7. A new judge denied now-former Alabama basketball player and former G League pro athlete Charles Bediako’s motion for a preliminary injunction, ruling him ineligible to play for Alabama basketball under NCAA rules prohibiting return after leaving for the NBA, since the restraining order that allowed him in five games (losing two) the vacating of wins will not be required because the NCAA cannot sanction Alabama for complying with the court order during that period.

6. Missouri’s legal sports betting launched in December 2025, and bettors placed $543 million in wagers in December, including $538.9 million via mobile, and generated $521,200.70 in tax revenue for the state, showing strong initial demand.

5. Jeffrey Epstein’s ex-girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell invoked the Fifth Amendment in a House Oversight deposition, but her attorney said she would testify that neither President Donald Trump, who a recent report showed called the police on Epstein, nor former President Bill Clinton did anything wrong with Epstein if granted clemency by Trump, while Democrats call it a brazen clemency bid, and the White House saying nothing like that is being considered.

4. U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) released his first TV ad for Alabama’s U.S. Senate race, heavily touting President Donald Trump’s complete endorsement as “Trump’s choice,” highlighting Moore’s “America First” record on taxes, border, crime, military, and Second Amendment, showing how Moore will be running his race for U.S. Senate.

3. Alabama lawmakers introduced a bipartisan Affordability Protection Plan with three bills to make data centers pay full infrastructure costs, reform incentives for public benefits, and restructure the Public Service Commission to an appointed status with more accountability, amid concerns over rising utility costs and complaints about those data centers.

2. Alabama’s improving education system was touted in the New York Times, the piece argues that hope for better U.S. education lies in Southern red states, where lawmakers have made major gains in reading and math, reduced absenteeism, and increased proficiency despite poverty and low spending.

1. ICE has arrested about 393,000 people in President Donald Trump’s first year of his second term, with nearly 70% having criminal charges/convictions but the media is obsessing over the idea only 14% have committed violent crimes, ignoring that DUI, drug trafficking, distribution of child pornography, burglary, fraud, embezzlement, solicitation of a minor, and human smuggling are technically not “violent crimes,” as if Americans make this distinction or care about what kinds of crimes these animals commit.

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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.