West Alabama Tuesday Briefing
Good morning, West Alabama! It is Tuesday July 9, 2024.
A HEAT ADVISORY is in effect until 7:00 this evening for all of West Alabama. That means you need to limit your time outdoors, hydrate frequently and remember to not leave people or pets in an unattended vehicle.
Read More: Heat Advisory for West Alabama Counties: Index Values up to 106
Yesterday's rain help knock out that 45-acre wildfire in Lamar County and two others. That leaves six still burning across North Alabama. The largest is a 200-acre blaze South of Double Springs that is under control but still burning.
Firefighters are hoping the forecast of more rain today will help extinguish the remainder of the fire. But cooler, drying weather the remainder of this week has them a bit apprehensive.
The Forecast:
Topping the News:
Some in Moundville have mixed feelings, believing the roadwork will improve traffic flow but will not hurt small businesses.
The Winn Dixie grocery store at the intersection of McFarland Boulevard and Watermelon Road will soon close to be remodeled into an ALDI after the German grocery giant bought the Winn Dixie brand last summer.
The store will not restock, and prices will be lower leading up to closure on July 28th. The store is expected to re-open as an ALDI in early 2025.
Read More: Clearance Underway at Northport Winn Dixie Closing to Become ALDI (tuscaloosathread.com)
Anxiety is rising among many U.S. officials ISIS and China are sending large groups of people into the U.S. across the porous southern border. Alabama Senior Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville believes this will lead to attacks on Americans. He blames Democrats for their open borders policy allowing thousands of illegals into this country.
FBI Director Christopher Wray recently told congress that Al Qaeda and their affiliates, ISIS and their affiliates, have all identified this as a vulnerability.
It may still be just early July, but back-to-school preparations are ramping up. The annual School Supplies for Parking Tickets program begins in the City of Tuscaloosa next Monday and will through August 9th. $10.00 of school supplies for Tuscaloosa City Schools will pay off $18.00 dollars in parking tickets. $20.00 dollars in donations will pay off two $18.00 parking tickets. Donations should be taken to the Tuscaloosa Municipal Court Building.
Alabama Power Company crews have joined power linemen from across the country helping Texas restore some 2-million power outages left by the landfall of Hurricane Beryl yesterday. In some cases, entire systems are being rebuilt.
The mortality rate for Alabama's prisons is five times the rate of the United States as a whole, so the U.S. Department of Justice has filed a statement of interest in a lawsuit by prisoners claiming they are subjected to unconstitutional levels of violence and excessive force.
Some critics point to the overcrowding resulting from few paroles that are being issued by the Pardons and paroles Board for dangerous overcrowding. The Equal Justice Initiative says too often people convicted for low level, none-crime against a person, receive a death sentence because they are murdered in an Alabama prison.
The Alabama Department of Corrections will file a response later this month
Republican U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, who represents a portion of Tuscaloosa County and part of West Alabama is being criticized by the United Mine Workers of America. The union says Aderholt and the subcommittee he chairs are putting mine worker's safety at risk.
At issue is a proposed amendment to the 2025 Department of Labor Appropriations Act which states, "None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to administer, implement, or enforce the proposed rule entitled ‘Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica and Improving Respiratory Protection."
At risk is funding for a regulation meant to prevent coal miners from developing black lung.
Topping Sports News:
The Southeastern Professional Rodeo Association is returning this summer to Sokol Park this week for its 16th Annual Sokol Park Pro Rodeo.
The event is scheduled for Thursday through Saturday at the Ray C. Jenkins Multipurpose Arena at Munny Sokol Park (6025 Watermelon Road). Competition begins at 7:30 p.m. each day. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m.
Bareback riding, team roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, bull riding, barrel racing, and calf roping are among the events scheduled.
Read More: Southeastern Professional Rodeo Association website
The University of Alabama has announced which players would be joining Coach DeBoer in Dallas for SEC Media Days next week. To the surprise of no one, quarterback Jalen Milroe, offensive lineman Tyler Booker, and defensive back Malachi Moore were the three players selected.
This will be the first year SEC Media Days will include new members Texas and Oklahoma. The event begins Monday and runs through Tuesday. SEC media will release its predictions at the end of the event.
The Tuscaloosa City School Board will be presented the annual city schools athletic report at tonight's meeting. The report will cover academic and athletic success and facilities.
Have a terrific Tuesday.