The Food and Drug Administration is issuing a warning about the dangers of online pharmacies in Alabama and other states. The FDA reports the outlets claim to sell medications at a discount, often without requiring a prescription. The pills being distributed could be unapproved, counterfeit or otherwise unsafe medicines.

The University of Alabama Police Department is gaining a new member. After applying for deputy chief in August, longtime police executive Scott Thurmond is being chosen from a group of candidates by a hiring committee to take on the position. He will start in the role on Dec. 2.

A conference to discuss the changing educational landscape in Alabama and explore what’s possible for the future is on the books. More than 400 education advocates, policymakers, school leaders, teachers, students, parents and community stakeholders from across the state are headed to Birmingham for the Alabama Opportunity Summit.

A federal appeals court says it will let the nation's third execution with nitrogen gas go forward this week. The 11th U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s decision to let Carey Dale Grayson's execution proceed Thursday night. Alabama began using nitrogen gas to execute people on death row earlier this year.

Federal wildlife officials are reviewing the removal of a bald eagle nest at the site of a planned subdivision in Auburn, following an outcry from local residents. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a permit to the subdivision's developer to remove the nest.

A company owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians has reached an agreement to buy the Birmingham Racecourse. The purchase agreement was announced by the McGregor family, which owns both the Birmingham Racecourse and VictoryLand in Macon County. The company buying the racecourse is Wind Creek Hospitality. The sale is expected to be finalized by early 2025.

Alabama Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed is stepping down and joining Gov. Kay Ivey’s administration. The governor’s office announced Tuesday that Reed will serve as a senior adviser and lead an overhaul of the Department of Labor.

Court documents show a man charged with illegally possessing a machine gun was also at Tuskegee University during a deadly shooting. Authorities say 20-year-old Jeremiah Williams was arrested on Thursday after months of investigation unrelated to the shooting at Tuskegee. Court documents related to his arrest reveal new details about the early November violence.

The National Weather Service in Birmingham is cautioning residents about heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds coming to the state this week. Alabama meteorologists report the unsettled weather will begin overnight tonight and last into early Tuesday, with some rough storms lasting into tomorrow evening.

Kansas strengthened its grip on No. 1 in the AP Top 25. The rest of the top 10 turned into a jumble of teams swapping places. The Jayhawks picked up five first-place votes in The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll, receiving 49 from a 61-person media panel. No. 2 UConn, No. 3 Gonzaga and No. 4 Auburn all received votes. The shuffling started with No. 8 Alabama’s loss to No. 6 Purdue, a game that dropped the Crimson Tide six spots and bumped the Boilermakers up seven. Losses by Duke and Arizona shook up the top 10.

Alabama is planning to carry out the nation’s third execution with nitrogen gas. The move comes as critics argue the method needs more scrutiny before it is used to put another person to death. Carey Dale Grayson, who was convicted of the 1994 killing of Vickie Deblieux, is scheduled to be executed Thursday.

An annual, friendly competition against The University of Alabama and Auburn University that happens during the seven weeks leading up to the Iron Bowl will soon come to a close. The goal of the two food drives is to see which school can collect more non-perishable food to help those in need.