West Alabama Friday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Friday, January 3, 2025.
Friday Morning Observations:
By habit I turn off Christmas and New Year's lights and decorations at the end of New Year's night. But I have noticed a number of people still have theirs up and shinning. I'm not talking about those who leave lights hanging from their gutters all year long.
In passing, I asked a neighbor about it, and he had a good answer. He talked about the joy and color the decorations add during the darkest time of the year when the days are shorter. But he also mentioned the peace and happiness it brings to people in a deeply troubled world.
He is right, driving by the lights never fails to put a smile on my face (and in many cases gives me ideas for the holiday season this year). The nativity scenes in yards bring a sense of peace and purpose to life that the holiday is not just about Santa Claus.
Wars in the Ukraine and Middle East, terror attacks across the world and in our own backyard, political conflict, threats from enemies, cyber-attacks, violent crime, disasters, a deeply divided society, misinformation and anger dominate the news. But they don't have to dominate us.
We can each choose a New Year's resolution to work every day to make life better for our state, county and city by working with each other instead of against each other. We can choose to give, not take.
(Opinions expressed in Morning Briefing are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the ownership, management, staff and sponsors of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)
Weather:
At least one computer model is predicting snow in North Alabama late next week, but all the others are not. So, let's not buy into the social media frenzy about snow and ice quite yet. It is not time to rush to the store for bread and milk, unless you actually need bread and milk.
Temperatures will actually bump up to near 60s today before a breezy cold front moves through making it feel cooler and then dropping overnight lows to the upper 20s.
There is also a Marginal (1 in 5) Risk for strong to severe thunderstorms Sunday according to the Storm Prediction Center.
The Forecast:
Brutal Beating in Perry County
Fifty-five-year-old James Bradley Hobson and his 28-year-old son Kevin are each charged with first-degree assault. They are accused of brutally beating 65-year-old Howard Mayton in the 1800 block of Hopewell Church Road in Perry County. Mayton suffered bruised kidneys, broken ribs and arm, a shattered wrist and a concussion. The pair are free on $30,000 bond.
$1.9 million Bond Set in Fayette Disappearance Case
The court has set a $1.9 million dollar bond for Bailey who is recovering from injuries suffered in the wreck. Her father James Bailey remains in jail charged with failure to report the disappearance of the boy months earlier.
Multiple Cars and Homes Shot up in Holt
Multiple cars and homes were shot at along 16th Street Northeast in the Holt community. The residences were occupied during the Thursday morning incident. No one was wounded.
More I 20/59 Construction to Impact Traffic
UA’s Sigma Chi Fraternity has posted on X, a photo and tribute to their freshman brother Kareem Badawi, who was killed in the senseless terror attack in New Orleans early Wednesday morning. Badawi is from Baton Rouge and was with a fellow Episcopal High graduate celebrating the New Year.
A recent Auburn graduate, Drew Dauphin, was also rundown in the attack by an ISIS sympathizer.
Violent End to 2024 in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa ended up with 22 homicides in 2024, a record, the county recorded 29. Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Commander Capt. Jack Kennedy told news partner ABC3340 what he believes growth in Tuscaloosa and Northport is helping create conflict.
The last murder of the year was 34-year-old Brittany Bolden, who was killed in front of her children New Year's Eve.
Help Asked to Locate Missing Pre-Teen
Tuscaloosa Police are searching for 11-year-old Juana Andres, who left her home on 27th Place voluntarily with a teenage male. He was driving a gray Dodge truck. Call TPD at 205=349-2121 or 9-1-1 if you have information.
Sen. Britt Reacts Honors Alabama Terror Attack Victims
Alabama Junior Republican U-S Senator Katie Britt has released a statement honoring two Alabama College students killed in Wednesday’s New Orleans terror attack. She wrote, as a mom she can’t even imagine the heartbreak being experienced by family and friends of Alabama freshman Kareem Badawi and recent Auburn graduate Drew Dauphin. Both were run down in the terror attack on Bourbon Street.
Topping Sports News:
BREAKING: Alabama Fires Assistant Football Coach
ESPN is reporting that Alabama secondary coach and Co-Defensive Coordinator Colin Hitschler has been fired one year into a two-year contract in Tuscaloosa.
Read More: Alabama Fires Safeties Coach and Co-DC
Georgia Shutdown by Irish in Sugar Bowl
Georgia has joined Alabama in no longer being a dominating team in the Southeastern Conference. Notre Dame broke open a close game with a second half kickoff runback for a touchdown and easily won the Sugar Bowl CFP Quater final playoff game 23-10.
The semi-finals in the first ever 12 team CFP are now set:
- #4 Penn State vs Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl in Miami FL Thursday, January 9 at 6:30pm.
- #3 Texas will face #6 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington TX next Friday a 6:30pm
The National Championship Game is in Atlanta on January 20th.
Ole Miss Crushes Duke in gator Bowl
Rebel Head Football Coach Lane Kiffin had something to prove, and he did. His Old Miss scored early and often in a totally lopsided 52-20 blowout of Duke in last night's Taxslayer Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, FL.
Reb QB Jaxson Dart passed for more than 400 yards and 4 touchdowns in what is expected to be his last game.
Kiffin had complained that his team was better than several of the teams that were selected for the CFP. His team's performance last night lent credence to his argument.
6th ranked Ole Miss finishes the season at 10-3.
Bama Women Get Impressive Conference Opener Win
The Crimson Tide Women's remarkable basketball season got even more remarkable last night. The Tide posted a 79-69 victory over Florida at Coleman Coliseum, despite losing veteran Sarah Ashlee Barker with 8:00 left in the second quarter due to an unknown leg injury. This marks Alabama’s first win in an SEC opener since the 2021-22 season, solidifying their impressive 14-1 record (1-0 SEC).
Read More: Crimson Tide Women’s Basketball Starts SEC Play with Commanding Win Over Florida
Prominent Tide Football Players Declare for the NFL Draft & Enter Portal
Jalen Milroe, Tyler Booker and Jihadd Campbell have declared for the NFL Draft. Bama has also lost wide receiver Amari Jefferson who is entering the transfer portal.
Read More: Jalen Milroe Declares For the 2025 NFL Draft
Read More: Tyler Booker Declares for the NFL Draft
Read More: Jihaad Campbell Declares for NFL Draft
Read More: Alabama Dual-Sport Receiver Enters Transfer Portal
Bama Men Open SEC Play
SEC Player of the Week Labaron Philon will lead the Crimson Tide men into their Southeastern Conference season opener at 5:00pm in Coleman Coliseum against 12th ranked Oklahoma.
Oklahoma is a team that Alabama has not had much success against historically, sitting at only 3-7 overall all-time. The Sooners come into the game undefeated at 13-0.
The game will be televised on the SEC Network with the Crimson Tide Sports Network bring Chris Stewert's play-by-play on 95.3 The Bear. Tide 100.9 and 1230 AM WTBC.
Click TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app.
Have a wonderful weekend and ROLL TIDE!
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