WEST ALABAMA FRIDAY BRIEFING
It is Friday, June 30, 2023, the last day of June and the head-end of a long hot 4th of July Holiday Weekend. We will have at least a couple of more days of extreme heat before temperatures begin to moderate to more normal levels.
Dangerously hot conditions are expected today, and Saturday as daytime heat indices range from 105-115 degrees. That has prompted the National Weather Service in Birmingham to issue an Excessive Heat Warning for today and Saturday for all of West Alabama. Heat indices are what the air will feel like when humidity is taken into account.
There is also a Marginal (1 in 5) Risk for strong to severe thunderstorms today and tomorrow. Damaging winds and large hail are the primary threats both days.
Topping the News:
Prolonged exposure to excessive heat conditions could rapidly result in heat exhaustion or heat stroke. The Alabama Department of Public Health is encouraging Alabamians to make sure to stay hydrated and take frequent breaks in a cool location if you must spend time outdoors! heat exhaustion can sneak up on you if you are not paying close attention.
Three cooling stations have been setup in the cities of Tuscaloosa and Northport and in the county. They are Maranatha Adventist Church…Alberta Baptist Church and Forest Lake United Methodist Church. Check the Tuscaloosa County EMA website for the number to call if you need a ride.
A 60-year-old Tuscaloosa man is expected to survive wounds he suffered when he was shot by a woman during an argument Thursday night. 40-year-old Natasha Gordon has been arrested and charged with first-degree assault after she opened fire on the man as he was leaving her residence in the 2200 block of MLK Jr. Blvd, where the argument took place. TPD officers called to the scene allegedly witnessed the incident.
A shooting early yesterday morning followed a similar pattern. A man and a woman got into an argument leading the woman to shoot the 43-year-old man, who later died from his wounds. Forty-year-old Talina Howze has been charged with murder in that shooting near Bonita Terrace.
If you are one of the millions hitting the road this holiday weekend, you will be paying more than a $1.30 lower for a gallon of gas than last year’s 4th of July holiday. Across Alabama a gallon of gasoline is averaging $3.09 a gallon. In Tuscaloosa County a gallon will cost you $3.11. Perry County has the most expensive gas in West Alabama at $3.34 a gallon.
With a record number of people traveling ALEA State Troopers will be out in force on state roadways and waterways. They are reminding motorists and boaters to not drink and drive, follow posted speed limits, buckle-up in a car and wear a flotation device in a boat.
Also, work zones have been shut down by ALDOT for the holiday weekend but still slow down when you approach those orange barrels.
Yesterday’s U-S Supreme Court striking down affirmative action in college admissions has some Alabama leaders voicing their thoughts. West Alabama Democrat Congresswoman Terri Sewell called the ruling an extreme reversal, saying the court has chosen to ignore our history and roll back our hard-fought progress.” Alabama’s House Minority Leader Rep. Anthony Daniels believes race shouldn’t be the main factor but should be a factor in admission. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall was among several state attorneys general seeking the court reversal.
The Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreations Authority (TCPARA) is celebrating Park and Recreation Month by emphasizing the vital role parks and recreation plays in bringing people together, providing essential services and fostering the growth of our communities. They are inviting everyone in the community to share how parks and recreation have benefitted them and positively impacted their quality of life.
In Sports:
Carrollton, Ga Tight End Caleb Odom has narrowed his school choices to Alabama, Ole Miss, Miami, Texas A&M and Florida according to his Twitter post Wednesday. In the post the 6-5, 215-pound Odom wrote, "T-Town this weekend, Let's get it!!"
Last season Odom caught 63 passes for 1,121 yards and 13 TD. He helped Carrollton go 14-1 and make the finals of Georgia’s 6-A football playoffs.
Have a safe and happy holiday weekend an remember the holiday is to commemorate the founding of our nation. Happy Birthday USA!
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