West Alabama Thursday Briefing

It is Thursday April 18, 2024.

No hazardous weather conditions are in the forecast, but areas of Walker County could see some fog later today and night. The impacted area is expected to be from just south of Jasper, northward.

According to the National Weather Service in Birmingham, the fog could result in visibilities less than or equal to a mile.

If you will be headed east toward Gadsden a more significant fog risk is forecast.

The Forecast:

Today

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 85. Light southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Thursday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1am and 4am, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday

A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. South wind around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. North wind around 5 mph.

Saturday

A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75.

Saturday Night

A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. High near 60. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday Night

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Topping the News:

Human trafficking is a major issue in West Alabama due to the presence of the I 20/59 corridor. It makes it easy for traffickers to move young girls, women, even boys and men through the area and stop at area hotels and motels near the roadway. Several high-profile arrests have been made by the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force.

UA students and area youth are potential victims and men are lured to meet young and underage girls.

Now Gov. Ivey signed into law last night House Bill 42, "The Sound of Freedom Act." In a written statement Ivey said the anti-human trafficking law will become the toughest in America.The new law raises the penalty for first-degree human trafficking to a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment when the victim is a minor. “There must be a line drawn in the sand and Alabama is now leading the country with the toughest punishment for anyone who is found guilty of first-degree human trafficking of a minor." the statement read. " They will face nothing less than life behind bars."

Elected officials and residents in Northport are celebrating the reopening of the Northport Community Center. It had seemed doomed for demolition less than a year ago.

The city council last year voted to sell the community center and the property it sits on for private development at the end of six months of due diligence.

The community center, used for decades for square dance lessons, birthday parties and more, would have been demolished to make way for apartments and a coffee shop. The plan brought intense opposition from some Northport residents and others who use the center and adjacent park.

See: Northport Celebrates Reopening of Once-Doomed Community Center (tuscaloosathread.com)

Earth Day is Monday, and volunteers across Tuscaloosa County will spend the weekend keeping it green by clearing outdoor spaces of litter during three cleanup events.

Volunteers are needed "to help preserve the pristine beauty of Lake Tuscaloosa" during the city's 'Love our Lakes Day' on Saturday - especially those who can bring their own boats!

The event, presented by Russell Marine, runs 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, and people who have access to their own boat are encouraged to bring them to assist in cleaning the lake.

Those who want to participate are encouraged but not required to pre-register online here. Volunteers will then check in at the Rock Quarry Boat Landing on Lake Tuscaloosa, where city staff will distribute garbage bags and litter pick-up gear.

See: Volunteers Cleaning Up All Corners of Tuscaloosa County Saturday (tuscaloosathread.com)

The Tuscaloosa West Alabama Chapter of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is commemorating the 94th Anniversary of the NPHC's founding.

“The purpose of the NPHC shall be to foster cooperative actions of its members in dealing with matters of mutual concern,” said the NPHC. In addition, this organization is dedicated to enhancing the welfare of its member fraternities and sororities. It supports the creation and growth of local NPHC councils and offers leadership training programs for its members.

See: West Alabama Divine Nine Organizations Celebrate NPHC Anniversary (tuscaloosathread.com)

Stillman College has announced its 2024 commencement ceremony will be May 11th at Tiger Stadium on campus at 9:00a.m.

120 graduates across 15 majors will walk for their diplomas.

The keynote address will be delivered by Egypt Sherrod, executive producer of HGTV's popular show "Married to Real Estate,” and CEO of the Indigo Road Family of Companies.

Sherrod will also be presented an honorary doctorate.

Red Lobster, which has a restaurant in Tuscaloosa, is considering filing for bankruptcy, according to a report from Bloomberg on Tuesday.

Red Lobster is looking to restructure its debt, the report said, and may file for bankruptcy.

The restaurant chain has been struggling to keep up with lease and labor costs, according to Bloomberg. But the national chain has also faced other financial troubles.

As Tuscaloosa recently announced all TPD officers except undercover will wear body cams, an Alabama Senate Committee has delt a blow to those who demand transparency in officer involved shootings.

On an 8-4 vote the Senate Judiciary Committee voted down a bill that would have required the public release of police body-worn camera video and dash camera footage.

The bill would have made such recordings public record and require release within 30 days of a request to view the video. A person would be able to petition a circuit judge in the county if the law enforcement agency rejected the request to release the video.

Topping Sports News:

The Crimson Tide men's basketball roster is currently undergoing changes as they transition from the Tide's Final Four to the start of the 2024-2025 season. Alabama has already had five scholarship players, and one walk-on, enter the transfer portal. The only player who was out of eligibility, Aaron Estrada, is heading to the NBA. Despite Estrada being the only player Alabama had to lose, the Tide will look drastically different in 2024.

Now starting guard Mark Sears is set to enter the NBA draft per his Instagram, although there's a caveat to Sears entering the draft he will remain college eligible during the process.

See: Alabama All-SEC Guard Enters NBA Draft

Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Kalen DeBoer will speak at a leadership conference on May 9. The event is sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.

The coach's topic will be "Leadership from the Field with Coach DeBoer" will take place on May 9 at 4:30 p.m. at the Bryant Conference Center.

See: Kalen DeBoer Set to Speak at Conference

The Alabama Gymnastics Team is in Fort Worth, TX for today's beginning of the NCAA Championships Semifinals. The Crimson Tide will compete in the second semifinal session against Oklahoma, Florida and Utah at 8 p.m. at Dickies Arena. Alabama will start on the uneven bars, then advance to the balance beam and floor exercise before closing on the vault.

The top-two teams from each of today's semifinal sessions will advance as the final four to the NCAA Gymnastics Championships on Saturday. Arkansas, Cal, LSU and Stanford will compete in today's first semifinal session at 3:30 p.m.

The top-two teams from each of Thursday's semifinal sessions will advance as the final four to the NCAA Gymnastics Championships on Saturday,

For a second straight weekend series, 12^th-ranked Alabama baseball will host the nation's top-ranked team, this time in the Texas A&M Aggies. The three-game set begins with a pair of 6 p.m. starts on both tonight and Friday followed by a 2 p.m. first pitch in the Saturday finale. Tonight's matchup will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network with the final two contests streaming on SEC Network+. You can also hear the game on the Crimson Tide Sports Network.

May your Thursday be blessed and ROLL TIDE!!