West Alabama Tuesday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Tuesday, May 13, 2025. This is the 133rd day of the year with 232 days remaining.
In the Tuesday Morning Briefing:
- Weather: Strong to severe storms possible this afternoon.
- News: Last day of the 2025 Alabama Legislative Session is tomorrow.
- Sports: TCHS to play Enterprise in the 7A- AHSAA State Baseball Championship series beginning Thursday at 2:00 p.m.
- Tuesday Morning Observations (Commentary): The Jeffersonian maxim that government closest to the people governs best is central to our Republic.
Weather:
Today is starting out great but by noon rainy conditions are expected to return with a potential for strong to severe thunderstorms by mid-afternoon.
A Marginal (1 in 5) Risk for damaging winds to 60mph and quarter size hail will be possible between 3:00 this afternoon and 10:00 tonight. The impacted area will be roughly along and north of a line from Aliceville in Pickens County to Tuscaloosa and Centreville in Bibb County. Excessive rainfall and lightning could be an issue this afternoon and early evening.
Otherwise today, scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms with highs in the 70s to lower 80s.
The 6 to 10 Day Forecast from the National Climate Center is forecasting above normal, summerlike, temperatures and slightly above normal precipitation.
Read More: Scattered Thunderstorms in Alabama Today Could Turn Severe
Read More: Flood Warning Issued for Some Alabama Rivers: What Residents Should Know
The Forecast:
News:
Murder or Self-Defense Being Decided by Judge in 2019 Cousette Shooting
Copper Top Wants to Expand
The Tuscaloosa City Council will consider a request tonight by the Copper Top at Temerson Square to expand occupancy from 123 to the maximum 250 allowed. The Club/Bar owners plan to expand their premises into an adjoining facility.
Tuscaloosa Council Finance Committee to Consider Saban Center Proposals
This afternoon the Tuscaloosa City Council Finance Committee will consider a proposal for $1 million in matching funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission to purchase equipment and software to support a program for flight-related careers and workforce at the planned Saban Center.
Another $1 million in matching money is being sought for lab equipment for STEM careers.
Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama Addressing Childcare Shortage
West Alabama’s workforce and education leaders are collaborating to address a significant local need: access to quality childcare for parents working non-traditional hours in manufacturing and related fields. The Community Childcare Cultivator (3by3) program has announced its Summer Evening Cohort orientation dates for tomorrow, and Thursday, both from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at The Synergic Center in Northport.
Participants are encouraged to register in advance at 3by3childcare.com and should bring the following documentation to orientation:
- Photo ID
- Social Security card
- Three recent pay stubs
- Unemployment verification letter, if applicable
- Benefit documentation (SNAP, TANF, WIC, etc.)
- Family demographics
Read More: Training Launches to Address Childcare Shortage in West Alabama
Gov. Ivey Signs Two Bills Passed by State Legislature
Gov. Ivey has signed two new laws, one requires law enforcement to collect DNA from immigrants in custody, and the other is a measure to strengthen restrictions around non-citizen voting. Each passed the state legislature with bipartisan support.
Big Lots Stores Reopening in West Alabama This Week
The Northport and Jasper Big Lots Stores will reopen Thursday according to a release by their new owners, Variety Wholesalers. The stores, along with hundreds of others were closed due to bankruptcy filing by their original owners. But Thursday the two locations will be part of five dozen stores reopening their doors.
The Northport Store is located on McFarland Blvd. while the Jasper Store can be found on Highway 78 West.
Shelton State C.A. Fredd Campus Getting Multi-Year Upgrades
Shelton’s State’s C.A. Fredd campus is getting $16 million in upgrades for the whole campus. They include new roofing, electrical and technology upgrades to the media center and classrooms. All seven buildings will receive some type of upgrades. Work will take place over the next three to five years.
Publix Issues Baby Food Recall in Alabama
Publix is voluntarily recalling a specific flavor of GreenWise baby food packets due to a potential lead contamination.
The affected product is the GreenWise Pear, Kiwi, Spinach & Pea Baby Food packet with a best by date of 11/01/2025. It was sold at stores in Alabama.
Major Gospel Star Headed to Bama Theater
Multi-Dove and Grammy Award-winning recording artist David Phelps will be featured in Tuscaloosa in his current concert series "Speak of Love" Tour at the Bama Theater on Saturday, June 7. The tour is timed to promote his upcoming album by the same name. The album, releasing August 30th, contains 15 tracks including 5 original songs penned by David.
Phelps is recognized for having one of the best vocal ranges ever, which extends more than three octaves.
The gospel singer has performed at the White House, New York’s Carnegie Hall, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia as well as on Gaither Homecoming performances.
Sports:
Senior Professional Golf Returns to Greystone This Week
Greystone Golf & Country Club will play host to some of the greatest golfers to ever take the green, and some celebrity guests who may or may not be the best golfers.
The week kicks off tomorrow with the Drummond Company Celebrity Pro-Am from 6:50am until 7:00pm. Some of the big names playing are Nick Saban, Kalen DeBoer and Charles Barkley.
The first round of the Regions Tradition begins at 10:00am Thursday with such stars as Ernie Els, Stewart Cink, Angel Cabrera, Davis Love III, Bernhard Langer, Darren Clarke, John Daly, Retief Goosen, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, Colin Montgomerie and David Toms.
The tournament will conclude Sunday.
Bama Baseball Post-Season Hosting Bid Gets a Boost as Team Jumps to 19th
Winning the series this past weekend with 10th ranked Georgia gave 19th ranked Alabama Baseball's hopes of hosting a first round NCAA playoff game a big boost. The Tide is now 39-13 with a regular season ending three-game road trip to Florida this coming weekend providing a chance to further pad the resume.
The win this past weekend jump Alabama from 23rd to 19th in this week's D1 College Baseball Poll.
This week's D1 College Baseball Poll with SEC Teams highlighted:
- LSU
- Florida State
- Texas
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Auburn
- Oregon State
- Arkansas
- Vanderbilt
- Georgia
- Coastal Carolina
- UC Irvine
- NC State
- UCLA
- Clemson
- West Virginia
- Tennessee
- Alabama
- Southern Miss
- Duke
- Louisville
- Troy
- Florida
- Dallas Baptist
- Northeastern
Tuesday Morning Observations (Commentary);
Thomas Jefferson truly believed government closest to people was the best government. That means local government is the best, most effective and most responsive level of government.
Mayors, council members, municipal government staff are our neighbors. They go to church with us, belong to many of the same organizations and are much more approachable than elected officials at higher levels. The decisions they make also have a more direct impact on us.
In Alabama, unfortunately, there is limited "home rule" at the municipal level and even less at the county level. It is certainly ironic that Republican state lawmakers like to invoke the Jeffersonian maxim that government closest to the people governs best when citing Washington’s overreach into the state’s domain but continues to erode home rule each legislative session in favor of dictates from Montgomery.
If you want something done at the city and county level, you must go through the county's legislative delegation and hope you can get a local bill passed in the next legislative session.
We are in the midst of Municipal Government Week as proclaimed by Gov. Ivey. So, what makes that such a big deal? There are currently 465 incorporated municipalities in Alabama. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 60 percent of Alabamians live in municipalities, with many more working in them.
Municipal government provides services that directly impact our daily lives: police and fire protection, street maintenance, water and sewer services, parks and recreation, civic programs and garbage collection, all while also providing numerous educational, recreational and economic development opportunities.
The importance of municipal governance was emphasized in a statement from a leader of the Alabama League of Municipalities, "We understand the importance of investing in our communities to lay the groundwork for a more prosperous future for Alabama,” ALM Vice President Sherry Sullivan, mayor of Fairhope, said. “After all, local government serves as the foundation for Alabama’s economy and is the closest to the people, providing quality-of life resources each day that citizens not only expect, but demand.”
Our cities are the backbone of our society, pay attention to what they do and support opportunities for your city to grow and prosper. Afterall, a city that is not growing is a city that is stagnant and will eventually begin dying.
(Opinions expressed in Morning Observations are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the ownership, management, staff or sponsors of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)
Click TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app.
Have a terrific Tuesday!
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