West Alabama Thursday Briefing

Good morning West Alabama! It is Thursday, February 27, 2025. This is the 58th days of the year with 307 remaining.

Thursday Morning Observations:

It is confusing and difficult these days to be sure the news we are consuming is accurate, truthful and unbiased. Unfortunately, too many of us are trusting social media for information on what is happening in our world.

According to a September 2024 Pew Trust Poll, just over half of U.S. adults (54%) say they at least sometimes get news from social media, up slightly compared with the last few years. That study also shows the younger the respondent the more they depend on social media for news.

Overall fewer and fewer Americans are depending on newspapers, network TV News, cable news. A significant number of respondents to a number of different surveys have said they don't know who to trust.

So how do many Americans address that concern for trust? They gravitate toward certain news platforms that reinforce beliefs they already hold. Republicans depend more on Fox News, One America News, News Max, CBN and Real America news. Liberals look to CNN, MSNBC, CSPANN, Bloomburg and Huffington Post for their information.

Interestingly, news consumers tend to trust local news organizations more than national, no matter their political leanings. A recent Morning Consult/POLITICO poll found that 41% of registered voters have more trust in their local news outlets to report the truth, while just 27% have more faith in the truthfulness of national news coverage.

Americans who were polled also say local news does the best job of keeping them informed, holding leaders accountable and amplifying stories in their communities without bias or unmarked personal opinion. Respondents revealed they believe local news does a better job of presenting positive, uplifting stories. They also point to coverage of weather and sports as important factors in following hometown media.

The key to being a good citizen is being an informed citizen.

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

Weather:

Recent rains have helped reduce the dry conditions across West Alabama, but it is still abnormally dry cross most of the region. According to the new U.S. Drought Monitor released earlier this morning, Pickens County is the only county not experiencing dry conditions.

Marengo County, extreme southern Hale County and a sliver of southeast Sumter County remain in Moderate Drought.

It looks like a front passing across the area today will give little to no relief, but potential stormy weather next week could help.

The Forecast:

Today

Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 68. Northwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 69. Light and variable wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Friday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 45. Southwest wind around 5 mph.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 70. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.

Saturday Night

Clear, with a low around 36.

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 59.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.

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Topping the News:

Small Tuscaloosa County Wildfire is One of 61 Burning in Alabama

Continued dry conditions are exacerbating wildfire problems in West Alabama/State. Recent rains have helped reduce the lengthy drought across West Alabama but there are still wildfires burning. seven of them are here in West Alabama, the largest, a 124-acre blaze just south of the Town of Hamburg in southern Perry County. There is also an active eight-acre fire burning just off Old Lock 15 Road in Northeast Tuscaloosa County.

Statewide there are 61 wildfires, all but two are considered contained or controlled.

Forester Garden Residents Seek Legal Assistance

Tenants at Forrester Gardens apartments on the city’s south side are meeting with attorneys to determine any legal response to units being shut down by the city over health risks. City inspectors have ruled entire buildings uninhabitable due to sewage backup and significant mold contamination.

Repeat Offender in Pickens County Jail

41-year-old Billy Joe Vail only served four years of a 20-year sentence on a kidnapping and domestic violence conviction. He is now in the Pickens County Jail charged with assaulting another woman.

According to a Facebook release by the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, a woman had reportedly tried to leave a residence there on Liberty Road several occasions over the course of a few days but was stopped by Billy Joe Vail, who threatened to kill her, her family and any police who got involved if she left.

Celebrating the Adopt-A-School Program

Spearheaded by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, the Adopt-a-School Program in Tuscaloosa City and County Schools is celebrating 40 years of support from local businesses. Phifer Inc. was the first business to adopt a school, Westlawn Middle School, and continues its partnership with the same school today.

Jasper Investigates Computer Network Breach

A breach of the City of Jasper’s computer network is still under investigation. City officials say there is no evidence personal information of citizens or city employees were involved. A written statement by the city said the unauthorized activity was limited to certain technological functions.

Sewell Co-Sponsors Bi-Partisan Bill to Thwart Chinese Trade Practices

West Alabama Democrat U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell is co-sponsoring the “Leveling the Playing Field Act 2.0”. It updates U.S. trade remedy law to combat China’s anti-free market trade practices. Sewell says the legislation pushes back against China’s egregious and unfair trade practices.

In a written statement about the bill, Sewell said, " It (the bill) will promote fair competition and protect American workers in the process. After all, we know that if American workers are given the opportunity to compete on a fair and level playing field, they will win on the world stage!”

Alabama Legislative Democrats Steal "DOGE" Idea

Several bills related to government efficiency and transparency are being proposed by Democrats in the Alabama Legislature. One is the "Dynamic Oversight and Government Efficiency (or DOGE) Act" would require 'dynamic fiscal analysis' for proposed and current state programs that exceed $50 million in projected or actual costs. The Alabama Department of Finance would oversee and administer the act.

Topping Sports News:

Paul Bryant High Heading to 6A Title Game/TA to 2A Championship Tilt

Tuscaloosa is definitely a basketball city. The University of Alabama is not the only local roundball team experiencing success. Congrats to Bryant High and TA for their great seasons.

Paul Bryant High’s boys’ basketball team edged Gadsden City 50-49 in the AHSAA Class 6A Final Four. The Stampede advances to Saturday’s title game against Pinson Valley at 2:15 pm at Birmingham’s Legacy Arena.

Tuscaloosa Academy plays for the 2A State Championship tomorrow morning.

Bama Women Facing Tough Tussle with LSU Tonight

20^th ranked Bama women’s basketball hosts 7^th ranked LSU tonight at Coleman Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 8pm.

The Crimson Tide are on the cusp of clinching a double-bye in the SEC Tournament, needing wins in their final two games to do so. They have five players shooting 35% from beyond the arc, four of which are starters.

The game can be seen on the SEC Network and heard on the Crimson Tide Sports Network.

Click HERE for game information.

Tide Women's Center Named to SEC Community Service Team

Graduate center JeAnna Cunningham was named to the Southeastern Conference Community Service Team, the conference announced Wednesday.

This marks the 27th year for the SEC Community Service Team for women's basketball. All league-sponsored sports have had a Community Service Team since 2004, with at-large teams for men's and women's sports being chosen from 1999-2003.

Click HERE for information on Cunningham's service to the community.

Click TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app.

Have a great Thursday and ROLL TIDE! GO STILLMAN!