West Alabama Thursday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Thursday August 8, 2024.
It has not been a good morning for travel on I20/59 Eastbound this morning. An early morning crash near the I359 connector shutdown traffic for some time just as employees at Mercedes and their suppliers were headed to work.
Another significant crash involving the collision of a car with an 18-wheeler that then caught fire has closed the Eastbound Lanes on I-20/59 at Mile Post 61 before Exit 68 to Joe Mallisham Pkwy in Tuscaloosa.
The interstate will be closed for cleanup for hours and traffic is being re-routed to U.S. 11 which has slowed to a crawl.
Read More: Fiery Truck Crash Closes I-20/59 Near Fosters Thursday
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There will be another couple of days of hot and humid weather before a cool (not cold) front pushes through West Alabama. It will slightly drop high temperatures but more importantly, the humidity will be reduced.
The Forecast:
Some 19,000-plus students report to classes this morning in the Tuscaloosa County School System. City schools began yesterday.
Remember to stop for school busses when lights are flashing and obey speed laws in school zones.
24-year-old Antonio Tyrese Lucious and his girlfriend, a juvenile who cannot be identified because of state law, are suspects in a Sunday shooting in Tuscaloosa.
Investigators stated in court papers that the pair "shot up" up her ex's house in Tuscaloosa.
A man living in the house on Short 18th Street told officers bullets crashed through his windows, but nobody was wounded.
Read More: Brookwood Man, Teen Girlfriend Charged with Shooting into Tuscaloosa Home Sunday Night
As schools open for the 2024-25 school year, superintendents and boards of education across West Alabama and the nation are attempting to develop a plan to deal with the loss of federal COVID19 educational funds in September. The money was made available to help schools through the days of remote learning and other issues resulting from the pandemic.
In Walker County, Superintendent Dr. Dennis Willingham says end of the funds means paraprofessionals hired to assist students with foundational learning will be lost.
The investigation continues into why 25-year-old Keaundra Lee Hawkins shot and killed his 62-year-old mother Antionette Hawkins and her 63-year-old boyfriend McRan James Montgomery late Tuesday night. Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit Commander Cpt. Jack Kennedy told reporters the suspect is not cooperating.
Kennedy said the suspect was known to authorities due to past domestic issues between the suspect and his mother.
The incident happened around 10:20 Tuesday night in the 3700 block of 25th Place.
Tuscaloosa Farmers Market has clinched the title of Best Farmers Market in Alabama for 2024 in the America’s Farmers Market Celebration Awards. This is the 3rd consecutive year the market on Warner Parkway has been named tops in Alabama by the national event.
The market is open Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Three years after it was approved by the Alabama Legislature, medical marijuana remains unavailable in the state because of an ongoing legal fight over some of the licenses to grow and sell the products.
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission has issued licenses to cultivators, processors, and others, but licenses are on hold for five potentially lucrative integrated “seed-to-sale” licenses where companies grow, process, and sell cannabis as well as licenses for dispensaries that will sell the cannabis products. The entire program remains stalled while the dispute plays out in state court.
Companies who invested millions into the program are left holding the bag and are losing that money and there is no telling how long it will take the courts to resolve the issue. Critics point out that the people who need to weed for medical relief are suffering most.
Alabama U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt are proposing legislation they claim will end illegal Mexican fishing for the popular Red Snapper.
“Red snapper is a core component of Coastal Alabama’s economy, and I’m proud to fight to protect our hardworking fishermen and food producers,” Britt said in her release. “This bill would combat malicious, illegal activity by cartel-backed poachers who are endangering the livelihoods of law-abiding Americans and encroaching on our territorial sovereignty."
Topping the Sports News:
Current 2024 Paris Olympics Medal Count:
- United States, 95 (27 Gold, 35 Silver, 33 Bronze)
- China, 67 (26 Gold, 24 Silver, 17 Bronze)
- France, 51 (17 Gold, 21 Silver, 51 Bronze)
- Great Britain, 49 (12 Gold, 17 Silver 20 Bronze)
- Australia, 43 (18 Gold, 14 Silver, 11 Bronze)
Alabama Football beat reporters are adjusting from the rigorous, closed mouth, suspicious and dictatorial regime of former Tide Football Coach Nick Saban to a more open and friendly operation headed by Kalen DeBoar.
Not only are assistant coaches more relaxed and open to talking with reporters, players have nothing but high praise for the way DeBoar operates. Not only does he play music during practice but now he provides an ice cream truck for players and coaches after hot practice.
The way Saban operated things led to a record-breaking tenure at the Capstone. The way DeBoar operates also works as was evidenced by his Washington squad playing for the national championship.
Click TuscaloosaThread.com for West Alabama news, sports and weather updates throughout the day!
Make the best of your Thursday!
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