West Alabama Monday Briefing
It is Monday April 15, 2024, Tax Day!! Does your wallet feel a little lighter?
If you can't file your tax return today, you need to ask for an extension.
If you haven't filed your federal income tax return for this year or for previous years, you should file your return as soon as possible regardless of your reason for not filing the required return.
If you're required to file and owe a balance, but you can't pay all the tax due on your return, the IRS may be able to help you establish a payment agreement.
That is just some of the advice being given by the Internal Revenue Service today.
The weather shouldn't give you any problems getting to the post office by 11:59pm tonight to mail your returns.
The second juvenile victim of a Friday night shooting in west Tuscaloosa has died.
Captain Jack Kennedy, the commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, said the double murder began as an attempted robbery around 11 p.m. Friday night.
Kennedy said one juvenile opened fire and struck at least two others, which resulted in them crashing a vehicle into a residence in the 2200 block of Reece Boulevard.
One juvenile's body was found in the crashed vehicle and the other died at DCH Regional Medical Center.
See: Second Teen Victim of Friday Shooting in West Tuscaloosa Dies (tuscaloosathread.com)
In response to the officer involved shooting of Tristan Clark during a traffic stop last year, TPD officers will all be wearing body cams, except for undercover officers. Those officers are exempt because wear one would identify them as police.
There is no body cam footage of the incident where officers allege Clark drew a weapon after being told not to. Those in the car claim Clark had his hands up.
Tomorrow is primary runoff Election Day across the state but there is only one election on the ballot anywhere in West Alabama. That is in Walker County where former State Senator Charles Bishop and former Miller Roofing owner Steve Miller tangle for the Republican Walker County Commission Chair nomination.
In the March 5th primary Miller got 48.58% of the vote with Charles Bishop getting 26.84%, Jordan Madison was third at 24.58%.
Polls will be open 7am until 7pm tomorrow.
According to AAA, the average gas price in Alabama is $3.25 which is up 13 cents from a month ago and down 5 cents from a year ago. Nationally, the average is $3.63 which is 38 cents more than our state’s average. In Tuscaloosa County the average price is $3.21 with Perry County remaining the highest at $3.42. But Triple A advises to not get used to it. The cost is expected to continue to rise.
Today is the anniversary of Tuscaloosa’s “Forgotten EF-3 Tornado” of April 15, 2011. It is forgotten because it was overshadowed 16 days later by the EF-4 that destroyed 13% of the city.
The storms of the 11th damaged homes in south Tuscaloosa and a brief touch down in Demopolis damaged dozens of homes along Maria Avenue. They were two of the 9 tornadoes that crossed West Alabama on the 11th.
When the Alabama legislature returns to work tomorrow Sen. Pres. Pro Tem Greg Reed is promising an attempt to work out the vast differences between house and senate gambling legislation, that includes as state lottery. Reed confirms a conference committee comprised of three members of each chamber will attempt to hash out difference is legislation would allow Alabamians to vote on a statewide lottery this fall.
Illegal gambling in Alabama amounts to a $1.2 billion dollar industry.
RMS Titanic sank in the early morning hours of April 15,1912 in the North Atlantic Ocean It was four days into her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. The largest ocean liner in service at the time, Titanic had an estimated 2,224 people on board when she struck an iceberg at around 11:40pm.
One of those on board was Alabama native Archibald Gracie, IV. The Mobile native was a Civil War historian whose father was killed in the war. After publishing his book "The Truth About Chickamauga." in early 1912, he decided to take a solo trip to Europe to get away, leaving his wife and children at home.
He survived the Titanic sinking by diving into the sub-freezing water and holding on to an overturned lifeboat until rescued by the passenger ship Carpathia. However, he died less than a year later from complications resulting from hypothermia.
In the months before his death, he completed a book about his experience,
Applications are now being accepted for the Leadership Tuscaloosa Class of 2024-25 according to a release from the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.
The Leadership Tuscaloosa Program is an issues-based program designed to inform, motivate and increase your awareness of topics important to West Alabama. Leadership Tuscaloosa utilizes field trips and interaction with community decision-makers to help broaden your understanding of many of the issues facing our community.
Class of 2025 Application
Also from the chamber is your last chance to register for the 2024 Diversity Summit. "Embracing diversity is essential for a vibrant community," says a release from the chamber.
The Diversity Summit will bring together subject matter experts to discuss diversity in the workplace and strategies to ensure stability and success.
Guest Speaker - Stacia Robinson, Director of the Alabama Office of Minority Affairs
→ Learn more about Director Robinson
Keynote Speaker - Dr. Lucretia Prince, CEO and Founder of I Dream Big Academy
Register HERE for the Diversity Summit by Wednesday.
Topping Sports News:
Steve Sloan, a two-time national champion quarterback and All-American, and two-time second-team All-SEC has passed away at the age of 79. Sloan also served as Alabama Director of Athletic.
Sloan was the starting quarterback for Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant during two of the Tide's national championship runs in 1964 and 1965. He was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and well known for his mild-mannered personality and faith.
Sloan served as head football coach at Vanderbilt, Texas Tech, Ole Miss and Duke.
See: Legendary Former Alabama QB Passes Away (tuscaloosathread.com)
Alabama landed a commitment from their fifth linebacker in the 2025 class, Jaedon Harmon, according to On3 Sports.
Harmon joins fellow commits Duke Johnson, Luke Metz, Abduall Sanders Jr., and Myles Johnson as the linebackers in Alabama's class. According to composite, Harmon is ranked as the No. 177 overall prospect and the No. 25 overall prospect in the state of Georgia.
See: Alabama Lands Four-Star LB (tuscaloosathread.com)
From UA Athletics: The No. 22 Alabama men's tennis team (17-11, 6-6 SEC) defeated No. 11 Texas A&M (18-9, 7-5 SEC) in a thrilling 4-3 victory Sunday to close the regular season.
Alabama will open competition at the SEC Championships in Baton Rouge, La., on Thursday.
From UA Athletics: Alabama leaned on starter Zane Adams on Sunday afternoon, securing a 5-0 shutout victory over top-ranked Arkansas at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The series-clinching win moved the 16th-ranked Crimson Tide to 24-12 on the season and 6-9 in Southeastern Conference play.
The series win over No. 1 Arkansas was the Tide's first series victory over the nation's top-ranked team since March 14-15, 2009, against Georgia.
Alabama will return to the diamond on Tuesday as the Crimson Tide hosts UAB at The Joe. The midweek matchup is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first pitch with the game airing on SEC Network+.
From UA Athletics: Alabama softball dropped game two of its weekend series to Texas A&M, 17-6, Sunday afternoon at Rhoads Stadium.
The 17 runs allowed are the most in program history, beating the previous record of 16 from Florida in the 2011 Women's College World Series (June 5, 2011)
Bama and the Aggies play game three of the series at 6:00 tonight.
Have a magnificent Monday and ROLL TIDE!!