West Alabama Tuesday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Tuesday September 3, 2024.It is back to labor after Labor Day. I hope each of you had a blessed, safe and happy holiday weekend.
Most everyone wearing crimson has a smile on their face for the way the Crimson Tide looked in Coach Kalen DeBoer's debut as the head man of the football program. Like he said, they have things to clean-up, but it was a good start to the season.
The only issue now is for subscribers of DirecTV and U-verse who may not be able to watch Saturday night's game against South Florida due to a contract dispute between the two providers and the Disney Company.
This is the same timing Disney used last year when against Spectrum and Charter when they couldn't reach agreement on a new contract. That outage lasted a little over two weeks. This one could take a little longer because the two parties are far apart and do not have any face-to-face meetings scheduled.
Here is Disney's Side.
Here is the DirecTV/U-verse side.
We will keep you updated on any progress.
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The scattered showers across West Alabama the last few days did little to add enough moisture to reduce the wildfire threat. There are some 50 fires burning statewide this morning. Seven of them are considered contained, seven are under control.
There are seven wildfires in West Alabama. All are contained except for the largest one of 100 acres in east Bibb County which is controlled.
The forecast for the next few days could help today, tonight and tomorrow.
Read More: September Weather Forecast: Key Changes to Expect in Alabama
The Forecast:
Topping the News:
Cottondale Republican State Senator Gerald Allen was able to get a law passed that no longer requires pistol permits in the state. But now, Mobile Sheriff Paul Burch wants them restored for persons under 21. He says it would allow law enforcement to seize guns in the increasingly gun violent youth population.
Strikes are a prominent part of the news today. The Communications Workers of America (CWA) have withdrawn from mediation with AT&T. That includes 17-thousand workers across the country and here in Alabama.
Picket lines have been up in Alabama, including Tuscaloosa, for weeks but the nationwide strike is not scheduled to take place until October 19th in response to AT&T laying off workers nationwide.
Employees at Marriot, Hilton and Hyatt Hotels are on strike nationwide. The workers are demanding higher pay, fair workloads and an end to pandemic era rules. Each chain has a location in Tuscaloosa.
Topping Sports News:
Two Crimson Tiders were selected as Players of the Week for their respective positions:
- Defensive POW: Keon Sabb: Made his Crimson Tide debut by recording a pair of tackles while picking off two passes against the Western Kentucky. Accumulated 87 return yards on his two interceptions.
- Freshman POW: Ryan Williams: Starred in his Crimson Tide debut, getting the start at wideout. Led all Crimson Tide receivers with 139 yards and two scores on only two catches. Found the end zone from 84 and 55 yards away while accumulating 78 yards after the catch.
Read More: Keon Sabb Shines, Earns SEC Defensive Player of the Week
Read More: Ryan Williams Named SEC Freshman of the Week After Dominant Debut
Bama's Kalen DeBoer knows something about what a quality QB looks like, he has coached several, including last year's Heisman runner-up Michael Pennix at Washington.
Auburn head Coach Hugh Freeze told media at his weekly press conference that it is a challenge to get his players to pursue a team goal. Freeze points out that the greatest challenge is to get players pursuing individual goals to "surrender that for the greater good."
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