West Alabama Monday Briefing

Monday, September 11, 2023, is the 22nd anniversary of a day that will live in the memories of all those who were around in 2001. It was the day of the 9-11 attacks on the United States. 2,996 Americans lost their lives that day, nine of them with Alabama ties.

Two hijacked airliners slammed into the "Twin Towers" of the World Trade Center in New York City. Another hijacked passenger aircraft was crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington VA. A third plowed into a rural area outside Shanksville, Maryland at over 600mph when the passengers fought back against the Muslim hijackers.

Today is "A Day of Remembrance".

The Forecast:

Today: Sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the morning.

Tuesday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 68. North wind 5 to 10 mph.

The Remainder of the Week: A small chance of rain Wednesday Friday and Saturday. Otherwise most partly cloudy with highs in the mid 80s and lows in the mid 60s.

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Topping the News:

This is a week of awareness and remembrance.

• This week is the peak of the 2023 Hurricane Season which lasts thru the end of November.
• Today also marks the 22^nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United State that killed 2,996, 9 of them with Alabama ties. Among them was 49yo Terry Lynch, a native of Youngstown, Ohio, worked as senior legislative aid to then Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby for 15 years.
• This week is also the 60^th anniversary of the vicious bombing of the 16^th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham that killed four innocent little girls at the height of the civil rights struggle in Alabama.

Because of the 9-11 attacks, September is designated as Emergency Preparedness Month. A time to prepare yourself, family and place of work for the potential of a disaster. Emergency managers are urging the public to be aware of the various threats and to make a safety plan for home and work. Tuscaloosa County EMA is providing a chance to win a NOAA Weather Radio as part of preparedness month.

Alabama ranks in the top ten in the nation for the number of road rage cases. A Triple A study found over a 7-year period, road rage contributed to 218 deaths and over 12,000 injuries nationwide.  Triple A Alabama’s Clay Ingram has advice for how to handle a situation where someone is showing anger toward you on the road, "If you see someone showing anger toward you, do not make eye contact, attempt to leave the roadway, drive to an area with a lot of people if they attempt to follow you."  Aggressive driving incidents have increased every year over the last 5 years in Alabama according to ALEA.

The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education will vote during a called meeting tomorrow on a $173 million budget for the 2024 fiscal year. The spending plan will include state-mandated pay raises for teacher and staff position.  Salaries and benefits comprise more than 80% of the general fund budget. The meeting begins at 6pm at the City Board Office downtown.

Alabama U-S Senator Tommy Tuberville is now taking heat from fellow Republicans. Texas GOP Rep. Michael McCaul told CNN’s “State of the Nation” Tuberville’s hold on high-ranking military promotions over the Pentagon’s abortion police is unprecedented, especially since Republicans are attempting to deal with the issue in military appropriations. Tuberville is vowing to stay the course.

In Sports:

Alabama plummeted from 3^rd to 10^th in this week’s college football poll after Saturday night’s loss to Texas. But an upside is how many Longhorn fans are posting on social media at how polite Bama fans were to them and the good sportsmanship shown in the stands and after the game.

UA alum Erin Routliffe has won a title at the 2023 U.S. Open. The former University of Alabama tennis player graduated from the school in 2017, but not without earning many accolades on the way.

Have a great Week!