AGP Executive Report

College Football Spotlight: Jax State coach Charles Kelly used his weekly press conference to praise FCS powerhouse North Dakota State and stress that his offense needs to prove offseason passing gains in the opener. Sports & Health: UL softball coach Alyson Habetz shared that she’s been diagnosed with breast cancer and has already started chemotherapy, saying she’s “not worried” and focused on the season ahead. Alabama Tech & Law: Alabama AG Steve Marshall issued a subpoena to OpenAI over an alleged “massive artificial intelligence data breach,” seeking records on safeguards and a reported Hugging Face-linked incident. Public Safety: Gov. Kay Ivey activated a new statewide emergency notification system that will push life-threatening flood and disaster alerts to cell and landline phones, alongside TV and radio. Local Music Win: Hamilton drummer Jonathan Fortson captured Guitar Center’s 2026 Drum-Off championship, earning $25,000 and major gear/endorsement perks. Tragic Viral Loss: TikTok mom “Mama A” (Alyshia Rushing) died at 26 in a Montgomery car crash. Theater Review: A production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” at Chatham Drama Guild was praised as cohesive and powerful.

Alabama Football: Kalen DeBoer has named Keelon Russell the Crimson Tide’s starting QB, praising his command and leadership while noting Austin Mack will stay ready as a pro behind him. Special Teams Watch: The QB call is settled, but Alabama’s kicker battle is still live after both Conor Talty and Lorcan Quinn drilled 58-yard field goals in practice. High School Spotlight: Trent Seaborn is 247Sports’ Alabama Preseason Player of the Year for 2026, while Jireh Edwards (Alabama) is set for surgery after an arm injury. Local Sports & Community: SkyDog: The Shoals Experience brings curated music, food, film, and storytelling to Florence Aug. 28-30, and NACC will cut the ribbon on its new soccer field Aug. 25. Arts & Events: “Women Take the Walls” opens Friday at the Garrett Museum of Art, and Paula Poundstone lands at the Bankhead Theater Sept. 5. Entertainment in the News: Miss USA 2026 heads to Miami’s Adrienne Arsht Center with live streaming details announced.

Alabama Football: Keelon Russell has been named Alabama’s starting QB, beating out Austin Mack after camp, with the Tide now set to open against East Carolina. Fall Camp Updates: Coach Kalen DeBoer shared health news from the final week of practice, including progress on injuries to EJ Crowell and Lotzeir Brooks and updates on Noah Rogers and Jeremiah Beaman. Country Music: Alabama native Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” keeps stacking milestones, tying for the second-longest #1 run in Hot 100 history and extending her dominance across country charts. Local Sports & Community: Columbia High School in Huntsville snapped a 101-game losing streak with a 41-14 win, a rare Alabama-area feel-good moment in the football spotlight. Gambling Watch: The IRS is warning football fans about illegal gambling risks ahead of the season, urging use of state-licensed platforms. Arts & Entertainment: Sidewalk Film Festival kicks off its 28th year in Birmingham, bringing another round of local screen culture to the city. Scholarships: Let Grow announced winners of its “Think for Yourself” essay contest, including a First Prize $8,000 scholarship for an Eagle Scout project story about independence and learning to trust yourself.

Sidewalk Film Festival: Birmingham’s 28th Sidewalk Film Festival kicks off Monday with more than 200 films plus Q&As and panels across downtown venues, and the Sidewalk Film Center unveiled a permanent sign on The Pizitz. Streaming Picks: The AP highlights what to watch this week, including Netflix’s “The Whisper Man” and new music from Alabama Shakes (“I Must Be Dreaming”). Local Arts Spotlight: Southern Living named the Birmingham Museum of Art one of the South’s best, praising its wide-ranging collections from Wedgwood to Asian art. Community & History: Selma’s First Baptist Church (1894) is getting $40,000 in state funding to preserve its Civil Rights-era legacy. Sports & Entertainment Crossover: Alabama’s Keelon Russell is named starting QB, while the Bednarik Award watchlist adds three Tide defenders. Local Talent: Franklin County 4-H archers Jase Swinney and Jayden Weeks placed top three at the Buckmasters Top Bow Invitational. Animal Welfare: Former UAB/Alabama-area player Solomon Beebe was arrested on three counts of animal cruelty.

Historic Win: Columbia High in Alabama snapped the nation’s longest high school football losing streak at 101 games, beating Greensboro 41-14 after trailing 14-0, with former Steelers WR Sammie Coates celebrating the turnaround as a win for the kids. Season Kickoff: Florida A&M’s 2026 football season starts Aug. 29 vs. Albany State with new head coach Quinn Fordham Gray Sr., and a full 12-game slate where matchups will be televised or streamed. Local Sports Preview: Jackson County high school volleyball teams are gearing up for the new season, with previews spotlighting squads like Woodville and their AHSAA postseason path. Church & Community: The Rev. Canon Katie Pearson returns to All Saints by-the-Sea for services Aug. 30 and Sept. 6, sharing her new role in the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. Food & Fun: Southern Living-style summer cocktail picks are in—think fruity sangrias and watermelon white wine slushies to beat the heat. Music Buzz: Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” keeps climbing, and Drake’s name-check moment with her track adds to the Alabama-native momentum. College Football Talk: LSU OC Charlie Weis Jr. discusses facing Blake Baker’s defense in practice, while broader SEC watchability and schedule rankings fuel preseason chatter.

Alabama QB Spotlight: Keelon Russell has been named Alabama’s starting quarterback for the 2026 season, beating out Austin Mack just two weeks before the opener vs. East Carolina, with coaches pointing to his playmaking as the deciding factor. High School Football on ESPN2: Fairhope’s St. Michael Catholic fell behind early and then saw Gunner Rivers exit with a leg injury, while Bo Bryan (son of Luke Bryan) stepped in and helped lead Battle Ground Academy to a 41-18 win. Little League World Series (Alabama): Phenix City’s Sweetwater Valley and Kinley Rasmus’ squad kept the spotlight on Alabama baseball at the LLWS, with local fans rallying even after elimination heartbreak. Local Sports Media: The Times Free Press is rolling out a new weekly football show, adding more prep-to-pro coverage for Chattanooga-area fans. Music Industry Loss: Dale Morris, the Nashville manager who helped shape careers for Alabama and Kenny Chesney, has died at 89. Holiday Hype: Cullman is a Hallmark “Merriest Christmas Town” finalist, and voting could bring major national attention to its Christkindlmarkt. Sports TV Guide: A full week of TV and radio listings includes LLWS, NFL preseason, and major golf coverage.

Alabama Football: Keelon Russell has been named Alabama’s starting QB for 2026, beating Austin Mack after the Tide’s quarterback battle—CBS reports Russell’s playmaking and dual-threat ability are the big reasons DeBoer’s staff went his way. High School Spotlight: ESPN-televised Saturday matchup in Fairhope has celebrity QB intrigue as Bo Bryan (son of Luke Bryan) makes his first varsity start for Battle Ground Academy against St. Michael Catholic’s Gunner Rivers (son of Philip Rivers). Coaching Chess Match: Alabama’s Oct. 10 showdown with Georgia lands among the top 2026 coaching matchups, with CBS highlighting DeBoer vs. Kirby Smart as a heavyweight test. NFL News: The league is mourning after Ed Oliver’s two-year-old son died in a reported drowning tragedy. Community & Arts: The Wharf and Buffalo Rock Pepsi kick in $5,000 for Alabama’s Secret Meals for Hungry Children, while Cullman is in the running for Hallmark’s “Merriest Christmas Town” contest—voting runs through Sept. 4.

High School Football Spotlight: McCallie survived a wild 27-24 overtime thriller over Lipscomb after a late regulation comeback and a goal-line stop to seal the win. Local Rivalry Update: Enterprise edged Pike Road 40-38 in a key early-season matchup. More Alabama Sports: Gadsden City opened the AHSAA season with a matchup vs. Oxford, while Gaston kicked off its opener against Spring Garden. Alabama Entertainment & Culture: Alabama beekeepers helped train cast and crew for the movie “The Rivals of Amziah King,” which used more than a million bees on set. Music/Pop Culture: Blink-182’s Travis Barker says he’s trying to keep his kids from repeating his confrontational paparazzi past. Community & Arts: Athens High School named Lloyd Jones interim band director, bringing decades of UNA experience back to the classroom. Big Legal/Media: An Alabama jury ordered the New York Times to pay Kai Spears $9.25 million in a defamation case tied to a 2023 shooting story. Weather: Saturday stays mostly dry with a small storm chance; more rain is expected next week.

Defamation Fallout (Alabama Sports): An Alabama jury ordered The New York Times to pay former Crimson Tide walk-on Kai Spears $9.25 million after finding the paper defamed him in a 2023 story tied to the Jamea Harris shooting near campus. The case followed claims Spears was in a car at the scene, which he denied, and the Times later corrected. Pro Sports in Spanish (Southeast): Gray Media’s Telemundo stations will air two Atlanta Braves games in Spanish—Aug. 25 vs. Dodgers and Sept. 8 vs. Rays—each with a locally produced pregame and Spanish play-by-play. College Football Watch (Alabama): Alabama’s 2026 schedule is out for fans planning matchups from Sept. 5 vs. East Carolina through the Iron Bowl on Nov. 28. Music + Fishing (Alabama Event): Lake Guntersville’s Ultimate Angler Outdoor Expo (Oct. 2-3) caps with a free concert headlined by TikTok country star Hannah Dasher. Food Safety (Publix Recall): FDA upgraded a Publix frozen berry recall to the highest risk level over E. coli; Canada says there’s no sign the affected products reached Canadian shelves.

Alabama Sports & Culture: The New York Times was hit with a $9.25 million defamation verdict in Tuscaloosa in the Kai Spears case, after a jury found the paper wrongly linked him to a deadly 2023 shooting. High School Football: Alabama’s 2026 season kicked off with a full slate of Week 1 results and a few weather-related postponements, with state score updates now centralized through the Alabama Sports Writers Association. College Football Buzz: Alabama’s QB race is still tight as Kalen DeBoer keeps evaluating Keelon Russell vs. Austin Mack ahead of the Sept. 5 opener. Local Community & Weather: Strong storms knocked out power for thousands across North Alabama, with crews working to restore service. Music in Alabama: Grammy-nominated country star Walker Hayes brings his award-winning sound to Morongo Grand Ballroom on Aug. 22. Civics & Education: State Rep. Susan DuBose and Emily Jones are teaming up to push stronger civics education in Alabama schools.

Local Music & Events: iHeartMedia’s Gulf Coast weekend rundown spotlights GOO GOO DOLLS at the Wharf Amphitheater, Vince Gill’s “50 Years From Home” stop, and Coastal Tailgate Cook-Off fun in Orange Beach. Pop Culture in Alabama: Olivia Rodrigo helped an Alabama student finish her final semester, sending $5,000 after a TikTok post about struggling to fit in. Sports Spotlight: Former Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs signs with the Seahawks, leaning on familiar Alabama ties and coaching connections. College Football Buzz: A DII vs. FCS preview lists early-season matchups to watch, including Albany State vs. Florida A&M. Arts & Culture: Huntsville’s Moog expands its facility with a new secure hypersonic HWIL lab, plus an open house during the Space and Missile Defense Symposium. Community & Heritage: A 175-year-old Ebenezer Baptist Church in Pennington, AL, was destroyed by a late-night fire; investigators are still determining the cause. Statewide Quality of Life: Gov. Kay Ivey announces $52M+ in GoMESA-funded coastal projects for 21 initiatives.

Sports Media: Clay Travis is launching Sport & State, a new sports media company streamed on YouTube, with a Nashville weekday show “Hutton & Withrow” plus Travis’s own program. Local Fitness/Wellness: Red Light Method opened its 18th location in Huntsville, expanding the cellular health and recovery franchise across Alabama and Tennessee. Public Safety: Huntsville residents are raising alarms after 12 pedestrians were hit on University Drive this year, including three deadly crashes. College Football (Alabama): Alabama’s fall camp continues with a second scrimmage preview and fresh focus on the quarterback battle as the season opener nears. Rivalry Tradition: Alabama and Tennessee are bringing back the “Third Saturday in October” home-jersey look for 2026 and 2027. Community & Culture: Tuscaloosa’s student life stories and a nail-design business in a college apartment highlight local creativity. Health & Food: A potassium-focused explainer argues the nutrient matters for blood-pressure control.

Country Music: Luke Combs is extending his My Kinda Saturday Night Tour into 2027, adding a Kansas City stop at Arrowhead Stadium; presales are live and general sales begin Aug. 21, with guests including Treaty Oak Revival and Avery Anna. Arts & Culture: The National Maritime Museum of the Gulf in Mobile will open a permanent Jimmy Buffett exhibit, “Son of a Son of a Sailor Experience,” on Sept. 12. Live Performance: Appalachian Arts at Appalachian State unveiled its 2026-27 season, featuring Mountain Stage with Kathy Mattea, Chris Botti, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, and MOMIX. Community Events: Main Street Atmore’s Bee More Festival Weekend runs Aug. 28-29, blending science education, beekeeping, and downtown programming. Local Tourism: Visit Tuscaloosa announced promotions, including a new Director of Sports Tourism role for Josh Rivers. Sports (UA): Alabama’s fall camp buzz includes Cal Poly transfer center Racin Delgatty and the Tide’s push for more physical run-game play. Human Interest: Olivia Rodrigo reportedly sent a University of Alabama student $5,000 to cover her final semester tuition.

Youth Sports Spotlight: Redstone Lanes’ Roll-X Junior Gold bowling program, founded by Alabama A&M coach James Moore, is celebrating scholarship winners from Huntsville and across North Alabama through U12–U18 divisions and Junior Team USA pathways. Local Arts & Events: Gulf Shores artist Tara McMeans designed the 53rd Annual Shrimp Fest poster, and the Gulf’s big beach-party season keeps rolling with Bulls on the Beach at Flora-Bama Sept. 10–12. Music & Theater: Tuscaloosa’s Historic Bama Theatre hosts Jukebox Saturday Night’s “Music of Mancini” Oct. 16, while Mobile’s maritime museum is nearing completion on a major Jimmy Buffett exhibit opening Sept. 12–13. Community Creators: Alabama Creator University is launching to help local influencers, photographers, videographers, and podcasters collaborate instead of competing. College Football Culture: Alabama DC Kane Wommack compares building defensive depth to “Moneyball,” and AAMU linebacker Wyatt Wright lands on the Deacon Jones Player of the Year watch list.

College Football Buzz: Texas leads the preseason AP All-America team with four first-team picks, while the SEC dominates overall with 14 first-team selections; Alabama lands multiple players on the list, including Cam Coleman (first team offense) and Xavier Atkins (first team defense). SEC Schedule Pressure: Kentucky is left out of the preseason AP Top 25 and faces a brutal slate with seven ranked opponents, including a quick SEC opener vs. Alabama. Alabama QB Watch: With Ty Simpson gone to the NFL, Alabama’s 2026 starter battle is between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack, and the Tide are ranked No. 8 among SEC quarterbacks entering the season. Music & Local Events: Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” keeps climbing after a record-breaking 2026 awards run, while Irondale’s 139th anniversary celebration brings a free Sept. 26 music festival at Beacon Park. Community & Sports: UNA employees announce a new campus union chapter, and Huntsville International Airport hits a record July passenger total.

Local Grants: Northwest Alabama RC&D Council announced $175,000 in Lauderdale County FY2026 grants, spreading support across schools, nonprofits, fire departments, and community groups. Community & Education: ProjectXYZ donated $250,000 to the Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering in Huntsville, helping launch a research institute and fund a new 64-bed women’s dorm. College Football Buzz: Alabama opens at No. 13 in the AP preseason Top 25, its lowest since 2008, while Ohio State and Oregon take the top two spots. Sports Media: MLB’s Field of Dreams game at Rickwood Field’s movie site averaged 1.66 million viewers on Netflix, with Nielsen noting a younger median audience. Fashion/Branding: TikTok creator Chelsea Parke Goles’ Parke brand teams up with ’47 for a licensed collegiate apparel drop launching Aug. 25, including Alabama gear. Arts & Entertainment: Comedian LP won “Alabama’s Funniest Person,” taking the Stardome title after a field of 150+ hopefuls. Local Sports: Alabama A&M kicks off with women’s soccer and an exhibition volleyball match this week in Huntsville.