West Alabama Wednesday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Wednesday, April 30, 2025. It is the last day of April and the 120th day of the year with 245 days remaining.
It Today's Briefing:
- Weather
- News
- Sports
- Wednesday Morning Observations
Weather:
Isolated to scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms are forecast for later today in eastern sections of Tuscaloosa, Hale and Marengo counties plus all of Bibb County. The high should be in the 80s.
Thursday there is a Slight (2 in 5) Risk for strong to severe thunderstorms in Lamar and northwest Fayette counties. A Marginal (1 in 5) Risk exists for the remainder of West Alabama. The threat runs between 4:00pm and 10:00pm. The main threat will be damaging winds to 60mph and quarter size hail.
Read More: Be Prepared: Damaging Wind & Hail Threat in Alabama on Thursday
The Forecast:
Today
Partly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday
A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 85. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Thursday Night
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. West wind around 5 mph becoming south after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Friday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1pm. High near 82. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Friday Night
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News:
President Trump Teases UA Commencement Keynote
Speaking at a campaign style political rally in Michigan to mark the 100th day of his second term in office, President last night listed his accomplishments as he sees them and repeatedly mocked his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden. Trump also teased his appearance at the University of Alabama at 6:30 tomorrow night.
"We love Alabama," he told the crowd. "You know what we won Alabama by? Like, you know, almost 50 points." He also claimed he has been told by UA officials they are expecting the biggest crowd ever by, "maybe four or five times."
Trump's special commencement address is open to ticketed seniors, their guests and dignitaries.
Also speaking Thursday night will be former Alabama Football Coach Nick Saban and outgoing president Dr. Stuart Bell.
Protests/Counterprotests Planned for Trump UA Address
At least two public protests are planned in Tuscaloosa tomorrow to counter President Trump's appearance on the University of Alabama campus. UA Democrats and leftwing outside activist organizations have scheduled protest activities.
Former Democrat U-S Senator Doug Jones and former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke speak at a Campus Democrat protest at 5 p.m. The are calling the event "Tide Against Trump".
The state chapter of an activist group called 50501 will stage "Donald Trump grabs UA by the Diploma" between 2:00 and 5:00pm at Government Plaza downtown. The group calls itself an organization for marginalized groups and people.
Butler Field, where the University of Alabama "Million Dollar Band" practices has been designated as the designated protest area.
A counterprotest area for Trump supporters will be located in the west section of the University Medical Center parking lot.
Stillman College Partners with Charter School
Stillman College is partnering with a charter school this coming school year. The I Dream Big Charter School will be housed on the private college’s campus.
This will be the first time a historically black college will be partnering with a charter school in the state. The charter school will open with students in the 6th and 8th grades and will add a grade each subsequent year.
Another Walker County Deputy Pleads Guilty in Jail Abuse Case
Trina Lou Blackmon Phillips has entered a guilty plea for the federal charge of depriving an inmate of his civil rights under color of law in the death of inmate Tony Mitchell.
Phillips has admitted to failing to intervene or report the inhumane conditions faced by a mentally ill detainee (Mitchell) held in an unsanitary and freezing cell without access to water, a toilet, or proper bedding. The inmate, known as “Individual #1,” was left naked on a bare cement floor for nearly two weeks before being transported to a hospital, where he died of cardiac arrest.
Under the agreement, Phillips will plead guilty to one count of deprivation of rights under 18 U.S. Code 242. The charge carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Due to the plea, prosecutors will seek a shorter sentence.
Alberta Micro School Proposal on Hold
A plan for a 90 student "Micro School" in Tuscaloosa has been placed on-hold. The plan for placing the school in a long-vacant property in the Alberta area has drawn negative reaction from some residents of the area.
The private K-8 school would be developed at 3325 University Boulevard East in Alberta, the empty Jim Myers Walgreens drugstore.
State Education Budget Could Help County Schools
The state’s largest ever Education Trust Fund Budget is awaiting Gov. Ivey’s signature. The formula for the $12 billion dollar budget continues to be based on total number of students but now also adds money to pay for special needs students, those from low-income families, English language learners and gifted students.
District 1 State Rep. Ron Bolton believes the new formula will help county school such as Pickens and Tuscaloosa counties because the money for the two systems is not available.
Archibald and Woodrow's to Open BBQ Restaurant in Birmingham
Tuscaloosa based Archibald and Woodrow Enterprises is opening a Bar-B-Que Restaurant on 1st Avenue in Birmingham. Birmingham City Council member Crystal Smitherman told news partner ABC3340 the council is investing $185,000 to bring the popular Tuscaloosa restaurant to the Magic City.
The new Birmingham Archibald and Woodrow’s is expected to generate $1.5 million in annual sale tax revenues for Birmingham.
The Tuscaloosa Archibald and Woodrow's is located at 4215 Greensboro Ave.
Aniah's Law Expansion Goes to Gov. Ivey
The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill expanding the list of crimes subject to Aniah's Law, which allows a judge to deny bail to a defendant after a pretrial hearing.
The crimes added under Senate Bill 118 include:
- shooting or discharging a firearm, explosive, or other weapon into an occupied dwelling, building, railroad locomotive, railroad car, aircraft, automobile, truck, or watercraft
- solicitation, attempt, or conspiracy to commit murder
The legislation has already passed the senate and now goes to Gov. Ivey for her signature.
Sports:
Tide Men's Tennis NCAA Bound
From UA Athletics: The Alabama men's tennis team is set to face No. 25 Pepperdine in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the organization revealed Monday. The two teams will face off in Stanford, Calif., on Friday at noon CT.
The Crimson Tide (15-12) will make its 22nd overall appearance, and sixth under head coach George Husack, when the team goes head-to-head with Pepperdine (16-10).
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Wednesday Morning Observations:
Whatever happened to civility? It has virtually disappeared. Sports figures, politicians, celebrities and even national media have helped raise the rate of incivility with deeds, words and actions. Nowhere is this more evident than in social media and morning and late-night talk shows. It seems everyone is in attack mode, they pull no punches and use hurtful and at times obscene language to emphasize their point.
You don't have to agree or even like someone to show mutual respect and build trust in public life. Our president is among the worst at calling people names and making disparaging remarks, whether true or not. That has prompted those who oppose him to adopt the same sorry actions. Our leaders used to be held to a higher standard but not any longer.
According to a study by the American Bar Association in 2023, 85% of Americans believed civility was worse then, than 10 years before. 29% said social media is primarily responsible for eroding civility. Another 24% blamed the media generally and 19% blamed public officials.
Another big factor in the lack of civility is the demise of teaching it in home life. Just ask a teacher how much civility has eroded in the classroom and how uncivil many parents are in dealing with issues at school.
One of the keys to the lack of civility according to many sociologists is the unwillingness these days to reach compromise. Everyone wants their way and will fight to the end to get it, instead of reaching an acceptable and rational compromise.
Civility is crucial for a functioning society, involving mutual respect, trust, and shared understanding. We don't have that right now thus we are experiencing a crumbling of society where extremists right and left are willing to say and do whatever it takes to gain power.
Civility is the social bond that makes it possible for individuals to live in peace in the political and social structures of the Western world. We haven't got much of a future unless we are able to regain it.
(Opinions expressed in Morning Observations are those of the author and are not necessarily that 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 Wednesday!
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