West Alabama Thursday Briefing
What a perfect start to Thursday, August 17, 2023. Heading out the door this morning temperatures were in the mid-60s with blue skies. Making you want to play hooky from work or school, huh?
The high today will be 89 but the humidity will remain relatively comfortable. But that is about to end. While skies will remain rain free tomorrow those temperatures will again be rising into the mid-90s, by the weekend upper-90s and next week to near 100. Humidity levels will also be bumping up.
Yep. the long, hot summer is far from over. The National Weather Service doesn't expect any extended peeks into fall until the later part of next month.
The Forecast:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Northwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 71. North wind around 5 mph becoming east after midnight.
Topping the News:
The Tuscaloosa City School System is bumping up security with metal detectors. The city board has approved adding the extra level of security in every secondary school. Student bags will also be checked at school entrances.
TPD has identified the victims of two fatal traffic accidents this week. In the first, 47-year-old Dana Mark Silas, a Northport man, died in a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Northeast Jack Warner Parkway and 25th Avenue on August 9th. In the second wreck, a 29-year-old Greensboro man, Alexander Chase Balentine was killed when his motorcycle was struck from behind near the Cousette St. exit of I-359 Tuesday night.
German grocer ALDI has announced plans to purchase the Winn Dixie supermarket chain. No local Winn Dixies will be closed according to a release from ALDI, but names could be changed for some stores. There are 4 Winn Dixie stores and two ALDI stores in Tuscaloosa/Northport, making ALDI the largest supermarket chain in the area.
On this date in 1969 the deadly Hurricane Camille came ashore along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. More than 200 people died and thousands were injured. The destruction was catastrophic. Heavy damage was also done along the Alabama Gulf Coast and inland.
In rural areas of West Alabama, it is difficult to find tutors for struggling students and when parents can find them, tutors cost money that many parents don’t have. The Alabama Public Library Service is coming to the rescue with a free online program called "Homework Alabama". It offers one-on-one help in subjects that are constantly updated with the latest curriculum. The service is available for students K-12 online.
They have been tricking back to T-Town over the last couple of weeks, now their summer is officially over. Classes began at the University of Alabama today for the ten weeks fall semester. Some 39,000 students are enrolled.
The waters of the Gulf of Mexico are the hottest ever recorded according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). That is not good news as tropical activity seems to be increasing as we head toward next month’s peak of the hurricane season. NOAA is now predicting a greater hurricane probability thru the remainder of the hurricane season, which runs until the end of November.
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission last week nominated and approved companies for a medical cannabis license. But the selections came after an hours long private meeting. Alabama Always, a company that was not among the winners, is suing, claiming the commission continues to violate the Open Meetings Act They are seeking a temporary restraining order to block the licenses from being issued.
In Sports:
As a player, Demario Pippen helped Central High win the 4A State Football Championship in 2007. Now as head football coach he is sounding a lot like Tide Coach Nick Saban when talking about building his program with a process to develop success for the team and individual players. The Falcons play County High a week from tomorrow night.
The Atlanta Braves beat the New York Yankees 2-zip last night to complete a three-game sweep. The loss dropped the guys in the pinstripes to a losing record on the season, the latest in the season that the Yanks have ever had a sub-500 record.
When you get home from work or school today, get outside and make the most of our quick peek at early fall. Have a thrilling Thursday.
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