How To Help In Northport + Puppy Rescue In Tuscaloosa

Up and at 'em T-Town! Let's get you all caught up before you get out the door on this Thursday.

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

• Help for those in Northport.
• Staff changes at The Chamber.
• Shelton State mens hoops star moves on.

First, today's weather

Tuscaloosa can expect a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 11 a.m. on Thursday, with a high near 89°

Patch Pick

The Alabama Baptist State Convention's Disaster Relief team, along with the Central-West Alabama Chapter of the American Red Cross, began providing showers, washers and dryers for those in need at Northport Baptist following severe storms and flooding over the weekend.

Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa

1. The emergency water conservation order issued by the City of Tuscaloosa on Sunday was allowed to expire at noon on Wednesday as city crews and contractors address repairs to the raw water line. (More on Patch)

2. The City of Northport plans to close an extended stretch of Union Chapel Road on Monday following a complete washout of a portion of the road. The work will allow for culvert repairs after damage from storms over the weekend. (More on Patch)

3. A tip of the hat to Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue, who saved a puppy from a Wednesday afternoon house fire on 11th Street. (More on Patch)

4. Shelton State men's basketball forward Justin Bufford took the next big step in his collegiate career after signing this week with Middle Tennessee State University. (More on Patch)

5. The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama announced two key changes to its professional staff on Wednesday as Alicia Gregory moves into a new role and Tanya Winstead joins the team from Alabama ONE. (More on Patch)

Other stories I'm reading today ...

• What to know about the mural inside the new Homewood Suites in downtown Tuscaloosa (Emily Enfinger, Tuscaloosa News)
• Tuscaloosa democrats stand with workers striking over unfair labor practices (Isabel Hope, WVUA 23 News)
• Movie Featuring Bruce Willis Filming In Birmingham (Michael Seale, Birmingham Patch)

Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook

- Samford baseball coach Casey Dunn was announced on Wednesday as the new baseball coach at UAB after 17 seasons with the Bulldogs. (More on Patch)

- Shelton State Community College is currently applications for its new Medical Laboratory Technician (MLT) program. (More)

- Need help following flooding over the weekend or want to volunteer? We've got you've covered with this quick guide for resources. (More on Patch)

Now you're in the loop and ready to get this Thursday started. But don't miss out during the rest of your day! Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content every day of the week.

Have a great day!

- Ryan

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.