West Alabama Monday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama. Another work week has rolled around on Monday August 5, 2024.
Alabama has benefit from that stalled cold front which pushed now Category 1 Hurricane Debby into the Florida Big Bend this morning. The storm with 80pmh winds may be a minimal hurricane but the torrential rain may produce record rainfall and flooding and flash flooding. Florida's State Emergency Management Agency is calling this a potentially catastrophic flooding event with a potential for loss of life.
According to the National Weather Service in Mobile, those making last minute trips to beaches along the Alabama and Florida Panhandle Gulf Coasts shouldn't have a worry, except for scattered shower activity.
As a matter of fact, the biggest concerns along the Alabama coast today are a Heat Advisory for heat indies upwards of 108 degrees and dangerous rip currents.
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a tropical disturbance that is near the Windward Islands. It only has a 30% of development over the next seven days. It will most likely move across the extreme southern portion of the Gulf of Mexico.
Remember, we are just now approaching the peak of the 2024 Hurricane Season, the center of which is September 10th.
The Forecast:
Tuscaloosa rail passengers received some good news from the U.S. Justice Department over the weekend. The U-S Justice Department has sued Norfolk Southern Railroad claiming Amtrak Crescent passenger trains that serve Tuscaloosa with the New York City to New Orleans route are repeatedly delayed by freight train interference.
Some Crescent trains are delayed for hours by Norfolk Southern in favor of allowing slow freight trains to pass. Federal law requires railroads to give priority to Amtrak passenger trains.
Read More: Norfolk Southern Sued Over Amtrak Delays
With 20" of rain possible from Hurricane Debby across Northern Florida, Southeast Georgia and Easter South Carolina, the Alabama Emergency management Agency is ramping up to support those areas in disaster recovery.
Two Alabama Mutual Aid System (AMAS) swift water rescue teams are being deployed to help with swift and high-water rescue operations.
Alabama Red Cross and Salvation Army teams are also being deployed into the impacted areas.
On social media over the weekend, Tuscaloosa City Council President Kip Tyner posted a photo of a black bear cub seen in the Oak Chase neighborhood early Friday morning. The Alabama Wildlife Service says it may be the first black bear confirmed within the City of Tuscaloosa. They also caution a mother bear is probably around as well so keep an eye on outdoor pets.
Read More: Wildlife Professionals Tracking First Black Bear Confirmed in Tuscaloosa
A Centreville Police Officer is recovering from injuries suffered during a chase Saturday night. A suspect in a shooting was fleeing the scene and the officer was in pursuit when he lost control of his patrol car, and it rolled several times. Injuries are classified as minor, and the shooting is still under investigation.
The Biden administration has doled out more than $2 billion in direct payments for Black and other minority farmers discriminated against by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
More than 23,000 farmers were approved for payments ranging from $10,000 to $500,000, according to the USDA.
Most payments went to farmers in Alabama's Black belt and in Mississippi.
With Alabama Power customers receiving huge power bills, the company's parent, Southern Company has reported a 43% increase in profits.
The Tuscaloosa City School Systems 23 schools will welcome back some 11,000 students to the new school year beginning Wednesday.
Some 19,000 Tuscaloosa County School students return to classes Thursday.
Teachers in both systems are already working to prepare for the new school year.
Chinese Electric Vehicles (EV) manufacturers are undercutting sales at Honda and other car manufacturers. The lower priced Chinese EVs are forcing the Japanese company to close at least three more manufacturing plants in Japan, Thailand, and China.
Alabama has a Honda plant located in Lincoln, near Anniston.
Topping Sports News:
American gymnast Simone Biles didn’t get the golden sendoff she hoped.
Biles earned silver in the floor exercise finals today after a routine that included a couple of costly steps out of bounds.
Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade became the first gymnast to beat Biles in a floor final in a major international competition.
Current 2024 Paris Olympics Medal Count:
- United States, 75 (19 Gold, 29 Silver, 27 Bronze)
- Communist China, 52 (21 Gold, 17 Silver, 14 Bronze)
- France, 44 (12 Gold, 14 Silver, 18 Bronze)
- Great Britain, 38 (10 Gold, 12 Silver, 16 Bronze)
- Australia, 31 (12 Gold, 11 Silver, 8 Bronze)
Team Great Britain finished fourth in the Men's 4x100 medley at the Paris Olympics, but some are claiming the gold medal winning Chinese Communist team cheated. GB's Adam Peaty says the winning Chinese team were among 11 swimmers allowed to compete in Paris despite testing positive for a banned substance. Peaty called it "fraud" and told reporters that competitors should not be rewarded for breaking the rules.
Alabama Head Football Coach Kalen DeBoer has sent his condolences to the family of a former Alabama Football player who was killed when hit by a car.
DB Terrance Howard passed away after being struck by a vehicle in North Carolina. The Texas native was a walk-on at Bama during the 2023 season. He recently transferred to North Carolina Central during the offseason.
Read More: Former Alabama Football DB Dies After Car Accident
Keep up with all the breaking news, sports and weather during the day right here.
Have a magnificent Monday!!!