West Alabama Monday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama. It is Monday, January 27, 2025. This is the 27th day of the year with 338 days remaining.
Monday Morning Observations:
The Trump Administration has been moving so fast in issuing Presidential decrees and orders of all sorts that it apparently has not been paying attention to common sense or how some might interpret them. An executive order from President Donald Trump on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives ended up affecting teaching about the famed Tuskegee Airmen, who trained in Alabama.
The mistake brought an immediate angry uproar from Alabama and national, political (both parties) and veteran's groups.
West Alabama Democrat Congresswoman Terri Sewell released an initial statement Saturday responding to the removal: “The Tuskegee Airmen bravely fought and died for our freedoms before this nation even granted them the full benefits of citizenship. To strip them from the Air Force curriculum is an outrageous betrayal of our values as Americans. Their heroism is not ‘DEI.’ It is American history.
I’m calling on the Air Force to immediately reverse this decision. We will not let our history be erased.”
Alabama's Junior Republican U.S. Senator Katie Britt posted on X (formerly twitter): "I have no doubt Secretary Hegseth will correct and get to the bottom of the malicious compliance we’ve seen in recent days. President Trump celebrated and honored the Tuskegee Airmen during his first term, promoting legendary aviator Charles McGee to Brigadier General and pinning his stars in the Oval Office. In his second term, the Trump Administration will continue to deeply respect and elevate the Tuskegee Airmen’s legacy. Their history and their lessons will continue to be taught—because their legacy is one of excellence, of success, and of unquestionable merit."
The U.S. Air Force said on Sunday it will resume instruction of trainees using a video about the first Black airmen in the U.S. military, known as the Tuskegee Airmen, which has passed review to ensure compliance with President Donald Trump's ban on diversity, equity and inclusion. The Air Force's announcement came after newly confirmed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth responded to Britt: "Amen! We’re all over it Senator. This will not stand."
The sweeping DEI order also included deleting teaching how women took on critical roles in the then Army Air Corps' Women Airforce Service Pilots, or WASPs program. Thery were civilian pilots who flew every type of mission that a male pilot flew, except combat.
The Tuskegee Airman and WASPs are heroes on so many levels and proved biases, bigotry and sexism were wrong.
The removal of this training may have been an unintended consequence of such rapid chief executive actions, but the new administration needs to understand, you can't erase history.
(Opinions expressed in Morning Briefing are not necessarily those of the ownership, management, staff or sponsors of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)
Weather:
A rainy cool start today will give way to decreasing clouds later today and sunshine by tomorrow afternoon. Daytime high temperatures will be in the upper 50s to the lower 60s today, through the week.
The best news yet is how temperatures are expected to continue to warm the remainder of the week with high temperature near and just above 60 the remainder of the week.
Spring fever will strike this coming weekend with highs rising to near 70 degrees.
The Forecast:
2-Year Vigil Remembers Tony Mitchell
Family and friends gathered last night for a vigil in Jasper remembering Tony Mitchell who died while in custody of the Walker County Sheriff’s Department two years ago. Resident Tony Cagle didn’t know Mitchell, but he told news partner ABC3340 the poor treatment by jailers could happen to anyone.
Mitchell’s death has been ruled a homicide and there have been several plea deals worked out by jailers and some medical workers. The FBI continues to investigate.
DHR Complies with Legal Request for Records
The Alabama Department of Human Resources is turning over records concerning the treatment of missing 1-year-old Kahlib Collins. Attorneys for the child’s grandfather John Bailey made the request. Bailey has been charged with failing to report that boy was missing. His disappearance did not become publicly known until a car crash killed Kahlib’s father, 2-year-old sister and seriously injured his mother. An investigation into the child’s disappearance continues. His mother is also charged.
Cars Stolen from Birmingham Shuttlesworth Parking Deck
Be sure you take your parking deck ticket with you next time you fly out of Birmingham Shuttlesworth International. Two cars have been stolen from the deck recently as part of a national trend. Representatives of the Birmingham Airport Authority will meet with police to determine how to better secure the parking decks.
Numerous passengers from across West Alabama use BSI daily.
River Run Park has Opening Date
The new River Run Park in Northport will open August 16-17. The $27 million River Run Park will feature nine total ball fields for baseball and softball games including a "signature" field for each sport offering 150 grandstand seats and bleachers to fit 400 more spectators.
Read More: Work Continues On Northport Shore’s $27 Million River Run Park
Tuscaloosa Attorney Enters City Board Race
Tuscaloosa Attorney Clint Mountain is looking to continue his father's success in local politics. The University of Alabama graduate has announced his candidacy for Tuscaloosa City School Board District 4.
Mountain is the son of C. Delaine Mountain who served as the Tuscaloosa City Prosecutor before being elected as the Public Safety Commissioner for the city.
Read More: Tuscaloosa Attorney Clint Mountain Announces Race for School Board Seat
Topping Sports News:
Bama Women Get Upset by Vandy
The Alabama Women's Basketball team couldn't get out of their own way yesterday as they were upset 66-64 by unranked Vanderbilt. The Commodores had previously lost 11 straight games to the Tide.
The back-and-forth contest featured a total of eight lead changes but also included 23 Bama turnovers to 14 for Vandy.
The 19th ranked Tide travels to Lexington, Ky. on Thursday to take on the Kentucky Wildcats at 6:00pm CST.
Read More: Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball Gets the Upset Against Alabama
Hurts and Eagles Head Back to Super Bowl
The Philadelphia Eagles were supposed to easily defeat the Washington Commanders in yesterday's NFL Championship Game. They did, 55-23.
Former Alabama Quarterback Jalen Hurts had a career day to clinch his second conference championship, completing 20/28 passes for 246 yards and one touchdown.
The Eagles will face Kansas City in the Super Bowl in two weeks.
Read More: Jalen Hurts is A Part of History as Philadelphia Advances to Super Bowl
Mark Sear's Mother Calls Son's benching "Humiliating"
The family of Muscle Shoals native and Bama star guard Mark Sears has reacted to his benching in the second half of Saturday's Coleman Coliseum win over LSU. Sears recorded no points in the first half, missed five shots and turned the ball over. That prompted Tide Coach Nate Oats to bench his star in the second half.
In a Facebook post, Sears' mother Lameka wrote Sunday, "In the face of a humiliating environment, I'm grateful for the happy moments we've captured."
Sears also received encouragement from former Dallas Cowboys star Emmitt Smith who wrote encouragement.
Sears is expected to be back in the lineup at Mississippi State Wednesday night.
Read More: Oats: “We played the guys that gave us the best chance.”
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Have a great week!!