West Alabama Tuesday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Tuesday, May 6, 2025. This is the 126th day of the year with 239 days remaining.
Inside the Tuesday Briefing:
- Weather
- News
- Sports
- Tuesday Morning Observations
Weather:
Rain chances will increase as the day progresses with the highest chances, 75% to 100%) tonight. This rain won't be continuous but will come in periodic waves. Most of the rain during the day will be south of a line from Pickensville in Pickens County to Eutaw in Greene County and Marion in Perry County. This will include an Elevated (2 in 4) Risk for periods of Excessive Rainfall.
There is a Marginal (1 in 5) Risk for strong to severe thunderstorms with high winds and hail for extreme southern Marengo County today and tonight.
The Forecast:
News:
Nauvoo Man Loses Life in Single Vehicle Crash Overnight
Northport City Council Hears 1st Reading of City Parks Ordinance
University Beach Rezoning Vote Date Set by Northport Council
Local Businesses Needed for Summer Employment
West AlabamaWorks is seeking area businesses to take part in the summer job hiring event called I.G.N.I.T.E. The Summer Job Fair is a week from today from 9:00am until 2:00pm at the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy. More than 300 local students are expected to attend.
Area Gasoline Prices Are Down
Ivey Signs Legislation Strengthening Aniah's Law
The airport now has one outgoing flight and one incoming American Airlines flight connecting the Golden Triangle with Dallas.
Birmingham Escapee Recaptured in Eutaw
An escaped homicide suspect in two Birmingham murders was recaptured in Eutaw. Eddie Jordan Jr. was recaptured this morning by the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force, in a joint operation with the Birmingham Police Department’s Crime Reduction Team, ALEA Swat Team, and Tuscaloosa Police Officers.
Jordan was in custody charged with the February murder of Demaryius Antoine Cherry in Birmingham and the shooting death of Buford White of Tarrant in January.
Jordan was originally arrested in April and had been taken to UAB Hospital where police say he escaped police custody later that night.
Billboard Honoring Tony Mitchell Posted in Walker County
Tony Mitchell was an inmate at the Walker County Jail in Jasper when he died of exposure. A billboard honoring the man who died in law enforcement custody in 2023 is now in place at the intersection of 18th Street and 5th Avenue in downtown Jasper.
Mitchell’s death was ruled a homicide following an autopsy and has sparked controversy and demands that those responsible be held accountable. 12 persons associated with jail operations have been charged with many of them reaching plea agreements with prosecutors.
Police Protection Bill Getting Pushback
A bill that would give law enforcement more protection in lawsuits is getting pushback from some lawmakers concerned that the bill gives law enforcement too much leeway to coverup mistakes, whether accidental or intentional.
Sen. Robert Stewart, D-Selma, claims police decisions need more accountability, not less. he contends some officers will take advantage of the "immunity" provided by the bill.
Proponents say the legislation will help attract more candidates to law enforcement jobs.
Sports:
Another Iron Bowl on the Diamond Matchup on Day 1 of SEC Softball Tourney
The Alabama Softball Team begins play in the Southeastern Conference Tournament today. They face Auburn in game 3 of day one of the tourney at the University of Georgia. The game will be the third of the day and first pitch is expected around 6:00pm Tuscaloosa time.
The Crimson Tide is the #10 seed and Auburn is #15.
Alabama owns a 46-29 (.613) all-time record at the SEC Tournament, including a 42-26 (.618) mark under head coach Patrick Murphy. The Crimson Tide has won an SEC-record six tournament titles.
Bama Baseball Faces Tough Midweek Game at Troy
No. 23 Alabama baseball (36-12 overall, 13-11 SEC) returns to action tonight at 6:00pm, for a midweek contest against No. 19 Troy (34-14 overall, 16-8 conference) at Riddle-Pace Field. The Crimson Tide has won each of the last 9 games against the Trojans entering tonight's matchup.
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUP
- RHP JT Blackwood (UA) vs. LHP Jacob Roettgen (TROY)
Tuesday Morning Observations:
Today is National Teacher Appreciation Day! It is a time to recognize the underpaid, over worked people that have impacted all of our lives. Teachers play a critical role in educating and shaping our children into the future leaders of our country. We are who we are today because of the teachers that helped us gain knowledge and taught us to work with others.
Being married to a retired teacher and stepfather or a high school teacher, I can testify to how hard they work, how concerned they are about their student's learning, advancement and welfare. To them each class is like their own children. They spent significant amounts of money out of their own pockets for classroom supplies, parties and other expenses.
Students are not the only ones doing homework each night. Their teachers are working on lesson plans, grading papers and at times answering calls from parents.
Teachers face more challenges today than ever. They are chronically underpaid, face more hostile students and parents, don't always get the support they need from school administrators and are tasked with more socialization requirements than ever.
Teachers face high stress levels, deal with different student learning levels, face challenging student behavior, handle mental health issues and constant concern with classroom and school safety and discipline.
On the upside, I have heard my wife, and other teachers, talk about how the most rewarding thing about their career is to bump into a former student and have them say how much having them as a teacher meant to their lives and to their success.
No matter where we are in life, a teacher influenced us. They continue to impact our lives every day! Most of us have at least one or more teachers we can point to and say, "They made a difference in my life."
Take the time today to say "Thank You" to the exceptional teachers you know. Take a moment and reflect on the teachers in your life.
So many of the teachers I had are gone now but they live on in the lessons they taught.
Thank you, teachers!
(Opinions expressed in Morning Observations are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the ownership, management, staff or sponsors of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)
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Have a terrific Tuesday and ROLLTIDE!!