West Alabama Friday Briefing
It is Friday February 16, 2024. The drought is finally over for West Alabama and most of the state. Thanks to 2" to 4" of rainfall across the region last Sunday and Monday the soil is no longer parched as it has been since mid-summer 2023.
The latest U.S. Drought Monitor reveals only an area of the Eastern Tennessee Valley of Alabama, and a small portion of South Alabama remains abnormally dry.
A Flood Warning remains in effect until tomorrow morning for the Tombigbee River at the Demopolis Lock and Dam affecting Hale, Greene, Sumter and Marengo Counties. The river is expected to crest one-foot above flood stage tomorrow afternoon.
Scattered showers are in the forecast for tonight without much accumulation. That will be followed by a cold front bringing chilly temperatures for the weekend. But the good news is, early springlike weather returns next week.
The Forecast:
Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Showers likely, mainly after midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 39. South wind 10 to 15 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 48. North wind 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 28. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 53. North wind around 5 mph.
Sunday Night: Clear, with a low around 27.
President's Day: Sunny, with a high near 62.
Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 36.
Remainder of the Week: Sunny days and clear nights. Highs mid 60s to mid 70s. Lows lower 40s to lower 50s.
Topping the News:
Alabama is another step closer to a lottery and gaming vote. The Alabama Senate is expected to begin debate next week on the proposal by Gov. Ivey to allow voters to decide if Alabama should have casinos, sports betting and a statewide lottery.
During debate in the house, Huntsville Rep. James Lomax told lawmakers, Alabama already has $2.3 billion in illegal gambling each year. Passing the bills will put controls on that. The bills passed the house by a wide margin.
Human traffickers use the interstate system to transport their victims, many of them underage. They use hotels and motels near interchanges in cities like Tuscaloosa to prostitute them.
The battle against trafficking in West Alabama is led by the West Alabama Human Trafficking Task Force. Captain Phil Simpson tells news partner ABC3340, partnerships with hotels along the training for their staff for what to lookout for is helping catch the traffickers. Several human trafficking arrests have been made by the task force locally over the last few weeks.
--44-year-old Kyandre Grant, 31-year-old Rashad Aaron, and 34-year-old Jamil Prentice have been charged in connection to the shooting death of 30-year-old Demarkus Hall at Landmark Apartments on Old Greensboro Road last month. The investigation revealed Hall was targeted for a robbery and was subsequently shot.
The sheriff's investigators reported illegal drugs are also involved in this case.
Tuscaloosa hotel occupancy was down just under 4% during the month of December, which is not unusual. However, the average daily room rate went from $95.48 in December 2022 to $100.57 in December 20, a 5.3% increase. Revenue per room went up 1.5%. Overall hotel revenue for December 2023 increased 6.2% to 5.8 million dollars.
Just released figures from the NCAA reveal the Alabama Athletic Department outspent and out earned Auburn. Alabama brought in $199.9 million in total revenue. Auburn earned in at $195.3 million in revenue. UA spent $212 million while Auburn shelled out $192 million. Bama made up for the deficit spending through gifts and donations.
Warrior Met Coal is searching for experienced and inexperienced miners. They will be conducting a job fair at the Jasper Career Center next Thursday between 9am and 2pm.
Topping Sports:
Alabama men's basketball guard Mark Sears has been named to the 2024 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy Player of the Year Midseason Team; the Naismith Awards as announced Thursday. Sears is one of five SEC players to be named to the list.
The 15th ranked Bama Men's Basketball Team has a critical home game tomorrow morning. The Tide (17-7 overall, 9-2 SEC) will host Texas A&M (15-9 overall, 6-5 SEC) 11:00am at Coleman.
Listen to the game on Tide 100.9, 1230 AM WTBC and 95.3 The Bear on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with Chris Stewart handling the play-by-play.
Need a packed house for "Breakfast with Bama".
The 17th-ranked Crimson Tide Baseball team begins the season hosting Manhattan at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. 1st pitch today is 4 p.m. followed by a 2 p.m. start on Saturday and a 1 p.m. game on Sunday.
13th ranked Bama Softball hosts Virginia and St. Thomas for the Eason Bama Bash this weekend at the Rhodes House. The Tide plays Easton a 4 this afternoon.
Have a wonderful weekend and ROLL TIDE!!
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