West Alabama Thursday Briefing
It is Thursday May 9, 2024, and a potential severe weather day.
A Tornado Watch until 10:00am will be followed up overnight by yet another severe weather threat. Click here for the details.
The Forecast:
Topping the News:
Homes prices are rising in Alabama and that has some in the legislature concerned that will also translate to property tax increases. That is why the Alabama the senate has voted to put a cap on them.
On a 30-3 vote the legislation caps increases in assessed values on residential and commercial property to 7% of the assessed value from the prior year.
Critics claim low property taxes hurt schools.
“Our property taxes are the lowest in the nation,” Greensboro Democrat State Senator told the chamber. “Even if you doubled it right now, it would be the lowest in the nation. I don’t know what people are crying about.”
He added, “Rich folks don’t want to pay the taxes. This is what it’s all about."
A bill passed by the legislature will ensure the mental health needs and services of veterans across the state are being met. The bill requires the governor to develop a plan that focuses on providing services in areas that include substance abuse recovery, traumatic brain injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other conditions. Honorably discharged regular military and National Guard will qualify.
The program must be implemented by August 2025.
With opposition from Attorney General Steve Marshall and the Ethics Commission, a bill that would change the Alabama Ethics Law is apparently dead on this last day of the 2024 session.
Proponents claimed it would have better clarify the state's ethics law for public officials and employees. AG Marshall called the bill an attempt to water down ethics in Alabama.
It is looking more like the Alabama Senate will again fall short of allowing voters to cast a ballot on legalizing a statewide lottery and gaming in the state.
Today is the last day of the 2024 Regular legislative session and it appears that special interests will once again be successful in keeping the enabling bills from passing in the upper chamber.
The bill failed by one vote in the 35-member senate after being passed by the house. A second vote could be forced today but observers believe it will fail again due to pressure from the Poarch Creek Band of Indians which operate casinos on tribal land in the state.
Three bills passed by the legislature are awaiting Gov. Ivey’s signature to become law. One makes it illegal to use traffic cameras for street racing, another makes falsely reporting a crime a felony and the third is the Alabama Farm Center Bill, creates the Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation to operate the Alabama Farm Center.
Greensboro Democrat Senator Bobby Singleton opposed the bill saying he has a “real problem” with a private entity having more appointments than the governor for a state operated program.
A bipartisan group of state lawmakers have joined together to create the Alabama-Israel Legislative Caucus. Israeli Southeastern U-S General Council Anat Sultan-Dadon reacted with comments that Israel is pleased to further a longstanding relationship with the state.
The goal of the caucus is to strengthen political, economic, cultural and academic sector ties.
The annual appearance of orange cones is taking place at the University of Alabama. The campus is using the less crowded summer months to repair and improve roads, put in new landscaping and lighting, replace underground utilities and construct bike paths.
According to UA, some $26 million in work will be done with most completed by the beginning of the fall semester in August.
The Tuscaloosa County School System has announced a meeting for those interested in becoming a school bus driver or aide.
There will be two meetings available next Tuesday. One will be at Brookwood High School Lecture Hall at 12250 George Richmond Parkway and the other at the Northport Bus Shop, located at 3700 68th Avenue. They will begin at 6:30pm.
All training will be provided to earn a Class B CDL with passenger and school bus endorsements, along with a State of Alabama School Bus Operator’s Certificate. Aide training is also available.
Call (205) 342-2636 or email transportation@tcss.net if you are interested.
Driver recertification classes.
- January 3, 2024 - Teachers, School Staff, Trade Run Drivers, and Bus Shop Staff
- January 17, 2024- Sipsey Valley, Buhl, Westwood, Myrtlewood, Crestmont, Faucett-Vestavia, Flatwoods, TCHS, Echols
- February 20, 2024 – Holt High, Holt Elem., Cottondale, DEM, NSMS, Walker, NSHS, CRMS, Matthews, Big Sandy
- May 7, 2024 – BMS, BHS, BES, Vance, Lakeview
- Brookwood recertification class will be held at Brookwood High School)
- September 5, 2024 – HCHS, HCMS, DMS, TPS, Englewood, Maxwell, NPE, HPES, NIS
Topping Sports News:
The website Gridiron Heroics is reporting that former UA Athletics Director Cecil "Hootie" Ingram's death this week came after a fall in March. he is reported to have passed away at a Birmingham hospital.
The former Tuscaloosa High and UA football star made a name for himself as a high school and college head coach and as director of athletics at Florida State and Alabama
Services are set for Saturday at Tuscaloosa's Calvary Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m., with a memorial following.
American Christian Academy has advanced to the Alabama 4A State Baseball Championship round next week by sweeping #1 ranked Bibb County 2-1 and 4-zip. Congrats to the Pats.
Alabama Softball led their SEC Tournament Game with LSU 2-0 until with bottom of the seventh inning. That is when the bases-on-balls bug bit Bama leading two Tiger runs to tie the game and force extra innings.
The Tide got hits but none timely enough to score any additional runs and they were eliminated 3-4 in 14 innings.
UA now waits until the NCAA Selection Show this weekend to see if the early tournament exit will keep them from hosting a first round NCAA playoff regional.
Speaking of Alabama and LSU matchups, there is a critical one for the Alabama Baseball Team at the Joe this weekend.
The Tide and Tigers tangle at 6:00pm Friday, 4:00pm Saturday and 1:00pm Sunday. It is the last regular season home series of the season.
Have a safe Thursday and keep a close on potential changing weather conditions, including possible watches and warnings.
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