West Alabama Tuesday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
Can you believe it? It is October already? This is the day most people consider the beginning of fall. While the actual Autumnal Equinox took place on September 22nd and the meteorological beginning of fall occurred even earlier, it is October that triggers the emotions of fall. Stores begin their big fall sales pushes; Octoberfest events take place pumpkins begin appearing and of course Halloween wraps up the month and ushers in the Thanksgiving season. It is also when temperatures begin moderating. It is a busy and fun time of the year.
The Forecast:
The Tuscaloosa City Council will canvass and certify the vote results from last Tuesday’s Ad Valorem School Tax vote at noon today in City Hall. The proposed 11.5-mill property tax increase for city schools failed by only 609 votes, in a very light voter turnout.
The City of Tuscaloosa is giving thumbs up to operations involving the big game this past Saturday at Bryant-Denny. The busy days attracted huge crows to an ESPN “College Football Gameday” telecast, a visit by former president Trump along with protestors and the post-game celebration on the strip.
Only minor violation of public intoxication and disorderly conduct were reported by TPD.
West Alabama timberland owners have been severely damaged by a southern pine beetle infestation this summer. Now the USDA is providing some relief in the form of the Emergency Forest Restoration Program. All 67 counties in Alabama have been approved to participate in the program to restore and rehabilitate private forest lands impacted by the insect and a severe drought.
A lawsuit by Twelve25 Sports Bar against the City of Tuscaloosa has been dismissed by the Alabama Supreme Court. The bar had claimed the city's new ordinance lowering occupancy levels, passed in March of last year, was racially motivated because Twelve25 is a minority owned business.
The suit ignored the fact that the Tuscaloosa City Council, which passed the ordinance, has minority representation.
26-year-old Dee Age Jer Tyteona Jemison has been charged with attempted murder at Running Brook Apartments on Cypress Creek Avenue East on reports of a stabbing around 1:30 a.m. Sunday.
The victim was stabbed several times according to the multi-agency Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit.
Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville, a member of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee, in an address on the senate floor, is warning of dire consequences ahead for American farmers.
USDA says there has been a 4.4% decline in net farm income since 2023. He says that will continue the result in farmers going out of business and further reducing the country’s food supply chain.
Alabama is deploying assistance to North Carolina after the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Gov. Ivey has authorized sending an Air National Guard Fatality Search and Rescue Team, a chaplain and chaplain’s assistant.
The governor has already sent mutual aid State Emergency Management Agency teams to Florida, Georgia and North Carolina.
The death toll in the devastated area has risen to 130 with hundreds still missing.
That tropical disturbance in the Carribean is still gathering strength but according to the National Hurricane Center, it is still a big blob with a 40% chance of strengthening. Some computer models show it being pushed into the eastern Gulf of Mexico by a cold front draping across the south by weekend. However, there are still a lot of uncertainties.
Read More: Hurricane Season: Here’s What Alabamians Are Watching Closely
Not paying your garbage bill can land you in jail in Fayette. It's a practice critics liken to a debtor's prison. But city leaders say they are within the law sentencing delinquent garbage customers to jail. Fayette resident Lisa Mozingo is free after ten days in jail. She says it was the worst 10 days of her life and claims she was not allowed access to medications she needed.
The city said not paying the garbage bill was a chronic problem with Mozingo.
Investors are seeding $2 million into a Tuscaloosa company called City Detect. The startup company has captured headlines for their plan to feed images from cameras mounted on garbage trucks by using powerful AI tools to detect blight in cities.
Topping Sports News:
The Braves and Mets spilt a doubleheader in Atlanta yesterday. That means both teams have earned a National League Wildcard Game in the playoffs.
After an overnight flight. the Braves are at San Diego for a 7:30 game tonight against the Padres in the first of the best of three games.
The Southeastern Conference has selected Alabama's superstar wide receiver Ryan Williams as the league Freshman of the Week for his play in this past weekend's big win over Georgia.
Tide QB Jalen Milroe was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week by the SEC following a stellar performance against the Georgia Bulldogs.
Read More: Williams Named SEC Freshman of the Week
Read More: Milroe Named SEC Player of the Week
The Jacksonville Classic, a mid-season baseball tournament held in Jacksonville, Fla., officially announced its 2025 tournament schedule which includes the Crimson Tide nine.
Read More: Jacksonville Classic Announces Matchups for Alabama
The top ranked Crimson Tide Football Team needs to avoid all the "rat poison" as they head to Nashville this weekend. This Vanderbilt football team is capable of knocking off the Tide if they don't take the Commadores seriously.
It is called a "trap game" for a reason. Teams that still replay a big win from the week before and don't prepare properly for the upcoming game can get trapped into not being prepared or giving the right effort.
Read More: The Tides goes to Music City
Click on TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest updates on West Alabama news, sports and weather throughout the day. Better yet, download the app.
Have a terrific Tuesday and keep an umbrella handy. There could be a few passing light showers today.