West Alabama Thursday Briefing

Good morning West Alabama! It is Thursday, February 6, 2025. This is the 37th day of the year with 328 days remaining.

In this Edition:

Morning Observations
Weather
Topping the News
Topping the Sports News

Thursday Morning Observations:

Time was when National Signing Day was a big deal for college football fans in Alabama and across the country. Many of us would take off work, tune the television to ESPN early, stock up on snacks and see how our team faired with our rivals in luring talented young athletes to campus.

What could beat the high drama of waiting for a high school senior, surrounded by family and friends, announcing his college destination? Which school cap on the desk in front of him would he put on after an initial fake move toward one of the losing school caps?

An Alfred Hitchcock suspense couldn’t match the buildup to a teenager signing of a letter of intent in front of his high school’s assembly, followed by faxing (that machine that beeps and transmits documents over a phone line) it to their school of choice.

Now it has become just another day in this early signing period, NIL, transfer portal driven world of college pigskin.

Yesterday’s signing day was so mundane that I, like many other fans, totally forgot it was even taking place.

It was late morning before a friend texted me with news that Kalen DeBoer’s second signing class at Alabama is in the top three or four of most recruiting service rankings and includes the nation’s top player. No, it is not tops, that belongs to Steve Sarkisian’s oil money driven Texas Longhorns. But it is difficult to differentiate between #1 and #10 these days.

Who knows what players will work out? Who knows which ones will hit the transfer portal early? Who knows which player will garner the attention of another school in this age of pay-for-play? Half of each season’s signing class could be elsewhere in a year or two.

The word of many young men on signing day isn’t worth much these days anyway, just like his signature on a document that is no longer faxed. It is now an "I'm coming unless something better comes up" semi-commitment.

So, it is now up to DeBoer’s coaching staff to shape this year’s team into a contender. In this day of coaches and players flipping to other schools each year, that is not an easy task.

Roll Tide!

(Opinions expressed in Morning Observations are those of the author and not necessarily those of the ownership, management, staff or sponsors of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)

Weather:

Abnormally Dry or Drought conditions continue to plague West Alabama according today's release of the U.S. Drought Monitor. We will get some help though as mostly cloudy conditions with chances for showers and a few thunderstorms from Tuscaloosa northward are in the forecast for today. Highs will remain in the comfortable, but damp, lower 70s. Scattered showers tonight will be accompanied by overnight lows in the lower 60s.

Isolated shower activity is expected Friday as highs bump back into the lower 70s.

Don't get used to the 20 degrees above normal temperatures. A cold front at the end of the weekend will bring more seasonable highs in the upper 50 and lows in the mid 40s.

The Forecast:

Today

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly between 9am and 3pm. Patchy fog between 8am and 9am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 77. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tonight

A slight chance of showers before midnight, then a slight chance of showers after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday

A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 79. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 5 mph.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 15 mph.

Saturday Night

A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 60.

Sunday

A 30 percent chance of showers before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 71.

Sunday Night

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Topping the News:

Holt High Athletics to End

History is coming to an end at Holt High. Conspiracy theories abound on social media in the wake of the announcement by the Tuscaloosa County School System that all athletics at Holt High School will end at the conclusion of the next school year (2025-26). A decline in student participation and attendance has made it difficult to maintain Ironman athletics according to a release from the school system.

A public meeting is set for Monday at 6 pm in the Holt High Café, for a discussion on possible new course offerings and opportunities for Holt High students.

Read More: Holt High School Athletics to be Discontinued After the 2025-2026 School Year

Tuscaloosa Public Library Presents 6-Year Plan

Monday night the Northport City Council allocated $100,000 more to the Tuscaloosa Public Library to thwart threatened cuts to service in the city. That additional money follows years where previous councils provided less than their share of funding, something the current council claims to be attempting to rectify.

Library Executive Director Jennifer Pearson tells news partner ABC 3340 she has presented a six-year funding plan to governing bodies but has not yet heard back from Northport. Pearson’s plan would have all library participants paying $25.00 per capita for users of the library.

ALDOT to Host Meeting About Improvements on LBW in Northport Today

ALDOT is hosting a come-and-go public meeting at the Northport Free Will Baptist Church (2401 Lurleen B Wallace Blvd) between 5:00 and 7:00pm today. The meeting will present a potential improvement project on Lurleen Wallace Boulevard (SR-69) from the 5th Street intersection to Northwood Lake Drive.

The public can ask questions and view exhibits regarding the proposed project that will be similar to improvement work done on LBW in Tuscaloosa in recent years.

Last day for Railroad Crossing Blockage

Today is expected to be the last day for closure of eight Tuscaloosa railroad crossings by Norfolk-Southern Railroad. The crossings at Dr. Edward Hilliard Dr., Hackberry Lane, 10^th – 12^th and 26^th Avenues, Pelham Heights Rd, Buttermilk Rd and 19th Ave E. were closed yesterday but are expected to reopen tomorrow.

Southern Natural Gas Seeking Permission to Construct New West Alabama Pipeline

A new Southern Natural Gas Company pipeline would span 279 miles and three states, including four West Alabama counties (Hale, Marengo, Perry and Sumter).

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Office of Public Participation (OPP) said the new Southern Natural project would consist of 14 new natural gas pipeline loops that run parallel to Southern Natural Gas Company's existing pipeline, the South Main Line.

As part of the commission's pre-filing process impacted landowners can access documents about the project and attend series of in-person or virtual open houses.

The commission said the open houses will run between January 14 and March 4 and are in order for residents to learn more about the project and ask Southern Natural Gas Company questions.

Sen. Britt Backing Social Media Legislation

With Gov. Ivey proposing a ban on smartphones at schools during her State of the State Address Tuesday, Alabama Junior U.S. Senator Katie Britt is backing a Kids off Social Media Act in congress. The first term Republican senator told Fox News that Pew Research found 70 percent or more of parents worry that their teens are being exposed to explicit content or wasting too much time on social media.

Britt believes it is not coincidental that significant rises in youth depression and mental health issues coincide with the advent of social media.

The Kids Off Social Media Act would make the minimum age to use social media 13-years-old. It would also stop social media companies from using algorithms to send “targeted content” to users under the age of 17.

DCHRMC Pastoral Care Services Director Announced

DCH has announced Robb Small has been named as full-time Director of Pastoral Care Services. Small will lead the team of chaplains who passionately provide spiritual support and care to DCH patients, caregivers and visitors who may be in the most distressing and challenging moments of their lives.

Read More: DCH Announces Pastoral Care Services Director

Bad Legislative News for State Retirees

Alabama State Government retirees have not received a cost-of-living increase since 2007. And lawmakers in Montgomery for the new legislative session are signaling that there will not be one this year either. A pending bill would allow legislators to review COLA adjustments annually, but it includes no money for an increase.

Topping Sports News:

Bama and Auburn Baseball Predicted to Finish Near the Bottom of SEC

Predictions for the new baseball season are out, and the Crimson Tide and Tigers are getting little respect from a vote by SEC Coaches. Bama is pricked to finish 13th in the 16 team Southeastern Conference and Auburn is not much better at 12th.

Three UA players are getting attention with their selection to the Pre-Season All SEC Team. Justin Lebron was selected to the league's first team, while Zane Adams and Will Hodo both received second-team distinction by the conference's head coaches.

Annual Fan Day is scheduled for 11:00am Saturday at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The free, family-friendly event will feature inflatable bounce houses and slides along with a face painter, while kids can also meet Big Al and obtain autographs from the team.

Fans are encouraged to sign up for the free event in advance by clicking here.

The Tide opens the new season a week from today in a 3:00pm CST contest against Bradley at the Joe.

Bama Women's Basketball in the Sunshine State Tonight

The 23rd ranked Crimson Tide women (18-5 overall, 5-4 SEC) visit Florida for a 6:00pm game tonight at Stephen C. O'Connell Center in Gainsville.

The two teams met in Tuscaloosa and Alabama took away a 79-69 win at Coleman Coliseum. Tide Coach Kristi Curry calls the Gators a much-improved teams and says this will be a difficult game for her squad.

Stillman Celebrating Homecoming

Stillman College is throwing it back to the 90s for its Homecoming 2025 theme. Events began Sunday and run through this Sunday on the Stillman campus.

The highpoint will be action by both the men's and women's basketball teams who are each in first place in the HBCU Athletic Conference standings.

The basketball teams will host Arkansas Baptist College for Homecoming on Saturday at 1 p.m. & 3 p.m.

A complete schedule for the week can be found online at Stillman.edu/homecoming.

Read More: Stillman College Hosts Homecoming Week

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Have a thrilling Thursday and Roll Tide!