West Alabama Friday Briefing

Good morning West Alabama! It is Friday, April 4, 2025. This is the 94th day of the year with 271 days remaining.

Friday Morning Observations:

The Trump Administration has prompted chaotic changes since "The Donald" reentered the White House. Some, like gaining control of the southern border, identifying and deporting illegal immigrants (especially those verified as criminals), and gaining a hand on the out-of-control and bloated U.S. bureaucracy are good.

At question is some of the bizarre methods the administration has deployed to accomplish those goals. The White House has stretched thin, if not broken some laws to accomplish their goals, the Executive Office of the President has overreached its authority in numerous cases, the administration has used unneeded vitriol, it has raised doubts if the powers that be have considered the negative consequences of some of its actions (think tariffs) and Elon Musk's DOGE have pushed the limits of the patience of some of the president's most ardent supporters. But one idea could lead to devastating results.

President Trump wants states to pick up the cost of disaster preparedness and response. Trump has called the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) a “disaster” and suggested it might “go away.” He said states would best take care of hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires on their own, with the federal government reimbursing some of the costs.

In 2024, US economic losses from natural disasters reached $217.8 billion, a significant increase from the $117.5 billion in 2023, and the largest annual tally since 2017. In Alabama alone, between 2019 and September 2024, natural disasters cost more than $350 million. This, and most other states, simply do not have the funds to cover such costs.

Some of the FEMA bureaucracy should be done away with, it is a burden.  But state Emergency Management Agencies and other response organizations are notoriously underfunded and understaffed. County emergency management agencies are typically one person operations with minimal budgets, partially funded by FEMA grants.

Climate change and other factors are leading to more frequent and more powerful storms, and the cost is driving insurance premiums through the roof. Some insurance companies are even cancelling policies in high-risk areas. FEMA was not designed to replace insurance, but circumstances have increasingly required it.

As a retired emergency manager, I am first to agree that there is considerable room for improving FEMA operations. But state officials say that while there’s room for a conversation about state and federal roles in disaster response, eliminating FEMA altogether would be shortsighted.

Over the past decade, FEMA has responded to nearly 1,400 disasters, including wildfires, severe storms, hurricanes, floods and tornadoes. The agency coordinates the federal response during emergency situations, such as providing rescue helicopters or trucking in generators and other supplies in the aftermath of a storm.

FEMA’s larger purpose is focused on recovery and distributing funding to help survivors rebuild. FEMA is not a gigantic agency, most of the blue shirts you see after a disaster strikes are volunteers or part-time workers. They support state and local emergency management efforts. It takes all three levels to get the job done. Doing away with one component will make it impossible for the other two to provide the disaster services needed.

(Opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily that of the ownership, management, staff or sponsors of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)

Weather:

Near record breaking warmth will give way to potentially severe storms over the weekend then frost by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Highs in the upper 80s will heat up the atmosphere and bring on a chance for severe storms across West Alabama. A Slight (2 in 5) Risk for severe storms begins around 1:00am Sunday morning through mid-afternoon.  All types of severe weather will be possible.

Then after the storm system passes highs the first of next week will be in the lower 60s with lows dropping into the lower 40s. Some spots may see experience even lower temperatures and frost.

Read More: Alabama’s Severe Storm Threat Sunday Includes Tornadoes, Winds, Hail

The Forecast:

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After struggling with funding issues and operating with only one ambulance, Pickens County completely lost ambulance services in December. Now legislative action will allow a vote on raising money to pay for ambulances responses across the county.

State Rep. Ron Bolton told news partner ABC3340, a proposed $10.00 fee on tag renewals will help fund full EMS responses.

Lamar County has been providing an ambulance for medical response and two ambulances were recently donated to Pickens County. Now the service must be paid for.

Conger to Run for Northport City Council

Candidates are beginning to announce bids to unseat current members of the Northport City Council. One of them is Tuscaloosa attorney Jaime Conger who is beginning her run for District 3.

Current District 3 Councilman Karl Wiggins, who was appointed to the seat in 2023, has not announced if he intends to run for a full term.

Conger is married to John Conger and they have two children. She is a past president of the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association and the Junior League of Tuscaloosa.

Tuscaloosa Legislator Gets recognition

West Alabama Rep. Ron Bolton (District 61) has received the 2025 "Legislator of the Year" award from the Alabama Rural Health Association.

When Bolton ran for the legislature in 2022, he named rural healthcare as one of his campaign's key issues.

The first term Republican lawmaker is a retired Northport Police captain.

Retired Tuscaloosa Republican U.S. Senator Richard Shelby received the award in 2023.

Tuberville Says It Was UA Doctoral Candidate Arrested by ICE "Time to Go Home"

The recent arrest of UA doctoral student Alireza Doroudi by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents has made headlines throughout the state and nation. It has also prompted a response from Alabama Republican U-S Senator Tommy Tuberville.

"If you are on a college campus and you are creating problems or breaking laws on these campuses, time to go home. We don't need to put up with you," the 1st term senator said in an online post.

The former Auburn football coach did say the public should be informed as to why the mechanical engineering student from Iran was arrested.

Doroudi is still being held at an ICE detention facility in Louisiana.

Legislature Passes General Fund Budget

The Alabama Legislature has passed a $3.7 billion General Fund Budget. The budget includes $3 million for Metro Crime Suppression Units, $244 million for Mental Health with $8 million for community mental health beds, and $15 million for airport development grants.

In other legislative action, the house killed a bill that would have required schools to allow academic credit for off-campus “religious instruction”, advanced legislation tightening reins on Medicaid and SNAP eligibility verification, and ok’d banning students from using cellphones on public school property during instructional days.

Search Continues for Missing Northport Man

88-year-old Nate Short has been missing since Tuesday morning. Short, who suffers from dementia, was last seen near his residence on Tom Taylor Road in Northport and is believed to have wandered off in the area of Charlie Shirley Road.

The family is forming a search party. They will gather at 8715 Tom Taylor Road at noon today and search through 5 p.m.

Read More: Search Party Planned for Northport Man, 88, Missing Since Tuesday

Click TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather. Better yet, download the app. 

Sports:

NCAA Gymnastics Teams Compete for Regional Title at Coleman

The NCAA Gymnastics Regionals continue today at Coleman. Rutgers edged Clemson in Round 1 yesterday. Alabama competes against Cal, North Carolina in the first session of Round 2 at 1:00 this afternoon. In the Round 2 session tonight Florida, Oregon State, North Carolina State and Clemson compete.

The top two teams after Sunday's finals at 5:00pm will progress to the National Championship meet.

Meet Information

The "Iron Bowl on the Diamond" is Tonight in Auburn

The eighth ranked Alabama (26-4 overall, 6-3 SEC) and 16th ranked Auburn (20-9 overall, 4-5 SEC) baseball teams collide tonight at Plainsman Park in Auburn for state bragging rights. The Tide lost the series at Auburn last year.

Schedule at Plainsman Park:

• Tonight – 6:00pm. CDT – SEC Network+
• Saturday – 7:00pm CDT – SEC Network
• Sunday – 2:00pm CDT – SEC Network+

The Tigers are 13-4 at home but are currently riding a four-game losing streak. Not surprisingly, the is "ALL AUBURN ORANGE" weekend at Plainsman Park.

Alabama shortstop Justin Lebron was selected to the 2025 Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, USA Baseball announced Thursday.