BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Chris Hodges, founder of the Church of the Highlands, announced his decision to step down as lead pastor of Alabama’s largest congregation, marking a pivotal moment for a church that has grown into a nationwide religious powerhouse while navigating its share of controversies. Hodges, 60, who launched the church in 2001 with…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey used her State of the State address Tuesday night to outline her legislative agenda, focusing on crime and public safety while also pushing conservative social policies, including measures targeting transgender individuals and renewed efforts to display the Ten Commandments in public spaces. Ivey, an 80-year-old Republican, called for…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Diageo, one of the world’s largest producers of alcoholic beverages, is investing $415 million in a new manufacturing and warehousing facility in Montgomery, Alabama. The 360,000-square-foot facility is expected to be fully operational by late 2025 and will bring significant economic benefits to the region. The project is anticipated to create 750…

DOTHAN, Ala. — A rare Alabama snowstorm set the stage for an unforgettable birth last month, when a baby boy was delivered in the parking lot of a Krispy Kreme doughnut shop in Dothan. Sha’Nya Bennett and her boyfriend, Keon Mitchell, were rushing to Flowers Hospital on Jan. 22 as Bennett went into labor. However,…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has joined 18 other Republican attorneys general in pressuring retail giant Costco to abandon its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In a letter to Costco CEO Ron Vachris, the attorneys general accused the company of engaging in race- and gender-based hiring practices that could violate anti-discrimination…

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A billboard juxtaposing a historic photograph from the Selma-to-Montgomery marches with the slogan “Make America Great Again” has been removed following widespread public backlash. The billboard, created by the artist-led group For Freedoms, was taken down after city leadership and the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) distanced themselves from the project….