Good morning, Montgomery.

Montgomery native Trew the Star received a golden ticket on American Idol Monday night after singing Sam Cooke's 'Nothing Can Change This Love' to judges Lionel Richie, Carrie Underwood, and Luke Bryan.

The 25-year-old, who auditioned three separate times, joins three other Alabamians on the show.

During a virtual meeting Monday, the Alabama Public Charter School Commission approved policies including a public data dashboard for charter schools and updated facility rules; it also scheduled a charter workshop in Montgomery for March 9-10 plus opened federal grant applications with a March 30 deadline.

Montgomery County commissioners pledged $17.5 million to support Jackson Hospital and help it avoid bankruptcy; the first $10 million payment is expected this week and the remainder will come in installments through 2029.

From Friday, Feb. 20, through Sunday, Feb.

22, Alabama will hold a sales tax holiday on emergency preparedness items such as flashlights + portable generators to help shoppers save up to 10 percent, with some cities and counties also waiving local taxes.

ALEA shared a message Tuesday (as part of Safer Internet Day) urging parents, caregivers, and educators to adjust privacy settings and monitor online interactions to protect children online in Montgomery.

The Alabama Department of Human Resources announced that new chip-enabled EBT cards will be mailed statewide in the coming days (following a pilot program launched in December 2025).

Cardholders must activate their cards with the provided details and then destroy their old cards for security.

The Montgomery Biscuits are holding a virtual job fair to fill positions (grounds crew, bat person, entertainment, Big Mo, food service, bartending, security, and janitorial) at Riverwalk Stadium before the season opener on April 7.

Critter Crawl 5K and Yeti Dash

2:30-5 p.m. — Alabama Nature Center — Registration fee applies — Participate in a fun-filled 5K race and Yeti Dash supporting local nature initiatives.

Viking 5K, 10K, & Half Marathon

2-6 p.m. — Blount Cultural Park — $30-$65 — Run through beautiful Montgomery and challenge yourself with a range of distances from a 5K to a Half Marathon.

Southern Soul Takeover

7-11 p.m. — BB King's Blues Club — Tickets available — Experience the vibrant sounds of Southern soul with live performances from Toy Toy and Sherika Nicole.

K-Pop Warriors Live Show

3:00 – 4:30 p.m. — Garrett Coliseum — Family-friendly event — Experience high-energy K-Pop music and dance with colorful heroes and playful villains.