7. Charles Bediako has appealed the Tuscaloosa circuit court ruling denying his eligibility to the Alabama Supreme Court and requested interim injunctive relief to rejoin the Crimson Tide basketball team while the appeal is pending ahead of the SEC and NCAA tournaments.

6. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation declaring National Angel Family Day to honor victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants, including several Alabama cases, and recommitted to mass deportations and securing the border.

5. Hoover High School students voted nearly unanimously to exclude a transgender-identifying male from the school’s 61-year-old female-only beauty pageant to preserve its tradition of participation by biological females.

4. The United Auto Workers secured a first contract at a Southern foreign-owned auto plant in Chattanooga with a 96 percent ratification rate, including a 20 percent wage increase, job security, and bonuses, potentially opening the door for renewed organizing at Alabama plants like Mercedes-Benz, and Hyundai after previous failed votes.

3. A New York Times opinion piece argues that the Justice Department’s release of millions of Epstein files was a catastrophic failure of the American justice system that should never have happened, forcing full public disclosure through the Epstein Files Transparency Act and setting a dangerous precedent and argues that harms victims, investigations, and the rule of law.

2. Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) warned that if cartel thugs harm Americans in Mexico following the killing of leader El Mencho, there will be hell to pay.

1. New polls show President Donald Trump’s approval rating at 39 percent with rising disapproval among independents on immigration the economy, inflation, and tariffs ahead of his State of the Union address as Democrats prepare protests by skipping the speech holding counter events inviting special guests like U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), inviting Epstein survivor who referred to herself as the Heidi Fleiss” of Palm Beach.

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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.