West Alabama Friday Briefing
It is Friday, September 1, 2023, the beginning of a long Labor Day weekend. Many are taking off today through Monday and travel experts are predicting this will be the busiest holiday travel weekend of the year so far and one of the busiest Labor Day travel periods ever.
A study by AAA found some 57% of Americans plan to be on the road, railroad or in the airways between now and next week. The Federal Aviation Administration is predicting the last getaway of the summer will be one of the busiest, with more than 250,000 flights scheduled through next Tuesday. However, if you are flying, the FAA cautions that 1 in 4 flights are being delayed an hour or more.
The busiest time on the road, according to triple A will be between 2:00pm today and 6:00pm Monday.
Not only is it the Labor Day Holiday Weekend but also the beginning of the Crimson Tide's 2023 football season. When the game kicks off at 6:30 tomorrow night at Bryant-Denny Stadium it should be good football weather. Partly cloudy skies with a low of 68 are expected.
The Labor Day Weekend Forecast:
Today: A slight chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. High near 84. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming southeast in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Tonight's High School Football Forecast: Showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers between 11pm and 1am. Low around 70. East wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 10am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. East wind around 5 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm Sunday with otherwise mostly sunny skies and a high near 87 and a low of 66.
Labor Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89
Topping the News:
TPD and UAPD have been working for weeks on a plan that will allow football fans crowding the strip to have a good time while also being safe on game day. TPD Cpt. Mark Grimes told News Partner ABC3340 the extra security is intended to keep everyone safe, not interfere with a good time. Two extra precautions that will be enforced is no open containers of alcohol outside and no parking after 6am on game days.
The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) International President Cecil Roberts is voicing his sadness and concern for the families and victims of an incident Wednesday that took the life of one miner and injured two others at the Warrior Met Coal Mine #4 in Brookwood. In a written statement Roberts said union safety experts have joined the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit and the Mine Safety and Health Administration in the investigation of the cause of the incident.
Four leaders will be inducted later this year into the Tuscaloosa County Civic Hall of Fame for the impact they've had and continue to have on West Alabama. The nominees include Civil Rights and community activist Christine Coleman, mortgage banker and outdoor activist Bev Leigh, III, longtime University of Alabama administrator, Dr. Pamela H. Parker and Ellen Potts, the executive director at Habitat for Humanity of Tuscaloosa.
The embattled effort to provide medical marijuana to the state is again in a pause.
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission voted Thursday to impose a stay on the issuance of licenses that were awarded on Aug. 10. The decision was made amid multiple lawsuits.
One of three lawsuits the commission is facing was filed by a company called Alabama Always. It is one of the companies that was originally not awarded a license. Alabama Always is accusing the commission of illegally operating behind closed doors.
The initial plan was to issue business licenses on Sept 19, but after Thursday’s vote, there is no time frame on when that could happen.
Today is College Colors Day at the state capital. It is an annual event meant to promote the traditions, spirit, and value of higher education in Alabama declared by Gov. Ivey. Alabamians are encouraged to wear the school colors of their choice. Mascots of all the state’s colleges will be at the capital today.
In Sports:
Central’s 38-18 win over Woodlawn last night was the only local game on the prep schedule. Tonight, everyone is in action except Northridge. Holy Spirit is at South Lamar, Fayette County visits Sulligent, American Christian travels across the river to TA, Bibb County is home to Gordo, Northside welcomes Cleburne County, Demopolis hosts Jackson, Hillcrest travels to Pike Road, Brookwood dedicates the new Billy Joe Young Stadium against West Blocton, Paul Bryant hosts Minor, Tuscaloosa County gets a visit from Bessemer City and Jasper hosts Cullman.
Atlanta Right Fielder Ronald Acuna, Jr. got married yesterday morning. Last night he hit a grand slam homer for the Braves against the LA Dodgers. In the meeting of the two best teams in baseball, the Braves held on for an 8-7 win. Oh, and by-the-way, Acuna became the first player in major league baseball history to get 60 hits and steal 30 bases in a single season, and there is still a month left in the season.
It makes no difference who the starting quarterback will be tomorrow night, the University of Alabama will open the 2023 season as a 39.5-point favorite to beat Middle Tennessee at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The over under is 51.5-points.
Kickoff is 6:30 on the Crimson Tide Sports Network as Eli Gold returns to the play-by-play microphone after his successful bout with cancer.
Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend and remember, it is the working men and women who keep this country running.
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