West Alabama Thursday Briefing

It is Thursday February 29, 2024.

It is the last day of the short month of February. That means tomorrow is the official first day of the Spring Primary Severe Weather Season across the south. The season runs from March 1st until the end of May.

Although severe weather can happen any month of the year, any day of the week and any time of the day; spring is notorious for producing a broad range of extreme weather, including snow, severe thunderstorms, flooding, big temperature changes and high winds.

Now is the time to review your severe weather safety plans for home and work. It could save your life.

That line of thunderstorms that passed through West Alabama and across the state quickly yesterday reduced the number of wildfires but did not end them. 72 fires are burning this morning, down from more than 200 yesterday. There are two in northern Hale County and one in northern Greene County. That one encompasses 155 acres.

More substantial and widespread rains tonight and tomorrow should help further reduce the fires by saturating dry topsoil.

The Forecast:

Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight: Showers, mainly after 3am. Low around 45. East wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 57. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Friday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. East wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 72. North wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.

Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 75.

Sunday Night:  A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58.

Next Week: Rain is in the forecast each day through the first half of next week. Rain chances each day will be near 60%. High temperatures will be nice from the low to mid 70s. Overnight lows will be in the mid 50s.

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Topping the News:

Opposition to controversial DEI bill in legislature is growing. A rally was held on campus at the University of Alabama to protest Senate Bill 129. It's a bill that targets diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at state agencies, public schools, and college and universities. Organizers said around 120 students attended the demonstration. Joshua Baker told news partner ABC3340 the bill is regressive. Other students predicted passage would make it more difficult to recruit students to Alabama colleges and universities.

The bill is making its way through the legislature.

Most Alabama legislative Republicans are scrambling to pass legislation that will protect Invitro Fertilization Clinics from a State Supreme Court ruling that declared frozen embryos are children and damage or destruction of them could be considered unlawful death of a child.

GOP Florence State Senator Tim Melson is sponsoring one of three bills in the upper chamber. He calls the issue a family issue not a political one.

That line of thunderstorms that quickly passed through West Alabama yesterday brought high winds, torrential rainfall, thunder and lightning reduced the number of wildfires across the state but did not end them. 72 are burning this morning, down from more than 200 yesterday. There are two in northern Hale County and one in northern Greene County. That one encompasses 155 acres.

Five days into Northport resident Jack Roberts’ GoFundMe campaign to raise $100,000 to stop the University Beach mega complex in Northport has netted 62 donations amounting to $2,720 dollars.

Business owners and managers near the proposed site for the project on U-S 82 West near Walmart are excited about potential revenue the development, which includes residence and a hotel, will bring to the area.

The Tuscaloosa City Council Public Safety Committee is discussing renaming a stretch of 18th Avenue after Ramesh Peramsetty,  the founder and medical director of several medical offices operating under the banner of the Crimson Network. Council President Kip Tyner said before Peramsetty opened his first clinic there in 1998, it was a rough part of Tuscaloosa.

Councilmen Lee Busby and John Faile are opposed to more new street names, which they said were confusing to first responders and residents, although Faile signaled, he might make an exception for this measure specifically because of its limited impact.

48 Alabama counties will split $148.3 million to expand high-speed internet to unserved areas across the state.

“This has been a remarkable journey made possible by Governor Ivey, the Alabama Legislature, the state’s internet service providers and so many other willing and eager participants,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell stated in a press release. “Once completed, these projects announced today will provide access for thousands of Alabamians.”

Grants in West Alabama:

• Pine Belt Telephone Co. will receive four grants totaling $3 million to provide additional broadband services in Clarke and Marengo counties with the potential to reach more than 480 new households and businesses.
• Spectrum Southeast gets 23 grants totaling $44.83 million to provide broadband services in parts of Bibb, Butler, Calhoun, Chambers, Cleburne, Coosa, Colbert, Cullman, Elmore, Etowah, Geneva, Greene, Houston, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Marshall, Montgomery, Morgan, Pickens, St. Clair, Talladega, Tallapoosa and Tuscaloosa counties. The service areas include 22,000 potential households and businesses.
• Yellowhammer Networks is being presented two grants totaling $5.13 million to provide broadband services in Bibb, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Marengo, Perry and Sumter counties. The project areas include almost 3,700 households and businesses.

Alabama native Mitch McConnell has announced his retirement from the U-S Senate at the end of his term in 2027. The Kentucky Senator and Minority Leader since 2021 was born in Sheffield but was raised in Athens.

The 82-year-old McConnell has been GOP leader for 17 years. He was first elected to congress in 2007.

Topping Sports:

The Alabama men's basketball team couldn't do much right in the first half of last night crucial road game at Ole Miss. The played sloppy defense, made silly fouls, missed shot after shot and generally were outplayed in every phase of the game and got behind big. But on the positive side, they were able to keep within striking distance.

A strike is what they did in the second half. The Tide erased the deficit, began making threes and ran away from Ole Miss for a 103-88 win.

The win sets up one of the biggest home games in Alabama basketball history Saturday night. With Tennessee's win over Auburn last night, the Tide and Vols are deadlocked at the top of the SEC with only three games left in the regular season. The game tips at 7:00pm.

ESPN "College Basketball Gameday" will be at Coleman Coliseum Saturday morning at 10:00am to broadcast their iconic show with Alabama grad Reese Davis as host. Tide fans are encouraged to pack the house for the broadcast.

From UA Athletics: The Alabama women's basketball team will host the Florida Gators tonight for the final home contest of the season. The Crimson Tide and the Gators are set to tip off at 6 p.m. at Coleman Coliseum on SEC Network+.

Alabama (21-8, 8-6 SEC) enters Thursday after an 87-75 win over Mississippi State, which put the Tide in sole possession of fifth place in the Southeastern Conference standings as the team heads into the final week of regular season play.

Have a cool Thursday!