West Alabama on Point

Good morning West Alabama. It is Tuesday June 18, 2024.

We are just over two weeks into the 2024 Hurricane Season and the tropics are already active. So far, we have seen just tropical disturbances that have dropped copious amounts of rain in Florida but mostly just impacted maritime interests.

However, there is one system in the Atlantic Basin that could impact the Gulf of Mexico. It is expected to move into the Gulf early next week and has a decent chance of becoming the first tropical depression or named storm of the season. Right now, the system is several hundred miles east of the Bahamas, but weather conditions are conducive to further strengthening.

Alberto is the first name on the 2024 Atlantic list and this storm could assume that name late this weekend or early next week.

Another very large tropical disturbance in the Bay of Campeche will bring heavy rainfall to coastal Texas and inland Mexico when it moves inland to Central Mexico early Thursday morning.

So, keep an eye on the tropics the predictions of an above normal hurricane season may mean we could see activity well before the late August to mid-September peak of the season.

Today's Forecast:

Today

Partly sunny, with a high near 88. East wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. East wind around 5 mph.

Juneteenth

Partly sunny, with a high near 89. East wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Wednesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. East wind around 5 mph.

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 91. East wind around 5 mph.

Thursday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 70.

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Topping the News:

An intense fire consumed a home in North Tuscaloosa County this morning. Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue spent much of this morning supporting Carroll’s Creek Volunteer Fire Department on a fire call that came in around 6:30am. A structure at 15714 Old Fayette Road was fully involved when firefighters arrived on the scene. One minor burn injury resulted from the blaze. Cause of the blaze is under investigation.

A 46-year-old man was shot and killed in Pickens County and five people have been arrested in connection with the incident and charged with capital murder.

The shooting took place last month on Old Bethany Road in Pickens County. The identity of the victim has not been made public, but authorities did say the man was in a vehicle when he was shot. The driver drove him to the Green County Hospital in Eutaw where he was pronounced dead.

Eight law enforcement agencies, including the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office have participated in the investigation.

Justin Ross Harris, the Tuscaloosa native who was sent to prison in Georgia for his son's death in a parked car during intense summer heat has been released.

Harris left Macon State Prison on Father’s Day – nearly ten years to the day since his son, Cooper, died after being left strapped inside a car for seven hours while he went to work – according to the Georgia Department of Corrections website.

Harris was convicted of Cooper’s murder in 2016 after prosecutors convinced a jury Harris killed his son to escape the burdens of his marriage and fatherhood. But the life sentence was overturned in 2022 by the Georgia Supreme Court, which ruled 6-3 that evidence submitted by prosecutors of Harris’ extramarital relationships – which the state had portrayed as the motivation behind his alleged decision to kill his son – had an unfair prejudicial impact on the jury.

Though the murder charges were nullified, the court left in place three other counts relating to his electronic exchanges of lewd material with an underage girl.

Residents of Waterford Place and surrounding neighborhoods in South Tuscaloosa disapprove of a new development planned for their area and they brought their complaints to the City of Tuscaloosa Planning and Zoning Commission last night.

District 3 Tuscaloosa County Commissioner Mark Nelson told the commission he is not against development, but this one does not fit the area and is just intended as a money maker.

The commission continued discussion on the project until next month’s meeting and encouraged the developer to meet with Waterford Place Homeowners Association.

Former Alabama and current Kansas City Chief’s lineman Isaiah Buggs left Tuscaloosa County Jail yesterday after being held on domestic violence and burglary charges, but his bond was later revoked based on early animal cruelty charges.

The embattled Buggs has also faced loss of his business license at the lounge he owns due to repeated TPD responses to violence there. According to a Facebook post Buggs is closing his controversial King’s Hookah Lounge on Greensboro Avenue.

Former Alabama basketball player Darius Miles will remain in the Tuscaloosa County Jail for at least another six weeks after a three-plus-hour hearing Monday did not address whether to grant him bond.

Miles is charged with capital murder for his role in the killing of a 23-year-old Birmingham woman who was shot near the Tuscaloosa Strip in January 2023. In yesterday’s hearing it was revealed Miles was not read his Miranda Rights until after 3-hours of interrogation.

The Druid High School Class of 1968 is hosting the inaugural 2024 President’s Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony. According to a press release from Premiere Coalition Partners Association, LLC. the program will honor 50 people for their lifelong service to the community.

Topping Sports News:

The Southeastern Conference continues to dominate the 2024 College Baseball World Series. When the tournament started two weeks ago pundits from across the nation were already crowning the Atlantic Coast Conference as the best baseball conference in the country. The results in the MCWS so far have proven them wrong.

Monday's Games: