The Shoals

China says it dispatched naval forces to monitor a US warship that it claims illegally entered waters near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between Beijing and Washington over freedom of navigation operations in the contested waterway, with both sides asserting conflicting claims over the strategic region.

Porter Garden Center, a longtime garden center serving the Shoals area of northwestern Alabama, is shutting its doors after 47 years in business. The closure marks the end of a decades-old family operation that served local gardeners and landscapers. No details about the closing date or reasons were immediately available, and area residents are expressing disappointment at losing a familiar local business.

The State of Alabama has filed a third lawsuit against the Muscle Shoals Music Foundation concerning workers' compensation matters. The foundation, tied to the famed Muscle Shoals music scene, now faces repeated legal action from state authorities. Details of the specific allegations and the foundation's response have not yet been made public as the case begins moving through the courts.