WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced the Presidential Fitness Test Act of 2025. This legislation would codify President Trump’s Executive Order by formally establishing the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition to advise the President and advance national priorities related to physical fitness, sports participation, and nutrition awareness. It is designed to reverse declining fitness trends and return national attention to measurable, achievable youth health goals.

“‘Make America Healthy Again’ starts with making sure our children are physically active and develop healthy habits early in their lives. One way to achieve this is by building on President Trump’s effort to bring back the Presidential Fitness Test in our schools so the next generation learns to love fitness and understands the countless benefits that come with leading an active lifestyle,” said Senator Britt.

The Presidential Fitness Test Act of 2025 creates and codifies the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, comprising up to 30 presidential appointees, reestablishes the Presidential Fitness Test and award, and addresses obesity and inactivity by developing school-based physical education challenges and expanded access to sports.

“For decades, the Presidential Fitness Test, enacted by Kansas’ own President Eisenhower, motivated millions of young Americans to push themselves, stay active, and take pride in their physical accomplishments,” said Senator Marshall.“That same competitive spirit is what built America, and it’s time to restore that legacy.”

The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition was first created in 1956 to promote youth health and physical activity nationwide, encouraging millions of students to pursue active lifestyles and physical achievement. In 2012, the Obama Administration’s move to replace the Presidential Fitness Test with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program disincentivized the use of established fitness tests and measurable goals. Youth fitness has declined sharply, and approximately 1 in 6 children ages 10-17 have obesity.

“It’s important to help young Arkansans build good habits including engaging in a physically active, healthy lifestyle,” said Senator Boozman. “This bill uses a proven tool to accomplish that in addition to promoting long-term benefits for public health and personal well-being that serve to strengthen our nation.” 

You can read the full text of the bill here. 

Senator Britt is a consistent advocate for commonsense solutions to Make America Healthy Again, seeking improved FDA oversight and reporting through the Better Food Disclosure Act and supporting efforts to remove harmful synthetic dyes from our foods.

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Firefighter John (JR) Richard Gaudet was a firefighter for 11 years with the City of Binghamton Fire Department, NY. He was killed when a wall collapsed at the scene of a fire, trapping him in the debris. He was rescued but succumbed to his injuries at the hospital on February 12th, 2025. He was 40 years old.

Gaudet was born at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Binghamton. His mother has worked as a nurse there for 40 years, his sister works there, and his 3 children were born there. He was raised by his parents, Charles and Mary Ellen Gaudet, along with his sister Katherine. He graduated from Binghamton High School in 2002, then attended Binghamton University and later transferred to the State University of NY (SUNY) at Cortland. John’s love of sports started early. He picked up a lacrosse stick at 8 years old and never put it down. He played in High School and then Binghamton University where his skills helped the Bearcats win their first America East Conference championship in 2004. He played lacrosse at SUNY Cortland during the 2007-2008 seasons, finishing as Division III national runners-up- a huge accomplishment he was incredibly proud of. He coached multiple youth sports teams including Binghamton High and Seton Catholic Central School. He also coached his son’s football, basketball and lacrosse teams.

Gaudet met his wife Felly online in a chat room, shortly after joining the Binghamton Fire Department. They met in person a few months later and after just three dates, they knew it was meant to be. They married in 2015 and went on to have three children, Charles, Vanessa and Michael. Gaudet always said “Binghamton is my city” and was proud to serve his community and protect the people in it. He had the ability to bring out the best in everyone the moment he walked into the firehouse. He made everyone else his priority and was the heartbeat of his squad. Gaudet set the standard for all who knew him, for how to live, how to love and how to serve others.

Fireman John “JR” Gaudet is survived by his loving wife Felly, his children Charles, Vanessa and Michael, his parents Charles and Mary Ellen Gaudet, his sister Katherine and many loving family members and friends.

The Hoover Metropolitan Complex, a classic case of “if you build it, they will come,” has moved toward ever-greater success and versatility since getting its start with a $14.5 million stadium opened in 1988. The stadium was built by the city of Hoover to host the Birmingham Barons professional baseball team and then in 1998 became home to the SEC Baseball Tournament, which it still hosts.

The Barons moved on, leaving the stadium without one of its biggest draws, but now the site draws more sports activity than even the proudest proponents ever envisioned.

The Hoover Met’s most recent victories, of which there are many, are in no small part due to $105 million in additional investments by the city over the past decade to create an innovative 150-acre complex of modern, multipurpose facilities. The thriving sports, entertainment and meeting destination now draws more than 770,000 visitors each year, providing a $91.3 million annual economic impact.

Since 2022, the complex has generated more than $1 million each year in operating profit, including $1.3 million for fiscal 2025, says General Manager Shannon Ealy of Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), the company that manages the Met. “That’s unusual because typically city-funded sports venues operate at a loss. The Met is considered a model development.”

The city hired SFC, which now manages 90 facilities across the country, in July of 2016 to oversee development, marketing and management of the Met’s $80 million expansion as part of the city’s efforts to keep the SEC Baseball Tournament following the Barons return to Birmingham in 2012.

“The investment was controversial at the time but clearly has paid off in so many ways for the community,” Ealy says. “This has been our best year ever in terms of attendance and revenues.”

The Met routinely features a wide variety of both adult and youth athletic tournaments and games as well as offering fitness, recreation, conference and event options. Nestled in a tree-lined commercial, residential and multi-use section of Hoover easily accessed off Highway 459, the Hoover Met area boasts a plethora of restaurants, entertainment and shopping, much within walking distance of the complex. 

Hoover Mayor Nick Derzis, who took office in November and served as chief of police for the 20 years prior, says the complex serves multiple roles for the city: premier amenity for residents, one of the largest sports complexes in the state, and a national and regional sports destination.

“The Met provides world-class facilities to host a variety of events, and is where our children can play, compete and develop both athletically and personally,” he says. “Perhaps most importantly, the Met serves as a catalyst for growth and development in that corridor of our city. The complex has driven commercial investment, enhanced property values and positioned Hoover as a premier location for families and businesses alike.”

The Met’s success as an economic engine was profiled last July as the cover story for Community Playmaker, a media platform designed to bring attention to successful American communities and civic leaders.

The article highlighted the story of how after the Barons left the Met stadium in 2012, the city approved an $80,000 investment to create a 150-acre complex in order to fuel the destination’s reinvention. An additional $25 million in investments approved by the council in recent years to upgrade the stadium helped convince the SEC to extend its contract to at least 2028 with the option for an additional one or two years.

The Met’s success was shepherded from 2016 to October of this year by former Mayor Frank Brocato. “The Barons leaving in 2012 was the best thing that could have happened for revitalizing both Hoover and the Southside of Birmingham,” he says. “Both areas have benefitted greatly.”

He points to a reinvigorated UAB and Southside of Birmingham and the rapid growth of the area around the Met Complex. “It was a win-win,” he says. “The Met area has become a lifestyle magnet where people can work, live and play. And it’s even drawn more out-of-town visitors to shop at the Riverchase Galleria.”

The Hoover Met area has drawn multiple housing developments, 300 apartment units, the Village Green multi-use arts and entertainment district and the Stadium Trace Village shopping and dining district. Brock’s Gap Brewing Co., which hosts events and provides both indoor and outdoor seating, is located across the street from the Met.

Numerous hotels are located nearby, and more are being built. “I’m thrilled to have been a part of the Met’s success and to have served Hoover,” says Brocato, who spent 24 years as the head of emergency medical services and retired as fire marshal and chief of operations for the Hoover Fire Department prior to becoming mayor.

Met venues include the recently refurbished and upgraded 10,800-seat stadium that can accommodate 16,000, the 155,000-square-foot multi-purpose Finley Center, five baseball fields, eight softball fields, five multi-purpose fields (lacrosse, soccer, football), 16 tennis courts, a playground and splash pad, a 170-space RV park, and numerous parking lots to support all the facilities. “We have a wide variety of facilities and parking for up to 4,500 vehicles, a real draw for event organizers,” Ealy says.

The stadium not only hosts the famed SEC Baseball Tournament but also is modified from August through November to host Hoover High School football games. The Met’s standout facilities helped draw ongoing use by the Perfect Game, one of the youth sports industry’s top organizers of baseball and softball tournaments, better known as travel ball. “We have about a 90% repeat rate on our various scheduled events,” Ealy says. “Events such as the World Games 2022 and World Police and Fire Games 2025 are inherently one-off situations.”

The Finley Center is designed to be able to be configured for various indoor sports, including basketball, volleyball and pickleball, as well as trade shows, conferences, meetings and other events. It features a food court and industrial kitchen.

“We’ve even talked about doing weddings,” Ealy says.

Pickleball courts and a 0.2-mile elevated track at the Finley Center are available for use by Hoover residents when there aren’t conflicting events. In addition, the Finley is home to the Hoover Heights Climbing Center, which is open to the public and can be rented for birthday parties. The public also is able to access the Met’s tennis courts for a fee.

Additional events such as concerts, festivals, community gatherings and additional sports events likely will be added to the Hoover Met’s mix, Derzis says, and SFC is scouting for them.

“City officials have always wanted to get the most impact for all the taxpayer dollars invested in the Hoover Met, not just as a sports destination but as a community resource,” Ealy says. “We keep trying to think of new things that will fit in with our schedule.”

A “Bulls in the Ballpark” professional bull-riding event, for example, was added to the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium during August 2024 and is set to return in 2026, Ealy says.

Family-friendly events such as Fourth of July fireworks celebration and Spookfest safe trick-or-treating and fall festival are held seasonally.

Mayor Derzis envisions the Met of the future will have an even greater economic development and lifestyle impact than it does now. “I want families in our region to think of the Hoover Met Complex not just as a place where tournaments happen, but as a year-round destination for entertainment and community engagement,” he says. “This means being creative and proactive about booking events, partnering with promoters and organizations, and ensuring we’re leveraging every aspect of this incredible facility. It’s a facility that announces to the world that Hoover is a city that invests in quality of life and economic opportunity.”

 “Stay tuned,” Derzis says. “I’m excited about the possibilities.”

Kathy Hagood is a Hoover-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.

This article appears in the December 2025 issue of Business Alabama.

Charlton’s U18s produced an excellent display in an impressive 3-2 win over Liverpool in the third round of the FA Youth Cup on Saturday afternoon.

Despite a second-half comeback from Liverpool, Jason Pearce’s side held firm to progress into the hat for round four.

The young Addicks opened the scoring on 18 minutes, as captain Jack Belton unleashed an excellent strike from 25 yards that sailed past DJ Bernard and into the top corner.

Charlton continued to pile on the pressure and Shia-Lee Burnham called the Liverpool goalkeeper into action on 26 minutes. The confidence flowed, and Ellis McMillan doubled his side’s lead before the break.

Reuben Reid also tried his luck from range, but saw his shot hit the post just before half-time, as the young Addicks led 2-0.

Early into the second half, Charlton added a third to their tally as Bradley Tagoe fired the ball into the net from the left-hand side.

The hosts pulled a goal back just three minutes later through Josh Sonni-Lambie.

Finn Inglethorpe nodded a second goal home with three minutes of normal time left on the clock and stoppage time to play, but the young Addicks saw the closing stages out to secure an incredible win.

Jason Pearce was delighted with the performance from his young side. He said: “Going to Liverpool was a massive game for the boys in the third round of the FA Youth Cup.

“In the first half we were excellent and really dominated the game. We had multiple chances and went 2-0 up, but it should have been four. We played some really good football with some really aggressive pressing from the group.

“It was a little bit nervy towards the end of the game, but it’s a fantastic win. Any team going to Liverpool and getting a win is fantastic. We’re delighted with the performance because the boys gave us everything. We had boys going down with cramp towards the end just absolutely out on their feet, and the subs who came on made an impact as well.”

The young Addicks will travel to Watford or Plymouth Argyle in the fourth round, with ties having to be played by Saturday, January 24th.

Pearce’s in-form side are next in action on Saturday, January 10th when they take on Cardiff City at Sparrows Lane (KO 2pm GMT)

Charlton: Woodham; Elliott, Muvhuti (Ezenwata 90), Dawkins; Tagoe (Richman 66), Belton (c), Washington-Amoah, Valentine; McMillan (Podgorny 90+4), Burnham (Thomas 90), Reid (Davis 76)

Subs (not used): Williams, Mylona

Goals: Belton 19, McMillan 37, Tagoe 50

Charlton fans can support the academy by signing up to the Valley Gold scheme. Valley Gold enables fans to support the club’s academy in unearthing the talents of tomorrow, as well as giving them the chance to win cash prizes.

Click here for more information on how you can become a Valley Gold member.

In a clear sign that the Olympic Games LA28 are drawing closer, registration for the LA28 ticket draw officially opens on Wednesday, 14 January 2026.

The ticket draw marks the first opportunity for fans to attend the LA28 Games, providing the chance to secure a time slot to purchase tickets when sales begin in 2026. No payment or purchase is required to register.

Registration for the draw is a required first step for anyone interested in purchasing tickets to the Olympic Games. Fans must register through LA28’s official ticket page beginning Wednesday, 14 January 2026 to be eligible for a ticket purchase window for a chance to purchase tickets for all sports — from California classics including Olympic surfing at Trestles Beach in San Clemente, skateboarding in downtown Los Angeles, and sport climbing at the Long Beach climbing theater, to marquee events such as athletics at the LA Memorial Coliseum, artistic gymnastics at the DTLA Arena in the heart of Los Angeles, swimming at the stadium in Englewood, and and many more,

Tickets for the LA28 Paralympic Games will go on sale in 2027.

To stay informed and receive reminders about the ticket draw, fans can also sign up for the LA28 newsletter.

With a variety of options available for everyone to experience the Games in person, single-event tickets will start at $28. Residents in the greater Los Angeles and Oklahoma City regions who register for the ticket draw will also have the chance to secure a time slot during a special early access window. In addition to individual tickets, curated ticket-inclusive hospitality experiences and packages will be available from On Location and will go on sale in 2026.

Opening Day is usually reserved for the spring, but on Saturday, former Tiger Brandon Inge celebrated his own Opening Day for Inge Performance Lab, a new baseball training facility in Brighton.

“It’s been about six months that we’ve been tearing this place apart, trying to put it back together, put all the good technology in, the weight room,” said Inge, who spent 12 seasons with the Tigers from 2001 to 2012. “The funny thing is, when I finished baseball, I had no intention of coaching. I just wanted to sit back and watch my kids play. Then you watch some of the coaches; the way they’re coaching kids, they’re yelling and screaming at them, so I said I have to join in and make our game better, so that’s where it all started.”

Inge grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia, but he has made Michigan home after enjoying his time in Detroit as a player.

“It feels like home to me, always has been, always will,” Inge said. “I’ll be a Tiger until the day I die, and I’m so happy that our first [Inge Performance Lab] is right here.”

“He’s an adopted Detroiter,” said Inge Performance Lab partner Michael Foguth. “I’ve said that to him. His family has been here; he stayed here. He gives back to the community more than anyone I’ve ever met.”

Inge Performance Lab has a full-size Little League diamond, six batting cages with HitTrax technology and a world-class workout facility.

“My 8-year-old son is here today checking it out with his team,” said Tim Day from Brighton. “Just to have the space with the batting cages and HitTrax and the infield they can work on, it’s fantastic.”

Inge hopes to see some future major leaguers come through his training facility. He met with fans and signed autographs on Opening Day for his new training facility. Inge is still beloved by Tigers fans, and he remains a big fan of the organization that drafted him.

“I follow the guys, and I want them to do well,” said Inge. “I don’t get involved in the changes they make at this point, but I always want them to win. That’s my family. Detroit Tigers is family for life for me.”