Feb 20, 2024

Welcome back. Today we'll talk about trucks. Specifically, squatted ones.

Also, we have a bit of an out-there poll. And the results of yesterday's quiz.

Thanks for reading,

Ike Morgan

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If you don't already know, a squatted truck is a pickup or an SUV that's been modified by raising its front end and lowering the rear. The effect is a truck that appears to be leaning back. Looks like if you dropped the tailgate drop a half dozen wine cooler empties might roll out.

(I'm not saying they would. I'm saying it looks like they might.)

Even if you think squatted trucks look a little goofy, that's not against the law in Alabama (thank Goodness). But under a proposed bill, squatted trucks could become restricted for another reason.

AL.com's William Thornton reports that Alabama House Bill 55 would make it illegal to raise the height of the front fender four or more inches higher than the rear fender, as measured from the ground.

The legislation was introduced by Ron Bolton, a Northport Republican. He said he decided to sponsor it after hearing about a Dothan police officer who was nearly hit by a squatted truck, possibly because the front end was lifted so high the driver couldn't see in front of him.

Also, consumer company J.D. Power claims that squatting a truck causes a weight imbalance, wears out the tires and leads to poor braking. The modification is also called the "Carolina squat," but South Carolina has already passed a similar law to put restrictions on it. So has Virginia.

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham is trying to raise $7.5 million to maintain and renovate its historic buildings, reports AL.com's Greg Garrison.

Of course, that's the church that was bombed by Klansmen in 1963, killing the four little Black girls and bringing nationwide attention to civil-rights efforts in Alabama.

Construction of the current church building was completed in 1911. Planned changes to the property include a new visitors and education center and social-justice programming.

We generally don't drop too many political poll stories unless they're really important. And, of course, applicable to serious issues and campaigns in the state of Alabama.

With that in mind, I'll share the results of a YouGov poll that said if Nick Saban runs as a Democrat for U.S. Senate in 2026, he'd beat Tommy Tuberville 42 percent to 39 percent (although that's close enough to be within the margin of error), reports AL.com's Howard Koplowitz.

If Saban did beat Tuberville it would make the former college football coaches 4-4 against each other in head-to-head matchups, incidentally.

If the theoretical poll sounds a little like a fantasy for liberal Crimson Tide fans, it probably is, since it assigns Saban to the Democratic party without having him adopt policy positions.

In the same poll, Tuberville was ahead of a "generic Democrat" 49-32 and ahead of former Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in another theoretical matchup, 52-27.

Saban has neither endorsed a political party nor expressed interest in running for office.

And we can appreciate that position.

Here's the key to yesterday's quiz, and how we did as a group. Check back next Monday for another Week in Review Quiz.

The first 911 call in the U.S. was made in ...

Haleyville (CORRECT) 60.6%

Dothan 20.6%

Muscle Shoals 16.0%

Bayou La Batre 2.9%

In what Alabama County has there recently been a radio tower reported missing AND a stolen school bus found?

Walker (CORRECT) 70.9%

DeKalb 13.1%

Barbour 10.3%

Choctaw 5.7%

What is the top destination for Alabama-made exported goods?

Germany (CORRECT) 46.3%

Canada 9.7%

China 37.7%

Qatar 6.3%

Garden & Gun listed this Alabama city on its list of four destinations to visit this year.

Auburn (CORRECT) 54.3%

Gulf Shores 30.9%

Madison 8.0%

Opp 6.9%

This non-native species is expected to "be everywhere" soon, according to some researchers.

Joro spider (CORRECT) 89.1%

Periwinkle 3.4%

Burmese Python 6.9%

Absentee landlord 0.6%

In 1942, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Sheffield.

In 1962, Auburn, NBA and Olympic basketball legend Sir Charles Barkley of Leeds.

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