West Alabama Thursday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Thursday July 11, 2024.
There have been some pretty heavy scattered showers and thunderstorms over the past week or so, but they have been too widely scattered to made much of a difference in soil moisture levels.
Drought is intensifying across West Alabama according to the U.S. Drought Monitor issued this morning by the national Climate Prediction Center. All of Fayette, most of Lamar and Walker counties and northern Pickens and Tuscaloosa counties are in severe drought which typically triggers burn bans and damages crops. It also tends to impact water levels on rivers, lakes and streams
ABC3340 Chief Meteorologist James Spann is warning us not to expect any help from Mother Nature any time soon. "Less than a tenth of an inch is expected over the area between now and next Thursday." he forecasted.
The remainder of Tuscaloosa and Pickens counties are abnormally dry while a strip cutting across the two counties is in Moderate Drought.
The Forecast:
With one Category 5 Hurricane already behind us, Colorado State University has upgraded its season forecast. Topical weather meteorologists have added a prediction of two additional named storms, one extra hurricane and a prediction of one more major hurricane.
CSU is citing record warm tropical and eastern subtropical Atlantic Sea surface temperatures as a primary factor for their updated prediction. ABC3340 Chief Meteorologist James Spann tells is Sub-Saharan Desert sand is inhibiting tropical formation for now.
A low-pressure system off the Florida/Carolina Coast is not expected to have any further development.
Former Lake View Mayor Paul Calhoun was arrested yesterday on a single count of possession of child pornography. However, investigators have yet to do an exhaustive search of Calhoun's devices. He was appointed Lake View Mayor by then Gov. Robert Bentley in 2016 and won the next election.
Read More: Former Lake View Mayor Paul Calhoun Charged for Having Child Porn
A body found in a ditch in Monroe County Mississippi has been identified as a missing West Alabama woman. The coroner has identified the body near a vacant home as 45-year-old Sherry Pope who was from Vernon, in Lamar County. Her death is considered suspicious, and an autopsy will be performed to determine cause of death.
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain is the target of more legal woes. A lawyer for a federal court appointed monitor of the union claims Fain demanded benefits for his fiancé and her sister. The suit also alleges Fain retaliated against
Last month, it was reported that Fain was under investigation by Federal Monitor Neal Barofsky for allegations of retaliation against other union leaders. Now, Barofsky has revealed new details regarding his investigation into Fain, which includes the demanding benefits.
Barofsky is investigating if Fain retaliated against UAW Secretary/Treasurer Margaret Mock for “her refusal or reluctance” to authorize certain expenditures that benefited or were request by those in Fain's presidential office, the report continues. The New York Times reported that expenditures would have benefited the sister of Fain's domestic partner.
The Monday death of a man in front of Carrollton City Hall in Pickens County is being blamed on the 2020 closure of Pickens County Medical Center. Carrollton Mayor Mickey Walker says the man who died due to a medical emergency and may well have lived if the emergency room were at least open. Emergency cases must be transported to Tuscaloosa or Columbus, MS.
July 31st marks the beginning of the planning process for Adopt-A-School partnerships for the upcoming school year. Representatives from school systems across West Alabama, along with their business partners will come together to engage in valuable training workshops and to recognize the notable milestones achieved by partnerships. You can register at the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama’s website.
Topping Sports News:
There are 51 days left before the Alabama Crimson Tide kicks off the Kalen DeBoer era with the football program. But next week the hype for the season will begin when the Southeastern Conference Media Days begins its four-day run Monday in Dallas, Texas.
The Big 12 Media Days is wrapping up today in Las Vegas and the highlight of Wednesday was the appearance of Colorado Head Coach Deion Sanders. Not one to dodge the spotlight, it was his first time to face a gaggle of media looking for stories.
“I need a little more energy if you want some energy from me, because this is horrible,” Sanders said of the media gathering, his sunglasses still on. “If I was in church, I’d get up and walk out right now.”
The new College Football Playoff Director is a man prepared to lead. Rich Clark is a retired Air Force Lt. Gen. with combat experience. He just retired as the Commandant of the U.S. Air Force Academy and was a defensive lineman for Air Force.
Clark told the media at Big 12 Media Days his command leadership in the Air Force prepared him to lead leaders.
Although he was never offered the job, Alabama head basketball Coach Nate Oats has revealed he thought about what he would do if he was.
Oats got a big pay raise and contract extension at Alabama and says he wants to win a national championship at "The Capstone".
Read More: Nate Oats "Thought About" Kentucky Job
Have a great Thursday!!