Human remains, vape bill, IKEA: Down in Alabama

Published On: August 13, 2025

<br />

Additional human remains

According to Carol Robinson of AL.com, the dog from East Birmingham who continues collecting human bones and returning them home is back at it.

This narrative begins almost a year ago on August 20, when a homeowner discovered a human skull along the road. The skull was said to have been left there by Chicarin, the owner’s dog.

Chicarin with a tibia was in the front yard almost four months later. Police inspected the wooded areas close to the residence, asked locals to check their doorbell cameras, spoke with the mailman, and compared the DNA sample to the database of missing persons.

No leads, though.

The skull and tibia, discovered many months apart, were identified by investigators as belonging to the same individual, who was most likely Black and male.

More remains were discovered in the front yard on Friday, which was Chicarin’s most recent discovery. The house was searched again, but nothing was found.

To ascertain whether all of the remains belong to the same individual, more DNA testing will be necessary.

Vaping is under attack

According to Mike Cason of AL.com, a bill that would outlaw vaping in public areas is probably going to be introduced during the upcoming legislature session.

State Senator Gerald Allen, a Republican from Cottondale, filed the bill. It would improve on the 2003 Alabama Clean Indoor Air Act, which now prohibits smoking in the majority of enclosed public places, including restaurants, retail establishments, government buildings, shopping centers, elevators, hospitals, assisted living facilities, airports, and banks.

In honor of the Mobile Democrat who spent years advocating for the smoking ban, the new measure would also be renamed the Vivian Davis Figures Clean Indoor Air Act.

The vape prohibition would result in a $25 fine for violators.

Alabama’s initial IKEA store

According to William Thornton and Megan Plotka of AL.com, the rumors were accurate: IKEA intends to open its first location in Alabama early in the upcoming year.

It will arrive in the University Place Shopping Center in Huntsville. For years, Huntsville residents have said in surveys that they would want to see an IKEA, with its Swedish meatballs and easily built home furniture.

It’s quite an experience if you have never been drawn into or shopped at an IKEA. Plans for the Huntsville facility include 46,000 square feet, completely furnished rooms, over 5,000 products on display, and over 2,000 items that are available for purchase straight from the store.

Large fish

According to Heather Gann of AL.com, following the Mobile Big Game Fishing Club’s Billfish Limited contest earlier this month, we may have a new state-record escolar.

Compared to many of the most well-known and sought-after gamefish, escolars are dark-colored offshore fish that are far less prevalent. It is popular in sushi and is said to taste delicious. In certain establishments, it’s also what you might be eating when you order white tuna from the menu.

The main issue with eating escolar is that you need spend a few hours being within a short sprint of the closest restroom.

(I signed up for this type of public-service journalism.)

About 120 miles away from Mobile, at 4 a.m. on August 1, one began taking Taylor Guidry’s line. Guidry attended the tournament on the Prime Time. According to the men on the boat, the fish struggled for an hour and a half and consumed about 2,000 feet of line.

The fish was weighed at 161.6 pounds. It will surpass the previous Alabama State record of 102 pounds, 10 ounces and come within about 10 pounds of the world record once it is confirmed.

Citations

A delicious barbecue is like a giant embrace.

PerformerTalking about his new house in Birmingham with his wife, Tony Hale spoke to Southern Living.

Based on the Data

$62,212

The average household income in Alabama, as reported by the Census Bureau.

Additional News from Alabama

Ella Langley cancels shows to heal mind, body and heart
Gadsden mother allegedly strangled 1-year-old girl found dead in hearse
Why is Mobile removing more than 2 dozen downtown traffic lights?
Birmingham strip club sued again for allegedly not paying dancers minimum wage, overtime