West Alabama Thursday Briefing

Good morning West Alabama! It is Thursday, March 27, 2025. This is the 86th day of the year with 279 remaining. It is also "Sweet 16" day for the Alabama Men's Basketball Team and "Opening Day" for Major League Baseball.

Thursday Morning Observations:

Spring is always a busy time in the sports world. It is the period of the year where multiple sports are challenging for championships and other sports are preparing for the coming season or beginning their season.

Around these parts all eyes will be on the NCAA Men's Basketball "Sweet 16". Alabama faces a major challenge from BYU while Auburn does battle with a talented Michigan team.

The Alabama Women's Basketball Team will be looking at the Women's "Sweet 16" in Birmingham knowing they could have been there if it had not been for a 4th quarter collapse at Maryland. It was still an outstanding season and yet another 20-win year.

Despite losing 2 of 3 the #1 and defending National Champion UT last weekend, th12th ranked Bama Baseball Team continues one of their best starts to the season in years.

Tide Softball is having its struggles but continues to hold on to a top 25 ranking.

UA gymnastics has been posting good scores but often falling short against some of the best competition in the country. They are hosting the NCAA Gymnastic Regionals.

Track and Field, men's and women's golf, swimming and diving, men's and women's tennis and rowing all have had success as teams and individually.

And underway right now is Alabama Football Spring Practice as Coach Kalen DeBoer puts together a team with high expectations for next season. A-Day with a lot of events will take place April 12.

Tuscaloosa County, Hillcrest. Northside, American Christian, Oak Grove, Bibb County, Gordo and Sweetwater are all ranked in their individual AHSAA Class Top 25s in baseball.

And of course, today is "Opening Day" for Major League Baseball. The "Boys of Summer" are back, and all is right with the world. Atlanta Braves begin the 2025 regular season in against the San Diego Padres. Chris Sale is set to be today's starter against Michael King.

Aside from the high pollen count, it's a great time of the year, Play Ball!!

Weather:

A strengthening storm system to our west will bring a chance of strong to severe thunderstorms late Sunday into Monday. Basically, all of Alabama is defined in a severe weather risk by the Storm Prediction Center.

A Slight (2 in 5) Risk for severe weather is expected to bring a threat from all modes of severe weather during the late Sunday, Monday morning hours.

The Forecast:

Today

Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the morning.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Southeast wind around 5 mph.

Friday

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Friday Night

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

The Weekend

Scattered showers are likely Saturday through the day Sunday. Each day is not expected to be a washout. Then the severe weather risk moves in Sunday night. Highs should be in the upper 70s to low 80s while lows remain in the mid 60s.

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News:

ICE Detains UA Doctoral Student from Iran

The University of Alabama has officially confirmed what was initially reported in the campus newspaper Crimson-White, that a UA doctoral student has been detained by ICE agents.

According to the original CW report, the visa for Alireza Doroudi was revoked in 2023 about six months after he arrived, but there was no clear reason why.

Where Doroudi is being held is not known. A search of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website only states that a person by that name is in ICE custody.

A protest of the arrest is being planned on the UA campus.

Resurfacing on I22 in Walker County Underway

ALDOT has begun resurfacing a portion of I22 in Walker County. At least one lane will remain open between exit 51 to near exit 57 west of Jasper. Work should be completed this fall.

Dunn Construction Company was awarded the project at $5.95 million.

Motorists should expect possible delays and are encouraged to observe work-zone speed limits.

ALDOT Map: ALDOT to resurface portion of I-22 in Walker County

Mayor Maddox Urges District 1 Runoff Voter Turnout

In his weekly "Mayor's Minute" communication, Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox is encouraging voters to turnout for Tuesday's District 1 race between incumbent Matthew Wilson and challenger Joe Eatmon.

"On March 4, 2025, the mayor and city council member positions were up for election with several races being competitive. Yet only 11 percent of registered voters participated," Maddox wrote.

"On September 24, 2024, when the Tuscaloosa City Schools proposed an increase in property taxes for our schools only 17 percent of registered voters voted. Frankly, the November 2024 Presidential election was not much better with an estimated 42 percent of the City’s registered voters participating."

Maddox quoted Thomas Jefferson who said, “The government you elect is the government you deserve.”

The polling location is the TDOT Auditorium which is located at 1100 28th Avenue and will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Municipal election information, including a district map, can be found at elections.tuscaloosa.com.

Most of West Alabama Still Abnormally Dry

The current U.S. Drought Monitor released earlier this morning show much of West Alabama is still Abnormally Dry. Most of Tuscaloosa County southwest to Marengo Counties are shown as still dry on the map.

One bit of good news is the number of wildfires in the state have been reduced from more than 100 to start the week down to 19 this morning. There are none burning in West Alabama.

HBCO "Innovation Power Hour" Hosted at Stillman

Stillman College hosted the "Innovation Power Hour" on the Tuscaloosa campus at the Wynn Center Wednesday. The event provided hands-on experience to equip students with cutting-edge technology skills, entrepreneurial insights, and AI-driven problem-solving strategies.

This is the third year the HBCU Innovation Power Hour has come to Tuscaloosa as it expands to 2-year and 4-year HBCUs across the state.

Read More: HBCU Innovation Power Hour Arrives at Stillman College

Tuscaloosa County Records Second Fatal Motorcycle Crash This Year

54-year-old James K. Atkins died yesterday afternoon when the motorcycle he was riding left U.S. 82 near the 57-mile marker, about three miles east of the Tuscaloosa city limits and crashed into an embankment.

The Rockford man was pronounced deceased at DCH.

On March 8th, 41-year-old Marvin Otis Wilkins Jr. of Tuscaloosa, was traveling west in the 3000 block of 20th Street when he lost control and fell off the motorcycle. He slid beneath a parked tow truck. The motorcycle hit a parked car.

Parker Towing Honors Two Women with Boat Names

Tuscaloosa’s Parker Towing Company has christened two towboats named after women who have worked for the company - the Beverly Jo Smith and the LaDonna Rubio. Parker Towing is one of the largest barge lines in the Southeast and boasts a powerful fleet of several hundred towboats.

Read More: Parker Towing Company Christens 2 Boats to Honor Women