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Beloved Alabama Restaurant ‘Suspending Operations' After 15 Years

Beloved Alabama Restaurant ‘Suspending Operations' After 15 Years

Yahoo21-05-2025
After more than a decade in business, popular Huntsville, Alabama restaurant 1892 East is shutting down.
Located at 720 Pratt Avenue NE in the city's historic Five Points district, 1892 East was known for Southern-based favorites such as fried green tomatoes, crispy shrimp and grits, fried chicken and pork chops, as well as other seasonal items and local craft beers.
The restaurant's proprietors announced its closure in a note to customers on the official 1892 East website.
"We are going to miss you. After 15 years serving Huntsville and the neighborhood of Five Points, we are suspending operations," the note reads. "We have truly loved being a part of your celebrations, date nights, and happy hours. Thank you for making us a part of your lives. Sincerely, Chef Steve Bunner and Mike Burleson."
In the wake of 1892 East announcing it was closing, one Google reviewer said the establishment was "my 1st choice for lunch since the day it opened."
"I just read they are closing after 15 years. I have enjoyed dining alone and with groups. Not sure where my go to place will be now, but I wish the well. I for one will miss this place," they wrote.
"Our cute little neighborhood spot is gone! We have loved loved 1892 East more than any other and we are truly so so sad to hear this," another social media user said, via AL.com.
'Nice restaurant. Sad news," said a third person.
No specific reason for the shutdown was provided, and none has been reported elsewhere as of Wednesday morning.
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Why cockpit audio deepens the mystery of Air India crash
Why cockpit audio deepens the mystery of Air India crash

Yahoo

time14 hours ago

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Why cockpit audio deepens the mystery of Air India crash

Investigators have uncovered a chilling discovery in the preliminary investigation into the Air India Flight 171 crash which killed 260 people in June. Just seconds after takeoff, both the 12-year-old Boeing 787 Dreamliner's fuel-control switches abruptly moved to the "cut-off" position, starving the engines of fuel and triggering total power loss. Switching to "cut-off" is a move typically done only after landing. The cockpit voice recording captures one pilot asking the other why he "did the cut-off", to which the person replies that he didn't. The recording doesn't clarify who said what. At the time of takeoff, the co-pilot was flying the aircraft while the captain was monitoring. The switches were returned to their normal inflight position, triggering automatic engine relight. At the time of the crash, one engine was regaining thrust while the other had relit but had not yet recovered power. Air India Flight 171 was airborne for less than 40 seconds before crashing into a crowded neighbourhood in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad, marking one of India's most baffling aviation disasters. Investigators are probing the wreckage and cockpit recorders to understand what went wrong just after takeoff. The Air India flight climbed to 625 feet in clear weather before losing location data 50 seconds in, per Flightradar24. Saturday's 15-page report offers early insights. The investigation - led by Indian authorities, with experts from Boeing, GE, Air India and Indian regulators, alongside participants from the US National Transportation Safety Board and the UK - also raises a number of questions. Investigators say the lever-lock fuel switches are designed to prevent accidental activation - they must be pulled up to unlock before flipping, a safety feature dating back to the 1950s. Built to exacting standards, they're highly reliable. Protective guard brackets further shield them from accidental bumps. "It would be almost impossible to pull both switches with a single movement of one hand, and this makes accidental deployment unlikely," a Canada-based air accidents investigator, who wanted to remain unnamed, told the BBC. That's what makes the Air India case stand out. Air India crash report live updates Fuel to engines cut off before Air India crash, preliminary report says Who are the victims of the Air India plane crash? "It does beg the question: why did the pilot, any pilot, actually push the switches to the off position," Shawn Pruchnicki, a former airline accident investigator and aviation expert at Ohio State University, said. "Was it intentional, or the result of confusion? That seems unlikely, as the pilots reported nothing unusual. In many cockpit emergencies, pilots may press the wrong buttons or make incorrect selections - but there was no indication of such a situation here, nor any discussion suggesting that the fuel switches were selected by mistake. This kind of error doesn't typically happen without some evident issue," he told the BBC. Peter Goelz, a former managing director of the US's NTSB, echoed a similar sentiment: "The finding is very disturbing - that a pilot has shut off the fuel switch within seconds of flying." "There's likely much more on the cockpit voice recorder than what's been shared. A lone remark like 'why did you cut off the switches' isn't enough," he said. "The new details suggest someone in the cockpit shut those valves. The question is, who, and why? Both switches were turned off and then restarted within seconds. The voice recorder will reveal more: was the flying pilot trying to restart the engines, or the monitoring one?" Investigators believe the cockpit voice recorder - with audio from pilot mics, radio calls and ambient cockpit sounds - holds the key to this puzzle. "They haven't identified the voices yet, which is crucial. Typically, when the voice recorder is reviewed, people familiar with the pilots are present to help match voices. As of now, we still don't know which pilot turned the switches off and back on," said Mr Goelz. In short, investigators say what's needed is clear voice identification, a full cockpit transcript with labelled speakers, and a thorough review of all communications from the moment the plane was pushed back from the gate to the time it crashed. They also say this underscores the need for cockpit video recorders, as recommended by the NTSB. An over-the-shoulder view would show whose hand was on the cut-off switch. Before boarding Flight 171, both pilots and crew passed breathalyser tests and were cleared fit to fly, the report says. The pilots, based in Mumbai, had arrived in Ahmedabad the day before the flight and had adequate rest. But investigators are also zeroing in on what they describe is an interesting point in the report. It says in December 2018, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) highlighting that some Boeing 737 fuel control switches were installed with the locking feature disengaged. While the issue was noted, it wasn't deemed an unsafe condition requiring an Airworthiness Directive (AD) - a legally enforceable regulation to correct unsafe conditions in a product. The same switch design is used in Boeing 787-8 aircraft, including Air India's VT-ANB which crashed. As the SAIB was advisory, Air India did not perform the recommended inspections. Mr Pruchnicki said he's wondering whether there was a problem with the fuel control switches. "What does this [bit in the report] exactly mean? Does it mean that with a single flip, that switch could shut the engine off and cut the fuel supply? When the locking feature is disengaged, what exactly happens? Could the switch just flip itself to off and shut down the engine? If that's the case, it's a really serious issue. If not, that also needs to be explained," he said. Others, however, aren't convinced this is a key issue. "I haven't heard of this which appears to be a low-profile FAA issuance. Nor have I heard any complaints [about the fuel switches] from pilots - who are usually quick to speak up. It's worth examining since it's mentioned, but it may just be a distraction," said Mr Goelz. Capt Kishore Chinta, a former investigator with India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), wonders whether the switches tripped because of a problem with the plane's electronic control unit. "Can the fuel cut-off switches be triggered electronically by the plane's electronic control unit without movement by the pilot? 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How to Season and Clean a Cast-Iron Skillet So It Lasts Forever
How to Season and Clean a Cast-Iron Skillet So It Lasts Forever

Eater

timea day ago

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How to Season and Clean a Cast-Iron Skillet So It Lasts Forever

is a food writer and baking enthusiast whose focuses include culinary history, seasonal cooking, and Southern cuisine. She splits her time between Birmingham, Alabama, and Tulum, Mexico. Few kitchen tools inspire devotion quite like the cast-iron skillet. It's the kind of pan that carries stories of grandmothers' Sunday chicken, late-night cornbread experiments, impromptu camping trips, and life's less-than-great moments healed by a sizzling steak. A well-seasoned skillet can easily become more than cookware; it's an heirloom meant for generations to come. But for something so beloved, cast iron is often misunderstood, either babied with nervous delicacy or left to rust in a graveyard of neglect. The truth? Cast iron is nearly indestructible, and with a few simple habits, it can outlive you. Here's how to make your cast iron skillet last forever — really, forever – without treating it like a high-maintenance houseplant. What exactly is cast-iron seasoning? A cast-iron skillet isn't like other pans. It's not made with nonstick coating or delicate materials. It's iron poured into a mold — dense, rugged, and slow to heat, but brilliant at retaining it.'When cast iron comes out of its mold, it has the rough texture of sand,' says Will Copenhaver, the vice president of marketing and sales at Smithey, a cookware company that specializes in heirloom cast iron. 'Seasoning plays a very important role in traditional rough cast iron. It acts as a filler for the porous surface and ensures that food doesn't stick – cast iron just wouldn't be very functional without it.' When you season cast iron, you're building up a thin, protective layer of polymerized oil that guards against rust and eventually creates a natural nonstick surface. That black patina isn't grime or wear, it's the goal. Most cast-iron skillets now come pre-seasoned, but it's still worth reinforcing the surface from the start. 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On the other hand, if the rust is a minor case of a few specks, you may be able to smooth them out with a little coarse salt and oil, no oven time required. In most cases, one or two rounds of scrubbing will restore the skillet to its original glory. If you have a tougher case, some brands, such as Smithey, offer restoration services. The bottom line? Don't overthink it. Cast iron is neither high-tech nor high-strung. It just needs consistent, simple care. Clean it gently, dry it completely, and give it a quick rub of oil before you put it away. You'll be rewarded with decades, if not generations, of reliable performance.

Petition demands new storm warning system in flood-ravaged Texas Hill Country
Petition demands new storm warning system in flood-ravaged Texas Hill Country

USA Today

time2 days ago

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Petition demands new storm warning system in flood-ravaged Texas Hill Country

"No more excuses," says the creator of a petition seeking a new early warning siren system for floods, tornadoes and other life-threatening emergencies. Nearly 40,000 people have signed a petition "urgently" calling for officials to create an early warning siren system for the flood-ravaged Texas hill country. The petition, created by Nicole Wilson of San Antonio, demands that modern outdoor emergency sirens be installed in hard-hit Kerr County to provide warnings for floods, tornadoes, and other life-threatening emergencies. "The tragic events at Camp Mystic and the devastating flooding along the Guadalupe River that happened in July are stark reminders that severe weather can strike with little notice," Wilson wrote on July 5. "A well-placed siren system will provide critical extra minutes for families, schools, camps, businesses, and visitors to seek shelter and evacuate when needed. "This is not just a wish ‒ it is a necessary investment in public safety," added Wilson, 42, an Army veteran and married mother of three. The petition comes as the death toll from the floods has risen to at least 120, while search and rescue teams and volunteers desperately scour for bodies. Ninety-six of those killed in Texas were in Kerr County in central Texas. More than 160 people remain missing, authorities said. At least 27 of the deaths were children and counselors at Camp Mystic, a beloved girls' Christian camp situated along the river. Wilson said she "strongly believes" that if there had been audible siren warnings at the camp, it could've given camp counselors and campers ‒ who had little notice when the flash flooding began ‒ enough time to possibly evacuate. "I personally have no doubt that even with an extra five minutes, those counselors would've seen the scenario and taken themselves to higher ground," Wilson, who served as a Sergeant First Class in the Army and specialized in military intelligence, told USA TODAY on July 9. "I strongly believe more lives would've been saved." How do flood warning systems work? Flood warning systems typically use a variety of resources ranging from advanced weather forecasting and real-time data collection to alert officials and the public about the potential for flooding, according to Alex Tardy, a former longtime warning coordination meteorologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These systems usually involve monitoring rainfall, water levels, and stream flow through sensors inside and out of the water and automated reporting to a central station, Tardy said. When certain thresholds are met, for example, if rain, flood, or river waters are rising, a series of alerts can be issued through sirens, depending on location, and text messages, added Tardy, who runs Weather Echo, a San Diego-based weather and climate data consulting company. The National Weather Service issued flash flood warnings for Kerrville County in the early hours of July 4, but people at the camp may not have gotten the warnings in time. "In a perfect world, you have a local warning system where officials can use any methods, including sirens, to notify their residents," Tardy said. 'No' is not an option, petition creator says How to properly warn residents, camps and parks along the Guadalupe River of potential flooding and other disasters has been debated for years, Wilson said. Initially seeking 1,000 signatures for her petition, Wilson said it is past time that Kerr County, part of a region nicknamed "Flash Flood Alley," receives an updated flood warning system. And she believes the state or federal government "absolutely" should be able to fund it. "We are not taking 'no' as an option any longer," Wilson said. "There are no more excuses." Nearly a decade ago, Kerr County asked for $1 million to build a flood warning system that would have upgraded 20 water gauge systems, added new water level sensors and posts, and created software and a website to distribute the information to the public in real-time. But records indicate that the Texas Division of Emergency Management repeatedly denied the county's request. Kerr County has long used software called CodeRed to notify residents about floods, fires and other emergencies via cell phone. 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Contributing: Kenny Jacoby and Rick Jervis, USA TODAY

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