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T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Local News NATIONWIDE - On January 14, 2026, Verizon’s wireless network suffered a major nationwide outage affecting voice, text, and mobile data services for a large number of customers across the United States. Users reported their phones switching to “SOS” mode, indicating a loss of connection to Verizon’s network even though emergency calling remained possible. Outage-tracking site Downdetector showed hundreds of thousands of repor

T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | State News MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall says states presented a compelling case before the U.S. Supreme Court this week defending their authority to enforce laws aimed at protecting fairness in girls’ sports. Marshall issued a statement following oral arguments in Little v. Hecox  and West Virginia v. B.P.J ., two cases challenging state laws that restrict participation in girls’ athletic programs to biolo

T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Local News CENTRE, Ala. — Local residents will have the opportunity to hear directly from candidates seeking statewide and federal office when the Cherokee County Republican Party hosts its January GOP Breakfast later this month. The breakfast is scheduled for Saturday, January 24, and will feature two guest speakers actively campaigning in upcoming elections. Jeremy Oden, a candidate for Alabama Public Service Commission Place One, wi

T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Local News CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ala.  — Cherokee County District Attorney Summer McWhorter Summerford announced that Bobby Honeycutt has been sentenced to life in prison following a conviction for Aggravated Child Abuse, one of the most serious felony offenses under Alabama law. The sentence was handed down on Monday, January 12, by Circuit Judge Andrew Hairston in Cherokee County Circuit Court. Honeycutt received the maximum sentence allo

T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Local News | Public Health CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ala. — Cherokee County is currently experiencing widespread flu activity, according to information released by the Cherokee County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) through its official social media page. EMA officials report that the majority of positive flu test results are Influenza A (Flu A), with multiple flu strains circulating, including H1N1, H3N2, and one Influenza B strain. The inc

T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Area News GADSDEN, Ala. — A commercial structure fire prompted a large emergency response and caused traffic disruptions late Monday morning at an auto business in West Gadsden. Gadsden Fire Department crews were dispatched at approximately 11:42 a.m. to Economy Auto, located at 852 West Meighan Boulevard near North 9th Street, just a short distance from the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office. As firefighters worked the scene, thick smoke

DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden. Photo courtesy: Nick Welden. TWLN Staff Writer | The Weekly Ledger News / Local News FORT PAYNE, Ala. — DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden has officially qualified to run for re-election, filing paperwork Monday morning at the DeKalb County Courthouse surrounded by family members, deputies, staff, and supporters. Welden, who is currently serving his second term as sheriff, is seeking a third term. He brings more than 25 years of law enforceme

North Alabama’s very own Sand Mountain Sam predicting and early spring in 2025. (WAFF) T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Community Features ALBERTVILLE, Ala. — As Groundhog Day approaches on February 2, North Alabama residents know there’s only one weather forecaster worth watching — and he doesn’t live in Pennsylvania. Instead, all eyes turn to Sand Mountain Sam, the beloved possum who has been predicting the weather for more than three decades. What began as a lighth

For more information about “Name a Cockroach” fundraiser visit www.BirminghamZoo.com T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Community Event News BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Valentine’s Day doesn’t always come wrapped in roses and romance, and the Birmingham Zoo is embracing that reality with a humorous and creative fundraiser that’s turning heartbreak into help for animals. This Valentine’s season, the Zoo is inviting the public to participate in its “Name a Cockroach” fundraiser

T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Breaking News BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Birmingham Police are investigating a fatal shooting that claimed the life of a Pleasant Grove High School senior and left another Pleasant Grove High School senior injured late Saturday night. One teen killed, another injured in deadly West Birmingham Shooting. (Image from WBRC) Officers were dispatched around 10:47 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, to reports of two people shot in the 1600 block of Tuscaloo

Decision marks the first medical evacuation in the space station’s 25-year history as NASA prioritizes astronaut safety Crew-11 members Oleg Platonov, Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman and Kimiya Yui stand at the Kennedy Space Center ahead of their launch to the International Space Station, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Aug. 1, 2025. (Reuters/Steve Nesius) Background is a view of the International Space Station taken on March 30, 2022, by the crew of Russian Soyuz MS-19 spaceship. (Ros

TWLN Staff Reporter | The Weekly Ledger News | Weather Update NORTHEAST ALABAMA — As colder air begins filtering back into the Deep South, talk of snow is once again spreading across social media feeds throughout the Tennessee Valley. From claims of ice storms to long-range blizzard predictions, much of the online chatter is being driven by engagement-focused weather pages using single-run model graphics and AI-generated forecasts designed to attract clicks rather than conve

T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Local News CENTRE, Ala. — The Cherokee County Board of Education will hold its regularly scheduled school board meeting on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at the Cherokee County Schools Central Office, located at 200 Armory Road in Centre. The meeting will open with a call to order, followed by an opening prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Board members will then welcome attendees and allow time for public comments, providing an

T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Breaking News SARDIS, Ala. — A Wednesday evening crash along U.S. Highway 431 has claimed the life of a Sardis woman after she was struck by multiple vehicles near her residence, according to local authorities. The incident occurred at approximately 7:54 p.m. between Coal Ridge Road and Carlisle Road, as confirmed by Sardis Police Chief Keith Beaird. Chief Beaird said the victim, Tracey Smith Curtis, 58, was struck first by a semi-truc

T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Area News JACKSON COUNTY, Ala. — A single-vehicle crash around 2:25 p.m. on Friday, January 9, has claimed the life of a 22-year-old Sylvania man, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA). The crash occurred along Alabama Highway 79 near Letson Point Drive, about three miles north of Hytop in Jackson County. Authorities say Nevan A. Hall, 22, of Sylvania, was driving a 2015 Ford Super Duty truck when the vehicle left the

TWLN Staff Reporter | The Weekly Ledger News | Area News ROME, Ga. — A former Georgia Department of Corrections (GDOC) officer has been sentenced to prison time and probation for his role in a violent assault on an inmate at the Floyd County Jail. This case has drawn scrutiny to misconduct and abuse of authority within the corrections system. Joshua Lee Riddle, 32, was sentenced Thursday by Floyd County Superior Court Judge Kay Ann King to two years in prison followed by eig

TWLN Staff Reporter | The Weekly Ledger News | Area News ETOWAH COUNTY, Ala. — The Etowah County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing man last seen on New Year’s Day. Missing person John William “Billy” Malcom, 35 of Etowah County. (Photo courtesy of ECSO) According to authorities, John William “Billy” Malcom, 35, was last seen on January 1 in the area of Alford’s Bend and Riverside Drive, near the Coosa River. Investigators say they cu

T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Local News CENTRE, Ala. – Gadsden State Community College proudly recognized the achievements of its Summer and Fall 2025 graduates during a commencement ceremony held on December 18 at Gadsden State Cherokee campus in Centre, honoring hundreds of students for their academic dedication and success. A total of 558 students were celebrated for completing associate degrees, certificates, and short-term certificates, earning a combined 91

Photo of Gadsden State Community College main campus in Gadsden, Ala. (Image courtesy of GSCC) T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Local News GADSDEN, Ala. —— Gadsden State Community College has unveiled a new scholarship initiative aimed at making higher education more affordable and attainable for students across the region. Gadsden State Community College The Cardinal Promise. (Image courtesy of GSCC) The Cardinal Promise campaign offers significant tuition reductions

Girl Scouts set up selling their cookies. (Image courtesy of North Central Alabama Girl Scouts) T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | Community News NORTH CENTRAL, Ala. — The countdown is on as Girl Scouts of North Central Alabama officially kick off the 2026 Girl Scout Cookie Season, a long-standing tradition that supports local girls while delighting cookie lovers across the region. More than 4,500 Girl Scouts spanning 36 counties are expected to participate this year,