VA Drops Age Restriction For Vaccine; TCS Summer Programs Touted

Good Morning Tuscaloosa!

In today's Daily, we have our city school system getting a major shoutout from a statewide publication, big growth for a manufacturer in Fayette and so much more!

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny in Tuscaloosa, with a high near 80 degrees and a low around 56.

Here are the top 5 stories in Tuscaloosa

1. The Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center has eliminated age restrictions for eligible veterans who want to receive the coronavirus vaccine. (Tuscaloosa News)

2. Tuscaloosa City Schools received a shout-out as part of an in-depth story by Trisha Powell Crane, as the system works to expand and improve its summer programs and offer children the ability to choose their own learning options. (AL.com)

3. Connor Todd of the student newspaper at the University of Alabama reports that Black and Hispanic Alabamians are at greater risk for the coronavirus, but explained in a well-sourced story how one West End church working to bridge those disparities. (Crimson White)

4. The Showa Group's factory in Fayette was the subject of a recent feature by the Southern Company-owned Alabama Newscenter, which reported on the longterm growth of the operation, which hopes to produce 2 million latex gloves per day with both lines operational.

5. The Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter will host a puppy and kitten shower this weekend, Tessa Worley reports, which will give attendees a chance to support the shelter's mission and possibly name one of the baby animals the shelter takes in this year. (Tuscaloosa Thread)

Today in Tuscaloosa

- The Jerry Tingle Center in McCalla will host a Kid's Night Out Luau, with pizza, lei-making and more for kids 4-12. Admission is $15 and will begin at 5:30 p.m., lasting until 8:30 p.m.

- Make Quilt Squares with That's Sew Gee's Bend at Kentuck Arts Center from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

- Alabama baseball vs. Stetson in Tuscaloosa. First pitch set for 6 p.m.

- MarK Ultras Thought Police at Egan's. Doors open at 10:45 p.m. until 2:45 a.m.

- Crazy Chester at VFW Post 6022. Show from 8:30 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook

- The Tuscaloosa County School System was recently chosen as a 2021 Innovative District by the International Center for Leadership in Education.

- University of Alabama professor Wenchao Ma was named as an American Educational Research Association and Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics Outstanding Reviewer for 2020.

- Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue showed off its tiller truck training that took place recently, with the trucks designed to maneuver through tight spaces within a city. Watch it here

- The YMCA's Men’s Club and Benjamin Barnes YMCA Branch in partnership with PARA will conduct a special baseball clinic for kids age 6-12 on Saturday, March 20, but the effort is in need of equipment. If you have baseball bats, balls and gloves that have been retired and can be put to good use, the donations will be appreciated. The clinic will be directed by former Alabama baseball coach Jim Wells and past Alabama standouts like Andy Phillips, Antonio Bostic, and Lance Cormier. Donations or equipment will be accepted in the lobby of the downtown branch of the YMCA at 2300 13th Street.

- Theatre Tuscaloosa will host its sixth annual online fundraising event, “Lights, Camera, Auction!” here from March 25-28.

- The University of Alabama's Department of Journalism and Creative Media awarded Cole Cabiness for Achievement in Pandemic Filmmaking for his film "Opening Number." The award is given to a UA student by the department to reward creativity in filmmaking during the pandemic.

Now you're all caught up to get your day started on an informed note. Don't miss out during the rest of the day, though! Be sure to follow me on Tuscaloosa Patch and its social media platforms for more.

I'll see you around!

- Ryan

About me: I grew up in Tuscaloosa, am a University of Alabama graduate and the founder of Tuscaloosa Patch. You can find me at public meetings, events in the local arts community and wherever live music is played!