West Alabama Thursday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama. It is Thursday, January 16, 2025. It is the 16th day of the year with 349 remaining.
Thursday Morning Observations:
President Joe Biden delivered his farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office last night. He is completing a 50-year career at various levels of politics culminating in his one term in the White House. He characterized the 4-years as a term of, "rebuilding and transformation." Both of which have been controversial.
He thanked his supporters, staff, family, Vice President Harris and the American people for their support over the years. And, as most presidents leaving office do, he ticked off a list of his accomplishments. That is where things began to get iffy.
The longtime Democrat rightly touted his accomplishment of bringing the nation through the pandemic, reducing drug prices, attempting to help the marginalized and returning some form of normalcy to the White House but then his propensity for taking credit for things that didn't happen or didn't happen the way he saw it appeared.
Biden claimed his administration created “nearly 17 million new jobs, more than any other single administration.” Well kind of, the statement is misleading since most of the job creation happened after mass job losses during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
The President claimed he has, "...brought violent crime to a 50-year low." That is partly true, but the problem is that many city police departments haven’t been reporting complete crime data to the FBI since the system changed in 2021.
The outgoing chief executive claimed his administration has achieved a ceasefire and a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas. He said they kept the incoming Trump team informed. But the Washington Post writes that all the i's are not dotted, and t's are not crossed and that the plan could fall apart. Plus, it is being reported that Trump had representatives involved in the negotiations.
Biden correctly warned of undue social media influence on our society, concern for the bad capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the ever-increasing power and influence of high-tech companies but then he got personal without specifically naming names.
Biden took a not so concealed shot at President-elect Trump, warning that the ultra-wealthy are taking control of the country. In a not so veiled reference to the world's richest man Elon Musk, who has a tremendous influence over Trump, Biden claimed an "oligarchy" is forming in the U.S.
Biden then did something never done so blatantly in a farewell address before, he raised concerns about his successor. He warned Americans to be on guard for their freedoms and their institutions and then added that presidents should not be immune to prosecution for wrongs they commit while in office (an obvious reference to multiple charges brought by Democrat prosecutors against Trump across the country in an attempt to keep him from regaining the White House).
Many believe Biden was willing to sellout his previous moderate political beliefs to the far-left wing of his party just to gain the presidency he always coveted. He will go down, not as the great president he sees himself, but as a caretaker president that stumbled through four years in the toughest office in the world at a very volatile time.
Now it is next man up.
(Opinions expressed in Morning Briefing are those of the author and not necessarily those of the ownership, management, staff or sponsors of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)
Weather:
Drought still persists across West Alabama according to the new Drought Monitor released by the national Climate Center this morning. However, one or more inches of rain in the forecast Saturday will help reduce the coverage area.
It is becoming more evident that there will be some type of wintry weather event in Alabama next week. The $64,000 question is where, what, when and how much?
After a brief warmup, temperatures will plunge to season lows next week, but computer models continue to disagree over any "wintry mischief".
ABC3340 Chief Meteorologist James Spann continues to caution that some models predict no snow at all, others are forecasting snow in north Alabama Tuesday and Wednesday while still others say it won’t happen until Thursday, but only in central Alabama
Spann says we will achieve some clarity tomorrow, with more specific forecasts available Sunday.
Read More: Prepare for an Arctic Alabama + Possible Winter Weather Next Week
The Forecast:
Topping the News:
UA President Stepping Down after a Decade
After a decade heading the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa campus President Dr. Stuart Bell is resigning effective this summer. The Texas A&M graduate has worked 30 years in higher education, including 16 as a UA faculty member and 10 years as president.
According to a study by the American Council on Education, the average tenure of a major college president in 5-point-9 years.
The Texas native launched UA’s “Rising Tide” fundraising campaign in 2016. The campaign reached its $1.5 billion goal last year.
Bell has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering and master's and doctorate degrees in mechanical engineering.
Read More: University of Alabama President To Step Down This Summer
Bryant High Student Could Face More Charges
That 15-year-old student who was arrested for bringing a gun to Paul Bryant High earlier this week may face more possible charges according to authorities.
A student at the school informed the school resource officer about the weapon but officials have not said if they know why the student brought it to campus.
Tuscaloosa City Schools Safety Specialist Anthony Harris tells news partner ABC3340 school safety begins at home.
School security will be increased in the wake of the incident.
State Wants Bond Bumped Up
The state is pushing to increase the bond for Charles Williams Jr., the man investigators say was the last person to see missing Marion County woman 39-year-old Chastity Terry. They want it raised from the current $5,000 to $10,000 and made a cash bond only. Williams is in jail on drug charges and is believed to be a flight risk.
Authorities are still searching the I22 are near Jasper where Terry was last seen Friday on a truck stop security camera.
Services Set for Dr. Archie Wade
Graveside and Burial Services will be held Saturday at 11:00 a.m. in Cedar Oak Memorial Garden for Dr. Archie Wade, UA’s first black faculty member, who died at the age of 80 earlier this week. Dr. Wade was a graduate of Stillman College where he was an outstanding athlete and went on to play in the St. Louis Cardinal's organization.
Rev. Dr. McNair Ramsey will conduct graveside services.
See Obituary HERE.
Pickens County Man Arrested for Child Endangerment
22-year-old Larry Randall Harless Jr. is in jail in Pickens County this morning after his arrest for chemical endangerment to a minor. Authorities claim he gave a 3-year-old girl a Delta 8 THC gummy.
Delta-8 THC (or delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol) is a naturally occurring chemical compound, called a cannabinoid, that’s found in traces in hemp and cannabis (marijuana) plants.
Changes to Alabama Paroles Process Pushed by Tuscaloosa Legislator
A Commission established to reduce the number of repeat offenders has discussed the state’s poor 20% parole rate, one of the lowest in the nation. Tuscaloosa Democrat Rep. Chris England is pushing legislation this coming session that will standardize risk assessments of inmates and add more oversight to the Pardons and Paroles Board…
Critics claim the board has too much individual leeway in interpreting qualifications for paroles in an overcrowded state prison system.
MKL, Jr. Holiday Changing City of Tuscaloosa Schedule
In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, City Hall will close at 4 p.m. and 311 will close at 5 p.m. Friday, January 17 and remain closed on Monday, January 20. Normal hours will resume on Tuesday, January 21.
Garbage, trash and recycling collection will also be delayed one day next week beginning Monday, January 20.
- Monday routes will be collected Tuesday, January 21
- Tuesday routes will be collected Wednesday, January 22
- Wednesday routes will be collected Thursday, January 23
- Thursday routes will be collected Friday, January 24
For questions, please call Tuscaloosa 311.
Topping Sports News:
Tide Women Have Their Work Cut Out for Them Tonight
The 19th Ranked Bama women’s basketball team (16-2 overall, 3-1 SEC) have their work cut out for them tonight at 6:00 at Coleman. They host defending national champion and second ranked South Carolina (16-1 overall, 4-0 SEC).
Led by head coach Dawn Staley, the Gamecocks have been one of college basketball’s top programs in recent years, winning two of the last three national titles, as well as finishing last season undefeated at 38-0 overall.
The Crimson Tide is 9-0 at home this season.
Former Tide Golfer Nick Dunlap at Scene of His Biggest Win
Former Crimson Tide Golfer Nick Dunlap tees off this morning in the opening round of The American Express Golf Tournament as the defending champion.
As a 20-year-old sophomore member of the Alabama men’s golf team, Dunlap became the first amateur to win a PGA Tour event since Phil Mickelson in 1991.
Shortly after the win Dunlap left the Alabama Golf Team and turned pro. In the online publication The Players Tribune Dunlap wrote, "I was back in Tuscaloosa a few weeks ago and Coach Seawell (Tide Men's Golf Coach) surprised me with the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award. To be able to share that with my family is an experience I’ll never forget."
Another Bama Football Coaching Change
ESPN's Pete Thamel reports that Alabama assistant cornerbacks coach Kobie Jones will be moving on from the Crimson Tide, accepting a position as the cornerbacks coach at Georgia Tech.
The Yellowjackets are coached by former Alabama offensive line coach Brent Key.
Read More: Alabama DB Coach Takes New Position With ACC School
Click TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app.
Have a terrific Thursday!
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