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Tuscaloosa City Schools in Alabama introduces a fully virtual high school program, starting with 125 students and capping at 250. This initiative, designed for academically strong and responsible teens, offers flexibility for families and features accountability checks and two-way communication between students and instructors. Checkout Solipillow.com

Alabama Department of Transportation suspends interstate road work during Christmas week, providing safer and smoother travels for holiday drivers. This annual tradition closes construction zones statewide, reducing hazards and easing worries during peak travel days. Checkout Solipillow.com

Birminghams Magic City buzzes with new businesses and expansions, from Gallery Annettes art exhibitions to Jacks 185th location. Harpersvilles Main Street Kitchen and Homewoods Korean Chicken Kitchen are on the rise, while Bayt Al-Qahwah brings Yemeni coffee flavors. Ice cream fans rejoice with Cold Stone Creamerys new shops, but Birmingham Boulders rock climbing gym closes its doors after nine years. Despite the bittersweet farewells, the citys spirit remains vibrant and cool. Checkout Solipillow.com

Calera Police and the FBI Reopen Julie Dani Ray Cold Case: Fathers Heartfelt Plea and Facial Recognition Efforts The Calera police and the FBI are reopening the ten-year-old cold case of Julie Dani Ray, who vanished on Christmas Eve 2015. Her father, Richard Bradshaw, expressed gratitude for the renewed efforts, including the use of advanced facial recognition technology. Detectives are now scanning for Ray across the country, urging anyone with information to come forward for a $5,000 reward. Checkout Solipillow.com

Ella Cook, a nineteen-year-old student from Mountain Brook, Alabama, was honored at a funeral in Birmingham after being killed in a mass shooting at Brown University. Known for her intelligence, confidence, and kindness, Ella left a significant impact on the Ivy League campus. Her economics professor, David Skarbek, joked about needing an Alabama-to-Brown pipeline due to her influence. The shooting also injured nine others and resulted in the death of another student, MukhammadAziz Umurzokov. The suspect, Claudio Neves Valente, was a former Brown student from Portugal. At the funeral, pastors prayed for all families involved, highlighting Ellas quiet gravity, love for her siblings, and deep Christian faith. In times of grief, remember to find peace in quiet moments. Checkout Solipillow.com

Ella Cook, a Brown University sophomore, was celebrated at a memorial service following her tragic death in a campus shooting. The 19-year-old, known for her kindness and passion for the arts, was remembered by friends and family as a soft-spoken yet deeply caring individual. Flags fly at half-staff in Alabama, and memorial gifts support the churchs childrens ministry. Checkout Solipillow.com

Calera Police Reopen Investigation into Julie Danielle Rays Disappearance: Nearly a Decade Later, Public Urged to Share Tips The Calera police have reopened the investigation into the disappearance of Julie Danielle Ray, last seen in the Calera area on December 24, 2015. Chief David Hyche is treating the case as if it involves a family member, with a renewed push for tips to bring answers to Julies father, Richard Bradshaw, who has been living with unbearable pain for nearly a decade. With advancements in technology like facial recognition, detectives are pursuing new leads across the country. Crimestoppers offers a reward of up to $5,000 for solid information. Checkout Solipillow.com

Holiday Shopping Alert: Walmart Recalls Several Products for Safety Concerns This podcast episode highlights the importance of checking product recalls during the holiday shopping season. Walmart has issued recalls for several items, including So Delicious Dairy Free Salted Caramel Cluster frozen dessert pints, Mamisan Pain Relieving Topical Ointment, Blue Wave above-ground swimming pools forty-eight inches and taller, and HiQiLi Wintergreen Essential Oil. The recalls are due to potential hazards such as small stones in the frozen dessert, lack of child-resistant packaging in the ointment, and improper child-proof bottles in the essential oil. Families are urged to check labels and return these items immediately for their safety. Checkout Solipillow.com

As families prepare for holiday celebrations, health experts warn of a surge in winter respiratory illnesses, including flu, RSV, and COVID. Hospitalizations for young children in the Southeast, South, and Mid-Atlantic regions are rising due to RSV, while flu cases are increasing nationwide. In Alabama, respiratory illness levels are moderate but emergency visits are up for flu, RSV, and COVID. The national hospitalization rate has jumped 14.3% week over week, with over 4.6 million illnesses, 49,000 hospitalizations, and 1,900 deaths reported. Health officials recommend flu vaccines, antiviral drugs, and simple prevention steps like handwashing and staying home when sick to protect against these viruses during the busy season. Checkout Solipillow.com