West Alabama Friday Briefing

It is Friday April 19, 2024.A Dense Fog Advisory is in effect from Pickens and Tuscaloosa southward this morning until 9:00a.m.

It is going to be a wet weekend, making it difficult to get in outside activities. It is the month of "April Showers" you know?

Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms will make this a wet Friday. A couple of storms could produce 40-60mph winds and small hail this afternoon and during the early evening hours from Demopolis northward. However, widespread severe weather is not expected, and conditions are not present to produce tornadic activity.

Scattered showers and a few thunderstorms will again develop Saturday afternoon across West Alabama and become more numerous Saturday night and Sunday. The severe threat will remain relatively low.

At least the start of the new work week will be dry.

The Forecast:

Today

A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Patchy dense fog before 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 83. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tonight

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. North wind around 5 mph.

Saturday

A slight chance of showers between 10am and 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. North wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 50. North wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Sunday Night

Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 44.

The New Work Week

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Topping the news:

A Union vote has been set at Mercedes but not without verbal sparring. The war of words over the United Auto Workers unionization attempt has brought a "warning" from the state senator who represents the area where Mercedes Benz is located. as a vote on the union looms next month.

The 5,000+ non-union Mercedes employees will vote during a weeklong period next month whether to remain non-union or join the UAW as part of the $40 million push to unionize non-union automakers across the south.

In an Op-ed on Tuscaloosa Thread, Cottondale Republican State Senator Gerald Allen wrote, "These companies (non-union southern auto producers) are not merely contributors to our economy; they are vital components that generate over $72 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue.

He added, "I believe every worker has the right to choose for themselves whether union membership is right for them. But foul play by unions puts employee rights at risk. And Alabama's autoworkers deserve the full context of what joining the union could mean for them."

The Chattanooga Volkswagen plant's 4,000+ employees complete two days of a union vote today. Now the UAW and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has scheduled a vote at Mercedes for May 13th - 17th.

Also See: Workers at Tuscaloosa Mercedes Plant To Vote on Union Next Month (tuscaloosathread.com)

Unionization efforts at CVS Pharmacies are spreading according to Fox Business News. Workers at CVS stores in Rhode Island today requested to join The Pharmacy Guild, a U.S. trade union exclusively specializing in representing and unionizing pharmacy professionals.

The Rhodes Island pharmacists are joining others at CVS pharmacies in several other locations voicing concerns over inadequate staffing levels, they claim puts customer health at risk.

CVS has stores in Tuscaloosa/Northport and across West Alabama. So far there have been no union votes requested at CVS stores across the south.

Violence is not just an urban problem; it is growing in rural settings as well. The 2024 Rural Health Conference is being held in the Bryant Conference Center on the Alabama campus and is dealing with topics such as gender-based violence and sex trafficking, mass fatality management, and the effects of violence on communities.

The conferences' goal is to share information and knowledge about rural health issues, as well as solutions to address those issues.

Tuscaloosa native and Huntsville Police Officer Garrett Crumby has posthumously been awarded a Legislative Medal of Honor during ceremonies in Montgomery. Crumby died after being shot while in the line of duty, responding to a call, on March 28, 2023.

He was raised in Tuscaloosa, graduated from Hillcrest High School and began his public service career; first at Englewood-Hulls Volunteer Fire Department. Crumby then became a well-respected officer at the Tuscaloosa Police Department before going to Huntsville.

The Legislative Medal of Honor is the highest law enforcement award in Alabama.

Crumby's widow, Taylor, accepted the award on the House floor. Crumby's mother and sister were also present in the House gallery.

Computer network outages are continuing to plague Pickens County residents, businesses and some governmental operations.

Pickens County EMA Director LaKitha Bell says the problem started late Wednesday evening in Carrollton and Reform, later spreading to Gordo and Aliceville the following morning.

"There are still some cities that are experiencing outages, and they are spotty, not a whole city. There may be some residents who can call into the 911 center, and some may not,"

The service outages have impacted 9-1-1 access to some areas. Until further notice, residents can use the County's alternative line for 9-1-1 services at 205-579-1506.

The Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra (TSO) has announced its season finale concert, "Heroes,” will be Monday, April 29 at 7 p.m. in the Moody Concert Hall.

According to a press release from TSO, the finale “features Joseph Schwantner's powerful New Morning for the World: Daybreak of Freedom, which uniquely combines the stirring words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with lush orchestral arrangements.”

Also See: Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra Ends Season with "Heroes" Concert (tuscaloosathread.com)

Topping Sports News:

The University of Alabama Gymnastics Team's season is over, but the bright sport is that it ended last night at the NCAA National Gymnastics Championship Meet in Fort Worth, TX. Alabama has now posted 38 top-eight finishes since NCAA competition began in 1982, while also making 39 appearances as a team at the final site.

Bama had to count three falls on the beam, falls that the team's scoring could not recover from.

The final night was highlighted by two gymnasts earning All-America recognition as Luisa Blanco (uneven bars) and Lilly Hudson (all-around) each picked up second-team honors.

Alabama softball hits the road this weekend for a three-game series at Arkansas starting tonight at 6 p.m. Game two will air live Saturday on ESPN while being simulcast on SEC Network and game three on ESPNU.

The Crimson Tide Baseball Team's home battle with a #1 nationally ranked team for the second weekend in a row was washed out last night. Bama took two of three from then #1 Arkansas last weekend. The Hogs dropped to #2 and the new #1 Texas A&M visits the Joe this weekend.

With rain in the forecast, it will be a battle against the elements to get all three games in. The teams will attempt to play a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. this morning with game two set to start approximately 45 minutes after the final out of game one. Both contests will be nine inning affairs.

Saturday's series finale will remain as scheduled for a 2 p.m. first pitch at The Joe.

From UA Athletics: The Alabama rowing program is set to travel to Sarasota, Florida, to compete in the Big Ten Invitational over the weekend at Nathan Benderson Park, with competition set to begin this morning at 9:30 a.m.

Have a wonderful weekend and ROLL TIDE!!