West Alabama Friday Briefing

Friday, August 25, 2023, brings yet another day of Excessive Heat Warnings for all of West Alabama until 9:00 tonight. A heat index up to 111 degrees is possible this afternoon with the thermometer temperature bumping up against 100.

Remember to take extra precautions if spending time outside, including frequent breaks in the shade and hydration. Stay hydrated, take frequent breaks, check on those that may not have AC, never leave kids or pets in vehicles, and limit time outside if possible.

If you are planning on attending a high school football game tonight, please make sure you stay hydrated. Health experts advise you to get water or some type of hydration replenishing drink at the concession stand.

There is some good news, beginning Tuesday, high temperatures will drop back into the more seasonable mid 80s with overnight lows in the 60s.

The Forecast:

Today: A low chance of showers and storms with the best chance in the southwest. Highs will be in the upper 90s to lower 100s.

Tonight: Any showers and thunderstorms could Linger into the evening. Lows will be in the 70s.

Saturday: Spotty showers and storms on Saturday. Most of the activity will be in the peak heating. Highs will be in the upper 90s to lower 100s.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 75. North wind around 5 mph.

Sunday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Sunny, with a high near 96. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.

Beginning of the New Work Week: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Monday with mostly sunny, with a high near 91. There is a 40 percent chance for showers and thunderstorms Monday night with a low around 71.

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All eyes are on the progress of a tropical system forming in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Computer models show it moving into the eastern gulf toward the end of the weekend with steering currents taking it to a landfall across Florida. It could follow a similar track to last September's devastating Hurricane Ian that made a rare landfall near Tampa.

The good news for Alabama is that we will be on the western side of the storm which is least impactful. The Wiregrass Region of Alabama could receive some beneficial rainfall. But there is another upside for the deep south. The storm system could pull down a cold front that would end the heat and also serve as a blocking mechanism for a second landfall along the east coast.

Former President Trump has become the first former president in history to be arrested, booked, fingerprinted and had his mugshot taken and then released publicly. That happened in Atlanta last night.

Alabama Senior Senator Tommy Tuberville told Newsmax the whole Democratic Party led event is disrespectful to a former president and to our country. He also believes it will backfire on Democrats in the coming elections. The Trump campaign already is selling mugshot campaign t-shirts and coffee mugs.

The Walker County Courthouse is closed indefinitely due to a massive water leak in the upper floors that damaged lower floors when a pipe burst. Citizens can still call departments and leave messages. Most calls are being forwarded to the department's appropriate person via cell phone, according to county administrators.

The Tuscaloosa City School system has 113 bus routes and 49 air-conditioned buses. Three more will be purchased this year. 50 to 60 new buses will be delivered in 2025 to give the city system a 100% air-conditioned fleet. Air-conditioned busses cost $10,000 dollars extra per bus.

A current city system school bus is being transitioned to feature a wide selection of children’s books and will have comfortable seating with free wi-fi and tablets that can be used to read electronic books or play learning games. The Literacy Bus should be available by the end of this school year. Parents can check the Tuscaloosa City School System website for when the bus will be operational and its schedule.

Tuscaloosa City Schools will host a trio of community input sessions next month to hear from parents and area residents about the future of the system.

TCS announced the meetings Thursday and said they would be held on September 11th, 13th and 14th, a Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The first session will be held on September 11th in the Central High School Auditorium on 15th Street. The Wednesday session will be held at Northridge High School, and the Thursday meeting will be at Paul Bryant High School.

All three will be held from 6 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

Police are investigating claims of self-defense after a predawn shooting in Tuscaloosa Thursday morning left one man dead.

Jack Kennedy, the commander of the multi-agency Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, said officers were called to Water Oak Apartments on Hargrove Road East around 12 a.m. Thursday on reports of a shooting. A wounded man was found and transported to the hospital but did not survive.

A year after the deadly accident, a driver has been charged with manslaughter for the death of a Nebraska woman in Tuscaloosa to move her child into a University of Alabama dorm room.

Stephanie Taylor, a spokesperson for the Tuscaloosa Police Department, said Charlotte Leigh Wallin of Imperial, Nebraska was in the Druid City with her family for freshman move-in last August.

While four of the family members were walking on the sidewalk of Jack Warner Parkway between Hackberry Lane and Marrs Spring Road, Charlotte Wallin was struck by a motorist.

Taylor said the 45-year-old Nebraska woman was taken to DCH Regional Medical Center, then to UAB Hospital where she died the following day.

The driver, 31-year-old DaQuisha Meshunda Frank, reportedly told officers she was driving eastbound at around 60 miles per hour when she lost control of her 1999 Buick Century and drove onto the sidewalk before veering back onto Jack Warner and coming to a stop in the westbound lanes.

Frank was later found to be driving under the influence.

In Sports:

In Thursday night High School Football: Fayette County edged Cordova 12-7 and Winfield outscored Dora 23-20.

Week Zero Prep Football action continues with a full slate of action tonight: Linden is hosting Choctaw County, Washington County visits Marengo, Holy Spirit is home to TA, University Charter is traveling to Hubbertville, Pickens County will be hosting rival Aliceville, Francis Marion welcomes Dallas County, South Lamar is at Lamar County, Greene County makes the short trip to Greensboro, Oakman home to Sulligent, ACA will be hosting Demopolis, Brookwood is at Holt, Gordo is traveling to Sipsey Valley, West Blocton hosting Shelby County, Northside hosting Hale County, Tuscaloosa County at Central, Paul Bryant home to Park Crossing and Northridge hosting Oak Mountain…and tomorrow morning at 11am Hillcrest will be at Southaven MS.

The 2023 College Football Season kicks off tomorrow with some notable games.: