West Alabama Friday Briefing
Good morning, West Alabama! It is Friday May 31, 2024, the day before the beginning of this year’s hurricane season.
The Alabama Softball Team played powerhouse UCLA to even terms until the sixth inning yesterday before a three-run homer blew open a 1-1 tie and sent the Crimson Tide plummeting into the loser’s bracket of the NCAA Women’s Softball College World Series. (Much to the delight of the ESPN broadcast team).
Yesterday’s game was delayed by rain and lightning and there is a chance it could delay early games today, which could push back the start of the Tide’s elimination game with the ACC’s Duke Blue Devils scheduled for 6:00 tonight. There are good chances for showers and thunderstorms through midafternoon, but they should taper-off toward sunset.
The Oklahoma City forecast calls for Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 10am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 10am and 1pm.
In Tallahassee where the Alabama Baseball Team begins play in the NCAA Regional at Florida State, the forecast is a good bit better. There is only a 10% risk for rain when the first pitch takes place at 5:00pm this afternoon. However, the rain chances edge up slightly as the weekend progresses.
Alabama (33-22) tackles Central Florida (35-19). The Golden Knights beat SEC power Florida 9-6 during the early part of the season. Both teams were under .500 in their conference play this season.
West Alabama Forecast:
Today
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
Saturday: Showers and thunderstorms are likely, mainly after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Saturday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. The chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday: Showers and thunderstorms are likely, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. The chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68.
Next Week: Chances of rain each day with highs in the upper 80s and lows near 70.
Topping the News:
The battle over a revote request by the United Auto Workers Union at Mercedes Benz facilities in Vance and Woodstock is heating up.
Wednesday the union claimed the company violated fair labor practices by bringing in high paid consultants to convince employees to vote against the union organizing effort.
Thursday a full-page advertisement in the New York Times by a group called UAWUncovered.com labeled the UAW and its president Shawn Fain “election deniers”.
The ad stated, “UAW President Shawn Fain loves to talk about “democracy” – until it doesn’t go his way.”
Donald Trump is now the first former president to be convicted of a crime. This comes as Election Day is less than six months away.
The Alabama GOP is standing firm behind Mr. Trump. Republican Party Chairman John Wahl questions the motivation of the trial. "One thing here is the appeal process is an important part of our legal system. That should be available. The second thing is, I wish I could tell you I trusted this ruling. "
The view of many is the case alone, much less the conviction, sets a troubling precedence that could lead to the U.S. becoming a "Banana Republic" as the courts are used for political gain.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has released the traffic and boating statistics for the 2024 Memorial Day weekend.
Between 12:01 a.m. Friday, May 24, and midnight Monday, May 27, Troopers investigated six traffic deaths. Sunday, May 26, was the only day during the extended holiday weekend with zero traffic fatalities. During the rest of the period, four drivers, one passenger and one motorcyclist were killed. Three of the five individuals traveling in vehicles equipped with seat belts were buckled up, and the motorcyclist was using a helmet. Walker was the only West Alabama county to record a traffic fatality.
ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division investigated one boating fatality over the long holiday weekend on Logan Martin Lake.
Memorial Day kicked off ALEA’s ‘101 Days of Summer Safety’ campaign. You can learn more at www.alea.gov.
Yesterday it became known that warrants were out for former Crimson Tide Football star Isaiah Buggs for alleged animal cruelty. The complain claims Buggs left two dogs without food or water at a Tuscaloosa home he no longer inhabited for days.
Now additional information has been made public by a Tuscaloosa Thread records request. It revealed seven additional legal actions filed against the current Kansas City Chief practice player.
One alleges Buggs did not renew his business license for the Kings Hookah Lounge he operates on Greensboro Avenue. Among others are claims of fire code overcrowding violations at the lounge.
There is also a charge that Buggs shoved and got into a scuffle with Tuscaloosa Police Chief Brent Blankley.
Buggs turned himself into TPD Thursday.
SEE: City Says Isaiah Buggs Shoved Tuscaloosa Police Chief in April
SEE: Isaiah Buggs Booked in Tuscaloosa County Jail for Animal Cruelty
The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama will once again highlight some of the best small businesses in the region next month as their Celebrate Local event returns to the Tuscaloosa River Market.
SEE: "Celebrate Local" Returns to Highlight West Alabama Businesses
Congratulations to the 33 recent graduates of the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles Board’s rehabilitation program. In graduation ceremonies at Shelton State Community College, they received their certificates marking a new beginning to their lives.
From the City of Tuscaloosa: The 2024 Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Day is tomorrow from 8 a.m. until noon at its Public Safety Logistics building located at 3311 Reese Phifer Ave.
Examples of household hazardous wastes include household cleaners, automotive fluids, paint/paint thinner, herbicides, pool chemicals, batteries, antifreeze, pesticides, oil or gasoline, light bulbs, lawn chemicals/fertilizers and more. Propane tanks are limited to camp size 1lb tanks and 20lb grill size tanks.
This free drop-off event is open only to residents of Tuscaloosa County. Waste will not be accepted from commercial businesses, non-profit organizations or residents outside Tuscaloosa County. Conducted by the City’s environmental services division, this event is sponsored and made possible by Nucor Steel Tuscaloosa.
The event will be a contactless drive-through. Participants will be asked to stay in their vehicle while City staff members unload their items.
Topping Sports News:
Alabama Basketball Coach Nate Oats continues to schedule games against schools in his player’s home states and/or teams they used to play for. He is doing it again for a non-conference game on December 18 at North Dakota. That is the team Tide Forward Grant Nelson used to play for in his home state.
The Fighting Hawks will return the favor in the next two seasons by visiting Tuscaloosa for pre-conference season games.
The Alabama Softball Team attempts to stay alive in the Women’s College Softball World Series at 6:00 tonight. Bama faces Duke, which lost to Oklahoma 9-1 Thursday. The game will be a challenge for the anemic hitting Tide of Coach Patrick Murphey. Bama has the worst team batting average of any of the teams in the WCWS.
Alabama Baseball begins play in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional with a first pitch against Central Florida at 5:00pm.
FROM UA Athletics: Alabama mourns the loss of football student manager Caden Clay. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends. Clay died in a car crash.
The Atlanta Braves just “think” they are America’s Team. This week it is Birmingham-Southern that has caught the nation’s attention. The Panthers open play in the NCAA Division III College Baseball World Series on the same day BSC closes its doors forever.
The NCAA pays for travel, food and lodging for every team to participate in the tournament. So, while the school's last official day is today the Panthers are wearing their school colors.
There was a big sendoff Wednesday for the team as they headed to Ohio for game one against the Salve Regina University Seahawks.
$107,000 dollars have been raised so far on GoFundMe to pay for any additional expenses and help the coaches and players adapt to the future once the season is over.
The first pitch for this afternoon’s game is 3:45pm CDT.
Have a wonderful weekend and ROLL TIDE, GO PANTHERS!!
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