West Alabama Friday Briefing
It is Friday March 8, 2024.
There is light rain in the area this morning, but heavier rainfall is about to move into the state. That has prompted a Flood Watch for all of West Alabama through Saturday afternoon. Computer models are predicting 1.5" to 2" of rainfall over most of the area.
Besides the flooding there is a Moderate (3 in 5) Risk for flash flooding, north and south of the I20/59 Corridor. In West Alabama that risk covers extreme southern Tuscaloosa County along with Greene, Hale Marengo, Perry and Sumter Counties. This area could receive upwards of 4" to 6" this afternoon through 6:00pm tomorrow night.
A severe weather component is also present although the greatest energy for strong to severe storms will be in South Alabama. A Marginal (1 in 5) Risk exists roughly north of the I20/59 corridor with a higher Slight (2 in 5) Risk to the south.
After the rainy and stormy weather passes cooler temperatures will be around Sunday night through Tuesday morning with overnight lows Sunday and Monday in the 30s. Some areas further north could even see freezing temperatures.
The Forecast:
BREAKING: Jeff Hogg Steps Down from Northport City Council (953thebear.com)
There has been another shakeup on the Northport City Council. Physical threats, deaths threats and harassing communications toward Northport Council President Jeff Hogg, his family and even his employer has prompted him to resign, effective immediately. President Pro-Tem Christie Bobo is expected to assume the council presidency with a new council member appointed to fill Hogg's unexpired term.
Hogg and the council have faced several contentious issues recently that have sparked anger among some in Northport.
In an hour-plus, obscenity laced speech more like the campaign stump than a Presidential State of the Union, Joe Biden attempted to show the nation he is energetic as he laid out his agenda and defended the perceived poor economy.
Biden was countered Alabama Junior U-S senator Katie Britt who delivered the Republican rebuttal from her kitchen table and claimed, "Biden just doesn't get it, the average American family is hurting.".
51-year-old Gold Star Father Steven Nikoui was arrested after he heckled Biden from the gallery. His son was killed during Biden’s botched withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Muslim nation.
The Alabama Senate passed a 2-bill proposal for gaming and lottery yesterday. The bills will have to go back to the house because the legislation approved there does not match the bills passed in the upper chamber. Some lawmakers want to eliminate casinos and sports betting from the proposal while retaining a statewide lottery.
Spring break begins at 5:00pm today for students and faculty at the University of Alabama. Classes will resume Monday, March 18. Some UA offices will operate on reduced hours.
Gov. Ivey has signed the “Choose Act” that provides a refundable state tax credit for parents who want to home school or send their child to a private school. Critics believe the $7,000 will not provide enough money for poor families to take advantage of the program.
A bill already signed by the governor is expected to give protections to Invitro Fertilization Clinics across the state who were threaten by a State Supreme Court Ruling that claims frozen embryo are children. Most clinics have now reopened but a few remain closed concerned that the bill doesn’t provide adequate protection.
To the discouragement of some University of Alabama students, Republicans in the Alabama House of Representatives on Thursday advanced a bill that would prohibit diversity, equity and inclusion programs at universities and state agencies and another to put limits on absentee ballot assistance.
Representatives approved both bills on 75-28 party-line votes after Republicans moved to cut off debate. Both measures return to the Alabama Senate for senators to consider House changes.
Earlier in the week some UA students gathered on the state house steps urging lawmakers to vote no on Bill 129. More than 300 students were in Montgomery in an effort to meet with legislative leaders face-to-face.
Controversy has developed over plans to demolish the decades old pedestrian bridge over Veteran's Memorial Parkway East. However, area residents want to preserve it.
Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said the work required to extend the useful life of the bridge would exceed $2 million, and Councilman John Faile, who represents that area of the city, said no one really uses the pedestrian bridge anymore. City leaders said a traffic count showed less than 30 people crossing the bridge in a month.
One nearby resident who asked not to be identified by name told the Thread that the bridge once served the many families living in Cherokee Hills, Arcadia, Mayfair and other neighborhoods as they walked or bicycled with their kids to the nearby Arcadia Elementary School.
The resident said the bridge is in a cycle of decreased use because the average age of homeowners in the area is high right now and few have students at the school, but even now there are signs that things are changing as young families move into homes as they become available.
Topping Sports:
Alabama's women's basketball team, who received its first ever double bye in Southeastern Conference tournament history, will face Tennessee in the quarterfinals early this afternoon. The Crimson Tide defeated the Vols, 72-56, in the two teams' lone regular season matchup. Alabama's last trip to the conference tournament quarterfinals was in 2022 when it lost to Tennessee.
The Alabama men's basketball team (20-10, 12-5 SEC) celebrates "Senior Day" at Coleman Coliseum tomorrow when the Tide hosts Arkansas (15-15, 6-11 SEC). This is a critical game for Bama, which is on a two-game losing streak.
A loss would not only force the 20 and 10 Tide to play earlier the SEC Tournament next week but would further drop their national ranking and NCAA post-season tournament seeding.
The game is an early 11:00am tip-off on Tide 100.9 and 95.3 The Bear. Pregame begins at 10:00am.
Eli Gold's New, New Home (tuscaloosathread.com)
Released Voice of the Crimson Tide Football program Eli Gold has accepted a position for Jacksonville State's Baseball TV broadcast team next season. Long-time broadcaster of the Gamecocks, Mike Parris will remain at Jacksonville state as Gold will be filling in the position left by assistant sports information director Logan Maddox.
Have a safe and happy weekend and ROLL TIDE!!