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Trump reveals how long he expects Iran campaign to last — as he mourns US troops killed

President Trump warned the ongoing joint US-Israeli war against Iran could stretch on for “four weeks or so” — as he mourned the three American service members killed in the conflict and said there could be more deaths.

Trump told Daily Mail Sunday that the campaign was “going as per planned” but said the strikes would continue for many more days.

“It’s always been a four week process. We figured it will be four weeks or so. It’s always been about a four week process so – as strong as it is, it’s a big country, it’ll take four weeks, or less,” he said.

The comments came as Israel and the US both continued to bombard Iran Sunday with the goal of obliterating the country’s military military capabilities — and particularly its missile stockpiles so it can no longer attack the Jewish state or other American interests in the region.

In a video address posted on his Truth Social Sunday evening, he paid tribute to the Americans who have died.

“As one nation, we grieve for the true American patriots who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation,” he said.
“Even as we continue the righteous mission for which they gave their lives, we pray for the full recovery of the wounded and send our immense love and eternal gratitude to the families of the fallen.”

He added: “Sadly there will likely be more before it ends,” he said. “That’s the way it is. Likely be more. But we’ll do everything possible where that won’t be the case.”
Trump urged members of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to surrender and allow the Iranian people to take over.

“I once again urge the Revolutionary Guard, the Iranian military police, to lay down your arms and receive full immunity or face certain death,” Trump said.

“It will be certain death. It won’t be pretty.”

He also urged Iranians in the street to rise up.

“Be brave, be bold, be heroic and take back your country. America is with you,” he said.
Iran lashed out Sunday at both Israel and Gulf states. Nine people were killed in a strike in Beit Shemesh, Israel outside Jerusalem.

One person was killed and several injured after shrapnel hit the airports at Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emarites.

The US military confirmed three American service members were killed and five were seriously wounded in Operation Epic Fury.

They are the first US troops killed in major military actions in Trump’s second term. His previous strike on Iran and the capture of Venezuelan president Nicholas Maduro were both undertaken without the loss of American life.

US CENTCOM, which is responsible for overseeing American military efforts in the Middle East and parts of Central Asia, said that major combat operations “continue and our response effort is ongoing.”
Pentagon officials said they were withholding the identities of the soldiers killed in action until 24 hours after their families have been notified.

It was not immediately clear where the service members were killed.
Iran has attacked US bases across the Middle East in response to the strikes that wiped out much of the Iranian leadership — including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Trump told the Daily Mail Iran was seeking talks now. “They want to, they want to talk, but I said you should have talked last week not this week,” he said.
The president said he had spoken Sunday with leaders in the region including the heads of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Jordan.

Trump said he would meet the families of the slain troops “at the appropriate time.”

Read More : Trump reveals how long he expects Iran campaign to last — as he mourns US troops killed
In unusually direct terms, Mobile County DA criticizes judge after acquittals in murder trial

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood typically is measured in his public comments.

Not this time.

Immediately following not guilty verdicts in a high-profile murder case on Thursday, Blackwood issued a scathing statement placing the blame on a decision by Mobile County Circuit Judge Michael Windom to throw out the testimony of the prosecution’s star witness.

Read More : In unusually direct terms, Mobile County DA criticizes judge after acquittals in murder trial
Alabama Power will spend $259 million on coal ash in 2026, projection shows

By Margaret Kates | mkates@al.com

Alabama Power, the largest utility in the state, will spend $259 million on its coal ash in 2026, according to records from the Alabama Public Service Commission.

For the coal ash pond at Barry Electric Generating Plant alone, Alabama Power projects to spend nearly $91 million in 2026.

But the utility will also earn nearly $11 million in ash sales in 2026, it projects.

In December, Alabama Power submitted to the public service commission its projected costs for complying with environmental regulations, including coal ash disposal, smokestack scrubbers, and sewage treatment. These projections play a key role in determining Alabama Power’s CNP (Rate Certificated New Plant), a rate applied to power bills to recoup some costs.
Under the typical Alabama Power family rate structure, a residential customer pays about $0.028 per kilowatt hour for environmental compliance.

Coal ash, what remains of coal after it has been burned for energy, is a major environmental concern in the state. Historically, it was stored in large ponds after being sluiced—saturated with water and then piped—from the power plant.

Ash is expected to cost Alabama Power billions to clean up: In 2020, the utility estimated coal ash closure costs to be $3.3 billion.

For all of its other environmental compliance expenses in 2026, Alabama Power projects paying $115 million. That’s less than half of what it expects to pay for coal ash this year alone.

Alabama Power has coal ash ponds at six plants: Barry north of Mobile, Gadsden, Gorgas, Greene County, and Miller and Gaston in the Birmingham metro area. In its projections, the utility estimated what capital expenditures will be needed for each pond, as well as the cost to close each pond, each year from 2026 through 2030.

Coal ash costs at Barry are the highest in 2026. Alabama Power estimates that it will spend $1.1 million on expenditures for the Barry pond, and $89.5 million on closure costs. The Barry ash pond contains an estimated 22 million cubic yards of coal ash.

From 2026 to 2030, the utility estimates that it will spend almost $433 million on coal ash costs at Plant Barry, the highest amount of its ponds in the state.
How to close the Barry coal ash pond, which sits along the Mobile River, has been debated for the last several years. In 2022, Mobile Baykeeper sued Alabama Power, arguing that its plan to cap the pond in place, leaving the ash and covering it with an earthen “cap,” is not sufficient to minimize the risk to the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. The case is pending in federal court.

Coal ash contains heavy metals like arsenic and cadmium. In November, David Bronner, chief of the Retirement Systems of Alabama, implored leaders to address the coal ash pond, arguing that if there were a spill, it would ruin Mobile Bay for decades.
Alabama Power argues their plan to leave the coal ash in place not only meets federal and state guidelines but is significantly less expensive. In court filings, the utility said the state estimates removing the coal ash—the plan favored by environmental groups—would add $4 billion in closure costs and take between 20 and 25 years.

But while it remains a significant cost burden, Alabama Power is able to generate some revenue from coal ash. In its projections, the company expects to earn $10.8 million in ash sales in 2026. Alabama Power also projects it will earn $1.3 million by selling gypsum, another byproduct of burning coal, this year.

Alyson Tucker, a spokesperson for Alabama Power, said the utility recycles 95% of the ash and gypsum that is produced from current electricity generation. Coal ash and gypsum can be used in many construction materials, like concrete, drywall, and roofing shingles.

“We will continue to pursue opportunities to the extent the market will allow, facilitating beneficial reuse of ash and gypsum in products like concrete and wall board,” Tucker said in an email.

The utility says it is able to sell some of the coal ash stored in ponds “at select sites.” In 2024, Alabama Power announced a partnership with Eco Material Technologies to recycle “almost all” of the coal ash at Plant Barry. Eco Material Technologies will operate a plant onsite to recycle the coal ash into cement. Construction is expected to be completed later this year.

Read more : Alabama Power will spend $259 million on coal ash in 2026, projection shows - al.com