1819 News stayed on top of news statewide in 2025, bringing the latest from the Alabama Legislature, covering how President Donald Trump's administration directly benefited Alabamians and diving deep into some of the state's most controversial issues.
Here are 1819 News' top five most-read stories of 2025:
1. Alabama man bitten by cottonmouth has warning for others as weather warms
In Alabama, warmer weather means more slithering dangers. No one learned this lesson more than an Alabama snake expert.
Frankie Ferguson is no stranger to venomous snakes, but an unexpected cottonmouth bite landed him in the hospital and in danger of losing a limb or suffering a heart attack. Thankfully, Ferguson recovered, but he used his experience to warn others.
After more than 20 years in the snake business, Ferguson offered advice and said, "This was totally avoidable. I made a careless mistake and was being foolish."
2. DOGE cancels U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service office lease in Fairhope
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) got busy making cuts, and among them was the office lease for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in Fairhope.
In March, DOGE reported it would save taxpayers $707,922 by canceling the lease.
FWS still serves the area and the state through its Daphne field office.
3. Tuberville: FBI moving training academy from Quantico to Huntsville 'a no-brainer'
In June, the FBI considered moving its National Academy training program from Quantico, Va., to Huntsville.
At the time, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) said after a tour of Redstone Arsenal that the move was a "no-brainer." He said plans for a new training facility behind Redstone Arsenal had been in the works for several years.
"It is going to be first class, state-of-the-art," said Tuberville. "And where else to do that? [Quantico] has been the place where the FBI has trained in years past, but it was great to hear that after Kash Patel saw this situation, saw the facilities he had that were available, it's exciting that we're going to bring more people to Huntsville from the FBI plus be able to bring people - maybe not to live here permanently but to come and train for a certain amount of time and then go to other places across the country."
The plan to move the training center is still under evaluation.
4. 'Hunted, killed in cold blood': Mtn. Brook native Ella Cook targeted for conservative beliefs in Brown University killing, College Republicans of America founder says
In one of the most heartbreaking stories of the year, Mountain Brook native Ella Cook was among two killed in a tragic shooting at Brown University on December 13. Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov was also killed.
Many speculated that Cook, who was the vice president of the Brown University Republicans, was targeted because of her conservative beliefs. Among those was William Branson Donahue, the founder and chairman of the College republicans of America.
"I'm told she was allegedly targeted for her conservative beliefs, hunted, and killed in cold blood," Donahue stated.
The shooter was later identified as Claudio Manuel Neves Valente. He was found dead in a New Hampshire storage unit on December 18. Valente is also suspected in the December 15 fatal shooting of MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro.
No evidence that the shooting was politically motivated has been made public, and police have been widely criticized for their handling of the situation.
5. Alabama husband, father of two making national headlines as he 'fights for life' after unprovoked hatchet attack in Arizona
An Alabama father never made it back home after a long trip to Los Angeles with his wife to mourn the loss of their stillborn son.
Jacob Couch was attacked in April by a hatchet-wielding suspect while the couple sat waiting at an Arizona bus stop. Investigators said Couch was nearly decapitated.
Daniel Michael, 26, was arrested and now faces a murder charge.
Couch's wife said Michael yelled at them before the attack. When her husband bent down to get his things, Kristen Couch said the suspect came up behind him and attacked him with the hatchet.
A GoFundMe account has raised more than $80,000 for the couple's daughter.
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