Latest news with #WRBL
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tommy Smith – Battling ALS one day at a time
COLUMBUS, Ga (WRBL) – When Tommy Smith was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis back in 2012, his family reacted like any family would. Rallying together around Smith, and that gracious support from his community has benefited Smith in more ways than he can express. ALS robs the body of the ability to walk, talk, eat, work, and in the worst cases the ability to breathe. Relatively, Tommy Smith has been lucky. Where most cases of ALS have a 2-5 year life expectancy, Smith is on year thirteen. For Tommy – ALS has so far robbed him of being a little league umpire, playing with his grandkids without a wheelchair, and speaking normally. That said – it has not been easy. Luckily for Tommy Smith, there's Vickie Smith. The couple met when Tommy was nine years old, and Vickie was seven as next door neighbors. They have been together just short of 46 years. Vickie has been Tommy's caregiver ever since his diagnosis, and has done everything in her power to provide for Tommy. Over the past couple of years, Vickie has had her own health problems. Recently being declared cancer-free, after her second fight with Breast Cancer. Obviously with a disease like ALS, the medical bills pile up quickly. The average cost to care for a person with ALS is $250,000. Major League Baseball has stepped up to the plate in recent years, recognizing those that suffer from the same disease as Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig. Gehrig's name is forever intertwined with the disease, as many refer to it as 'Lou Gehrig's disease'. You can see WRBL's feature of Tommy and Vickie Smith's battle with ALS in the video player above. You can also assist by donating to the Tommy Smith ALS Foundation, on Facebook. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hugley's attorney says former city manager will fight termination by Columbus council
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — The attorney for former Columbus City Manager Isaiah Hugley tells WRBL that his client plans to fight his termination. Scott Grubman pulled no punches this afternoon in the first public comments since seven city councilors voted to fire Isaiah Hugley late Tuesday night. According to his attorney, Hugley is weighing his options in the wake of his termination on a 7-3 vote of the city council on Tuesday. Since April, Hugley has been threatening legal action against six of the seven city councilors who voted to fire him. Grubman focused on the role of Councilor Charmaine Crabb. 'Look at the termination letter. Guess whose first signature is right there?' Grubman said. 'It's Councilwoman Crabb. I think it is obvious that this was motivated by racial bias.' Grubman claims Councilor Crabb made racial statements to Sheriff's Office investigators during an investigation of the city's Finance Department. Crabb and other councilors did not respond to a WRBL request for comment. They have not spoken publicly about Hugley's firing. 'Again, you had a councilwoman saying racist things,' Grubman said. 'Apologizing for it. But then a week later firing the long-term city manager based on nothing more than a pretext. That's racism. That's discrimination. That's actionable under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. So, I think a federal lawsuit is highly likely.' Hugley was planning to retire at the end of the year after two decades as city manager. The termination notice says he will paid salary and benefits through Dec. 31st. 'What did I say in every single letter?' Grubman said. 'Please just let Mr. Hugley serve out the remainder of his term without harassment or discrimination. And what did they do in response? They fired him after accusing him of being in the Mafia for going to black churches. That is the legal definition of discrimination. So is it going to get messier? It's going to get a lot messier?' Grubman says Hugley wants to pursue an appeal of his firing. Though his office is conflicted out of the case involving Hugley and council, City Attorney Clifton Fay says Hugley does not have any appeal rights through the city. Grubman understands it differently. 'In addition to any sort of litigation that might be filed under the city code Mr. Huguely is entitled to a public hearing, and we will be requesting that public hearing,' Grubman said. 'But we are going to avail ourselves of the hearing because we think it's very important for the public, for the people of Columbus, to see what's going on here.' All of this comes amid speculation that Hugley, the city's first black city manager, is considering a 2026 run for mayor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
100% I.D. scan begins June 1 on Fort Benning
FORT BENNING () — June 1st, gates on Fort Benning will no longer have self-scan lanes as the military installation will enforce the 100% I.D. scan. 'It means that every single person who is coming through an access control point. We will be able to positively identify them,' says Fort Benning Access Control Chief Matthew Dillion. Dillion tells WRBL this differs from the Trusted Traveler Program. He says, 'a Trusted Traveler could come through, scan their I.D. and they were vouching for the people that were in their vehicle. Now when they come through, they're still the trusted traveler. There's no change to that. The only difference is where a trusted traveler used to vouch for everybody. Now we're at 100% I.D. and everybody.' The 100% scan is usually implemented only at night Dillion says. Starting Sunday, Fort Benning's Commander Major General Colin Tooley will require 100% I.D. checks at all gates 24/7. Dillion says, there are other ways to get on the army post without scanning your I.D. at the gate. 'The first way is to go to a visitor control center,' Dillion explains. 'We're one of the few installations that has one that's open 24 hours… On the other side, you can go online. We have an online system where you can actually process for a pass specifically to their event.' Dillion says these processes allow for security to conduct background checks on every person coming in. Wednesday through Fridays Fort Benning see's higher levels of traffic due to family days and graduations Dillion says. Prior to getting to the access gate, Dillion encourages having your ID ready for a quick and smooth entry onto the military post. He says people who have been previously denied or barred, have active warrants and other things of that nature will be denied access. For those who have yet to get their Real I.D., Dillion says additional documentation may be needed to gain access. He says this can be handled in the lane or be sent to the visitor control center. Dillion says once it's taken care, it will no longer be an issue the next time you get checked at the checkpoint. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Senator Tommy Tuberville is running for governor of Alabama
AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville made it official Tuesday afternoon: he's running for governor of Alabama. Standing inside Byron's Smokehouse in Auburn—the same location where he launched his U.S. Senate campaign in 2019—Tuberville announced his latest political move during a private event surrounded by friends and family. The setting carried symbolic weight. In 2019, Tuberville stood in nearly the same spot to launch his Senate run—a campaign that culminated in a 2020 victory over incumbent Democrat Doug Jones. Since entering the Senate, Tuberville has aligned himself with conservative causes and has been a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump. With the 2026 governor's race heating up, Tuberville's entry brings instant name recognition and a loyal political base, especially in East Alabama, where he remains a popular figure from his Auburn coaching days at Auburn University. The field of candidates is still taking shape, with both Republican and Democratic contenders expected to announce bids in the coming months. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Will Tuberville run for Alabama Governor? Announcement expected at Auburn event
AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville is holding a private event Tuesday afternoon at Byron's Smokehouse in Auburn. While the campaign has not officially confirmed the purpose of the event, it is widely anticipated Tuberville will announce whether he intends to seek the Alabama governor's office. Earlier in the day, Tuberville's Deputy Communications Director, Hannah Eddins, spoke with WRBL's Elizabeth White inside Byron's restaurant, stating only friends, family, and Fox News would be allowed into the event. White requested reconsideration. Later, Communications Director Mallory Jaspers came out to the restaurant's parking lot to speak with WRBL and WAKA. She called the earlier restriction a miscommunication and said members of the press would be allowed inside briefly to capture video of Tuberville with his guests. Jaspers explained the campaign was trying to honor an exclusive agreement with The Will Cain Show on Fox News. Senator Tuberville is expected to come outside after the Fox interview and answer a few questions from the local press. The event is scheduled to begin around 4 p.m. day. Tommy Tuberville, born in Camden, Arkansas, is a former college football coach and the current U.S. Senator representing Alabama since 2021. He gained national attention as the head football coach at Auburn University from 1999 to 2008, leading the team to an undefeated season in 2004. Transitioning into politics, Tuberville capitalized on his coaching fame and strong support from President Donald Trump to win the 2020 Senate election, defeating incumbent Democrat Doug Jones. During his tenure, he has served on several committees, including Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs, and is known for his strong conservative positions on national defense, education, and border security. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
