West Alabama Tuesday Briefing
Good Tuesday morning West Alabama! It is September 24, 2024.
That tropical system moving into the Gulf of Mexico is still Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 this morning. However, the National Hurricane Center sill is forecasting strengthening into Hurricane Helene tonight or tomorrow. Development has been slower than expected due to an infusion of dry air into the system. However, tropical storm conditions are expected to form by the time the system reaches Western Cuba.
The good news is Alabama will be on the active side of the storm when it makes landfall Thursday on the Eastern Florida Panhandle.
Read More: Update on Possible West Alabama Impacts from Future Hurricane
The Forecast:
Polls will be open until 7 tonight across the City of Tuscaloosa, only, for a referendum on a proposed 11-mill property tax increase for city schools. If passed it would be the first property tax increase in the city in 40 years.
Read More: POLLS OPEN on Tuscaloosa’s Property Tax Referendum to Fund Schools
One of the by-products of a "yes" vote into today's property tax referendum would be city schools funding School Resource Officers (SROs) for all school in the system. Currently only select schools have SROs on duty.
That is a growing concern statewide with increasing numbers of threats being made against schools. Few school systems have SROs at every school, leaving some more vulnerable.
A 3-2 vote by the Northport City Council appointed the two Texas developers and a California investor as sole members of an Industrial Development Board with quasi-government control over the $350 million University Beach Resort on U.S. 82 West.
District 4's Jamie Dykes and District 5's Anwar Aiken were the sole "no" votes.
Several Northport residents spoke in opposition to the vote and the project as a whole. Of greatest concern is the perception that the council has not been total open about the project which many consider shady.
Parents at Taylorville Elementary School have been informed about the results of an investigation into bullets that were found recently on school property. The statement pointed out there was never a threat as only bullets and a magazine were found. No weapon was ever located.
The message stated the bullets were transported to the school by a younger student.
Read More: No Threat Found After Bullets Discovered at Taylorville Primary
A person with non-life-threatening injuries was found shot late yesterday afternoon outside Little Caesar’s Pizza on 69 South. The victim was transported to DCH Medical Center for treatment. No further information has been released at this point.
Read More: Shooting Victim on Highway 69 South Expected to Live, Police Investigating
As we told you yesterday, the fatal shooting over the weekend took Tuscaloosa above the single year record for homicides in the city. Tuscaloosa City Council’s Mathew Wilson of District One told news partner ABC3340 the city has got to decide to stand-up to violence by reporting anything that looks like it may be a "danger".
Topping Sports News:
The Alabama road trips to resurgent Vanderbilt on October 5th now has a kickoff time. It will be 3:15pm CDT.
Read More: Kickoff Time Will Start Late Afternoon Against SEC Foe
With a few loses that probably shouldn't have happened, the Southeastern Conference is having a good start to the 2024 season. At least a half dozen of the league's schools are still in legitimate competition for a post-season playoff spot.
Read More: Updated SEC Standings – Week Five
In a battle of former LSU quarterbacks, Washington Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels beat veteran Cincinatti Bengal's signal caller Joe Burrow 38-33 in Monday Night Football.
The favored Bengals could not consistently stop Daniels throughout the game. The Commanders racked up 356 yards and scored touchdowns on all three of their red-zone possessions. They also did not have a penalty or turnover.
Hard to believe it but the high school football season is at the halfway mark. A number of West Alabama teams are still in playoff contention, but the next five games will be critical.
Click on TuscaloosaThread.com for the latest West Alabama news, sports and weather throughout the day. Better yet, download the app.
Have a terrific Tuesday.!!