West Alabama Friday Briefing

Good morning, West Alabama. It is Friday, November 22, 2024.

Watching the destruction of the once proud Tuscaloosa News building downtown this week had many of us longtime journalists comparing its demise to what is happening to print media, and legacy media in general, these days. Once almost every city had a daily newspaper, some major cities had at least two dailies. They all had large circulations.

Broadcast news in the 1930s initially didn’t damage newspapers much. In the early days of radio and then tv journalism, many of the major stations were owned by newspapers themselves. Plus, there was something relaxing about kicking back and reading in depth stories that broadcast news didn’t have time to tell.

Early television news in the 1950s didn’t hurt newspapers but the damage to daily newspapers was exacerbated by the advent of 24-hour cable tv news channels and local tv station live units in the 1980s. Getting the story as it was happening made printed dailies old news.

In more recent years, the cost of printing and online journalism has applied further pressure to newspapers. They began to cut back on staff and the number of papers printed as circulation began to erode. Then came the demise of some of the most famous newspapers altogether.

The Tuscaloosa News continued to be the standard bearer for printed newspapers until the last decade or so as lost revenue forced further cutbacks to a newspaper with a proud heritage.

Like many broadcast journalists, I got my start in print media, with the Tuscaloosa News. The late Charles Land was sports editor at the T-News in the late 60s, a giant in the business. He hired me to come in early in the morning to learn sports journalism from the ground up. I prepared the agate page with results from Little League to pro football, auto racing, baseball, basketball, bowling, golf, hockey, tennis and thoroughbred racing. Eventually I was allowed to begin writing stories and became hooked on newspapers.

Although I worked in the old downtown newspaper building that had once been a car dealership, there is something sad about seeing the most prominent symbol of the Tuscaloosa News pass from history after only a couple of decades in existence.

Watching that huge press rumble through that large window passing over the Hugh Thomas Bridge gave me reassurance and a comforting feeling about my own newspaper past. However, history is the story of change and that property overlooking the Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater will continue to make history as the new Saban Center. As the Saban Center’s website states, it will be “An interactive hub for education, arts, recreation and discovery so comprehensive that it can truly be called The Center of It All.”

Goodbye T-News building. You had a great run.

(Opinions expressed in Morning Briefing are not necessarily those of the ownership, management or staff of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)

Weather:

Protect people, pets, pipes and plants tonight. The National Weather Service in Birmingham has issued a FREEZE WARNING for all of West Alabama overnight.

The Forecast:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 55. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Patchy frost after 1am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 33. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday

Areas of frost before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 59. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.

Saturday Night

Patchy frost after 4am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 35. Calm wind.

Sunday

Patchy frost before 7am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 50.

Next Week

Sunny and in the 70s Monday. Chances for rain move back in Monday night through Thanksgiving Day. Highs Tuesday through Thursday in the mid 60s, lows in the lower 50s.

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Topping the News:

Mercedes-Benz continues to show confidence in Tuscaloosa County. A new Automotive Logistics Facility to be built in Vance will cost more than $16.3 in capital investment. Construction on the new 112,000 square feet space will begin this month and is expected to wrap up by April 2026,

Aliceville is looking for stopgap measures to save lives as Pickens County’s medical crisis continues. With the county’s only hospital closed and the future of the one ambulance serving the entire county in doubt after December first, Aliceville Mayor Terrence Windham is urging residence to learn to live more healthful lives.

Windham is also advising residents to subscribe to a one of two air ambulance services available to speed response times and to be able to afford the expensive service.

CPR classes are also being organized by the City of Aliceville to get residents certified.

Ground has been broken on an $11 million project to transform the Tuscaloosa Tennis Center into a major training and competition center.

The expansion will add 17 new outdoor tennis courts and dramatically upgrade Jaycee Park, demolishing decades-old restrooms and installing new ones and a concession stand, plus a shaded pavilion and enhancements to the walking trail including new path and top-notch lighting and security cameras.

Members of the "Ceasefire Campaign" will conduct a 6:00pm candlelight vigil Monday night at Kaulton Park. The aim of the campaign is to steer youth away from gun violence by prompting them to avoid use of drugs, stay away from gang activity and get an education. The group also wants communities to form "Neighborhood Watch" programs.

The 31st Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger (BABH) campaign ended yesterday. During the seven weeks leading up to the Iron Bowl next weekend, the BABH food sought to unite University of Alabama students, faculty, staff, alumni, and Tuscaloosa and Northport community members to help fight hunger and poverty in West Alabama.

All donations for UA go to the West Alabama Food Banks.

Results of the competition will be released today.

Kourtney Grace Duggins has been arrested and charged with the attempted murder of her husband. The incident took place on North Airport Road in Walker County Wednesday.

The victim received on-scene medical care by Jasper Fire and Regional Paramedic Service. He was transported to UAB.

Northport is getting its first ever Starbucks. The stand-alone facility will be constructed on property already purchased between Lurleen Wallace Blvd. and 20th Avenue.

Purchasing medications online has become popular but DCH Regional Medical Center is issuing a warning that could save your life. Unapproved or counterfeit drugs are proving to be potentially dangerous.

DCH says many of the drugs being ordered contain potentially lethal Fentanyl. The medical center has seen patients which have purchased pain medications and weight loss drugs that have turned out to be fake.

The problem is not with legitimate online pharmacies but with those who sell drugs without a prescription or make offers too good to be true.

Topping Sports News:

Alabama will be without three key players due to injury when they head to Norman, OK later today. Cole Adams, Keon Sabb, and Que Robinson are all out for tomorrow night’s ballgame against the Sooners.

On the OU side of the ball the roster of players out looks like a list from a military MASH unit. Nine players are listed as out while one is doubtful and two are questionable.

No. 7 Alabama and Oklahoma will kick off on ABC at 6:30 p.m. CST. Follow along on Tide 100.9, the free Tide 100.9 app, 95,3 The Bear and 1230AM.

Round three of the Alabama High School Football Playoffs is set for tonight in the seven state classifications.

Class 1A: