The MoonPie drops tonight in Mobile.

That means it’s the last day of 2024. So some of us have to hurry if we’re going to tie the loose ends on all those resolutions we made in January.

On this date in 1841, Alabama became the first state to enact a law requiring that dental surgeons be licensed.

So, theoretically, if you went to a licensed dental surgery you could rest assured you were getting quality 1841-level dental surgery.

Check out the podcast for a conversation with AL.com sports editor Andrew Hammond about 2024 in Alabama sports.

Today’s report follows. Thanks for reading,

Ike

Cooldown

Another shot of winter is heading into the state today, reports AL.com’s Leigh Morgan. And just in time for those News Year’s Day polar plunges tomorrow.

Tonight we’re looking at low temperatures in the 30s in the northern part of the state to 40s in lower Alabama, and tomorrow night lows are expected in the 20s to 30s, going north to south.

The Polar Bear Dip at the Flora-Bama is scheduled for noon Wednesday. Temperatures could be in the mid- to high-50s with 5- to 10-mph winds.

Y’all enjoy that.

The cooldown may be just an appetizer. Long-range forecasts, which are not known to always be dead-on, right now point toward colder-than-usual temperatures for mid-January with snow events expected in the Northeast.

We’re going to leave that there for now and see how it unfolds. Check here for weather updates.

Mom’s arrest

Authorities are expecting the worst in the case of a missing Fayette County toddler whose father and sister were killed in a traffic crash, reports AL.com’s Carol Robinson.

One-year-old Kahleb Collins’ mother, Pam Bailey, was critically injured in that crash. She’s now charged in Kahleb’s and his sister’s deaths. Kahleb was discovered to have been previously missing during the investigation of the incident. Authorities now believe he’s been dead for several months, although remains have not been found.

The 2-year-old sister, Ryleigh, was not wearing a restraint when she was killed, according to authorities. The children’s mother has been charged with abuse of corpse, aggravated child abuse, first-degree domestic violence and criminally negligent homicide.

Additionally, a grandfather of the kids had already been charged with failure to report a missing child.

A big carcass

Here’s something that might make a seasheller jump:

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab confirmed that the carcass of a sperm whale washed ashore at Fort Morgan on Sunday, reports AL.com’s Greg Garrison.

WPMI reported on Monday that marine scientists said it would take months to figure out what killed the the 38-foot whale.

Sperm whales aren’t seen much along the Gulf Coast. Males can grow to more than 60 feet in length.

Quoting

“Jimmy Carter not only lived the longest of any former U.S. President, but his life also brought greater dignity to the presidency.”

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, in her statement reacting to Carter’s death.

More Alabama News

The podcast

We’re reflecting on the year in Alabama sports with AL.com sports editor Andrew Hammond.