West Alabama Tuesday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Tuesday July 16, 2024.
A Heat Advisory is in effect until 9"00 tonight for all of West Alabama. Heat indices could reach upward of 108 degrees. Stay hydrated, limit outdoor exposure to the heat and DO NOT leave humans or animals in a hot car.
Yesterday's scattered thunderstorms were a precursor for today through the weekend. Portions of the western part of Tuscaloosa County got downpours near an inch-and-a-half. Other areas received little to none. Today through the weekend is expected to kickoff n active weather pattern with above normal chances for rainfall will actually continue into next week.
The main rainfall will be during the afternoon and early evening hours and will contain wind gusts that could reach 30 to 40mph. By early next week rainfall could total two to three inches with locally heavier amounts. That will be a blessing for Alabama Forestry Commission and volunteer fire department crews that have been battling 15 wildfires across the state.
Four wildfires continue to burn in Perry County with the largest being a 50-acre fire that is considered controlled in northeastern Perry County.
Due to that Saharan Desert dust blowing over the Atlantic, no tropical weather is expected to form over the next week or so.
The Forecast:
“[Biden’s] weakness is costing us our opportunity, prosperity, security, safety; each diminished, all in decline – just like the man in the Oval Office. ”
Britt, who endorsed Trump late last year, argued that the former president will reinvigorate the country’s economy.
The convention continues through Thursday.
The D.C. Horton development in South Tuscaloosa remains on hold after the Tuscaloosa Planning and Zoning Commission table the plan for more than 300 homes in a congested area near Shelton State.
Residents of neighborhoods surround the proposed site voiced concern over road congestion and safety, housing density and pressure placed on public safety.
The jobs are there but few people seem to want to work. That is the concern facing organizations attempting to fill job openings.
There will be two job fairs this week that will attempt to fill some good paying positions.
The first is Thursday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM at the Career Center. It will host a Job Fair for Shoal Creek Mine. This event is a great chance for individuals, whether experienced or new to mining, to meet employers and learn about available positions.
The second job fair is also Thursday. It is set for 10 AM to 2 PM for Tuscaloosa City Schools. They are looking to hire teachers, instructional aides, custodians, bus drivers, and child nutrition assistants. This event will be located at Central High School.
Read More: Upcoming Job Fairs and Services at Tuscaloosa Area Career Center
Police in Walker County are asking for help finding a woman now missing for almost a week.
In a Monday afternoon post on Facebook, the Jasper Police Department said 57-year-old Carla Gay Ross was reported missing by her sister.
Ross was reportedly last seen on Tuesday, July 9th, when she was given a ride to Ice House West, a convenience store in Jasper.
Read More: Jasper Police Searching for Woman Missing for Nearly A Week
This coming weekend is the annual Back to School Tax Holiday. State, most county and local governments are again giving parents a break on back-to-school item purchases by waving taxes.
The event begins at 12:01am Friday morning and runs until midnight Sunday night.
The Alabama Department of Revenue has produced a list of items that are eligible for purchase.
Topping Sports News:
According to On3 NIL and Pete Nakos, Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson is entering a multi-year deal with Harbin Automotive and will get a new Ford or Chevrolet every couple of months in exchange for promoting Harbin.
Read More: Ty Simpson Inks NIL Deal
SEC Football Media Days continue today in Dallas. Today's schedule:
- Georgia (9:05 a.m.) -- Kirby Smart | QB Carson Beck, DL Mykel Williams, DB Malaki Starks
- Tennessee (10:45 a.m.) -- Josh Heupel | C Cooper Mays, LB Keenan Pili, DL Omari Thomas
- Oklahoma (11:50 a.m.) -- Brent Venables | QB Jackson Arnold, LB Danny Stutsman, DB Billy Bowman Jr.
- Missouri (2:20 p.m.) -- Eli Drinkwitz | WR Luther Burden III, QB Brady Cook, DL Kristian Williams
Alabama day is tomorrow. Auburn Day is Thursday.
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey opened yesterday's newly enlarged 16 team league pre-football season media outing at a new place - Dallas, Texas, The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners are the new members.
Sankey told the gigantic media crowd of radio, tv, print and online media that everyone needs to, "...update your expectations for what college athletics can be."
With lawsuits, NIL being stretched to mean 'pay-for-play', the wild west transfer portal and academics being pushed aside, Sankey told the Dallas Omni Hotel gathering, “We as leaders are responsible for navigating what really are for us in college sports uncharted waters of change.”
Sankey said new revenue streams will be needed, but he warned of college sports leaders handing over control in exchange for money, in a not-so-subtle allusion to private equity firms as a revenue source.
Have a terrific Tuesday!