West Alabama Monday Briefing

It is Monday April 8, 2024. Solar Eclipse Day!!

Seems like the entire country has gone Solar Eclipse nuts. 32-million pair of "eclipse glasses" have been sold leading up to today's total eclipse of the sun over a narrow path west of Alabama. That is twice the number from the last total eclipse in 2017 (according to CBS News).

A total solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, completely blocking out sunlight. It will appear as if it were dawn or dusk. In West Alabama. We are only going to see about 89% coverage in West Alabama without any clouds but clouds moving into the area ahead of as storm system could preclude us seeing much, if any. Click HERE for a county-by-county solar eclipse guide in West Alabama.

Those clouds moving in will bring a Slight (2 in 5) Risk for strong to severe thunderstorms Wednesday afternoon through Wednesday night. While severe storms cannot be ruled out, it is heavy rainfall 3" to 6" that will be the biggest threat.

Click on Alabama Faces Mid-Week Possible Damaging Wind and Tornado Threat (tuscaloosathread.com) for more information.

The Forecast:

Today

A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Tonight

A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday

Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 10am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 10am and 1pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 72. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 75. Breezy, with a southeast wind 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Wednesday Night

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Low around 59. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Remainder of the Week

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Top of the News:

Sunday was a deadly day in Tuscaloosa with two separate shootings, one fatal.

35-year-old Jakeria Rashaad May was allegedly shot to death by 30-year-old Terrelle Devonte Williams in Holt Sunday morning. The shooting took place in front of May's 10-year-old daughter, resulting in Capital Murder charges against Williams. Williams remains jailed without bond.

A search for 27-year-old Jayshawn Sharmaine Reed ended when he was found last night. He has been charged with attempted murder in a Sunday afternoon shooting at the Texaco Gas Station on McFarland Blvd East. All three of the victims are in stable condition and expected to survive. Reed remains jailed without bond.

Plant Fitness Centers in Daphne, Mobile and Fairhope were evacuated Saturday after receiving a bomb threat. They become that latest Plant Fitness Centers nationwide to be the victim of hoax threats. The threats to the company chain were emailed to a media outlet.

Management at the centers located in Tuscaloosa and Northport report they have received no threats.

The national chain has come under a call for a boycott by right-wing "Libs of TikTok" on social media for allegedly grooming children or endangering children by LGBTQ+ members.

There have been similar threats to other businesses based on alleged documentation of men in women's bathrooms and other similar situations.

A woman called Tuscaloosa Police Saturday morning to report she was being held by a man who would not let her leave the Old English Inn on University Blvd. East in Alberta. Police responded to the 3100 Block of University Blvd East at 11:37 a.m.

After communications broke down the SWAT team breached the door and took 60-year-old Robert Hardin Eatmon of Tuscaloosa into custody.

Eatmon is charged with second degree unlawful imprisonment. The woman was not injured.

If a bipartisan bill pending in the legislature passes, education employees will get 12 weeks of paid parental leave in the event of the birth, adoption, miscarriage or stillbirth of a child. The bill is cosponsored by Greensboro Democrat Senator Bobby Singleton, Bibb County GOP Senator April Weaver and Republican State Senator Greg Reed who represents Fayette, Jefferson, Lamar, Tuscaloosa, and Walker counties.

Despite a national trend, Alabama currently does not offer teachers or state employees any paid parental leave. Currently educators and state employees must build up a bank of sick leave to use in case of an extended parental leave.

Marion Military Academy cadet Nathanael Gilkes continues to fight to recover from injuries suffered during a car crash last month that killed two other cadets.

The Air Force ROTC cadet has gone through several surgeries in the last two weeks after he was left with traumatic brain injury and spinal cord damage.

set up a GoFundMe

Topping Sports News:

The Alabama Basketball Team return to Tuscaloosa National Airport just after 3:30 yesterday afternoon, proud of that they accomplished but with a feeling of a incomplete mission. Tide Coach Nate Oats has declared, "We are not finished."

Tide fans are excited about what the future may hold but a possible lightning bolt out of the blue could damage future hopes. Kentucky head coach John Calapari has accepted the same position with the University of Arkansas. That has brought Oats name into contention as his replacement at the school considered the ultimate college basketball blue blood.

Obviously, there will be a number of other top-flight coaches whose names will be mentioned, including UConn's Dan Hurley.

Oats recently signed a new long-term contract with UA.

It was a perfect finish for the South Carolina Women's Basketball Team as the wrapped up a 38-0 season with their second national championship in three years. They beat Iowa and superstar Caitlan Clark 87-75 in Cleveland.

Clark recorded 30 points, 18 in the first quarter but could not carry her team to victory.

The Gamecocks, who have won 109 of their last 112 games, became the first team since UConn in 2016 to go undefeated.

Alabama Softball defeated Ole Miss Sunday afternoon to complete a sweep of the Rebs. More importantly, it is the first SEC series win of the season for 15th ranked Bama.

The Tide hosts Samford at 5:00 tomorrow afternoon at the Rhodes House.

The 11th ranked Alabama Baseball Team is now 4 and 8 in the Southeastern Conference and 22-10 over all after losing three games at Kentucky this past weekend. Yesterday they dropped a 10-1 game to the 12th ranked Cats.

Alabama returns home to begin a nine-game homestand at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. against South Alabama tomorrow night with first pitch at 6:00 p.m.

From UA Athletics: The No. 8-ranked Alabama gymnastics team is headed to Fort Worth, Texas, for the 2024 NCAA Championships Semifinals, for the 39^th time in program history. UA advanced after punching its ticket with a 197.575 in the finals of the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional Championships Saturday night in Crisler Center on the University of Michigan campus.

Have a great Monday and hope that Nate Oats stays with the Tide and continues to build a championship program.

Source: West Alabama Monday Briefing

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