West Alabama Friday Briefing

Good morning West Alabama! It is Friday, April 25, 2025. This is the 115th day of the year with 250 days remaining.

In Today's Morning Briefing:

Weather
News,
Sports
Friday Morning Observations

Weather:

Today will be mostly cloudy with periods of showers and thunderstorms. Tonight, will be mostly cloudy with isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms this evening. There is an Elevated (2 in 3) Risk today into early Saturday morning. Activity should diminish after midnight

The weekend finds scattered rain chances on Saturday, decreasing some for Sunday, and again on Monday. Temperatures will be on the increase for the first part of next week.

The Forecast:

Today

A slight chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 81. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday

A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Calm wind.

Sunday

A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Calm wind becoming northeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.

Next Week

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News:

Mayor Maddox Does Not Oppose Trump UA Commencement Address

UA College Democrats are organizing a protest of President Trumps planned University of Alabama Commencement Address on May 1st. But Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, who ran for Alabama Governor as the Democrat Party nominee, told the 95.3 The Bear "Steve and DC Morning Show" today he is excited about the presidential visit.

"I'm shocked at some of things that have been said by the president. It is extremely disrespectful," Maddox told listeners. "For people who says this is a bad thing, I vehemently disagree. I'm proud he wants to come to Tuscaloosa."

"He is our commander-in-chief, and we should welcome the President of the United States to Tuscaloosa whether they are a Democrat or Republican." the mayor added, "Whether we agree or disagree, he is still our president."

Maddox says those who disagree have a right to protest but should do it respectfully. This will be Trump's third visit to the University of Alabama, the second as a sitting president.

Governor Tuberville?

Alabama Republican U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville has reportedly told supporters at a private gathering he is prepared to make an announcement soon that he will run for Alabama Governor in 2026.

Recently Tuberville told the 95.3 The Bear Steve and DC Morning Show that he is consulting with President Trump on making his decision whether to run to succeed Gov. Ivey or not.

In a post on X (formerly twitter) the first term senator stated he is still weighing his options and consulting with his wife. He said any decision will be announced by him directly.

Smaller SI Resort Plan Still Opposed by Some

Developers of the previously announced Sports Illustrated Resort have presented a scaled down version for the facility proposed to be built just off Rice Mine Road. The new plan removes the hotel but keeps the timeshare and condos.

The new plan was presented to a town hall meeting conducted by Tuscaloosa City Councilman Norman Crow who represents the area.

Many of the same wealthy residents who live near the property turned back up at the meeting to continue to voice opposition.

The city council will consider the project at a future meeting in May.

Read More: Developers Give First Look at Pared-Down Sports Illustrated Resort for Tuscaloosa

Demopolis Woman Sentenced in Boyfriend's Death

31-year-old Angelica Quintana of Demopolis has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2022 murder of her 27-year-old boyfriend Dennis Melton. Video showed Melton under her car on Skyland Blvd., but Quintana never called 9-1-1 or attempted to help him.

Quintana has been in custody ever since her conviction in February. She will be eligible for parole.

Mayor Proposes Revitalization of Veteran's Memorial Parkway Pedestrian Bridge

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox has proposed to the city council's public projects committee that the city spend $750,000 to revitalize the pedestrian bridge that crosses Veteran's Memorial Parkway East. The 60-year-old structure had been slated for demolition until residents of surrounding neighborhoods protested.

The city had alleged that nobody uses the bridge, but area residents disputed that, saying the bridge is the only safe way to cross the busy, fast-moving traffic of Veteran's Memorial Parkway.

Read More: Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox Pitches $750,000 Refurb for ‘Saved’ Pedestrian Bridge

More Park Upgrades Being Celebrated

Another public park in Tuscaloosa has received major upgrades. Burrell Odom Park has now reopened to West End residents.

Mayor Walt Maddox, Councilman Matthew Wilson, Councilwoman Raevan Howard and other local leaders were at the park to cut the ceremonial ribbon and celebrate more than $2.5 million in fresh additions and improvements.

Northport Councilman to Run for His Own Term

Karl Wiggins became a Northport City Council member when District 3 Councilman John Hinton became mayor upon the unexpected resignation of Bobby Herndon. He was appointed to the seat by Gov. Ivey when the council could not reach a consensus.

Now Wiggins has announced he is launching a campaign to retain the D3 seat.

Northport's Municipal Elections will be held on August 26th.

Read More: Northport Councilman Karl Wiggins Announces Re-Election Campaign

West AlabamaWorks to Sponsor Another Job Fair Next Week

West AlabamaWorks will host another free workforce event in Sumter County. This one will be next Wednesday, April 30, at the Livingston Civic Center (101 Country Club Rd, Livingston, AL 35470). This initiative will provide career opportunities from 9 a.m. to noon for students, followed by an open community hiring fair from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Read More: West AlabamaWorks Hosting Summer Job Fair and Hiring Event

Sports:

Two Tiders Go in NFL Draft First Round

For the 17^th straight year Alabama Football has had a player taken in the NFL Draft 1^st round. Two went last night in the shadow of the venerable Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Tyler Booker was the 12^th pick by the Dallas Cowboys. Jihaad Campbell went to Philadelphia as the 31^st pick. More former Bama players, including Jalen Milroe are expected to be drafted tonight.

NFL 1st Round Picks

Bottom Half of the Bama Lineup Provides the Winning Difference

Three long balls by the bottom half of the Alabama batting order saved the Crimson Tide an embarrassing loss last night at "The Joe". Missouri (13-28 overall, 0-19 SEC), which has not won an SEC game this season, jumped out to an early 5-0 lead on Bama before the bats of the bottom half of the Tide lineup heated up to tie it 5-5 and then secure the 7-5 win.

Alabama (33-10 overall,10-9 SEC) couldn't breathe easy until the final out was secured in the top of the ninth inning by closer Carson Ozmer. He is now 4-and-0 on the season.

The same two teams play tonight at 6:00pm and again tomorrow at 1:00pm at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Tide Softball Begins Three Game Missouri Series Tonight

Alabama Softball (32-18 overall, 8-10 SEC) hosts its final SEC home series of the season this weekend at Rhoads Stadium beginning tonight at 6:00pm. Missouri (23-26 overall, 4-14 SEC) provides the opposition.

The Tide now has 103 stolen bases this season, ranking 12th nationally with its first season tallying triple digit steals since 2019. Alabama's defense has turned 26 double plays this season, which ranks 10th nationally and is tied for the UA single-season school record.

Stillman Softball Wins on Two Thrilling Comebacks

The Stillman College softball team fell behind early in both games Thursday during day two of the HBCU Athletic Conference Softball Championship, but the Tigers rallied in each game to advance to the championship contest later today at the Wilson Morgan Complex.

Stillman defeated the Oakwood University Ambassadors 7-3 in the morning and followed with a 12-4 win in six innings over Dillard University Blue Devils.

Tide Senior Tennis Star Earns All-SEC Honors, Again

Alabama men's tennis senior Filip Planinsek was named a First Team All-Southeastern Conference selection for his outstanding performance during the 2025 season, the league office announced Thursday.

Planinsek was named a first-team honoree for the second consecutive year as the 2024 NCAA singles champion has tabbed SEC postseason accolades all four years of his career.

Friday Morning Observations:

This Sunday will again be a time to remember. Anyone who was in Tuscaloosa on April 27, 2011, can recall the devastation, death, injuries and heroism that took place that afternoon when a high-end EF-4 tornado roared through the city. It is one of the costliest tornadoes on record, and was one of the 367 tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak, the largest tornado outbreak in United States history.

The tornado killed 64 people, including six University of Alabama student and caused approximately $2.4 billion in property damage according to FEMA.

The packed Tuscaloosa County Emergency Operations Center took the initial blow when its Kaulton location was destroyed, putting the area behind the eight-ball from the start. It damaged every building in the Rosedale Courts Housing Project. The giant twister then cut a swath across Forest Lake and the nearby Cedar Crest neighborhoods.

The path of the monster tornado was headed directly for DCH Regional Medical Center before a miracle happened. It turned, went behind the medical center, missing it completely. There is no telling how many would have died or been injured had DCH received a direct hit and made the emergency room unusable.

The storm then resumed its original track and raked across Alberta and Holt before moving across Brookwood and into Jefferson County.

The fatality count would have been much worse had there not been so many heroes that day who chose to help those in need of assistance. That includes the firefighters in Alberta who lost their station house and apparatus but still worked to save lives. Police and neighbors dug through debris and sirens could be heard for hours after the storm.

The response was heroic, the recovery was daunting, and the memories are haunting. It was a day, like so many days of disaster, that will live in the hearts and minds of those who experienced it forever. I know it will me.

(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.)

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

Have a wonderful weekend and say a prayer for the souls of those we lost 14 years ago this coming Sunday, remember those who survived and be thankful that Tuscaloosa has recovered.

Source: West Alabama Friday Briefing

Categories: News, Local News