West Alabama Friday Briefing
Friday, August 18, 2023, marks the end of our three days of comfortable weather. Both temperatures and humidity levels are heading back up as we move into the weekend and next week. Highs starting around midweek next week will be near 100. The good thing is the afternoon showers and thunderstorms are gone for a while.
Today's Forecast:
Today:Sunny, with a high near 93. Light north wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 68. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming northeast after midnight.
The Weekend Forecast:
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Northeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 96. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 74.
To Begin the New Work Week:
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 96
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74
Topping the News:
A Bibb County school bus fight video posted on social media is getting national attention. It shows 12-year-old Temorrious Crews in handcuffs and his mother Latrivia and a police officer exchanging punches. The youth was released from custody without charges, but his mother remains in the hospital with a swollen jaw and other injuries. Crew’s family members have told media there is no excuse for an officer to strike a woman. We expect more information from authorities later today.
Crowds on the Strip on University Blvd. between downtown and campus will deal with new security precautions for UA home game weekends this season. Temporary speed bumps and increased enforcement of loitering and open carry gun laws and parking ordinances will be in place in the wake of continuing overcrowding and sporadic violence in that 3-block area.
Bama Rush week will conclude Sunday with Bid Day and the rush of new sorority pledges to their new houses. But one rushee calling herself Bama Morgan is getting a lot of attention on Tik Tok for her honesty about the process. Morgan remarked that those who maintain a smile throughout the arduous Rush challenge are truly remarkable. she has been highlighting the stress and pressure many students face throughout this process.
Morgan's video has amassed 1.8 million views and 139,000+ follower so far and she is being praised for her honesty.
UA President, Dr. Stuart Bell has told reporters he expects the Tuscaloosa campus to have another record-breaking level of enrollment this fall. Official enrollment numbers will not be released until September, but Bell thinks UA will top its previous record-high enrollment of 38,645 students, set in the fall of 2022.
The Alabama Literacy Act mandates improvement in reading skills in grades 1 - 3 and a program based in Tuscaloosa called Reading Allies is attempting to do something about it. Volunteer coordinator Liz Kindred tell news partner ABC3340, they are looking for 700 volunteers.
Reading Allies began in 2017 as a collaborative effort between the UA Honors College, the Tuscaloosa Rotary Club, and the Tuscaloosa City Schools. To sign up to volunteer, visit: readingallies.org.
The U-S Army, Navy and Marine Corps are without commanders due to Alabama Republican U-S Senator Tommy Tuberville’s hold on almost 300 high ranking military promotions. That has prompted Arizona Independent Senator Kyrsten Sinema to call on Tuberville and President Biden to soften their positions on military abortions and find middle ground. Both sides are refusing.
In his Mayor’s Minute this week, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox is touting his presentation of the city’s two budgets two weeks earlier than required. Maddox credits his staff and the lack of complications for the early presentation. Maddox’s General Fund operating budget recommendation is $218,934,847 and the Water/Sewer Fund is $66,811,380.
More of you are going to WalMart for groceries and essentials than Target and Home Depot. WalMart reported stronger than expected sales for the first two quarter of the year. Both Target and Home Depot reported lower revenues.
The Alabama Cannabis Commission has approved TheraTrue Alabama LLC to operate a medical marijuana dispensary in Northport. However, a lawsuit by a failed applicant claims the commission again violated the state's open meetings law in the selection process. That applicant is asking the court to void the selection process and make them start over.
In Sports:
The Alabama High School Athletics Association (AHSAA) 2023 football season kicks off one week from tonight with a full slate of games across West Alabama.
Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze has named Payton Thorne as the week one starting quarterback for the Tigers. He spent the last three years at Michigan State.
Have a wonderful weekend and ROLL TIDE!
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