West Alabama Thursday Briefing

Good morning, it is Thursday, June 6, 2024. 80 years ago today, 160,000 men from the Allied Nations stormed the beaches of Normandy, France to bring about the beginning of the end of Nazi Germany's brutal occupation of Europe. It was D-Day!

5,000 U-S military personnel died that day, giving their last full measure of life to bring life back to a continent darkened by the tyrannically anti-sematic, anti-freedom rule of Adolph Hitler.

In air, on ground and on the sea; these allied nations had prepared for many months knowing the future of civilization depended on the outcome of the largest amphibious invasion in history.

This massive force of more than 5,000 ships and 40,000 aircraft of all types appeared out of the mist early on the morning of 6 June 1944. By the time the "Longest Day" had ended a small beachhead had been captured, a beginning point for Allied Troops. From there they began the march across Europe, invaded Germany and long with the Soviets from the east; put an end to a dictatorship that had slaughtered millions.

The significance of D-Day is found in the Order of the Day issued by General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Huntsville's Artur Hullet is one of three surviving Alabamians that made the trip back to Normandy for today's commemoration. He told reporters his wish is for Americans learn from D-Day, "D-Day taught us that freedom can win when we are united."

On this day I well remember standing on the cliff overlooking Omaha Beach, the bloodiest of the invasion beaches, marveling at the bravery these men possessed as the landing craft's ramp dropped and they waded inland against withering enemy fire.

To understand the price that was paid for every square inch of that beach all I had to do was turn around and gaze at row-upon-row of headstones marking the final resting place for the thousands that did not survive.

Let us as a nation on this day, renew ourselves; pledge to end the division, anger and hatred. We owe it to the "Boys of Point du Hoc, the paratroopers, infantrymen, artillery and tanker crews, and the sailors and airmen who fought to keep us free.

There are still approximately 130,000 D-Day veterans alive. They are passing at the rate of 130 per day. May we honor them and those who have gone before by not losing what they fought to preserve.

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The Forecast:

Today

A slight chance of showers before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 4pm, then a slight chance of showers after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming northwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 67. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light west in the evening.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 88. North wind 5 to 15 mph.

Friday Night

Clear, with a low around 61. North wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 67.

Sunday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.

Sunday Night

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Topping the News:

Cleanup crews are working across parts of West Alabama this morning to remove debris from last night's severe thunderstorms. One home was left uninhabitable in Northern Fayette County.

Power crews continue to return service to customers that remain without electricity this morning. Fayette County was the hardest hit last night where 1,184 customers remain without service.306 are still waiting on power to be restored. 796 outages remain in Tuscaloosa County, 396 in Lamar County and 191 in Perry. Less than 50 outages are reported in Greene, Hale Pickens Sumter, and Walker counties each.

A $7 million grant will help improve water service in Fayette, Lamar and Northern Tuscaloosa counties.

Jasper Republican State Senator Greg Reed says the work will help many who suffered without water for 16 days during January's winter storm., "What we are announcing today is a conglomeration of so many different players that are a part of what we are trying to do for these communities in Fayette County, Walker County, Tuscaloosa County, to make sure we use these resources the best we can so that the infrastructure is matching what the requirements are of the community."

Work priority will include replacing pipes, upgrades to pumping stations, and modifications to tanks to ensure they are filled up faster when water is low.

Th City of Tuscaloosa is casting doubt on the Alabama Department of Transportation's plans to replace the Woolsey Finnel Bridge that takes McFarland Blvd. across the Black warrior River.

The city's most significant complaint comes from ALDOT's plan to do away with the McFarland exit to Julia Tutwiler Drive. The claim it would push more traffic onto already heavily used streets.

We now know a little more about what led to a pedestrian being struck and killed on the I-359 connector southbound, just before Cousette Street. TPD reports a woman was struck by a truck that was attempting to avoid colliding with a vehicle trying not to hit her.

The incident backed up traffic through downtown Tuscaloosa, across the bridge and into Northport for hours.

A Federal Court release says a Tuscaloosa native, 21-year-old Tristan Seth Broadrick has been arrested for his participation in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.

Broaderick faces several charges, including:

Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds Without Lawful Authority.
Disorderly or Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds.
Disorderly or Disruptive Conduct in the Capitol Grounds or Building
Parade, demonstrate, or picket in any of the Capitol Buildings.

On Broaderick's social media sites, he identifies himself as having attending Holt and West Blocton High Schools.

Broaderick was identified via Capitol Building security cameras and cellphone location tracking.

Topping Sports News:

Inflation, Name-Image0and Likeness funding and other issues have put a new basketball arena on hold since it was first announced in 2022. But the University of Alabama Board of Trustees are scheduled to discuss the proposal at its next meeting.

The success of Coach Nate Oats program has placed a new facility is the spotlight, especially since Auburn has a new one.

One criticism of the announced plans is its size, it would be smaller than the 15,000 seat Coleman Coliseum which opened in the late1960s. Winning has returned sellout crowds to Coleman and reducing its size would create problems for other events such as graduation exercises.

The expanded College Football Playoffs are still months away, but the dates, times and television details are just out. Click HERE for the details.

Have a blessed and happy day!!