West Alabama Thursday Briefing

It is Thursday March 28, 2024. Today is Maundy Thursday in the Christian Church, the day recognized at celebrated His Last Supper with his disciples. many churches will conduct communion services tonight in remembrance of that event that took place prior to Christ's betrayal later in the evening in the Garden of Gethsemane.

We couldn't ask for prettier weather for the remainder of Holy Week and for Easter weekend.

The Forecast:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 70. North wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 39. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Good Friday

Sunny, with a high near 74. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the morning.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 49. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 79. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 56.

Easter Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 81.

Sunday Night

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Topping the News:

The Alabama Legislature has become involved in the United Auto Workers (UAW) attempt to unionize non-union car producers in the state. With some 70% of the non-union auto workers in Alabama signing cards in an attempt to set a union vote, a new bill introduced in Montgomery would prohibit companies receiving state economic assistance from voluntarily recognizing a union.

The legislation filed by Decatur Republican State Senator Arthur Orr is modeled after similar legislation in Georgia. That bill has passed both chambers of the Peach State's legislature and awaits Gov. Brian Kemp's signature.

Gov. Ivey has vowed to aggressively fight the UAW's $46 million dollar campaign to unionize the south's non-union car makers.

A man was shot and suffered minor injuries Wednesday night when a dispute in west Tuscaloosa led to fighting and gunfire.

Stephanie Taylor, a spokesperson for the Tuscaloosa Police Department, confirmed that officers were called to an area near Freeman Park on 19th Street in Tuscaloosa's West End Wednesday nights on reports of a shooting.

Officers believe an earlier dispute had led to a fight that ended when a gun was fired. No arrest has been made.

The University of Alabama and other state colleges and universities are stepping forward in an attempt to assist Birmingham Southern College 1,300 students who will be left without a school when BSC closes its doors in May.

BSC President Daniel Coleman has contacted the chair of the UA System Board of Trustees about providing an avenue for BSC to continuing their higher education. All are willing to do what they can.

The BSC Board of Trustees voted unanimously yesterday to shut down the financially plagued Methodist school after learning of a secret straw vote among conservative Republican leaders in the Alabama House. That vote was to deny a bill that would have provided public funds to bailout the school.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration has announced that Mercedes-Benz is recalling more than 116,000 vehicles due to a ground connection under the passenger seat that “might have become loose” and “increase the risk of a fire."

Mercedes vehicles in the recall are:

2019-2023 GLS450
2020-2023 GLE580
2020-2023 GLS580
2020-2024 GLE450
2021-2023 AMG GLS63
2021-2023 MAYBACH GLS600
2021-2024 AMG GLE53
2021-2024 AMG GLE63 S
2023-2024 GLE350

44-year-old Milton Daniel Frost is still missing in Walkerr County. His disappearance was reported to Oakman Police on March 2. Frost is a white male, 6'1", 185 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair. He was last seen driving a beige/tan 2007 Hyundai Azera with Alabama tag number 64DY501. There is a $5,0000 reward.

Also in Walker County, murder suspect Lonny Tatum has been captured by U.S. Marshalls. Webb is accused of killing 58-year-old Stanley Webb in Carbon Hill just after noon Tuesday.

Carbon Hill Police says the two men were well acquainted with each other. Tatum was fatally shot twice.

The family of Tristan Clark is considering a civil rights violation lawsuit against the Tuscaloosa Police Department and the officer involved in his shooting death during a traffic stop in December.

The TPD incident report claims Clark reached for a gun during the traffic stop near Bowers Park. Family members claim there are inconsistencies between the TPD report and what other occupants of the car allege.

Rural Healthcare in West Alabama is poor, and the American Cancer Society is urging the Alabama Legislature to expand Medicaid to reduce the gap in medical coverage. The society's Government Relations Director Jane Adams Republican lawmakers in the state cannot use money as the reason for not expanding the coverage. She points out the 90% of the plan's expenses are covered by federal dollars.

Topping Sports News:

Alabama Head Basketball Coach Nate Oats has told reporters at the final pre-game press conference that a win tonight by his 4th seeded team over West Region top-seed North Carolina would be a defining moment for the school's basketball program.

A win by the Tide in tonight's Sweet 16 round would propel Alabama into the Elite 8 round for only the second time in school history. Oats has had Bama in the Sweet 16 three of the last four years.

Tipoff is at 8:35 Tuscaloosa time on Tide 100.9 and 95.3 The Bear from the Crimson Tide Sports Network. It will also be televised on CBS.

Latrell Wrightsell, Jr. sustained a head injury Sunday in Alabama's victory over Grand Canyon in Spokane. Wrightsell had just returned to the court after a lengthy absence due to a concussion suffered during the regular season.

Coach Oats told reporters yesterday that Wrightsell's playing status tonight will be a gametime decision.

From UA Athletics: With the help of two school records, Alabama opened the NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships on Wednesday with All-America honors in the 800-freestyle relay.

Charlie Hawke, Kaique Alves, Tommy Hagar and Leonardo Alcantara bettered their school record performance from the SEC Championships, dropping over half a second to capture a program-best 6:10.72. The UA quartet finished 11^th overall to earn Second Team All-America honors, marking the third straight year the Tide has received national recognition in the event.

In addition to the Tide's school record in the 800-freestyle relay,

Alabama baseball will square off in a top-15 series with South Carolina from tonight through Saturday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The 15^th-ranked Crimson Tide and 10^th-ranked Gamecocks are set for a 7:00p.m. first pitch tonight followed by a 6 p.m. and 1 p.m. start on Friday and Saturday, respectively. The series opener will air on SEC Network with the final two contests being broadcast on SEC Network+.

Bama Softball begins a key SEC series at 5:30 this afternoon in Lexington, KY. No. 13/14 Alabama (25-6, 2-4 SEC) and Kentucky (21-11, 0-6 SEC) also play 5:30pm tomorrow and 1:00pm Saturday.

You can catch the games on Nick97.5 and SEC+.

Have a thrilling Thursday and ROLL TIDE!!