Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: What Alabama’s new medical marijuana rules mean for Montgomery patients
And check out Nutcracker Camp on the Montgomery Patch calendar
Good morning Montgomery! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- What Alabama’s new medical marijuana rules mean for Montgomery patients
- How a 2026 Amazon AI symposium is landing in Montgomery first.
- How could 2026 education plans from Montgomery change your child’s school?
Also on today's calendar: Nutcracker Camp and 3 more events.
Find out what's happening in Montgomeryfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Montgomery? Post it to Montgomery photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️
Today's riddle: The doctor told me to drink carrot juice after a hot bath. - Did it help? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Montgomeryfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
From our Partner
Today's Montgomery Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. Everyone deserves to be connected. That's why T-Mobile and UScellular have joined forces to connect people from big cities to small towns and everywhere in between. UScellular is now a part of T-Mobile. Find out more at T-Mobile.com/Better-Together.
Find a T-Mobile store near Montgomery.
- Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high of 64 and low of 48 degrees.
- Thursday: A shower and thunderstorm, temps: high: 64, low: 45.
- Friday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 56 and low of 34 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Alabama approves medical marijuana licenses. Here's what's legal (montgomeryadvertiser.com) — Montgomery is slated to get a licensed medical marijuana dispensary under Alabama’s newly approved medical cannabis program, with CCS of Alabama operating locations in Montgomery, Cullman, and Talladega. The piece explains that only registered patients can legally use cannabis, outlines possession limits and allowed product forms, and notes that recreational use remains illegal with significant penalties. 
2. Tuskegee University to host the 2026 Amazon AWS–MLU Research & Teaching Symposium (tuskegee.edu) — A major Amazon-backed AI and machine learning symposium will bring educators and tech leaders to Montgomery on Thursday, February 26, 2026, for a reception, poster showcase, and networking dinner before continuing at Tuskegee University the next day. Local faculty and innovators can submit research abstracts, attend keynotes, and connect with AWS experts as the event spotlights Alabama’s growing role in responsible AI.
3. Alabama leaders discuss education focuses for 2026 (cbs42.com) — State education leaders meeting in Montgomery are outlining what they’ll push for when Alabama’s 2026 legislative session opens Jan. 13, including $50 million for adolescent literacy and help with rising educator health insurance costs. Lawmakers are also talking about potential teacher pay raises and tougher, growth-focused school report cards, setting the stage for decisions that will shape classrooms across Montgomery and the rest of the state.
4. Montgomery native, Former NFL player Henry Ruggs III earns bachelor's degree while serving prison sentence (wsfa.com) — Montgomery readers may be interested to know that hometown native and former NFL player Henry Ruggs III has completed a bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama while incarcerated in Nevada. His family shared emotional reflections on the loss involved for everyone and their hopes for his future, while he remains eligible for parole in 2026.
5. Governor Signs Executive Order to Strengthen Alabama National Guard Recruitment and Readiness (calhounjournal.com) — State leaders in Montgomery have reactivated a key recruitment incentive program to keep the Alabama National Guard fully staffed and mission-ready. Governor Kay Ivey’s new executive order revives the Joint Enlistment Enhancement Program, offering bonuses for successful recruiting leads and requiring annual effectiveness reports, as Guard members continue serving in roles from the Southern Border to Washington, D.C.
📸 Around Montgomery
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Montgomery
- BASKETBALL JVG,JVB,VG,VB @BREW TECH
BREW TECH Pike Road, AL 36064
4:00 pm - JV/V WRESTLING @PELHAM
PELHAM Pike Road, AL 36064 - BASKETBALL VB,JVB VS HANDLEY
HANDLEY Pike Road, AL 36064
1:30 pm - BASKETBALL JVG,JVB @PRATTVILLE
PRATTVILLE Pike Road, AL 36064
4:00 pm - BASKETBALL VB @HOOVER
HOOVER Pike Road, AL 36064 - Nutcracker Camp
2960G Zelda Rd , Montgomery
9:00 am
Thursday December 18
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
Monday December 22
📣 Montgomery Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Wetumpka Middle vs Millbrook Middle
Wetumpka Middle School , 1000 Micanopy St , Wetumpka
4:30 pm - The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Millbrook Theatre , 5720 Main St , Millbrook
7:00 pm - Preschool Story Time
Wetumpka, AL Calendar , 212 South Main Street , Wetumpka
10:00 am - Holiday Character Breakfast
The Chapel at The Waters , 1 Chapel Hill St , Pike Rd
10:30 am - Les Mills Yoga with Kelsey
Wetumpka YMCA , 200 Red Eagle Rd , Wetumpka
8:30 am - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Century Church
Century Church , 1001 Marler Rd , Pike Rd
5:00 pm
Wednesday December 17
Thursday December 18
Friday December 19
Saturday December 20
Tuesday December 23
Wednesday December 24
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- The reason I got up and went to work every morning is because of these two ladies in the picture.
That’s my two daughters Amanda and Autumn. They are absolutely great. They help me with Hambone when I need it. They check on me to see how I’m doing… (Nextdoor Copperfield) - SHES FOUND THANKS EVERYBODY
missing dog her name is Ivey please call or text me if you see her she has Been missing for a hour she is the brown coated one 334 261-8490 (Nextdoor Lake View Heights)
- Oracle posted a job opening for Delivery Manager (Individual Contributor) - NetSuite ACS (Products Team) in Montgomery. Apply here.
- Burlington Stores posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Stocking Associate - Part Time in Montgomery. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Montgomery here.
Ok Montgomery! 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 don’t know. I can never finish drinking the hot bath!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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