absolute shame that this issue cannot be otherwise worked out.”

6. A mother, a pregnant teen, and her 12-year-old brother were found bound and murdered in Alabama, with police hunting multiple suspects after the family lost four people in one night to what relatives called the work of a “sick individual.”

5. FBI Director Kash Patel is suing The Atlantic for defamation after the magazine published a story with all unnamed sources that he (and the Trump administration) claims are false and damaging to his reputation, surrounding allegations of drunkenness and absenteeism.

4.  An Alabama Democratic candidate for governor (JaMel J. Brown) used a prop chicken to mock the empty seats of the presumptive Democrat nominee Doug Jones, the cowardly caretaker former junior senator in an ill-fitting suit, who looks like he just woke up and stole his shoes from a homeless person, and who will never be governor, and poll Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) leading Jones 53% to 34%.

3. State Rep. Shane Stringer (R-Citronelle)  said he would not be surprised if a special session is called on gambling before the November election, while gambling money is flowing into the election contest all over state, including between State Rep. Rehm (R-Dothan) and BCA-backed David Money battle over sports betting, with Rehm saying it has nothing to do with gambling and that his opponent is losing this race.

2. Virginia voters will decide on redistricting measures amid accusations of gerrymandering, while former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the clock has run out, and Alabama will not redistrict in 2026 due to the Supreme Court minority slow-walking dissent.

1. The U.S. and Iran continued ratcheting up rhetoric with peace talks in limbo as the naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz persists, with Vice President JD Vance involved in negotiations and ongoing discussions about the future of the conflict.

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Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.