West Alabama Thursday Briefing
It is Thursday May 2, 2024.
Today is the 73rd Annual National Day of Prayer across the country. It was first recognized by Public Law 82-324, Sec. 119 in 1952. It states, "The President shall set aside and proclaim a suitable day each year, other than a Sunday, as a National Day of Prayer, on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals."
Our nation, as it has been several times during its history, needs everyone to double-down on prayer. No problems are too big or too small for prayer.
As part of the State of Alabama's observance, Gov. Ivey issued a proclamation and released an accompanying video message to mark the occasion.
Former Alabama Head Football Coach Nick Saban appeared at the Irondale Mayor's National Day of Prayer breakfast at the main campus at the Church of the Highlands this morning. He asked, "How do you pray? Do you pray for success or for the ability to achieve success?"
Today's National Day of Prayer calls for a small chance for showers in West Alabama later today but mostly we will experience summer-like heat with high in the upper 80s. Eutaw, in Greene County, was the warmest part in the region with a high of 90 degrees Wednesday.
The Forecast:
Tuscaloosa County recorded its 10th homicide of the year in the pre-dawn hours this morning. A shooting on 15th Street at the I359 overpass left a woman dead and northbound I359 traffic into downtown Tuscaloosa snarled during rush hour.
The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit has released no further details as of publication time. We do know the area of 15th Street between Greensboro Avenue and the west side of the overpass was cordoned off, not allowing traffic, as the investigation was conducted.
In a final report from their investigation, ALEA has identified the man shot by officers returning fire in Greene County last week. The incident began in Northport when police attempted a traffic stop on 19-year-old Gilmar Tista-Morente of Nashville.
The suspect fled the scene leading to a multi-agency chase which ended after his vehicle struck another on U.S. 11 in Greene County near the Knoxville exit. The report states Trista-Morente showed a firearm, leading to officers shooting and fatally wounding him.
The suspect had felony warrants in Nashville for attempted criminal homicide and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Several dozen anti-Israel protestors carrying Palestinian flags were overshadowed by far more counter protestors on the UA campus yesterday. The protestors were demanding an end to what they called "genocide" committed by Israel in the war against Hamas in Gaza. They vowed they will return.
Campus protests have spread to numerous universities and colleges across the country, some turning violent.
The Alabama Senate may try again today to pass a statewide gaming bill. It failed by one vote Tuesday. Atmore State Senator Greg Albritton had supported the bill but told reporters he can’t now because amendments curtailing Poarch Creek Band of Indian involvement would hurt his constituents.
The compromise gaming bill would send 100% of its proceeds to education.
Shanna Ullmann, Timothy Ullmann, and Robert Prescott of Transformation Partners, LLC in Tuscaloosa have been recognized on the U.S. House floor by West Alabama Democrat Congresswoman Terri Sewell (7th District). The three have named the Small Business Administration's 2024 Small Businesspersons of the Year for Alabama.
Sewell credited Transformation Partners, LLC for their tremendous growth over the past two decades, "Today, they serve numerous clients in the field of higher education, government, military, corporate America, offering consulting services and employee development programming."
Sewell also recognized Jackie Smith, owner and operator of the Coffee Shoppe and Reflections in Selma, for being named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 2024 Phoenix Award Winner for Outstanding Disaster Recovery Efforts. Selma was devastated by an EF-4 tornado in January of 2023.
Congresswoman Sewell also announced a grant for $750,000 for the Lincolnite Club to make structural and masonry repairs to the Historic Lincoln Normal School Gymnasium in Marion.
“This grant is a major step toward repurposing the gymnasium as a Multi-Purpose Community Center, highlighting our history and struggle to achieve voting and civil rights in Perry County, Alabama,” said Thomas Miree, a Trustee of the Lincolnite Club.
The Perry County grant is part of a $3 million funding package from the National Park Service’s (NPS) African American Civil Rights Grant Program to preserve historic sites in Alabama related to Civil Rights and the African American struggle for equality.
Topping Sports News:
The Alabama Softball Team begins the weekend series "Iron Bowl on the Diamond" tonight at Auburn. The Tide needs to win at least two of the three games at "The Loveliest Village on the Plains" to improve its post-season standing.
No. 16 Alabama (32-14, 9-12 SEC) is currently ninth in the league standings while Auburn (25-17-1, 7-14 SEC) is in 12th place.
"What a great opportunity for us to end the regular season down there and make some noise because the last game against Tennessee was one of the most well-pitched, we’ve had all year," Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy said on Tuesday.
For Bama to win they will have to find some way to muster some offense, scoring only one run in the last eight games. Of course, that one run was a 1-0 upset of Tennessee last weekend.
Bama Softball star Kayla Beaver Named Finalist for 2024 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.
Have a thrilling Thursday and ROLL TIDE, Beat Auburn!
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