• Gov. Kay Ivey is apologizing for participating in a blackface college skit after being made aware of a decades-old radio interview of she and her then-fiancé discussing the event.
• The governor said that even after listening to the tape, she does not recall the skit or the interview itself, but would not “deny what is the obvious.”
• The recording, soon to be released as part of an Auburn University Libraries historical audio project, includes an interview with Ivey and her then-fiancé Ben LaRavia describing a skit involving black paint on her face. The couple was asked about their “most hilarious” memories from Baptist Student Union’s skit night.
• “As I look at my fiancé across the room, I can see her that night,” LaRavia said. “She had on a pair of blue coveralls, she had put some black paint all over her face, and we were acting out this skit called ‘Cigar Butts.’
• Asked by the interviewer if she’d like to “defend herself” from her fiancé’s characterization, Ivey laughingly says, “that was just my role for the evening,” before quickly changing to another memory from that night.
• “I offer my heartfelt apologies for the pain and embarrassment this causes, and I will do all I can – going forward – to help show the nation that the Alabama of today is a far cry from the Alabama of the 1960s. We have come a long way, for sure, but we still have a long way to go.”
• Listen to the full recording, see Ivey’s video apology, and read reaction from lawmakers and others in mine and Mary Sell’s story HERE.

• Montgomery Biscuits pitcher Blake Bivens said his “heart was turned to ash” when his wife, 1-year-old son and mother-in-law were slain this week.
• “My life as I knew it is destroyed,” the 24-year-old pitcher wrote Thursday night in an Instagram post, his first public statement since the slayings. “The pain my family and I feel is unbearable and cannot be put into words. I shake and tremble at the thought of our future without them.”
• Bivens flew from a road trip back to southern Virginia when he learned of Tuesday’s tragedy. He was accompanied by Montgomery Biscuits manager Morgan Ensberg.
• “It was awful,” Ensberg said. “Blake is an incredibly strong man. He’s an incredibly strong man, and he went through just a rotation of tearing up, and then he would shake and then he would just stare.
• “I didn’t let him out of my sight.”
• The 18-year-old brother of Bivens’ wife has been charged with first-degree murder in the slayings, which have shocked his coaches, teammates and the community where his family lived.
• “You don’t wish this on any community, any family,” Pittsylvania County Sheriff Mike Taylor said. “We’re a small community. It affects us all.”
• Bivens posted a series of photos of his wife Emily, 14-month-old son Cullen and mother-in-law Joan Bernard.
• Read the full story and see the Bivens’ Instagram post HERE.
• Also read the Advertiser’s Kirsten Fiscus’ moving story HERE.

• Montgomery Mayor’s race: what happened, why it matters, and what’s next;
• The meltdown over the Mobile Bayway and potential upshot;
• AL-2 confirmed and potential candidate update;
• Tax Tribunal throws out $75 million Greenetrack tax assessment;
• Charlotte Meadows plans to remain at LEAD Academy if elected to State House;
• Wireless providers, cities still struggle to find “5G” agreement;
• Graddick bringing a familiar face to Pardons and Paroles.

• Sadly, this is Skip Tucker’s last column as a featured columnist for Alabama Daily News. He’s stepping away for now and stepping into a role inside state government. But I’ll let him tell you about it.
• In researching for his new role, Skip came across some disturbing information about how infrequently homicides are solved and the perpetrators put away.
• It got him writing, and it has us reading.
• Here’s an excerpt:

• Read Skip’s full column HERE.

Auburn’s Bo Nix getting tossed into fire, just like his Dad

• Bo Nix is getting thrust right into the fire as Auburn’s new quarterback.
• Just like his father, nearly 26 years ago.
• The 16th-ranked Tigers’ freshman is set to make his college debut Saturday against No. 11 Oregon in Arlington, Texas, in a nationally televised game with ESPN’s College GameDay in town for the game.
• “I guess it’s as good as you can write up, but College GameDay for a freshman walking in … some people view that as tough, but I kind of see it as fun just because it’s what you prepare for,” Nix said. “I mean, why else would you play if you can’t play at the highest atmosphere, environment and all that stuff? It will be fun, and we’ll be ready to go.”
• At least he had significant warning before being thrust into such a high-stress situation. His dad and high school coach, Patrick Nix, came off the bench for Auburn in the 1993 Iron Bowl, facing fourth-and-15 after a knee injury to starter Stan White.
• Full story HERE.

No. 2 Alabama’s defense absorbs tough hits before opener

• The hits keep on coming for Alabama’s defense in 2019.
• The latest blow to the second-ranked Crimson Tide defenders was Tuesday’s knee injury to star middle linebacker Dylan Moses that likely sidelined the defensive play caller and leader for the season. Fellow starting inside linebacker Joshua McMillon was also knocked out of the lineup with a knee injury in preseason camp at another position where there was already scant experienced depth.
• It has left this Alabama defense a work in progress going into Saturday night’s opener with Duke, though there’s never a shortage of talent in Tuscaloosa.
• The Tide is expected to start three freshman defenders against the Blue Devils. Christian Harris has already moved atop the depth chart to replace McMillon. Shane Lee is the likely candidate to replace Moses and nose guard D.J. Dale is manning the position vacated by No. 3 overall NFL draft pick Quinnen Williams.
• “It’s definitely crazy,” Alabama defensive end Raekwon Davis said. “When I came in, there wasn’t really an opportunity for a freshman to really just play like that.”
• Full story HERE.