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"Boston Strangler" is a true-crime true-crime narrative about Loretta McLaughlin, an investigative journalist who becomes interested in the strange killings taking place throughout town. Keira Knightley portrays the reporter, who is pigeonholed into writing about home items as she begins diving into the topic, with her editor's hesitant approval. Despite the fact that the police appear to be botching the investigation, the paper's management is hesitant to be unduly critical of them. Matt Ruskin's script conveys both the obstacles and humiliations Loretta suffered as a woman in this male-dominated workplace, as well as the overwhelming terror that engulfed the city.

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It's hard to keep serial killers down for long when it comes to movies and TV, especially when questions linger about the underlying case. "Boston Strangler" seems much cut from that "Zodiac" true-crime cloth, also placing the focus on an intrepid journalist, in this case at a newspaper that, notably, no longer exists.

To those whose knowledge of the case begins and ends with the conviction of Albert DeSalvo, or who remember the highly fictionalized movie that starred Tony Curtis, this taut film (premiering, somewhat surprisingly, directly on Hulu) indicates it might warrant another look. Watching reporters navigate the maze of Boston politics also brings to mind the Oscar-winning "Spotlight," on a lesser level, with an especially pointed note of misogyny and sexism in this early-1960s setting for good measure.

Keira Knightley plays the aforementioned reporter, Loretta McLaughlin, who is pigeonholed writing about household products when she takes an interest in the unexplained murders happening around town. Teaming up with another female reporter, Jean Cole (Carrie Coon), she begins delving into the story, receiving grudging support from her editor (Chris Cooper) at the Boston Record American, a tabloid that was later absorbed through mergers into the Boston Herald.

The paper's management is reluctant to appear overly critical of the police, despite the fact that they seem to be botching the case. A principled cop (Alessandro Nivola) shares Loretta's skepticism about the investigation, which ignores some of the contradictions involving the 13 victims slain from 1962 to 1964.

Writer-director Matt Ruskin ("Crown Heights") nicely captures both the hurdles and indignities Loretta faced as a woman in this male-dominated world - such as the paper seeking to cash in on her photo, much to her chagrin - and the palpable fear that gripped the city, another echo of Zodiac.

Loretta keeps reporting even after DeSalvo's arrest, but finds that the key constituencies, from the police to the media, have little appetite for pursuing whether others were involved. Her commitment also takes a toll at home, as her at-first-supportive husband ("The Gilded Age's" Morgan Spector) becomes increasingly frustrated, feeling neglected due to the time that she's devoting to work.

"The entire city just wanted to move on," Loretta concludes, even if the debate over the investigation, and whether it was legitimately resolved, has continued decades later, including the use of DNA evidence.

The movie's focus is diluted somewhat by its emphasis on Loretta's story, as she fights both for the victims and to be taken seriously in making the leap from the features section to the front page.

Still, given the enduring fascination with such material, underscored by all the recent productions about Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy, this is one of those stories that seems ripe for a redo. Because even with the uncertainty the one thing "Boston Strangler" makes clear - 55 years after the previous movie - is that when it comes to true crime, some things never go out of style.

"Boston Strangler" premieres March 17 on Hulu. It's rated R.

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'Boston Strangler' unravels the politics and doubts around the serial-killer case | CNN

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It's hard to keep serial killers down for long when it comes to movies and TV, especially when questions linger about the underlying case. "Boston Strangler" seems much cut from that "Zodiac" true-crime cloth, also placing the focus on an intrepid journalist, in this case at a newspaper that, notably, no longer exists.

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Gaurav Gupta, an Indian fashion designer, made his Haute Couture Week debut on Thursday. Gupta's inclusion in the renowned event reflects the rising worldwide profile of a couturier who has long been adored by his Bollywood customers. His sculptural designs have been worn by worldwide A-list celebrities such as Cardi B, Lizzo, and Kylie Minogue. Megan Thee Stallion wore a slate-blue, body-hugging gown custom-designed by Gupta to the Oscars last year, with a dramatic train spilling out like delicate waves. According to Gupta, the media attention "pushed us and gave us the confidence" to go worldwide.

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Written by Samantha Tse, CNN Paris, France

CNN Style is one of the official media partners of Paris Fashion Week and Haute Couture Week. See all coverage here.

Nearly 20 years after launching his eponymous brand, Indian fashion designer Gaurav Gupta made his hotly anticipated debut at Paris Haute Couture Week on Thursday.

The prestigious event's recognition of Gupta signals the growing international status of a couturier who has long been beloved by his Bollywood clientele. This past year has seen the designer's profile skyrocket, with his sculptural creations worn by global A-list stars including Cardi B, Lizzo and Kylie Minogue.

At last year's Oscars, rapper Megan Thee Stallion donned a slate-blue, body-hugging gown, custom-designed by Gupta, that featured a dramatic train flowing out like delicate waves. The media coverage it generated "was so beautiful," he said at his temporary showroom near the Champs-Élysées in Paris earlier this week.

"It propelled us and it gave us the confidence that we were ready as an Indian couture brand to go global," the designer added.

Haute Couture Week is a biannual spectacle at which the most exclusive fashion - garments painstakingly made by hand and sold at eye-watering prices - is sent down runways in front of star-studded audiences. Gupta recalled being on a plane and "about to take off" when he heard that his brand had been selected to show at the event.

"It was very dramatic," he said. "I was alone on the plane and for the next two hours, I was just looking outside and crying. We were just this couturier, and this is history happening in front of my eyes. This dream has been 25 years in the making - ever since I started working in fashion."

Building a brand

After graduating from London's Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Gupta founded his label in 2005. His brother Saurabh joined the operation early on. Together they grew the business, opening five boutiques in New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Hyderabad, and regularly dressing Bollywood stars, Indian socialites and brides.

In the beginning, Gupta's high-concept collections came in more subdued palettes, subverting what was being sold in the Indian market at the time. Converting what he showed on the runway into commercial sales took some time to figure out.

"Being a very concept-driven brand in a very traditional market was not the easiest. Over the years, I've found a balance of how to make wearable concepts," he said.

Merging what it calls "indigenous Indian construction and embellishing techniques," the label describes itself as "Indian at its core." One of Gupta's most popular items is his high-fashion take on the sari gown. His version transforms the traditional Indian garment, which at its most basic is a rectangular fabric wrapped around the body in different styles, into something markedly sexier, he explains, with a Grecian-style drape and detailing such as knotting and plaiting.

A global outlook

Gupta and his team have been working toward the Paris couture presentation for the past six months, from developing concepts and sketches to sourcing, dyeing and embroidering fabrics. The label has also been preparing for buyers' visits to the Paris showroom where its eveningwear collection, which is currently sold via Moda Operandi, will be on display. The American retailer Neiman Marcus is also set to offer the brand's designs, and Gupta relishes the challenge of expanding his presence in the West.

"America is huge and we're going to be stocked with the best players in the market," Gupta said. "It's been a nice progression of having celebrity collaborations - cultural collaborations, is what I'd like to call them - and (in parallel) have our agents do sales. It's a 360-degree plan."

For the label's debut collection at Haute Couture Week, the idea of "shunya," the Sanskrit word for zero, was the starting point.

"When zero was discovered ... the world expanded into infinity. Time was no longer linear," Gupta said, adding that explorations of space and time inspired the collection.

Thursday's runway show began with a series of extreme silhouettes in sensual textures. Several looks featured swan-like wings that twisted around models' shoulders and hips before trailing onto the floor. The ensembles were made using Indian hand-loomed and hand-woven tissue fabrics, which were sculpted using the label's embellishing techniques and embroidered with crystals, giving each dress an effervescent sensibility.

An eruption of indigo, electric-blue pieces followed. Strong statements in their own right, each look was designed head-to-toe in the same hue and paired with matching legging boots that seemed to fit the models like a second skin.

Then came a parade of nude-illusion dresses that saw intricate black embellishments strategically placed over sheer, skin-toned tulle. They were followed by pops of color by way of silver, black and neon yellow dresses. A succession of black and gold creations then concluded the show.

"When people see my collections, they say, 'Your clothes are very beautiful but they're not very Indian,' which isn't right," said Gupta.

"There's a sense of fluid form, maximalism, the techniques and craftsmanship - all of that is Indian. I want to challenge the perception of the words 'India' or 'Indianness.'"
Top image caption: Models walk the Gaurav Gupta runway on January 26, 2023 in Paris, France.

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Indian fashion designer Gaurav Gupta makes his Paris Haute Couture Week debut

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Written by Samantha Tse, CNN Paris, France CNN Style is one of the official media partners of Paris Fashion Week and Haute Couture Week. See all coverage here. Nearly 20 years after launching his eponymous brand, Indian fashion designer Gaurav Gupta made his hotly anticipated debut at Paris Haute Couture Week on Thursday.

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The most significant information in this text is that 83% of US people have their smartphone near them virtually all of the time throughout their waking hours, and 64% check their smartphone as soon as they get up in the morning. This is because so many of our everyday transactions and interactions take place on our phones, and if we put them down for for a minute, it might feel like the world is passing us by.

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Editor's Note: Listen now as the Chasing Life podcast lays out the nuts and bolts of how to break up with your phone.

It happens in our most intense relationships - the need to take a step back and whisper the words, "I need more space."

Sometimes it's said to a romantic partner, sometimes to a friend, and sometimes, the sentiment is directed at our smart phone.

With so much of our daily transactions and interactions happening on our phones, it can sometimes feel like the world is passing us by if we put them down, or log out, for even a minute - so we don't.

Eighty-three percent 83% of US adults say they keep their smartphone near them almost all the time during their waking hours, and 64% admit to checking their smartphone as soon as they wake up in the morning, according to a 2022 Gallup poll.

But being constantly plugged in is not sustainable. There can come a time to say basta - enough!

For author and science journalist Catherine Price, that "aha" moment came shortly after the birth of her daughter.

"I had these moments where I would find myself up late at night ... I'd have kind of an out-of-body experience, probably because of the sleep deprivation. And I would see her looking up at me and then I was looking down at my phone and that just devastated me," she recounted.

She set about doing one of the things she knew best to tackle the issue - researching and writing. The result is the book, " How to Break Up With Your Phone: The 30-Day Plan to Take Back Your Life."

Whether you call it breaking up with your phone or digital detoxing, it's not easy but it is doable.

"I typically don't use the word digital detox because to me it implies that you're trying to totally take a break from technology for an extended period of time, which I don't think really is realistic for most people," Price said.

"The idea being that if you break up with a human being, you're not saying I'm never going to date another human being again," she said. "You're just saying that relationship was not right for me. Hopefully, you have a moment of self-reflection to evaluate what was good and what was bad about it and what you would like in the new relationship."

If you feel the need to take a breather from your phone, you're in good company. That same Gallup poll found 58% of adults think they spend too much time on their smartphone; among those in the 18-29 age range, that number jumps to 81%.

There is even a day dedicated to cutting back on phone use. From sundown on Friday, March 3 through sundown on Saturday, March 4, has been designated the Global Day of Unplugging, a 24-hour period where phones and other screens are put away and people are encouraged to participate in real life.

What's the best way to have the difficult conversation with your phone? CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks strategy with Catherine Price, and you can listen to the full podcast here.

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Treat your phone like a bad relationship. Break up | CNN

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After the birth of her daughter, Catherine Price tackled the subject of resetting her relationship with her phone. The result is the book "How to Break Up With Your Phone: The 30-Day Plan to Take Back Your Life," which she discussed with CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

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Every St. Patrick's Day, Guinness, like other Irish stouts, experiences a surge in popularity. Can this creamy, rich, and full beer be added to the list of healthful beverages?

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Editor's Note: Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being.

Guinness, like other Irish stouts, enjoys a seasonal popularity every St. Patrick's Day. It has also been touted as being "good for you," at least by its own advertising posters decades ago.

But can this creamy, rich and filling beer really be added to a list of healthy beverages? Or is its reputation just good marketing? We researched the beer's history and talked to brewing experts and break out the good, the not-so-great and the ingenuity of Guinness.

The good

The original Guinness is a type of ale known as stout. It's made from a grist (grain) that includes a large amount of roasted barley, which gives it its intense burnt flavor and very dark color. And though you wouldn't rank it as healthful as a vegetable, the stouts in general, as well as other beers, may be justified in at least some of their nutritional bragging rights.

According to Charlie Bamforth, distinguished professor emeritus of brewing sciences at the University of California, Davis, most beers contain significant amounts of antioxidants, B vitamins, the mineral silicon (which may help protect against osteoporosis), soluble fiber and prebiotics, which promote the growth of "good" bacteria in your gut.

And Guinness may have a slight edge compared with other brews, even over other stouts.

"We showed that Guinness contained the most folate of the imported beers we analyzed," Bamforth said. Folate is a B vitamin that our bodies need to make DNA and other genetic material. It's also necessary for cells to divide. According to his research, stouts on average contain 12.8 micrograms of folate, or 3.2% of the recommended daily allowance.

Because Guinness contains a lot of unmalted barley, which contains more fiber than malted grain, it is also one of the beers with the highest levels of fiber, according to Bamforth. (Note: Though the US Department of Agriculture lists beer as containing zero grams of fiber, Bamforth said his research shows otherwise.)

Bamforth has researched and coauthored studies published in the Journal of the Institute of Brewing and the Journal of the American Society of Brewing Chemists.

Here's more potentially good news about Guinness: Despite its rich flavor and creamy consistency, it's not the highest in calories compared with other beers. A 12-ounce serving of Guinness Draught has 125 calories. By comparison, the same size serving of Budweiser has 145 calories, Heineken has 142 calories, and Samuel Adams Cream Stout has 189 calories. In the United States, Guinness Extra Stout, by the way, has 149 calories.

This makes sense when you consider that alcohol is the main source of calories in beers. Guinness Draught has a lower alcohol content, at 4.2% alcohol by volume, compared with 5% for Budweiser and Heineken, and 4.9% for the Samuel Adams Cream Stout.

In general, moderate alcohol consumption - defined by the USDA's dietary guidelines for Americans as no more than two drinks per day for men or one drink per day for women - may protect against heart disease. So you can check off another box.

The not-so-great

Guinness is still alcohol, and consuming too much can impair judgment and contribute to weight gain. Heavy drinking (considered more than 14 drinks a week for men or more than seven drinks a week for women) and binge drinking (five or more drinks for men, and four or more for women, in about a two-hour period) are also associated with many health problems, including liver disease, pancreatitis and high blood pressure.

According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, "alcohol is the most commonly used addictive substance in the United States: 17.6 million people, or one in every 12 adults, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence along with several million more who engage in risky, binge drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems."

And while moderate consumption of alcohol may have heart benefits for some, consumption of alcohol can also increase a woman's risk of breast cancer for each drink consumed daily.

Many decades ago, in Ireland, it would not have been uncommon for a doctor to advise pregnant and nursing women to drink Guinness. But today, experts (particularly in the United States) caution of the dangers associated with consuming any alcohol while pregnant.

"Alcohol is a teratogen, which is something that causes birth defects. It can cause damage to the fetal brain and other organ systems," said Dr. Erin Tracy, an OB/GYN at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive gynecology. "We don't know of any safe dose of alcohol in pregnancy. Hence we recommend abstaining entirely during this brief period of time in a woman's life."

What about beer for breastfeeding? "In Britain, they have it in the culture that drinking Guinness is good for nursing mothers," said Karl Siebert, professor emeritus of the food science department and previous director of the brewing program at Cornell University.

Beer in general has been regarded as a galactagogue, or stimulant of lactation, for much of history. In fact, according to irishtimes.com, breastfeeding women in Ireland were once given a bottle of Guinness a day in maternity hospitals.

According to Domhnall Marnell, the Guinness ambassador, Guinness Original (also known as Guinness Extra Stout, depending on where it was sold) debuted in 1821, and for a time, it contained live yeast, which had a high iron content, so it was given to anemic individuals or nursing mothers then, before the effects of alcohol were fully understood.

Some studies have showed evidence that ingredients in beer can increase prolactin, a hormone necessary for milk production; others have showed the opposite. Regardless of the conclusions, the alcohol in beer also appears to counter the benefits associated with increased prolactin secretion.

"The problem is that alcohol temporarily inhibits the milk ejection reflex and overall milk supply, especially when ingested in large amounts, and chronic alcohol use lowers milk supply permanently," said Diana West, coauthor of "The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk."

"Barley can be eaten directly, or even made from commercial barley drinks, which would be less problematic than drinking beer," West said.

If you're still not convinced that beer is detrimental to breastfeeding, consider this fact: A nursing mother drinking any type of alcohol puts her baby in potential danger. "The fetal brain is still developing after birth - and since alcohol passes into breast milk, the baby is still at risk," Tracy said.

"This is something we would not advocate today," Marnell agreed. "We would not recommend to anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding to be enjoying our products during this time in their life."

Regarding the old wives' tale about beer's effects on breastfeeding, Marnell added, "It's not something that Guinness has perpetuated ... and if (people are still saying it), I'd like to say once and for all, it's not something we support or recommend."

The ingenuity

Assuming you are healthy and have the green light to drink beer, you might wonder why Guinness feels like you've consumed a meal, despite its lower calorie and alcohol content.

It has to do with the sophistication that goes into producing and pouring Guinness. According to Bamforth, for more than half a century, Guinness has put nitrogen gas into its beer at the packaging stage, which gives smaller, more stable bubbles and delivers a more luscious mouthfeel. It also tempers the harsh burnt character coming from the roasted barley. Guinness cans, containing a widget to control the pour, also have some nitrogen.

Guinness is also dispensed through a special tap that uses a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen. "In Ireland, Guinness had a long history of hiring the best and brightest university graduates regardless of what they were trained in," Siebert said. "And they put them to work on things they needed. One was a special tap for dispensing Guinness, which has 11 different nozzles in it, that helps to form the fine-bubbled foam."

The foam is remarkably long-lasting. "After you get a freshly poured Guinness, you can make a face in the foam, and by the time you finish drinking it, the face is still there," Siebert said.

'It's a good day for a Guinness,' unless you're pregnant

The famous advertising Guinness slogans - including "It's a good day for a Guinness" - started through word of mouth, said Marnell. "In 1929, when we were about to do our first ad, we asked (ourselves), 'What stance should we take?' So we sent around a group of marketers (in Ireland and the UK) to ask Guinness drinkers why they chose Guinness, and nine out of 10 said their belief was that the beer was healthy for them. We already had this reputation in the bars before we uttered a word about the beer.

"That led to the Gilroy ads that were posted," Marnell explained, referring to the artist John Gilroy, responsible for the Guinness ads from 1928 to the 1960s. "You'll see the characters representing the Guinness brand - the toucan, the pelican - and slogans like 'Guinness is good for you' or 'Guinness for Strength.' But those were from the 1920s, '30s and '40s."

Today, he said, the company would not claim any health benefits for its beer. "If anyone is under the impression that there are health benefits to drinking Guinness, then unfortunately, I'm the bearer of bad news. Guinness is not going to build muscle or cure you of influenza."

In fact, Guinness' parent company, Diageo, spends a lot of effort supporting responsible drinking initiatives and educating consumers about alcohol's effects. Its DrinkIQ page offers information such as calories in alcohol, how your body processes it and when alcohol can be dangerous, including during pregnancy.

"One of the main things we focus on ... is that while we would love people to enjoy our beer, we want to make sure they do so as responsibly as possible," Marnell said. "We would never recommend that anyone drink to excess, and (we want to make people) aware of how alcohol effects the body."

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See the latest news and share your comments with CNN Health on Facebook and Twitter.

And again: Most health providers in the US would advise forgoing all alcohol if you are pregnant, nursing or have other health or medical issues where alcohol consumption is not advised.

So responsibly celebrate St. Patrick this year a little wiser about the health benefits and risks with one of its signature potables.

This story originally published in 2017.

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Is Guinness really 'good for you'? | CNN

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Editor's Note: Get inspired by a weekly roundup on living well, made simple. Sign up for CNN's Life, But Better newsletter for information and tools designed to improve your well-being. Guinness, like other Irish stouts, enjoys a seasonal popularity every St. Patrick's Day.

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The birth of her son Aire in February 2022 and the birth of her daughter Stormi, who is now 5 years old, both resulted in Kylie Jenner experiencing postpartum depression (PPD) twice. She counsels PPD sufferers and new mothers to not overthink things and to fully experience all of the feelings that are being felt at the time. The need to "stop placing pressure on ourselves to be 'back'" was another point that Jenner underlined.

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Kylie Jenner has sage words of wisdom regarding how she navigated her postpartum recovery for other moms who may find themselves on the same journey.

In a new interview with Vanity Fair Italy published Wednesday, the mother of two said that she has experienced postpartum depression (PPD) twice - once after welcoming her now 5-year-old daughter Stormi and again after giving birth to son Aire in February 2022.

She said her advice to new moms and those experiencing PPD would be to "not to over-think things and to live all the emotions of that moment to the fullest."

"Stay inside that moment, even if it is painful," Jenner said. "I know, in those moments you think that it will never pass, that your body will never be the same as before, that you will never be the same. That's not true: the hormones, the emotions at that stage are much, much more powerful and bigger than you."

This isn't the first time Jenner has spoken about her postpartum experience.

In March 2022, almost two months after giving birth to her son, Jenner told her millions of Instagram followers that "it's ok not to be ok" and emphasized the need to "stop putting pressure on ourselves to be 'back.'"

PPD is estimated to affect more than one in ten women who have a baby, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Leaning into the excitement of motherhood, Jenner told Vanity Fair Italy this week that bringing her children home from the hospital is an experience she relished.

"It is perhaps the most beautiful moment."

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Kylie Jenner offers insight to fellow moms on life after welcoming a new baby | CNN

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Kylie Jenner has sage words of wisdom regarding how she navigated her postpartum recovery for other moms who may find themselves on the same journey. In a new interview with Vanity Fair Italy published Wednesday, the mother of two said that she has experienced postpartum depression (PPD) twice - once after welcoming her now 5-year-old daughter Stormi and again after giving birth to son Aire in February 2022.

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A new perspective on the tiny nation at the tip of the Arabian Peninsula may be gained from the images shot earlier this month of a soccer stadium in Yemen that was packed to the rafters. More than 50,000 people attended to see the Hadramout Cup final between Shaab Al-Hadramout and Itifaq Al-Houta earlier in March in the Yemeni town of Seiyun.

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The photos, taken earlier this month, have now been viewed thousands of times: a soccer stadium, packed to the rafters, is overlooked by a rocky escarpment, the luscious green pitch providing a vivid contrast to an azure sky.

The scene is the dusty, windswept town of Seiyun in Yemen, where according to local journalists, more than 50,000 people congregated to watch the Hadramout Cup final between Shaab Al-Hadramout and Itifaq Al-Houta earlier in March.

The final was the showpiece conclusion to a regional tournament featuring teams from all over Hadramout - a region covering more than 74,000 square miles in southern Yemen.

Photographer and journalist Saan Saleh Al-Hendi was on hand to capture the action at the Seiyun Olympic Stadium.

"Most of the people, they could not enter the match because it became too full," Al-Hendi tells CNN Sport.

The images Al-Hendi posted on social media of the packed stadium have been widely shared, perhaps because they provide a different perspective on the small nation on the tip of the Arabian Peninsula.

"Most people, they love football, because it gives them some enjoyment," said Al-Hendi.

"I was very happy because the world heard about this match, so it was a good chance for the whole of Yemen."

Ongoing conflict

For the last eight years, Yemen has been torn apart by conflict with a Saudi-led coalition trying to crush the Iran-backed Houthis.

The Islamist group - also known as Ansarullah - overthrew the internationally recognized government, leading to a years-long fuel blockade imposed by the coalition and supported by the United States.

A ceasefire in April 2022 stopped all but the most sporadic fighting, but the country remains broken between hostile factions.

The warring parties failed to renew a truce brokered by the UN in October.

But despite fears widespread violence will erupt again, the lull in fighting has continued.

Oman is brokering negotiations on a deal to end the wider conflict, according to a monthly forecast from the Security Council Report.

The conflict has forced 4.5 million Yemenis from their homes according to the UN. Yemen also endured the world's worst modern outbreak of cholera, accounting for 93% of all reported cholera cases in 2019.

The UN Refugee Agency estimated between 70 and 80% of the population were in need of humanitarian aid as of last spring.

'Islands of football' in a sea of uncertainty

Amid the pain and suffering of war and disease, hope persists on the pitch.

Yemeni football is a scene that is exactly like the country at present. It is very volatile and it's very unstable. Yet in places there are many inspiring stories," says Uri Levy, the founder of Babagol, an international football content brand.

"The will and the appetite for football - doesn't matter the level, doesn't matter the professionalism or whatever - is there full on," he tells CNN Sport.

The seventh edition of the Hadramout Cup, hosted by the regional government, kicked off with 44 teams competing in a group stage before switching to a knockout tournament. According to Al-Hendi, all the matches were played in either the ancient city of Seiyun or the port city Mukalla 220 miles further south.

In the final between Shaab Hadramout and Itifaq Al-Houta, Ibrahim Bin Fathil had put Itifaq in the lead before Majed Baslum equalized to take the final to a penalty shootout, which Itifaq won 4-2 to secure the victory.

The tournament offers a haven where soccer is able to continue. As Levy explains, the sport has become restricted to these "islands" in Yemen while any the conflict continues.

"The Hadramout Cup is basically the most sustainable way in Yemen nowadays to organize football," he says.

According to Levy, Yemen's top-flight soccer league was cancelled in 2014 and has not been able to restart since the conflict.

Given the country's political divisions, having a national league hasn't been an option.

That explains why soccer in Yemen has been largely limited to regional tournaments like the Hadramout Cup, though the Aden Capital Cup concluded just a week earlier in front of a similarly sizable and colorful crowd.

"Basically, football in Yemen has existed in bubbles," Levy says. "As long as there are some islands [with] security levels that make it possible. It's the answer for not having a national league."

Hopeful future

In December 2021, Yemen's Under-15 team took part in the West Asian Football Federation Championship in Saudi Arabia.

Yemen thrashed Bahrain 5-0 before beating Jordan and Syria to set up a meeting with host and neighbor Saudi Arabia in the final.

The Yemeni Under-15 players held their nerve and beat Saudi Arabia on penalties, sending the country into bedlam.

Images were widely shared on social media of cities from across the country full of fans celebrating by lighting fireworks, honking car horns and even shooting bullets into the sky.

"When we saw the national team of Yemen play and succeed, it was a win for the whole of Yemen. They come together and feel happy," says Al-Hendi.

"It really was a rare event. They won against Saudi Arabia, in Saudi Arabia. So the joy, I think, was double," adds Levy.

"Even if you live in Aden, I think it was a good reason to celebrate and a rare moment for the Yemeni people to feel proud of themselves."

Earlier this year, Yemen took part in the Arabian Gulf Cup in Iraq.

Despite losing heavily to the host country, Yemen only conceded two to Saudi Arabia and scored the country's first competitive goals in almost four years in a narrow 3-2 loss to neighbor Oman.

Levy drew hope from another country in the region, Iran, where after the revolution, fans did not have national league soccer for close to a decade.

"There was only a regional tournament taking place, we didn't have football to develop, but it [regional football] kept football alive."

Levy references Iranian clubs like Persepolis and Esteghlal, which kept going thanks to independent regional tournaments before national competitions returned.

While clubs like Shaab Hadramout and Itifaq Al-Houtah are a long way from competing nationally, let alone internationally, moments like the Hadramout Cup final seemingly give hope to soccer-crazy fans in Yemen.

It is perhaps a window into a more hopeful future for Yemeni sports fans.

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Yemen: The football match that gave 'some enjoyment' to war-torn country | CNN

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The photos, taken earlier this month, have now been viewed thousands of times: a soccer stadium, packed to the rafters, is overlooked by a rocky escarpment, the luscious green pitch providing a vivid contrast to an azure sky.

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(19) Madison Record, High school sport, 03/13/23

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(19) Madison Record, High school sport, 03/13/23

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Almost 30 schools from the Tennessee Valley participated in the Redcoat Invitational, which was held at Bob Jones High School. James Clemens won the girls' and boys' competitions with 161 and 175 points, respectively. In sprint events, junior Jordan Urrutia of Bob Jones earned three gold medals, while Zaria Parker and Tramani Osley of Bob Jones each brought home two gold medals.

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MADISON- The track and field program at Bob Jones High again hosted its annual Redcoat Invitational with over 30 schools from across the Tennessee Valley on hand to go through the day-long event at the artificial turf track complex at the school. Bob Jones' top rival, fellow Madison City School's James Clemens, came to the land of the Patriots and swept the competition in both boys and girls divisions. The visiting Jets posted 161 points to win the girls and 175 points to earn the boys trophies.

Individual talents from local schools were certainly on exhibition. Junior Jordan Urrutia of Bob Jones posted three gold medals performances in the sprint races, James Clemens super junior Benjamin Thomason took home three individual first place medals while fellow Jets, Zaria Parker and Tramani Osley were tops in girls winning two gold medals each.

For Urrutia, whose younger sister, Alivia, is an outstanding member of the girls team at Bob Jones, his 10.77 in the 100-meter race tied for the best time in the state this season and his 21.86 time in the 200-meter sprint is now set as the fastest in Alabama.

Meanwhile, Thomason's gold medal performances came in the long jump, 110m hurdles and 300m hurdles to set the pace for team trophy winning Jets. Parker's winning times came in the 100m and 200m while Osley was tops in both the long jump and triple jump events.

The top five team scores were, Boys: 1. James Clemens 175, 2. Bob Jones 137, 3. Huntsville 119, 4. Brooks 50, 4. Decatur 50; Girls: 1. James Clemens 161, 2. Huntsville 117.5, 3. Bob Jones 89, 4. Brooks 87, 5. Buckhorn 46.

Individual event results among the top three places and local schools included, Boys: 4×100- 1. Bob Jones 42.95; 4×100 throwers- 3. James Clemens 49.26; 4×400- 1. James Clemens 3:25.64, 3. Bob Jones 3:37.17; 4×800- 2. Bob Jones 8:48.50, 3. James Clemens 8:49.67; high jump- 1. Malachi Mitchell, 12, Bob Jones 6-04; long jump- 1. Ben Thomason, 11, James Clemens 21-04.50, 3. Caleb Sanders, 10, Bob Jones 50-09.50; triple jump- 3. Samual Johnson, 8, Bob Jones 40-07.00; pole vault- 1. Austin Abney, 11, James Clemens 12-00.00, 2. Brandon Fisher, 11, James Clemens 12-00.00; discus- 2. Christian Kemp, 12, Bob Jones 133-08.00; javelin- 3. Christian Kemp, 12, Bob Jones 142.06.00; 100m- 1. Jordan Urrutia, 11, Bob Jones 10.77, 3. Caleb Sanders, 10, Bob Jones 11:06; 200m- 1. Jordan Urrutia, 11, Bob Jones 21.86, 3. Crishawn Willingham, 10, James Clemens 22.84; 400m- 1. Jordan Urrutia, 11, Bob Jones 49.20, 2. Jordan Morrison, 12, Bob Jones 49.45, 3. Crishawn Willingham, 10, James Clemens 49.94; 800m- 1. Dylan Dryer, 11, James Clemens 1:58.87; 1600m- 2. Luke Alverson, 10, James Clemens 4:26.31; 3200m- 1. Luke Alverson, 10, James Clemens 9:38.43, 2. Cole Robinson, 11, James Clemens 9:38.74; 110m hurdles- 1. Benjamin Thomason, 11, James Clemens 15:09, 2. Isaac Pollard, 11, James Clemens 15.98; 300m hurdles- 1. Benjamin Thomason, 11, James Clemens 40.93, 2. Ezion Rolingson, 10, James Clemens 41.47, 3. Isaac Pollard, 11, James Clemens 41.85.

Girls: 100m- 1. Zaria Parker, 10, James Clemens 12:09; 200m- 1. Zaria Parker, 10, James Clemens 25.30; 400m- 1. Alexa Moore, 12, James Clemens 1:00.73; 3200m- 3. Kylie Gero, 10, James Clemens 12:08.72; 4x100m- 1. James Clemens 49.49; 4x100m throwers- 1. James Clemens 59.04; 4×400- 2. James Clemens 4:18.16, 3. Bob Jones 4:27.95; 4x800m- 3. Bob Jones 10:30.85; high jump- 1. Kaitlyn Ford, 12, Bob Jones 5-04, 3. Reese Yarbrough, 12, James Clemens 5-00; long jump- 1. Tramani Osley, 12, James Clemens 16-08, 3. Kalah Christopher, 9, Bob Jones 16-00; triple jump- 1. Tramani Osley, 12, James Clemens 34-06.25; pole vault- 1. Joanna Crawford, 10, Bob Jones 9-00, 2. Ashlyn Diehl, 11, James Clemens 8-06, 3. Sydney Truesdail, 12, Bob Jones 8-06; shot put- 1. Kassidy Anderson, 11, James Clemens 33-00, 3. Alayna Langston, 12, James Clemens 30-08.50.

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James Clemens And Bob Jones Shine At Redcoat Invitational Track Meet - The Madison Record

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MADISON- The track and field program at Bob Jones High again hosted its annual Redcoat Invitational with over 30 schools from across the Tennessee Valley on hand to go through the day-long event at the artificial turf track complex at the school. Bob Jones' top rival, fellow Madison City School's James Clemens, came to the [...]

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(18) CNN, High school basketball, 03/01/23

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(18) CNN, High school basketball, 03/01/23

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Mid Vermont Christian School (MVCS) was forced to forfeit an out-of-state competition after refusing to play against a team that included a transgender player. Allowing biological males to engage in women's sports, according to MVCS, sets a poor precedent for the future of women's sports. According to the Vermont Principals' Association's (VPA) gender identification policy, kids can engage in sporting events "in a way compatible with their gender identity."

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A Vermont girls high school basketball team forfeited an out of state tournament after refusing to play against a team that had a transgender player.

Mid Vermont Christian School (MVCS) was set to play Long Trail School on February 21, but MVCS forfeited the game due to a transgender player on Long Trail's roster, according to the head of school at MVCS, Vicky Fogg.

"We withdrew from the tournament because we believe playing against an opponent with a biological male jeopardizes the fairness of the game and the safety of our players," Fogg said in a statement.

"Allowing biological males to participate in women's sports sets a bad precedent for the future of women's sports in general."

The Vermont Principals' Association (VPA) policy on gender identity, the state's governing body for school sports, says students are able to participate in athletic activities "in a manner consistent with their gender identity," which is outlined in the Vermont Agency of Education Best Practices for Schools Regarding Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students.

The VPA shared with CNN on Monday that it "reiterates its support for each student" following the incident.

The Long Trail team advanced to round two of the tournament due to the forfeit and played on Friday, according to the school's website.

CNN has reached out to Long Trail for comment but has not received a response.

Transgender athlete bans in US sport

While sex is a category that refers broadly to physiology, a person's gender is an innate sense of identity.

The factors that go into determining the sex listed on a birth certificate may include anatomy, genetics and hormones, and there is broad natural variation in each of these categories.

The debate over the inclusion of transgender athletes, particularly women and girls, has become a political flashpoint in recent years, especially among conservatives.

Earlier this year, a small group of demonstrators gathered outside the NCAA Convention in San Antonio to protest the inclusion of transgender athletes in women's college sports.

A number of GOP-led states - among them Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia - have in recent years been successful in banning trans youth from competing in sport, infuriating LGBTQ advocates, who argue conservatives are creating an issue where there isn't one.

Advocates of such measures have argued that transgender women and girls have physical advantages over cisgender women and girls in sports, while critics say this legislation adds to the discrimination that trans people face, particularly trans youth.

Trans youth are a small and vulnerable group that, LGBTQ advocates say, are largely misunderstood, making their existence ripe for attacks.

A 2019 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health found that more than half of transgender and non-binary youth have seriously considered suicide, and a 2021 Williams Institute study reports 30% of transgender youth have attempted suicide in the year prior to the study.

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Girls high school basketball team forfeits tournament rather than play against transgender player | CNN

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A Vermont girls high school basketball team forfeited an out of state tournament after refusing to play against a team that had a transgender player. Mid Vermont Christian School (MVCS) was set to play Long Trail School on February 21, but MVCS forfeited the game due to a transgender player on Long Trail's roster, according to the head of school at MVCS, Vicky Fogg.

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FIFA's decision to choose Brazilian supermodel Adriana Lima as its worldwide fan ambassador ahead of the Women's World Cup has been blasted as "tone deaf" and "really puzzling" by former Australian star Moya Dodd. According to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, the 41-year-old Brazilian "loves and breathes football." Lima's public image "seems an odd match for an organization that claims to inspire girls and women," said Dodd, a former vice-captain of Australia's women's football team.

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FIFA ‘tone deaf’ for appointing supermodel as ambassador, says former women’s international | CNN

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FIFA’s decision to appoint Brazilian supermodel Adriana Lima as its global fan ambassador ahead of the Women’s World Cup has been derided as “tone deaf” and “truly baffling” by former Australian international Moya Dodd.

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LeBron James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to become the NBA's all-time greatest scorer during the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. James hit a fadeaway jumper from the left elbow with 10.9 seconds remaining in the third quarter, his 36th point of the game and 38,388th of his career. He celebrated by stretching his arms, and officials interrupted the game to recognize him on the court, where his mother, wife, and children greeted him.

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LeBron James breaks NBA’s all-time scoring record, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | CNN

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LeBron James became the association’s all-time leading scorer in the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday, surpassing the record that six-time NBA MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had held for 39 years.

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(15) Madison Record, Opinion Column, 02/16/23

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(15) Madison Record, Opinion Column, 02/16/23

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The ongoing controversy of the Chinese surveillance balloon reveals major security concerns while also highlighting how much other stuff is in the sky. It's unclear what the Chinese government expects to learn from its balloon operation, but US military experts are skeptical of its true intelligence worth.

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The continuing saga of the Chinese spy balloon points to some real security issues, but also highlights just how much other stuff is in the sky.
Oh, the humanity! Not since the fiery demise of the Hindenburg has a balloon so dominated a news cycle.

The saga of what the Pentagon has identified as a wandering Chinese spy balloon is continuing to play out. There are serious matters of national security involved, although just how serious either the U.S. government doesn't yet know or isn't telling. It's not even entirely clear what the Chinese government hopes to learn from its balloon program that it couldn't learn with spy satellites. We do know a balloon, in theory, could lurk over a target for a longer period of time than a satellite. But U.S. military officials have expressed skepticism of its real intelligence value.

"We did not assess that it presented a significant collection hazard beyond what already exists in actionable technical means from the Chinese," according to Gen. Glenn VanHerck, the commander of U.S. Northern Command and NORAD.

The Biden administration's decision to let the balloon pass over the U.S. and shoot it down after it was over the Atlantic has resulted in a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking, most of it little but political posturing.

Shooting the balloon down over water has made it possible for the U.S. government to recover more of it intact. This may turn out to be a much larger intelligence screw-up for the Chinese government than for us.

Nevertheless, the Biden administration seems to have heard its critics and reacted - by overreacting.

In the week since the Chinese balloon's voyage, North American air defense systems have been re-tuned. As a result, they're now picking up more "unidentified flying objects" than they were before, and U.S. fighter planes have shot down at least three more of them to date.

Are they yet more spy balloons? Probably not.

"We don't see anything that points right now to being part of the PRC spy balloon program," White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters, referring to the People's Republic of China, on Tuesday. It's also not likely the objects were "intelligence collection against the United States of any kind - that's the indication now."

According to The Associated Press, "Little is known about the three objects shot down over three successive days, from Friday to Sunday, in part because it's been challenging to recover debris from remote locations in the Canadian Yukon, off northern Alaska and near the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on Lake Huron. So far, officials have no indication they were part of a bigger surveillance operation along with the balloon that that was shot down off the South Carolina coast on Feb. 4."

So what are they? Lost weather balloons? Forgotten science experiments? Possibly, maybe even likely.

This all put a new spin on last year's congressional hearing on "unidentified aerial phenomena," the government's new, less sensational term for UFOs.

Scott W. Bray, the deputy director of Naval intelligence, told lawmakers that reports of UAPs have been increasing for a variety of reasons, including improved sensors, an increase in drones and other non-military unmanned aircraft, and "aerial clutter" such as Mylar balloons.

Yes, your lost birthday balloons could end up on the government's radar - literally.

Officials, then as now, were worried about the UAPs they couldn't explain not because they thought they were part of an alien visitation, but because hidden among them could be things like China's balloon - or possibly something with a more dangerous cargo.

China's balloon isn't a wake-up call. The U.S. government has been telling us about the real issues and potential threats for a while. It's just that people would rather talk about aliens from space.

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Editorial: Balloons not all hot air - The Madison Record

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The following is from our sister-newspaper The Decatur Daily. The Issue The continuing saga of the Chinese spy balloon points to some real security issues, but also highlights just how much other stuff is in the sky. Oh, the humanity! Not since the fiery demise of the Hindenburg has a balloon so dominated a news [...]

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(14) Madison Record, Education, 03/01/23

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(14) Madison Record, Education, 03/01/23

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The 2023 Bob Jones Food Pack is a school-wide endeavor to pack 50,000 meals for people in need in Madison. Drew Crocker is SGA Junior Class President and marketing the event with Vice President Neha Sharma. On April 29, the Bob Jones Junior Class will host the event.

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MADISON - An upcoming endeavor at Bob Jones High School will result in 50,000 hungry people receiving a decent meal.

The 2023 Bob Jones Food Pack is a school-wide effort for students to pack 50,000 meals for in-need individuals in the Madison vicinity. "We will be teaming up with Operation Inasmuch, a non-profit service organization (founded by my grandfather), to make this event a huge success," Drew Crocker said. Crocker is SGA Junior Class President and promoting the Food Back with Vice President Neha Sharma.

Bob Jones Junior Class will host the event on April 29.

"We're asking for your support in donations of any amount of money to help fund this enormous project; it will cost $7,500," Crocker said.

A Madison native, Crocker takes pride in living and receiving his education in his hometown. "One major thing I've noticed is this community's love of serving. Service runs deep with Madison citizens. The school system is a large part of that," Crocker said.

"Andrew Crocker is an amazing young man who came to me with this incredible program before the school year ended last year. He radiates kindness," SGA Junior Sponsor Nichole Murray said. A National Board Certified Teacher, she teaches pre-advanced placement English 10 and AP language.

The Food Pack provides meals to prepare at home to benefit greater Madison families and Bob Jones. "Many people are dealing with economic strains, and this would be a way to help lift them up," Murray said.

"The process has shown students what goes into such an ambitious campaign and pushed them to use their critical thinking skills. Drew has worked on this plan with his grandfather since last May," Murray said.

"By reaching out to local businesses for donations to fund the project and encouraging school clubs to help pack on April 29, Drew's passion for this project shows how important helping people is to this young man. I love that he is partnering with so many - to leave a positive mark on the school and community," Murray said.

Residents don't imagine their peers as subject to poverty and homelessness. However, Crocker "has met many students whose families are struggling financially and unsure where their next meal will come from. Organizations like Student Government enable students to make a difference, especially among those in need."

"I'm confident that this food packing will (give) substantial benefit to these families. A food pack needs an organization - church, non-profit, business - to sponsor an event and use Operation Inasmuch to stage it," Crocker said.

The partnership with Operation Inasmuch will make the event successful. "Over 200 students will participate over a span of four hours. Students will pack non-perishable food items, such as rice, beans, mac and cheese, dehydrated tomato sauce, oatmeal and soup," Crocker said.

Organizers will distribute donations to local food pantries. "The materials for this event are expensive, which is why we're reaching out to local individuals for support. I would like to personally thank you in advance for your consideration," Crocker said.

All donations are tax-deductible. Donors will receive a receipt from Operation Inasmuch and can have their names appear on a donors' banner at the event.

"To secure the items needed, we're asking for these gifts by April 1. Operation Inasmuch and I are excited about what this opportunity could do for individuals in our community," Crocker said.

Donors can mail monetary gifts to Operation Inasmuch Inc., P.O. Box 2523, Knoxville, TN 37901, or donate online at operationinasmuch.org/events.

For a Food Pack video, visit youtu.be/41SyzUCntZg. For questions, email Operation Inasmuch coordinator Bobbie Jo Mitchell at bobbie@operationinasmuch.org.

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Bob Jones Food Pack to feed 50,000 people - The Madison Record

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MADISON - An upcoming endeavor at Bob Jones High School will result in 50,000 hungry people receiving a decent meal. The 2023 Bob Jones Food Pack is a school-wide effort for students to pack 50,000 meals for in-need individuals in the Madison vicinity.

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A Huntsville man has been charged with the armed robbery of the Smoothie King in Athens, while he is being detained in the Madison County Prison for crimes allegedly done in Huntsville. Benny Ray Stafford, 38, reportedly drew a gun on a customer inside Smoothie King and swiped a wallet. Stafford resembled a suspect in multiple Huntsville robberies over the previous week, and Athens police relayed this information to the Huntsville Police Department, who arrested him on three charges of armed robbery.

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Huntsville man arrested for string of armed robberies - The Madison Record

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ATHENS - Athens police charged a Huntsville man with Tuesday's armed robbery of the Smoothie King, they said today, but he is being held in the Madison County Jail for robberies allegedly committed in Huntsville. Benny Ray Stafford, 38, allegedly pulled a gun and took a wallet from a victim inside Smoothie King.

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The battle for control of the House of Representatives is becoming more of a spectator sport, with as many as a dozen or more states potentially redrawing the boundaries controlling their congressional elections before the 2024 election, potentially changing the balance of power in a House where the two parties have only managed to scrape out mirror image five-seat majorities.

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Analysis: The hidden dynamic that could tip control of the House | CNN Politics

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The battle for control of the House of Representatives increasingly resembles a sporting event in which the teams are changing the dimensions of the playing field even after the game is underway.

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(11) Madison Record, County Court, 01/22/23

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(11) Madison Record, County Court, 01/22/23

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The city of Madison issued a notification on Tuesday announcing that the Madison Municipal Court would have varying hours of operation and may be closed until further notice owing to staff shortages and Covid-19 precautions.

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The city of Madison sent a notice Tuesday stating that due to staff shortages and Covid-19 precautions, the Madison Municipal Court will have varied hours of operations and may be closed until further notice.

The following Madison Municipal Court sessions are rescheduled:

Thursday, July 14, 2022 court sessions are rescheduled for Thursday, August 11, 2022 at 8:30 a.m.

Friday, July 15, 2022 court sessions are rescheduled for Friday, August 12, 2022 at 8:30 a.m.

Office hours may vary and the office may be closed until further notice.

Payments can be made online at www.madisonal.gov

Cash bonds can be posted at www.cashbondonline.com

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Madison Municipal Court schedule altered due to staff shortages and COVID - The Madison Record

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The city of Madison sent a notice Tuesday stating that due to staff shortages and Covid-19 precautions, the Madison Municipal Court will have varied hours of operations and may be closed until further notice. The following Madison Municipal Court sessions are rescheduled: Thursday, July 14, 2022 court sessions are rescheduled for Thursday, August 11, 2022 [...]

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The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the sale of a nasal spray version of Narcan, an opioid overdose antidote, in vending machines, big box retailers, grocery stores, and gas stations. Two FDA advisory panels unanimously voted in favor of making the spray available without a prescription, but the final decision rests with FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf.

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If the US Food and Drug Administration gives the go-ahead, a nasal spray version of the opioid overdose antidote Narcan may soon be sold in vending machines, big box stores, grocery stores and gas stations across the country.

Two FDA advisory committees met Wednesday and voted unanimously in favor of making the spray available over-the-counter so more people could have access.

The final decision is left up to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf, who has sole discretion on actions taken with regard to drug approval.

A decision to make the antidote available without a prescription would be "precedent-setting," the agency said.

Narcan is available in many pharmacies with or without a prescription, but it's kept behind the counter. Research shows that wider availability could save lives as US opioid overdose numbers skyrocket.

At Wednesday's meeting, the FDA said it hoped to expedite a nonprescription version of naloxone, the generic name for Narcan. It has advised the industry to change the label to add simple directions for use and possibly instructions to call 911 after administering the drug.

The Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee discussed several ways the instructions could be made easier for everyone to understand, even children or non-English readers.

Committee member Dr. Brian Bateman said that although there is room for improvement on the drug label and additional studies might be conducted, "perfect shouldn't be the enemy of good."

"This is a very important step from the cultural perspective. A key component of our addressing the ongoing opioid crisis will be broadening community access to this medication and decreasing the stigma associated with the purchase of naloxone. We know from long experience that this is a safe and effective medication," said Bateman, a professor and chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

The nasal spray would come in a package of two 4-milligram doses, in case the person overdosing did not respond to the first dose. However, the drug's maker says most overdoses can be reversed with a single dose. The product could be given to anyone, even children and babies.

Narcan works by blocking the effects of opiates on the brain and restoring breathing. For the most effectiveness, the person who's overdosing must get the antidote right away.

The drug works on someone only if there are opioids in their system. It can't prevent an overdose and won't work on any other type of drug overdose. But it won't have adverse effects if given to someone who hasn't taken opioids.

Naloxone reverses an overdose for up to about 90 minutes, but opioids can stay in the system for longer, so it's still important to call 911 after giving the drug.

People given naloxone should be watched carefully until help arrives and monitored for another two hours.

It's kind of like a fire extinguisher, one expert told the FDA committees.

"It's the thing that you want to have in your home for safety, and you hope never to have to use it. But you want to have access to one so that when you need it, it's right there," said Dr. Scott Hadland, chief of adolescent and young adult medicine at MassGeneral Hospital for Children.

Hadland said opioids have become a much bigger problem for his pediatric patients.

"I've lost patients over the years and have watched as many families have been devastated by this rising, worsening and skyrocketing overdose crisis," Hadland said.

Research shows that most teen overdoses happen at home, and in two-thirds of cases, someone there could have given an antidote. But national data shows that naloxone is given in fewer than 1 in 3 teen overdose deaths, he said.

"There is a huge gap here where there is an enormous need for opioid overdose reversal, and yet naloxone is not getting to the places that it needs to be," Hadland said. "In my expert opinion, ready availability of naloxone in US households could avert numerous, if not many, overdose deaths that are currently occurring on a daily basis right now."

More than a million people have died of drug overdoses in the two decades since the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began collecting that data. Many of those deaths were due to opioids. Deaths from opioid overdose rose more than 17% in just one year, from about 69,000 in 2020 to about 81,020 in 2021, the CDC found.

Opioid deaths are the leading cause of accidental death in the US. Most of the deaths are among adults, but children are also dying, largely after taking synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Between 1999 and 2016, nearly 9,000 children and adolescents died of opioid poisoning, with the highest annual rates among adolescents 15 to 19, the CDC found.

Dr. Jody Green, the FDA's deputy division director for safety for the Division of Nonprescription Drugs, said that opiate overdoses are often witnessed by a family member or friend who has no medical background.

"That is why it is imperative to develop a naloxone product that can be used without training," she said.

As a prescription drug, the safety and efficacy of Narcan nasal spray is well-established, Green said.

She said the FDA wants to make sure that the design of the user interface, including labeling, would be clear enough that people of all ages could use the drug effectively without the help of an EMT or other health care provider. Much of Wednesday's discussion centered on how to make the instructions easy to understand.

During the meeting's public discussion, a representative from the American Medical Association spoke in favor of making Narcan easy to access.

The association said it has supported state laws that increase access.

"Barriers to naloxone, however, limit these efforts, including the fact that naloxone is currently tucked behind the pharmacy counter," said Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, immediate past chair of the AMA board. "Removing the prescription status of naloxone and making it available over the counter will send a powerful message that naloxone is a critical public health tool for everyone."

The group urges insurance companies to cover the nonprescription version.

"We believe that removing the prescription status of naloxone will allow for many emergency departments, health clinics, colleges, universities, high school and physicians offices to better distribute naloxone," Mukkamala said.

Drugmaker Emergent said it was pleased with Wednesday's vote.

"This favorable recommendation marks another important step forward to broaden access to Narcan Nasal Spray for those who may be at risk of an opioid overdose," Paul Williams, SVP and Products Business Head, wrote in an email to CNN. "Today's vote reaffirms our confidence in the safe and effective use of Narcan in the community setting."

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FDA advisers vote in favor of making opioid overdose antidote available over the counter | CNN

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If the US Food and Drug Administration gives the go-ahead, a nasal spray version of the opioid overdose antidote Narcan may soon be sold in vending machines, big box stores, grocery stores and gas stations across the country. Two FDA advisory committees met Wednesday and voted unanimously in favor of making the spray available over-the-counter so more people could have access.

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A record number of US adults—50.4 million—are anticipated to wager on Super Bowl Sunday, signaling the hefty cost of the sports gambling gold rush. It is becoming simpler, quicker, and more alluring for people to wager on games, which causes gambling problems.

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The dark side of the sports betting boom | CNN Business

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The sports gambling gold rush is coming at a high cost.

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According to information provided to CNN by the digital marketing monitoring company Pathmatics, more than half of Twitter's top 1,000 advertisers in September had stopped using the service in January. According to statistics collected through January 25th, major companies like Coca-Cola, Unilever, Jeep, and Merck had stopped spending money on advertising as of January.

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More than half of Twitter’s top 1,000 advertisers stopped spending on platform, data show | CNN Business

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More than half of Twitter’s top 1,000 advertisers in September were no longer spending on the platform in the first weeks of January, according to data provided to CNN by digital marketing analysis firm Pathmatics, in a striking sign of how far reaching the advertiser exodus has been following Elon…

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Seventh-grader Clarice Phelps, who lives in Nashville's Edgehill public housing, was motivated to pursue a career in space exploration by Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to fly into space. Despite discrimination because of her ethnicity, gender, or family's financial situation, Phelps was able to produce a discovery that would alter how scientists catalog the universe's constituent parts. Even if others' skepticism still reverberates in her thoughts, Phelps feels obligated to mentor children like the one she once was because she was the first Black woman to break such scientific ground.

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Editor's Note: This story is part of CNN's coverage of Black History Month and its ongoing commitment to honoring unsung heroes.

As a kid, Clarice Phelps often turned to one image for inspiration.

While other seventh graders hung '90s pop band and movie posters on their walls, Phelps put up a poster of Mae Jemison, the first Black female astronaut to launch into space.

"Mae started it all for me," said Phelps, who in learning about Jemison realized she - a Black girl from Nashville's Edgehill public housing - could reach for big dreams, too.

Because of her race, her gender or her family's income, Phelps would face bias at almost every step, she said, on her way to helping make a discovery that would change how scientists chart the building blocks of the universe.

As the first Black woman to break such scientific ground, Phelps now feels a responsibility to guide kids like the one she once was, she said - even if others' doubts about her sometimes still echo in her mind.

A lonely journey by an 'unlikely scientist'

An "unlikely scientist," Phelps had few scientific influences beyond a stack of home encyclopedias and "Beakman's World" on TV, she's said. And growing up poor with three sisters and a single mom, advanced - and expensive - schooling didn't seem likely.

But Phelps was a smart kid with a passion for learning, she said. She was also highly determined.

Once, after a childhood music teacher sneered at her pawn shop-bought violin, Phelps devoted hours of practice to earn first chair in the orchestra, she said in a 2019 TEDx Talk. "I poured my heart and soul into that violin because I saw it as an extension of who I wanted to be," she said.

"I took everything in my life like that violin," she said, refusing to let others' assumptions limit what she might achieve.

Phelps later was selected into a magnet school, where she met two teachers who, she said, were "instrumental" in nurturing her passion for science. That love for experimentation and discovery prompted her to pursue a bachelor's degree in chemistry at Tennessee State University and later enlist in the US Navy's Nuclear Power School.

Their stories aren't widely told, but these Black women and men helped shape history

When Phelps turned her sights to radiochemistry - the study of radioactive substances - racial bias and sexism tried to get in her way, she said. While women make up half the US workforce, only 27% work in science, technology, engineering and math, often dubbed STEM, US 2019 census data shows; of those, only 2% are Black women, according to 2015 National Science Foundation stats.

"For the first 18 years of my career, I was the only Black woman in my field. When I was in the Navy, I was the only Black girl in my division. Afterwards in my lab, I was the only Black woman in the whole facility - and initially they thought I was the janitor," she told CNN, recalling requests to grab the trash.

"It's isolating," said Phelps, who after also served as an engineering laboratory technician aboard the USS Ronald Reagan. "You feel like you have to represent your entire race and descend the racial stereotypes ... especially in nuclear and radiochemistry."

Then in 2010, Phelps joined an international mission to do something else unprecedented: Create Element 117.

How to fill a gap in scientific knowledge

For years, there had been a single square in the seventh row of the periodic table of elements that scientists struggled to fill. No element with the precise chemical and physical properties to fit that spot in the familiar chart ever had been found or synthesized.

It would have to have 117 protons in its core. And like other so-called "superheavy elements" that don't exist in nature, it would have to be created in a lab.

Work like this, Phelps explained, aims eventually to find a superheavy element stable enough to provide "new avenues for fuel and energy sources" and offer insight into the beginnings of the universe and the matter that existed during the Big Bang.

As part of the discovery team, Phelps purified the element berkelium to create a film - a painstaking, monthslong process. Then, collaborators in Germany and Russia "relentlessly bombarded" it for months with calcium.

The experiment produced six unique atoms, each with the required 117 protons. It was declared a success in 2012, and four years later, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry - the world authority on chemistry - officially recognized Element 117 as part of the periodic table, along with three other new elements.

Since Phelps' team at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and other institutions in Tennessee laid the groundwork for discovery, Element 117 was officially named "tennessine" (Ts). It's the second-heaviest known element on Earth, and though its use is limited to research, scientists believe it is a critical stepping stone toward the creation of future superheavy elements.

"We can't imagine where tennessine could take us," said author of "Superheavy: Making and Breaking the Periodic Table" Kit Chapman, noting human-generated elements are used "in smoke detectors, to treat cancers, even to power rovers on Mars."

With the discovery, the girl with the Jemison poster on her wall had "claimed a seat at the periodic table," Phelps said in her TEDx Talk.

But despite the feat, Phelps again found herself fighting for recognition.

'No one can take away what you know'

When her lab celebrated tennessine, Phelps was left off the gala's guest list; when her supervisor got her in, no place card bore her name, she said. Even the plaque listing scientists involved in the discovery omitted her.

"They had left me off this whole thing," Phelps said. "I felt embarrassed because everyone is wandering around this luncheon, and I literally didn't have a seat at the table. I went outside, and I was crying."

Phelps later was told her name had been cut off by mistake following a spreadsheets' line break, she said.

Phelps' "name was inadvertently omitted from a plaque dedicated to (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) staff credited with the discovery of tennessine, an error we quickly corrected," the institution told CNN. The lab "is incredibly proud of Clarice Phelps - a US Navy veteran, a prolific scientist, an active member of the East Tennessee community.

"As the first Black woman to be involved in the discovery of an element, she is an inspiration for the next generation of women and people of color in STEM," it said.

At the time, though, the incident - like the doubting orchestra teacher - served again to harden Phelps' resolve.

After winning the monthslong battle to get the plaque recommissioned with her name on it, Phelps started talking with reporters about the significance of tennessine and her role on the team. And she was acknowledged by Chapman, a science historian, and British physicist Jess Wade, who has written over a thousand Wikipedia biographies about women and minority scientists, as the first Black woman involved in the discovery of a new element.

Phelps, now a mom of three, said she wants to be a visible role model, like Jemison: "I want to be that person for that little girl who's looking for somebody that looks like them, doing things that people say they can't do."

Still, though, she battles imposter syndrome - the result of years of professional micro- and macro-aggressions - and tries to fight it by remembering: "I did that work," she said.

"My hands were in the glove box handling that material," said Phelps, who's working to finish her PhD in nuclear engineering. "I didn't do that by myself, there was a team, but I know what I did, and no one can take that from me."

That's the lesson she tries to impart as a board member and vice president of Yo-STEM, a non-profit that aims to bring STEM education to underserved communities like the one she grew up in.

"No one can take away what you know," she said: "your experience and knowledge and your self-worth."

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How the first Black woman to help discover an element 'claimed a seat at the periodic table' | CNN

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Editor's Note: This story is part of CNN's coverage of Black History Month and its ongoing commitment to honoring unsung heroes. As a kid, Clarice Phelps often turned to one image for inspiration. While other seventh graders hung '90s pop band and movie posters on their walls, Phelps put up a poster of Mae Jemison, the first Black female astronaut to launch into space.

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(6) The Madison Record, County Commission, 01/22/23

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(6) The Madison Record, County Commission, 01/22/23

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The new district lines will apply for voters in future elections. Based on the results of the 2020 Census, the Madison County Commission will vote on Jan. 5 to adopt new boundaries for the county's six districts. The commission will consider adopting a resolution to change district boundaries, which will become effective following the General Election scheduled for November 2024.

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MADISON - Based on the results of the 2020 Census, the Madison County Commission will vote on Jan. 5 to adopt new boundaries for the county's six districts.

The new district lines will apply for voters in future elections.

The commission will decide on one of three drafts for the county's boundary lines at their regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 5 at 10 a.m. at the Madison County Courthouse, 100 Northside Square, seventh floor in Huntsville. The six-member commission will consider adopting a resolution to change district boundaries, which will become effective following the General Election scheduled for November 2024.

Before the commission's vote, a time for public comments will be available. Citizens can speak for three minutes maximum to comment on the proposed boundary changes.

The public can inspect maps indicating the proposed district boundaries on the courthouse's first floor. In addition, residents can access a map portal with three versions of draft maps (A, B and C) online at the county website at madisoncountyal.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/8001/637747354102870000.

A legal description for each of the six districts in Madison County is available in PDF format.

The commission has held two informational meetings for the public to discuss the draft plans and answer questions from citizens. Residents who want to comment but cannot attend the meeting on Jan. 5 should contact their county commissioner.

Citizens can reach their commissioner with the following information:

* District 1, Commissioner Tom Brandon - 9457 Moores Mill Road, New Market; 256-828-0726; dist1@madisoncountyal.gov

* District 2, Steve Haraway - 100 Plaza Blvd., Suite 2, Madison; 256-532-1590; dist2@madisoncountyal.gov

* District 3, Craig Hill - 4273 U.S. 72 E., Brownsboro; 256-776-2475; dist3e@madisoncountyal.gov

* District 4, Phil Vandiver - 6084 Hwy. 53, Harvest; 256-852-8351 or 256-851-9816; dist4@madisoncountyal.gov

* District 5, Phil Riddick - 100 North Side Square, Suite 627, Huntsville; 256-658-3377 - cell, 256-532-3497, 256-532-3700; dist5@madisoncountyal.gov

* District 6, Violet Edwards - 3210 Hi-Lo Circle, Suite B, Huntsville; 256-532-1505; dist6@madisoncountyal.gov

The commission will adopt its final redistricting map at a regularly scheduled meeting in early 2022. For more information, visit madisoncountyal.gov/government.

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County Commission to vote on redistricting drafts on Jan. 5 - The Madison Record

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MADISON - Based on the results of the 2020 Census, the Madison County Commission will vote on Jan. 5 to adopt new boundaries for the county's six districts. The new district lines will apply for voters in future elections. The commission will decide on one of three drafts for the county's boundary lines at their regularly scheduled meeting on Jan.

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(5) The Madison Record, City Council, 01/27/23

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(5) The Madison Record, City Council, 01/27/23

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At Monday's Madison City Council meeting, Keegan Mumaw, the festival's grant manager, and president of the Madison Street Festival, Crystal McBrayer, revealed the grant recipients for 2022. A 501(c)3 non-profit organization called Madison Street Festival is dedicated to helping students by funding outstanding educational initiatives. After a two-year absence, the Madison Street Festival organization returned in 2022 with a three-part purpose. McBrayer stated, "Our mission is ultimately to support students of all ages by providing access to education and educational programs."

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By Maria Rakoczy

MADISON - Madison Street Festival President Crystal McBrayer along with the festival's grant manager, Keegan Mumaw, presented the 2022 grant recipients at Monday's Madison City Council meeting. The Madison Street Festival is a 501 c3 non-profit organization driven to benefit Madison students by supporting phenomenal educational programs. Last year's festival was a special one. After a two-year break, Madison Street Festival came back strong with three additional missions the organizers were determined to achieve.

"The Madison Street Festival organization walked into 2022 after being away for two years with a three part mission: secure enough sponsorships, vendors, and donors to fund the festival; second, manager our budget in a climate of rising costs and still create a fun, magical day for our community, and third, give as many grants as possible to finish our fortieth festival celebration to accomplish our mission as 501 c3 non-profit. Madison Street Festival's mission is ultimately to support students of all ages by providing access to education and educational programs," McBrayer explained.

The organization received a large number of a grant applications from over thirty different programs last year. Madison Street Festival was able to award grants to sixteen of those applicants.

The lucky sixteen programs include the following:

-American Legion post 229 Foundation

-Bob Jones High School Teaching Academy - Reading Buddies

-Columbia Elementary School "3D Art"

-Columbia Elementary "Shopping for Success", a program that awards students fake currency for good behavior and work, and classroom jobs

-Columbia Elementary "Astros", a program that supports STEM groups

-Discovery Middle School's "Panther Racing", a competitive greenpower car racing club

-Heritage Elementary School's "Finch Robots"

-Heritage Elementary School's - "Hands-on Literacy Learning w/VersaTiles"

-James Clemens High School's "Photography"

-James Clemens Special Education Program - "Brain Gym"

-Madison City School's "Robotics team"

-Madison Elementary School's STEM club

-Midtown Elementary School's "Music Program"

-Midtown Elementary School's "Archery team"

-Rainbow Elementary School Resource Classroom - "Sensory items"

-Danny Kendall Johnson Foundation to support students preparing for the ACT and professional interviews

The grants will go toward purchasing supplies for the various programs, such as, cameras for the photography program, robots, batteries, and coding rights for robotics and STEM organizations, bows, arrows, and targets for the archery team, and a recumbent exercise bike for James Clemens High School's Brain Gym. The grants will also support the first robotics competition of 2023 for the Madison City School's Robotics Team and scholarships for the American Legion 2023 Boys and Girls State.

"Grant recipients, on behalf of the entire Madison Street Festival organization, all the sponsors, vendors, and donors that made our 2022 festival possible, including our city officials, departments, and our community, we say, 'Thank you' for all you do to enrich the lives of students, for your willingness to work to enhance the educational experience for people of all ages and abilities. We will be here cheering you on in 2023," McBrayer stated.

Council member Karen Denzine closed out the presentation with expression of her appreciation, "I just want to say 'Thank you' to everyone who has been so involved with the Madison Street Festival. It is an awesome, awesome community event, and congratulations to all your winners."

The Madison Street Festival has been a Madison tradition for forty years. The festival takes place in Downtown Madison on the first Saturday of October, and grant applications are typically open throughout the month of October. Applications are rigorously reviewed based on several criteria and alliance with The Madison Street Festival organization's mission of funding Madison-based educational services.

For more information visit madisonstreetfestival.org or find them on Instagram @madisonstreetfestival.

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The celebration continues: Madison Street Festival awards grants to 16 Madison educational programs - The Madison Record

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By Maria Rakoczy MADISON - Madison Street Festival President Crystal McBrayer along with the festival's grant manager, Keegan Mumaw, presented the 2022 grant recipients at Monday's Madison City Council meeting. The Madison Street Festival is a 501 c3 non-profit organization driven to benefit Madison students by supporting phenomenal educational programs. Last year's festival was a [...]

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On Friday, after violent storms and tornadoes ravaged the region, killing at least nine people, destroying thousands of homes, and knocking out power for tens of thousands of others, recovery and search operations continued across the South. Alabama, Georgia, and Kentucky all received at least 37 preliminary tornado reports. Autauga County in central Alabama saw at least seven fatalities, and two more fatalities, one a 5-year-old boy, occurred in Georgia. In Spalding County, Georgia, damage from what appeared to be two EF-3 and EF-2 tornadoes was discovered.

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What we are covering here

At least 6 people were killed in Alabama, as a band of severe weather left a trail of destruction across the Southeast.

More than two dozen tornadoes were reported across the region, including one that caused "significant damage" in Selma, Alabama, according to the mayor.

The governor of Alabama declared a state of emergency in six counties while Georgia's governor declared a statewide emergency.

More than 35 million people are under some level of threat for severe storms, the Storm Prediction Center said.

Our live coverage has ended. You can see how the storms unfolded by scrolling through the posts below.

Some students and staff at four Spalding County middle schools had to remain late Thursday due to roads being impassable after severe weather impacted the area.

School officials and community leaders were "working to provide food and drinks to the students and staff remaining in our four middle schools," according to a post on the Griffin-Spalding County School System Facebook page.

"The severe weather has left our area but many trees are down across roadways. Emergency management officials have not given us the go-ahead to roll school buses," according to the school system.

In a Thursday night update, the district said 24 students remained at two middle schools, and officials and law enforcement officers "are working to assist in transporting the students home who have safe homes to return to."

School officials had given parents the option to pick up their children if they felt they could safely reach the schools.

"Many roads remain impassable and we want to stay out of the way of emergency crews. However, if parents believe they can safely reach a school to pick up their students, they can make that choice," the school system said.
"All students and staff should stay home tomorrow (Friday, January 13) unless they previously received a phone call. GSCS is closed tomorrow as the community recovers from today's severe weather."

Griffin, located in Spalding County, is a southern suburb of the Atlanta metro area.

As of Thursday evening, there have been 34 preliminary tornado reports across Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky over the course of the day, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

At least one multi-county EF-1 tornado has been confirmed across northern Alabama by the National Weather Service in Huntsville, Alabama. The remainder of the tornado reports -- including the potentially "long-track/significant" tornadoes near Selma, Alabama, and Griffin, Georgia -- are expected to be surveyed by the local weather service offices in Birmingham and Atlanta on Friday.

Due to multiple tornado reports across Alabama and Georgia, both weather service offices expect that it could take several days before there is a final count of how many tornadoes occurred Thursday and the details regarding each tornado.

Three EF-1 tornadoes have been confirmed by the weather service office in Louisville, Kentucky. The tornadoes were located in Henry, Mercer and Boyle counties.

In addition to the tornado reports, there were more than 130 damaging wind reports recorded across Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia.

Furthermore, 18 severe hail reports were recorded across Kentucky, Ohio, Alabama, West Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia. These hail reports ranged from quarter-size to golf ball-size.

Elmore County, Alabama, officials are still surveying the damage that was left behind following a powerful storm that tracked into the area.

"Elmore has a large swath of damage in the northwestern portion of the county" and "numerous homes are damaged," Keith Barnett, director of the county's emergency management agency, told CNN.

Several communities on both sides of Lake Jordan were impacted, according to Barnett. In addition to homes being damaged in the county, there are also numerous trees down and roads blocked, he said.

One minor injury has been reported, he said, and first responders are still working throughout county.

Elmore County borders hard-hit Autauga County in central Alabama.

Officials in hard-hit Autauga County, Alabama, are continuing to assess damage from the trail of destruction that resulted in multiple homes being damaged or destroyed, a county official said.

At least 20 homes were damaged or destroyed in the county, Gary Weaver, Autauga County EMA deputy director, told CNN.

At least five people died in Autauga after severe weather ripped through the South Thursday.

The city council in Selma, Alabama, set aside $2 million in surplus funds for disaster recovery following a tornado that caused major damage to the heart of the city Thursday. Because of mass power outages, the council met on a sidewalk outside City Hall, illuminated with vehicle headlights.

"Thank God, no loss of life has been reported," said Mayor James Perkins Jr.

The mayor added the power losses could make things uncomfortable for people overnight as temperatures drop.

"We've got to layer up and get ready," he said.

Perkins also asked residents to try to limit their water usage as treatment facilities are affected by the power outage.

"We are not in trouble yet, but all of this is really tied to how fast we can get the power restored," Perkins said.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said six people died following the severe weather that hit the state on Thursday.

"I am sad to have learned that six Alabamians were lost to the storms that ravaged across our state," the governor said in a tweet. "My prayers are with their loved ones and communities. We are far too familiar with devastating weather, but our people are resilient. We will get through it and be stronger for it."

Earlier, officials in Alabama's Autauga County said at least 5 people were killed there.

Selma, Alabama suffered extensive damage on Thursday after a band of severe weather moved through the area. The storm resulted in more than two dozen tornadoes across the south. The tornado that struck Selma was on the ground for at least 50 miles and caused damage in seven counties across Alabama, according to the National Weather Service.

Homes were left devastated in LaGrange, Georgia, as severe weather swept through through the state Thursday.

Dra Bray posted videos to Facebook showing the damage done to the Baldwin Park neighborhood in Troup County.

The videos show what's left of several homes as Bray records down the block. Some homes remain in fair shape while others have missing roofs, shattered windows, and collapsed garages.

The Troup County Sheriff's Office announced a tornado warning for the area and advised people to stay off the roads, according to a Facebook post. Officials also posted photos of trees and debris blocking Interstate 185 at mile marker 47 southbound.

This interstate, along with many other roads, are shut down, according to the agency.

What we are covering here

At least 6 people were killed in Alabama, as a band of severe weather left a trail of destruction across the Southeast.

More than two dozen tornadoes were reported across the region, including one that caused "significant damage" in Selma, Alabama, according to the mayor.

The governor of Alabama declared a state of emergency in six counties while Georgia's governor declared a statewide emergency.

More than 35 million people are under some level of threat for severe storms, the Storm Prediction Center said.

Our live coverage has ended. You can see how the storms unfolded by scrolling through the posts below.

Some students and staff at four Spalding County middle schools had to remain late Thursday due to roads being impassable after severe weather impacted the area.

School officials and community leaders were "working to provide food and drinks to the students and staff remaining in our four middle schools," according to a post on the Griffin-Spalding County School System Facebook page.

"The severe weather has left our area but many trees are down across roadways. Emergency management officials have not given us the go-ahead to roll school buses," according to the school system.

In a Thursday night update, the district said 24 students remained at two middle schools, and officials and law enforcement officers "are working to assist in transporting the students home who have safe homes to return to."

School officials had given parents the option to pick up their children if they felt they could safely reach the schools.

"Many roads remain impassable and we want to stay out of the way of emergency crews. However, if parents believe they can safely reach a school to pick up their students, they can make that choice," the school system said.
"All students and staff should stay home tomorrow (Friday, January 13) unless they previously received a phone call. GSCS is closed tomorrow as the community recovers from today's severe weather."

Griffin, located in Spalding County, is a southern suburb of the Atlanta metro area.

As of Thursday evening, there have been 34 preliminary tornado reports across Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky over the course of the day, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

At least one multi-county EF-1 tornado has been confirmed across northern Alabama by the National Weather Service in Huntsville, Alabama. The remainder of the tornado reports -- including the potentially "long-track/significant" tornadoes near Selma, Alabama, and Griffin, Georgia -- are expected to be surveyed by the local weather service offices in Birmingham and Atlanta on Friday.

Due to multiple tornado reports across Alabama and Georgia, both weather service offices expect that it could take several days before there is a final count of how many tornadoes occurred Thursday and the details regarding each tornado.

Three EF-1 tornadoes have been confirmed by the weather service office in Louisville, Kentucky. The tornadoes were located in Henry, Mercer and Boyle counties.

In addition to the tornado reports, there were more than 130 damaging wind reports recorded across Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia.

Furthermore, 18 severe hail reports were recorded across Kentucky, Ohio, Alabama, West Virginia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Georgia. These hail reports ranged from quarter-size to golf ball-size.

Elmore County, Alabama, officials are still surveying the damage that was left behind following a powerful storm that tracked into the area.

"Elmore has a large swath of damage in the northwestern portion of the county" and "numerous homes are damaged," Keith Barnett, director of the county's emergency management agency, told CNN.

Several communities on both sides of Lake Jordan were impacted, according to Barnett. In addition to homes being damaged in the county, there are also numerous trees down and roads blocked, he said.

One minor injury has been reported, he said, and first responders are still working throughout county.

Elmore County borders hard-hit Autauga County in central Alabama.

Officials in hard-hit Autauga County, Alabama, are continuing to assess damage from the trail of destruction that resulted in multiple homes being damaged or destroyed, a county official said.

At least 20 homes were damaged or destroyed in the county, Gary Weaver, Autauga County EMA deputy director, told CNN.

At least five people died in Autauga after severe weather ripped through the South Thursday.

The city council in Selma, Alabama, set aside $2 million in surplus funds for disaster recovery following a tornado that caused major damage to the heart of the city Thursday. Because of mass power outages, the council met on a sidewalk outside City Hall, illuminated with vehicle headlights.

"Thank God, no loss of life has been reported," said Mayor James Perkins Jr.

The mayor added the power losses could make things uncomfortable for people overnight as temperatures drop.

"We've got to layer up and get ready," he said.

Perkins also asked residents to try to limit their water usage as treatment facilities are affected by the power outage.

"We are not in trouble yet, but all of this is really tied to how fast we can get the power restored," Perkins said.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said six people died following the severe weather that hit the state on Thursday.

"I am sad to have learned that six Alabamians were lost to the storms that ravaged across our state," the governor said in a tweet. "My prayers are with their loved ones and communities. We are far too familiar with devastating weather, but our people are resilient. We will get through it and be stronger for it."

Earlier, officials in Alabama's Autauga County said at least 5 people were killed there.

Selma, Alabama suffered extensive damage on Thursday after a band of severe weather moved through the area. The storm resulted in more than two dozen tornadoes across the south. The tornado that struck Selma was on the ground for at least 50 miles and caused damage in seven counties across Alabama, according to the National Weather Service.

Homes were left devastated in LaGrange, Georgia, as severe weather swept through through the state Thursday.

Dra Bray posted videos to Facebook showing the damage done to the Baldwin Park neighborhood in Troup County.

The videos show what's left of several homes as Bray records down the block. Some homes remain in fair shape while others have missing roofs, shattered windows, and collapsed garages.

The Troup County Sheriff's Office announced a tornado warning for the area and advised people to stay off the roads, according to a Facebook post. Officials also posted photos of trees and debris blocking Interstate 185 at mile marker 47 southbound.

This interstate, along with many other roads, are shut down, according to the agency.

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live updates: tornado watches in alabama

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By Adrienne Vogt, Tori B. Powell, Elise Hammond, Matt Meyer and Amir Vera, CNN

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Live updates: Tornado watches in Alabama, Georgia and Southeastern states

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What we are covering here At least 6 people were killed in Alabama, as a band of severe weather left a trail of destruction across the Southeast. More than two dozen tornadoes were reported across the region, including one that caused "significant damage" in Selma, Alabama, according to the mayor.

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Even though Alabama's anti-abortion bill is not meant to chastise women who have abortions, the state's Republican attorney general, Steve Marshall, stated this week that women who take prescription medicine to stop their pregnancies might face legal action under a chemical-endangerment statute. The Alabama state legislature created the chemical endangerment statute in 2006 amid increasing drug use with the intention of protecting children from chemicals in the household.

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health and health care (by demographic group)

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Alabama attorney general says people who take abortion pills could be prosecuted | CNN Politics

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Alabama's Republican attorney general said this week that women in the state who use prescription medication to terminate their pregnancies could be prosecuted under a chemical-endangerment law, even though Alabama's anti-abortion law does not intend to punish women who receive abortions.

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Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio voiced their concerns over the organizations inability to retrieve classified documents from former presidents. Former Vice President Mike Pence, Former President Donald Trump, and President Joe Biden are all accused of holding classified documents in their personal homes. Pence and Trump are rumored to be compliant with the searches but the Department of Justice was needed to step in with the current President.

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Senate intelligence chair says 'all things will be on the table' to get access to Biden and Trump's classified documents | CNN Politics

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Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio expressed deep disappointment Wednesday over the panel's inability to access the classified documents that have been found in the possession of two presidents -- a sign of bipartisan frustration over the issue.

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President Joe Biden released a statement on January 27 regarding the murder of Tyre Nichols. Mr. Nichols' death was preceded by a beating from police and he later passed from his extensive injuries. In his statement, Biden acknowledged the difficulties many Black and Brown Americans go through on a daily basis regarding police misconduct.

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Hear what President Biden said to Tyre Nichols' parents

President Joe Biden spoke to the parents of Tyre Nichols, according to a video posted to Twitter by a Washington Post reporter. In the short video of what the reporter says was a 10-minute call, Biden talked about the deaths of his wife and son.

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Hear what President Biden said to Tyre Nichols' parents | CNN

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President Joe Biden spoke to the parents of Tyre Nichols, according to a video posted to Twitter by a Washington Post reporter. In the short video of what the reporter says was a 10-minute call, Biden talked about the deaths of his wife and son.