Spark Magazine

1 day ago | al.com | Leada Gore

Lulu Roman, the brash Hee Haw comedian turned inspirational gospel singer, has died. Roman was 78. Her death was first reported by the Hollywood Reporter. Roman died Wednesday in Bellingham, Washington. Born Bertha Louise Hable on May 6, 1946, Roman was placed in an orphanage in Dallas and later worked as a go-go dancer at a nightclub owned by Lee Harvey Oswald assassin Jack Ruby.

2 days ago | al.com | Leada Gore

A national restaurant chain known for its fast-casual American dining and fun atmosphere is down to less than 100 locations in the U.S.TGI Fridays had 270 U.S. locations at the beginning of last year but is now down to 85 restaurants, CNN reported with 30 shut down in the past month. At its height in 2008, TGI Fridays had about 600 restaurants. TGI Fridays has no locations remaining in Alabama. The steep drop comes after TGI Fridays’ parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November 2024.

2 days ago | al.com | Thomas Ashworth

The MVP from a wild Class 3A state title game has found a college home in the state of Alabama. Mars Hill Bible star Hudson Higgins has committed to UAB, he announced on social media Wednesday afternoon. The running back prospect picked the Blazers over other offers that include Troy, Tulane, Arkansas State, Liberty, Air Force and North Alabama.

2 days ago | al.com | Shauna Stuart

Kool-Aid and Nike are teaming up for a limited-time collaboration featuring sneakers and a new drink pack. The two brands have joined with NBA star Ja Morant to launch the new Nike x Kool-Aid Ja 2 collection. The new collab features Nike sneakers in colors inspired by Morant’s favorite Kool-Aid flavors: Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Orange and Lemon-Lime. According to a press release, the collaboration was inspired by Morant’s life growing up in South Carolina.

2 days ago | al.com | Thomas Ashworth

One of the state’s top prospects from the class of 2022 will be returning to his home state. Jacksonville State has signed former Alabama defensive back signee and high school star Tre’Quon Fegans, a source confirmed to AL.com on Wednesday. The move reunites Fegans with new Jax State coach Charles Kelly, who recruited Fegans during his time at Alabama under Nick Saban; Kelly also recruited Fegans’ brother, Anquon, to Auburn before taking the job at Jax State.