County Commission Gives Big + Chamber Up For National Honor

Up and at 'em, Tuscaloosa! It's Thursday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on in Tuscaloosa today.

In today's Daily, we have these stories and more ...

• A longtime public servant honored.
• Big updates from the Tuscaloosa County Commission.
• A settlement reached in an excessive force case in the County Jail.

First, today's weather: Possible light rain in the morning. High: 87° | Low: 71°

Patch Pick

Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy (left) presented TCSO Chief of Administration Loyd Baker with a pin commemorating his 35 years of service with the sheriff's office on Wednesday. Congratulations Chief and thank you for your service!

Here are the top 5 stories in Tuscaloosa today:

1. Tuscaloosa Patch spoke with family members of Audra Rogers, a 36-year-old mother of four from Northport who was killed in a two-vehicle wreck Monday on Highway 43, to learn more about who she was and what she meant to those who cared about her. (More on Patch)
2. The Tuscaloosa County Commission on Wednesday approved a $25,000 cash settlement to cover medical expenses for a man who claims he was assaulted and injured by a detention officer at the Tuscaloosa County Jail in 2016. (More on Patch)
3. In other Commission business, $900,000 was approved to go toward the ongoing construction of an access road for the new Northport Intermediate School. (More on Patch)
4. The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama was recently named as a finalist for Chamber of the Year by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. (More on Patch)
5. Patch caught up with Tuscaloosa native and veteran meteorologist Wes Wyatt as he assumes his new role as chief meteorologist at WBRC Fox 6 News in Birmingham. (More on Patch)

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Other stories I'm reading today ...

• Tuscaloosa woman retires after four decades at the University Mall (Stephen Dethrage, Tuscaloosa Thread)
• Paramedic shortage delays ambulance response times (Karris Harmon, WVUA 23 News)
• DeVonta Smith earns Roy F. Kramer SEC Male Athlete of the Year (Tony Tsoukalas, BamaInsider)

Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook

• A Eutaw woman was killed and a Tuscaloosa woman injured in a two-vehicle crash Tuesday night on County Road 131 in Greene County, roughly a mile north of Eutaw. (More on Patch)
• Empty the Shelters kicked off Wednesday at the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter. (More)
• The Tuscaloosa Police Department says it is still receiving calls of people shooting fireworks in the city limits, which is illegal. (More)
• University Medical Center will host a free coronavirus vaccine clinic in tandem with the monthly food bank at Grace Presbyterian Church on July 13. (More on Patch)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with another update. If you're feeling these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

Have a great Thursday!

— Ryan Phillips

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.