West Alabama Thursday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Thursday, April 17, 2025. This is the 107th day of the year with 258 days remaining.
Thursday Morning Observations:
This is "Maundy Thursday" on the Christian Church calendar. Maundy is the name of the Christian rite of foot washing, which traditionally occurs during some Maundy Thursday church services.
Today marks one of the most solemn days in Christian history next to the crucifixion. On this day Jesus shared His last meal with the apostles, suffered agony in the garden, was betrayed and arrested.
At the Last Supper with his disciples, Jesus broke the bread and passed around the wine, foretelling his sacrifice as the Lamb of God, according to Luke 22. He told how the bread represented His soon to be broken body and the wine as the symbol for the blood He was about to shed for our sins.
Our Savior then washed the disciple's feet and, according to John 13:34 He spoke to them of the importance of His love for them and their love for each other.
All four Gospels tell of Jesus’ Agony in the Garden. Bringing Peter, James, and John, Jesus goes to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He asks the apostles to keep watch and pray. Jesus then asks his Father to remove “the cup He was about to drink,” but He submits to His Father’s will.
When Jesus returns, He finds the apostles have fallen asleep. Jesus finds them asleep three times. He then rebuked them, acknowledging their human weakness ("the flesh is weak") while reminding them that they should be awake and praying. A message that Christians today need to absorb.
After Judas’ betrayal for 30 pieces of silver, Jesus is arrested in the garden. In the biblical story of Jesus' arrest, Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus' disciples, identifies Him to the authorities with a kiss. This kiss was a pre-arranged signal to the mob that Jesus was the person to be arrested. Judas' betrayal with a kiss became a symbol of hypocrisy and treachery. How many times have we betrayed Jesus?
After His arrest Jesus went through a night of trials. This initial one was held that night in the house of Caiaphas and involved the Jewish religious leaders. The Sanhedrin found Jesus guilty of blasphemy.
Later that night Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Pilate, after questioning Jesus, was reluctant to condemn him, but ultimately caved to the crowd's demands and sentenced him to death.
Jesus' fate was then sealed the following morning of "Good Friday".
(Opinions expressed in Morning Observations are those of the author and not necessarily those of the ownership, management, staff or sponsors of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)
Weather:
The majority of Easter Weekend looks to be perfect for church services and hiding those colorful eggs. There is a small chance of showers moving into that area Sunday evening, otherwise the weekend should be near perfect for sunrise services and hunting for those eggs.
The Forecast:
News:
UA Junior Kyle Kennedy expressed common student sentiment among students on the Tuscaloosa campus. He told news partner ABC 3340 he hates to see it because it is that much more money out of his pocket.
In-state undergraduate students at the University of Alabama will see a 2.6% increase, translating to about $10 more per credit hour. Out-of-state students will experience a 3.5% rise, equating to nearly $40 more per credit hour.
Vernon Police Searching for Missing Man
Ricky Metcalfe has been missing in the Lamar County Seat of Vernon since April fifth. A statement by Vernon Police says Metcalf was last seen two weeks ago, leaving the area of the 400 block of Harrison Court. He has not returned home and has had no known contact with family or friends since.
Metcalf was last seen wearing a red shirt, but his direction of travel is currently unknown.
If you have any information, please contact the Vernon Police Department at (205) 695-7103.
Dog Cruelty Charges Dropped Against Isaiah Buggs
The Circuit Court of Tuscaloosa County has dismissed animal cruelty charges against former UA and NFL player Isaiah Dewayne Buggs after new evidence emerged. Buggs' defense counsel provided the State with a recorded phone call between Buggs, Otis Lee, and an unnamed woman. In that call, Lee admitted he was responsible for taking care of the dogs while Buggs was out of town but failed to do so.
Criminal Proceedings Slowed by Tuscaloosa County DA Cash Crisis
Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Hayes Webb has told the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama's Public Affairs Committee he needs to hire more prosecutors but does not have the funds.
The DA's office has a $3-plus-million budget but is still more than $165,000 short of what it needs to prosecute an ever-increasing number of cases.
Webb told attendees, unless something changes, felony cases will continue to take years to work their way through the court system to a trial or a guilty plea agreement.
Read More: Tuscaloosa County District Attorney’s Cash Crisis Slows Down Speed of Justice
Major Scholarship Won by Bryant High Student
Paul W. Bryant High School senior Javoris Lake has been awarded a $40,000 scholarship and an engineering internship from Amazon, making him the only student from Alabama to receive the honor. Lake is one of 400 students nationwide to earn the Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship.
Read More: One Tuscaloosa City School Senior Wins HUGE Scholarship & Internship
Northport and Jasper Big Lots Stores Will Reopen
Interior Secretary Says Visit to West Alabama Coal Mines Were Important
Battle Over Space Command HQ Continues
A bill that supporters claim will stop labor trafficking and abuse of state welfare programs and also recoup costs of immigrants who may apply for state benefits is making its way through the Alabama legislature.
Bill opponents claim the legislation is more anti-immigrant than about stopping labor trafficking.
Click TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app.
Sports:
Bama Baseball in Bayou Country for Three Games Beginning Tonight
15th Ranked Alabama Baseball is in Baton Rouge tonight to begin a three-game series with 9th ranked LSU at 7:00pm. The two teams play again tomorrow night at 6:00 and Saturday at 5:00pm.
PROBABLE PITCHING ROTATION
- Tonight:
- RHP Tyler Fay (UA) vs. LHP Kade Anderson (LSU)
- Friday:
- RHP Riley Quick (UA) vs. RHP Anthony Eyanson (LSU)
- Saturday:
- LHP Zane Adams (UA) vs. RHP Chase Shores (LSU)
Fresh Off Series Win Over OU Bama Softball Travels to UF
# 22/17 Alabama is coming off a high after beating four-time defending national champion Oklahoma in Tuscaloosa over this past weekend. Now the Tide must come down off that high and travel to # 8/7Florida for a three game conference series beginning tonight.
The first two games are tonight and tomorrow night at 5:00pm. The series ender is Saturday at 1:00pm.
Lee Corso to Depart ESPN "Gameday"
Lee Corso, an original member of ESPN's popular College GameDay panel, will make his final appearance on the show in the upcoming college football season.
The 89-year-old Corso will do one final headgear pick for week one of the college football season on Aug. 30. The tradition of putting on a mascot head to announce the prediction of a marquee matchup of the week dates back to 1996.
Corso, who has missed a number of shows in recent years due to health issues, will be the center of focus for his final show in August.
Click Tide100.9 for the latest sports news.
Have a good Thursday!
More From Tuscaloosa Thread
