🌱 Patch AM: Could that “too good to be true” holiday deal be a Birmingham scam?

Cheers Birmingham! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Could that “too good to be true” holiday deal be a Birmingham scam?
• Why a former UAB lineman wants youthful offender status after stabbings
• Headed to the Tide playoff game? See new nonstop flight options.

Also on today's calendar: Birmingham Ugly Sweater Crawl: 8th Annual, December 13th and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the boat dock say when it was arrested? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high of 65 and low of 31 degrees.
• Sunday: Breezy and much colder, temps: high: 38, low: 17. ⛄️ Brr!
• Monday: Sunny and not as cold, with a high of 46 and low of 26 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Better Business Bureau warns holiday shoppers of rise in fake retail websites (wbrc.com) — Birmingham’s Better Business Bureau is warning local holiday shoppers about a surge in fake retail websites that mimic big-name stores and steal money and personal information. Residents are urged to double-check URLs, be skeptical of huge discounts, and use credit instead of debit cards to better protect themselves from fraud and identity theft.
   

• Former UAB player accused of stabbing 2 teammates seeking youthful offender status (cbs42.com) — A former UAB football player in Birmingham is seeking youthful offender status after being charged in a stabbing that injured two teammates at the UAB Football Operations Center last month. Court records show 20-year-old Daniel Mincey plans to plead guilty under Alabama’s youthful offender law, which can seal records and reduce penalties, with a hearing set for Jan. 20.
   

• Direct flights from Birmingham to Oklahoma City added ahead of Alabama CFP game (cbs42.com) — Birmingham flyers now have special nonstop Southwest flights to Oklahoma City for next week’s Alabama–Oklahoma playoff game, departing Dec. 18 and 19 with returns on Dec. 20. Airport officials expect plenty of Tide fans and say more direct flights could be added if Alabama advances further in the playoffs.
   

📸 Around Birmingham

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Birmingham

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★ Featured events ★

Sunday December 14

• A Christmas Story
  Alabama Theatre, 1817 3rd Ave N, Birmingham
  2:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Saturday December 13

• Birmingham Ugly Sweater Crawl: 8th Annual, December 13th
  The Lumbar , 212 29th St S , Birmingham
  9:00 am
• Candlelight: Coldplay X Imagine Dragons
  Birmingham Museum of Art , 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard , Birmingham
  6:30 pm
• Candlelight: Queen vs. ABBA
  Birmingham Museum of Art , 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard , Birmingham
  8:45 pm

Sunday December 14

• It's a Wonderful Life
  Alabama Theatre , 1817 3rd Ave N , Birmingham
  7:00 pm

Tuesday December 16

• Parker Thundering Herd vs. McAdory
  Birmingham City , 400 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Blvd , Birmingham
  5:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
  Birmingham Museum of Art , 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Boulevard , Birmingham
  4:15 pm
• The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Birmingham, AL
  Marriott Birmingham 3590 Grandview Parkway Birmingham, AL 35243
  6:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• Not So Silent Night Drumline Competition 2025
  Trussville Civic Center , 5381 Trussville Clay Rd , Trussville
  4:00 pm
• Dean and Company Christmas Special at Rojo!
  Rojo , 2921 Highland Ave , Birmingham
  7:30 pm

📣 Birmingham Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Saturday December 13

• Tarrant Recreation Center
  Tarrant High School , 91 Old Black Crk Rd , Birmingham
  9:00 am
• Crafterday!
  O'Neal Public Library , 50 Oak St , Mountain Brook
  10:00 am
• The Polar Express
  Alabama Theatre , 1817 3rd Ave N , Birmingham
  2:00 pm

Sunday December 14

• Basketball open play
  Levite Jewish Community Center , 3960 Montclair Rd , Birmingham
  8:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Reunited
  Dog found out by the corner of Medina drive and Mesa drive. She seems domesticated wanting to make sure she isn’t missing (Nextdoor Spring Lake)
• Has anyone who lives near Gillon Drive, Raleigh Ave, Cobb St.
  Or in the vicinity of Hall Kent elementary or Patriot Park seen this cat? His name is Grayson. He has been missing for about four or five days now… (Nextdoor West Homewood)

• Centers posted a job opening for PT Camp Counselor in Birmingham. Apply here.
• Compass Group posted a job opening for HOUSEKEEPER (FULL and PART TIME) in Birmingham. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Birmingham here.

🗞 Nearby News

Mountain Brook

• New council raises allotments for community traffic islands (villagelivingonline.com)
• Bromberg's Village Christmas Tree, photo contest return for holiday season (villagelivingonline.com)
• Bank opens 2 new Alabama branches, another on the way (al.com)

Homewood

• Lynn Spires honored as Homewood Public Library's 2025 Library Champion (thehomewoodstar.com)
• Holiday Cookie Decorating Class set for Dec. 14 at Homewood Library (thehomewoodstar.com)

Ok Birmingham! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I demand a jury of my piers.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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