West Alabama Friday Briefing

Good morning West Alabama! It is Friday, April 11, 2025. This is the 101st day of the year with 264 days remaining.

Friday Morning Observations:

Today is "National Pet Day". This is a day to show our support for our furry friends. Pets are so important. While loving our pets is something we do every day, the observance encourages helping out orphaned pets. It will improve their health and enhance their opportunities for adoption, and they will become some family's member quickly.

At the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter, and shelters across the state and country, the numbers don't work, there are too many animals and not enough homes.

If you love your pets, then take the advice of experts and spay or neuter them. According to the shelter's website, a female cat & her offspring can produce more than 420,000 KITTENS over a 7-year span! No wonder there are so many feral cats roaming the area.

For the life of me I have never been able to understand why people mistreat and/or ignore an animal that has so much love to give them. When they graduate, some college students just abandoned pets that have been loyal to them during their time on campus.

Plus, every day we learn of stories where people, male and female, have mistreated and been cruel to animals. Animals are God's creatures; we need to treat them that way.

According to the "National Pet Day" website, the day was founded by Colleen Paige in 2006 to highlight the importance of pet adoption and the joy pets bring into people's lives.

To celebrate it is suggested you:

Spend extra time with your pets.
Adopt a pet from a local shelter.
Give your pets a special treat or a new toy.
Share photos of your pets on social media using the hashtag #NationalPetDay.
Donate to an animal shelter or rescue organization.

Have a "Happy Pet Day" these loving animals truly bring extra quality to our lives an deserve to be treated like a family member.

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

Weather:

Patchy fog this morning is giving way to an otherwise, breezy and mostly sunny day. Scattered showers will be possible this afternoon. Highs will range from the mid 60s north to lower 70s south.

The Forecast:

Today

A slight chance of showers between 1pm and 4pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Northwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Tonight

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then a slight chance of showers between 7pm and 10pm. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 43. North wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 68. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night

Clear, with a low around 41. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night

Clear, with a low around 54.

Next Week, Easter Week

Mostly sunny days and clear nights will prevail. Highs will range from the mid 70s to lower 80s. Lows will be in the mid 40s to lower 50s.

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News:

Fog Created Hazardous Driving Conditions This morning

Fog is created a traffic hazard along roadways east and south of downtown Tuscaloosa. ALDOT earlier this morning. ALEA reported visibilities down to a quarter mile in some spots. Several traffic crashes slowed and at times halted traffic.

Most of the fog had disappeared by mid-morning.

University Beach Continues to Draw Controversy in Northport

Developers of the near $500 million University Beach community just off U.S. 82 in West Northport want to rezone the 77 acres to give them more power over property development. That is drawing pushback from some residents of the city.

Because the city's Planning and Zoning Commission recently split on a 3-3 vote on the issue it will go to a 1st Reading at the May 5th meeting.

The multi-purpose development will cost nearly $500 million, $20 million from the City of Northport, but developers claim it will bring in more than $240 million in tax revenue.

Rep. Sewell Worries Trump Tariffs Will Hurt Small West Alabama Businesses

President Trump’s tariff increases are on hold right now, except for China. But in a meeting with Trump Administration trade representatives, West Alabama Democrat Congresswoman Terri Sewell worry that resumption of the plan will hurt small businesses in West Alabama.

Now the Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee Ranking Member has joined other Ways and Means Committee Democrats to introduce the Stopping a Rogue President on Trade Act.

A press release state the bill is aiming to, "Put a stop to President Trump’s reckless trade wars and return tariff authority to Congress.”

Sewell says implementation of the tariffs will result in already struggling businesses having to close. She pointed to a lady who has put her life savings into a small coffee shop in Downtown Selma as an example of a West Alabama businessperson who could lose everything.

ALFA Health Bill for Farmers Clears Alabama House

After considerable debate, the ALFA Health Bill for Farmers passed out of the house and will go to the senate for committee action next week.

Supporters Like West Alabama's District 61 Republican Rep. Ron Bolton say it will help the state’s farmers struggling with rising health care costs and to stay in business.

"We are trying to save our family farms. The average age of a farmer here in Alabama is 66 years old," Rep. Bolton told Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa's weekend public affairs program West Alabama on Point.

Some farmers say they are having to take a second job off the farm to get health insurance.

Next Leadership Tuscaloosa Class is Forming

A few dozen professionals from all walks of life and both the public and private sector are selected for Leadership Tuscaloosa each year. The next class is in the process of forming.

Learn more and apply to join the 2025 - 2026 Class now at the Chamber website here.

Blood Drive Next Week to Honor Hillcrest High Senior

The Cameron Tyler Prince Legacy Foundation is hosting a blood drive in honor of Prince. The blood drive will be from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at Hillcrest High School. The 16-year- died unexpectedly in 2021 after having complications from surgery at UAB Hospital

Click TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app.

Sports:

Busy A-Day Weekend Includes Football, Baseball, Softball and More

This is A-Day Weekend with a number of activities going on, including a free open practice session of Head Coach Kalen DeBoer's second Alabama Football Team.

Rob Vaughn's second Alabama baseball team takes on across the state line foe Mississippi State at "The Joe" beginning at 6:00 tonight. Tickets will be required for the event. Tomorrow's 2:00pm game is sold and the Sunday 1:00pm is close.

There are a variety of events surrounding the football team including the10:00am Walk of Fame ceremony at Denny Chimes. 2024 football captains Jalen Milroe, Tyler Booker, Malachi Moore, and Deontae Lawson will cement their hands and cleats imprints into the concrete in front of the Chimes. Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer will also speak.

A 90-minute football practice will be open to the public beginning at noon.

At 3:00pm, Alabama softball will begin a three-game series against the 4-time national champion Oklahoma Sooners at Rhoads Stadium.

Read More: What is the Alabama Athletics Schedule for A-Day?

UA Men's Tennis to Celebrate "Senior Day" Sunday

The Crimson Tide Men's Tennis Team will recognize The Crimson Tide will recognize seniors Enzo Aguiard, Zach Foster, Damien Nezar and Filip Planinsek at their Sunday meet.

There will be free admission for the 1:00pm games against 11th ranked Mississippi at the Alabama Tennis Stadium.

The Sunday matches follow a trip today to LSU.

Several Alabama Connections to The Masters

"The Masters" is under way in Augusta, GA today and several of the golfers have Alabama ties.

Patton Kizzire is from Tuscaloosa but played golf for Auburn…Nick Dunlap played for Alabama but left early for the PGA Tour…Justin Thomas is one of Bama’s most successful former golfers on the PGA Tour…Davis Riley was a Crimson Tide standout…Auburn native Davis Thompson who played for Georgia is making his Master’s Debut…and former Georgia golfer Sepp Straka is from Austria but now lives in Birmingham.

The winner of the most prestigious tournament in professional golf will don a new green jacket Sunday afternoon.

Birmingham Stallions Home Opening Tonight

The defending USF Champion Birmingham Stallions open the home port of their spring football schedule tonight with a 1-1 record.

The Stallions will be hosting a 2-0 Arlington team at 7:00 tonight at Protective Life Stadium.

Matt Corral, who stepped in for an injured Alex McGough, threw for 198 yards, two interceptions, and a touchdown is expected to start tonight.

Tickets are available when the defending UFL Champions hit the field Friday night at Protective Stadium.

Tickets can be purchased at TheUFL.com.

Click Tide100.9 for the latest sports news.

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy A-Day! ROLL TIDE!!