West Alabama Monday Briefing

Good Monday morning West Alabama! It is September 9, 2024, and all eyes are on the tropics this morning as newly named Tropical Storm Francine continues to gather strength in the Western Gulf of Mexico. Computer models are pretty much in agreement that it will become at least a Category 1 Hurricane before making landfall later this week along the southwestern Louisiana Gulf Coast.

Click on TuscaloosaThread.com throughout the week as Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa's own resident meteorologist MaryK keeps you updated on the forecast for this storm.

Aside from the tropical weather bringing potential for severe weather and flooding to West Alabama, there could be one major benefit based on the inland track of the storm, rain. It could help push back the worsening drought across the area.

Just as a reminder, tomorrow is the statistical "Peak of Hurricane Season" in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Forecast:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 88. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 66. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Tuesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Wednesday

A 30 percent chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. East wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night

A chance of showers, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Remainder of the Week

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Topping the News:

West Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell is likely to no longer be the lone Democrat members of the Alabama Congressional Delegation when the new congress is sworn in next year. The non-partisan Cook Political Report ranks the district as "likely Democrat.".

Alabama's 2nd Congressional District was redrawn after the U.S. Supreme Court agreed Alabama had likely illegally diluted the influence of Black voters when drawing congressional lines. Black residents now make up nearly 49% of the district's voting-age population.

Democrat Shomari Figures, who worked in the Obama White House is facing Republican Caroleene Dobson, a real estate attorney and political newcomer in a heated campaign.

Moms on a Mission has a goal to assist mothers facing financial hardship in the Tuscaloosa area. The year-old group held a recent casino night to raise funds to meet that goal.

They group will use funds from that event and contributions to help single mothers struggling to make ends meet and to prepare themselves for success through credit counseling, computer training, banking, etiquette classes, advice on how to buy a home. how to start a business and how tow to buy a home.

You can assist Moms on a Mission at Moms On A Mission Com

Tuscaloosa State Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa – who has long pushed for gun control measures – said in 2023 that the “NRA runs this building,” referring to mainly his GOP legislative colleagues.

Even in the wake of mass shootings the Republican super majority in the Alabama has refused to pass any legislation establishing any gun control legislation. Several bills being proposed to do that have a dim future in the coming legislative session.

One bill is a reflection on the mass shooting by a 14-year-old outside Atlanta last week. HB13, would make it a felony to sell or give an assault-style weapon to a person under 18. It would also be a felony for a person under 18 to possess an assault-style weapon.

Another bill facing strong opposition would ban bump stocks and Glock switches that give weapons more firepower.

September is National Suicide Prevention Month and Alabama has made it a priority to expand access to resources like the 988 lifeline, crisis centers, community mental health centers and school-based mental health services.

That crisis hotline appears to be working. Over the past two years, more than 99,000 Alabamians have utilized the 988 lifeline.

In a post on the Alabama Department of Mental health, Commission Kimberly Boswell wrote, “The Alabama Crisis System of Care is essential in ongoing efforts to reduce suicide rates and provide immediate support to those in need,” said Commissioner Kimberly Boswell. “As we observe Suicide Prevention Month, we want to remind everyone that help is just a call or text away.”

Click HERE for suicide prevention resources.

Disney Companies continue to withhold programming from DirecTV/U-verse in a heated contract dispute, Disney channels, including ESPN, have been off the two providers since the evening of Sept. 1.

DirecTV/U-verse filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission over the weekend accusing Disney of negotiating in bad faith.

DirecTV has asked Disney for the option to provide consumers with cheaper and skinnier bundles of programming, instead of bigger bundles that carry programming some viewers might not be interested in watching.

Observers say the enmity in the impasse may mean this will be a protracted outage.

Topping Sports News:

Alabama's lackluster, mistaken filled first three quarters against South Florida Saturday night at Saban Field at Bryant=Denny Stadium didn't hurt the team in either AP or USA Today Coaches Poll this week. The Tide lost some votes but retained fourth in both polls.

Six of the Top 10 in each poll are from the SEC.

The AP Poll (SEC Teams in Bold):

1. Georgia
2. Texas
3. Ohio State
4. Alabama
5. Ole Miss
6. Mizzou
7. Tennessee
8. Penn State
9. Oregon
10. Miami FL
11. USC
12. Utah
13. Oklahoma St
14. Kansas St
15. Oklahoma
16. LSU
17. Michigan
18. Notre Dame
19. Louisville
20. Arizona
21. Iowa St
22. Clemson
23. Nebraska
24. Boston College
25. Northern Illinois

USA Today/Coaches Poll:1. UGA
2. Ohio State
3. Texas
4. Alabama
5. Ole Miss
6. Oregon
7. Missouri
8. Penn State
9. Tennessee
10. Utah
11. USC
12. Miami
13. Oklahoma
14. Oklahoma State
15. Kansas State
16. Michigan
17. LSU
18. Arizona
19. Notre Dame
20. Clemson
21. Louisville
22. Washington
23. Iowa State
24. Nebraska
25. Memphis

Stillman College’s volleyball team clinched its first victory since 2015, defeating Miles College 3-1 at Birthright Alumni Hall.Read More: Stillman Volleyball Claims First Win Since Program’s 2022 Return

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