West Alabama Monday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Monday July 15, 2024.
The Saturday assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump should send a message to us all that words and how they are used do matter. The hateful political rhetoric spewing from both major U.S. political parties in recent years was bound to lead to violence. Anyone who did not realize that is extremely naive.
There are too many people out there, many armed, who can be swayed to violent actions by the name calling and dirty politics. We still don't know what led 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania to crawl onto a roof and fire a shot that came within fractions of an inch of killing the man who is a former president and is seeking to become the next president. And unless there is evidence inside Crook's cellphone being investigated at the FBI Crime Lab, we may never know for sure.
What we do know is that an innocent man paid the price willingly to protect his family. 50-year-old Corey Comperatore, a volunteer fire fighter, was killed while shielding his family from the bullets, and two other men were critically injured.
Politicians in both parties consider the shooting a sign of political polarization in the United States, and political figures called for a decrease in tensions. We will see if those calls will be headed in coming days.
The January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, hateful political advertising, incendiary social media posts and threats, aggressive personal attacks by late night supposed comedians and Hollywood elite, a politically biased national news media, and vile statements from leaders and followers in both parties have helped inflame an already divisive and tense political environment.
These actions do not serve to enhance political discourse but rather reduces it to its lowest form, thus making us look nothing like that, "shining city on the hill" described by President Ronald Reagan during his farewell address at the end of his presidency.
Let us remember, the world (friends and enemies) is watching, including our children.
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The Forecast:
A Heat Advisory is in effect through 9:00 tonight for Greene, Hale, Marengo, Perry and Sumter counties in West Alabama. Heat Index values could run as high as 106 degrees. Sta hydrated, limit outdoor time and do not leave people and pets in unattended hot vehicles.
Looks like there is some good news in the offing for future weather. The Climate Prediction center 8 to 14 Day Temperature Outlook reveals more comfortable summer temperatures in the 80s instead of the 90s.
For areas of West Alabama already beginning to see moderate to severe drought setting in, the 8 to14 Day Precipitation Outlook shows alight above normal rain chances in the forecast.
The precipitation will help West Alabama where 9 wildfires are burning this morning. Two each are in Fayette, Perry and Walker counties. One each is burning in Lamar and Hale County. The largest is 55 acres just southwest of Parish. 17 wildfires are burning across the state according to the Alabama Forestry Commission.
The fire in Lamar County is under control. One in East Alabama is an active fire while the remainder are contained.
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Politicians on both sides of the political spectrum in Alabama are urging a calming down of the political rhetoric in the wake of the attempted assassination of President Trump in Pennsylvania on Saturday.
Alabama GOP Chair John Wahl, posted on the social media platform X (formerly twitter) that he hopes everyone has learned a valuable lesson from Saturday's tragic event.
Alabama Junior U-S Senator Katie Britt also posted hopes that Americans can return to political disagreement without anger and hate.
In an oval office address last night President Biden sought to return some sanity to American politics
Trump is in Wisconsin for today’s beginning of the Republican National Convention.
Apparently, Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth did not get the message of calm and respect. In a statement he blamed “the radical left" for Saturday's events Ainsworth alleged the left has declared a jihadist-style attack on traditional Christian values.” He called the radical left’s agenda, “evil incarnate”.
Alabama’s Junior Republican U.S. Senator Katie Britt will be the only high-ranking Alabama political figure to speak at the Republican national Convention that begins today. She will be one in a long line of state political figures and some celebrities to address the Wisconsin convention.
The controversial proposed D.R. Horton residential development in South Tuscaloosa could be considered again at this afternoon's Tuscaloosa City Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting at Tuscaloosa City Hall.
The proposed development between Shelton State Community College and the Waterford Place subdivision drew controversy when it was proposed at the commission's last meeting. Nearby residents voiced concern about the density of housing and concern over traffic congestion.
The commission continued the proposal to today's meeting and suggested the developer iron out differences with the Waterford Place Homeowner's Association in the interim.
Kentuck’s Art Market is scheduled for July 20, 9:30am-2:00pm at the Kentuck Arts Center at Queen City, 1901 Jack Warner Parkway, Tuscaloosa, AL (across from Tuscaloosa River Market).
Kentuck’s Art Markets are a monthly, free event where the community can shop for material produced by local artists.
The Curtis and Edith Munson Foundation has awarded Grace Brindley, a recent graduate of The University of Alabama’s College of Communication and Information Sciences, a scholarship grant for a summer internship with Black Warrior Riverkeeper in Birmingham, Alabama. The Munson Foundation has supported UA’s Advertising and Public Relations Department with scholarships for water conservation internships since 2008.
Topping Sports News:
Southeastern Conference Media Days are underway in Dallas, Texas.
Today's schedule:
- 9:00am CDT: Commissioner Greg Sankey discusses state of the conference.
- 10 a.m. CDT: LSU head coach Brian Kelly and players.
- 11:35 p.m. CDT: South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer and players.
- 1:50 p.m. CDT: Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin and players.
- 3:20 p.m. CDT: Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea and players.
Alabama Day is this coming Wednesday.
Major League Baseball's All-Star Week begins tonight with the Homerun Derby. Marcel Ozuna will represent the Atlanta Braves in the contest. He has 26 dingers on the season. Ozuna hit 40 home runs for the first time in his career last year.
Have a magnificent Monday!!