West Alabama Tuesday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Tuesday, April 22, 2025. This is the 113th day of the year with 253 remaining.
In Today's Edition:
- Weather
- News
- Sports
- Morning Observations
Weather:
Shower and thunderstorm activity should increase into the afternoon hours. A few of these storms could be strong during peak afternoon heating but are expected to remain at Moderate limits. Highs today will be in the upper 70s to lower 80s.
Tonight, rain chances will remain high. Low temperatures will be in the low to mid 60s.
Both today and tonight lightning chances will be elevated across most of West Alabama.
The Forecast:
Trump has previously attended two Crimson Tide Football games at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Read More: President Donald Trump Says He Will Give University of Alabama Commencement Address
UA Spring Graduation Breakdown
- 4,865 Undergraduate Degree Applicant
- 1,417 Masters/Eds Degree Applicants
- 148 Doctoral Degree Applicants
- Youngest grad is 19, 68 is the oldest
Further Class of 2025 Spring Graduation Statistics
Rep. Sewell Critical of Trump's Proposed Social Security Cutbacks
West Alabama Democrat Congresswoman Terri Sewell, in a Facebook post, is calling President Trump’s plans to cutback Social Security shameful.
During his campaign, Trump repeatedly promised that he wouldn’t touch Social Security benefits. But his latest tax proposals could indirectly do just that—by shrinking the funding the program relies on to survive according to Sewell.
Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has cut the Social Security Administration staffing in half. The SSA will start requiring in-person identity checks for recipients. In the past, recipients who couldn’t verify their identity online could do so over the phone. Sewell claims this will make things more difficult for rural, poor and elderly recipients.
Outstanding Student Loans Could be Sent to Collectors Soon
If your student loan is in default, the Trump Education Department plans to turn your account over to a collection agency which could result in wage garnishments. According to federal figures, 657,200 Alabama residents have outstanding federal student loans, totaling $24.8 billion. Alabama ranks 13th in the nation in outstanding student load debt the average balance per borrower at $37-thousand-plus dollars.
May 7th Star ID Deadline Looming and Alabama is Behind
May 7th is the deadline to convert your current driver’s license to a “Star ID”. It will be the only way to pass through airport security or enter a federal government building after that date. ALEA Trooper Corporal Reginal King tells we will need to take four documents to the driver’s license office to confirm our identity. He says documents such as a birth certificate and Social Security card to establish identity, and two documents (such as power and gas bills) will be needed to establish residence.
Federal figures reveal only 31% of driver's licenses in Alabama are Star ID compliant.
Eutaw Council Pay Raise Plan Tabled for Now
A resolution that would raise Eutaw City Council salaries from $300 to $800 a month has been temporarily tabled. Eutaw Mayor Latasha Johnson opposes the plan because she claims the city can’t afford it and would be forced into cutback work hours. The proposal is expected to be brought back up at the May 14th meeting.
Catholic UA Students Mourn Death of Pope
The death of Pope Francis has UA Catholic students in mourning. Samuel Rodgers is a sophomore at the Capstone. He told news partner ABC 3340, while the pope's death was not unexpected it is still a shock.
UA Catholic students emphasize that the death of the Holy Father is not the end, but a transition to new leadership and continued faith.
WICShopper App to Be an Improvement
Leaders at the Alabama Department of Public Health say a WICShopper app can help you keep track of your eligibility and monthly food packages. It can also help you find WIC clinics near you and authorized grocery stores.
WIC participants can download this app on their smartphones and other devices by visiting either the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and searching for “WICShopper.”
More details on this new tool can be found by clicking or HERE
Sports:
Bama Baseball at Samford Tonight
The 18th ranked Bama Baseball Team (31-10 overall, 9-9 SEC) is on the road tonight to take on Samford (22-17 overall, 8-4 American Conference) in a 6:00pm first pitch at Joe Lee Griffin Field in Homewood.
The Crimson Tide is coming off two straight SEC series losses but has been stellar in midweek games. The Bulldogs are on a two-game winning streak.
Alabama is on a 10-game winning streak against Samford.
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCH
- RHP Bobby Alcock (UA) vs. RHP Brooks Rice (SAMFORD)
Bama Softball Also on the Road Tonight
Alabama softball (31-18 overall) plays its final non-conference game of the regular season tonight, traveling to Montgomery, to play Alabama State (15-31overall) at 6:00pm at the Barbara Williams Softball Complex.
The Tide dropped two of three games at Florida this past weekend.
Atlanta Braves Putting Together a Winning Streak
The Braves had to come from behind at Truist Stadium last night and then withstand a furious comeback by St. Louis to pick up their 4th straight win. The Braves moved past the Cards 7-4 only to see St. Louis mount a late inning rally, eventually ATL won 7-6.
The same two teams have games tonight and again tomorrow.
Tuesday Morning Observations:
College sports have been in chaos since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that schools had to pay athletes for name, image and likeness. But what devolved has become pay-for-play where rich schools dominate. The NCAA abdicated its authority and college athletics became the wild-and-wooly-west where anything goes.
Many college athletes became instant millionaires, lesser paid players harbored resentments, and recruiting and retention of players became a nightmare.
The dark side of it all was revealed when now former Tennessee QB Nico Lamaleava held out of a practice demanding the school double his $2-million salary. (Yes, salary, because it definitely wasn't name, image and likeness). Sources say the reason UT performed so poorly in the playoffs was descension on the team.
Now the NCAA Division I Board of Directors have voted to do away with 153 longstanding rules. That is a move that will allow schools to directly pay players. Who thinks this is not going to further enable the rich to get richer and the schools without massive collectives to become poorer?
After letting money control everything, the NCAA is attempting to reassert its authority by reaching a settlement proposed in the class-action lawsuit known as House v. NCAA. But it still must be approved by the federal judge overseeing the case, a decision that could be months away.
- The settlement allows schools to pay athletes directly, including for their NIL, according to ESPN.
- The settlement also includes a distribution of funds to athletes who played before the new NIL rules, according to Sports Illustrated.
- The NCAA will establish a clearinghouse to track and monitor NIL deals, as reported by the Citizens' Voice.
- An enforcement body, likely comprised of representatives from the Power 5 conferences, will be responsible for ensuring compliance with the new rules, says Sports Illustrated.
- The NCAA will also implement roster limits for teams to replace scholarship caps, according to the Citizens' Voice.
- Each school will be allowed to distribute up to around $20 million to its athletes, an amount based on a percentage of the average revenue earned annually by the power conference programs according to ESPN.
The big question in all this is where does academics fit in the grand plan? That is almost an afterthought.
Schools have until July to endorse or reject the plan. We will see if it works. Many have their doubts.
Click TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app. Have a terrific Tuesday and ROLL TIDE!
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