EXTRA! EXTRA! Check Out The New Tuscaloosa Daily

Like our new look?

In an effort to streamline our morning newsletter and offer a product of higher value to our readers, our daily email newsletter will now become just that ... the TUSCALOOSA DAILY!

I'm a big believer in this nifty new five-minute daily guide and hope you'll provide honest feedback to help me improve how you receive your news.

Now let's get started with today's weather:

It'll be getting warmer in Tuscaloosa on this sunny Tuesday as the high temperature is expected to reach 80 degrees, with a low around 53.

Tuscaloosa Daily is made possible in part by Patch sponsors JamisonMoneyFarmer and PRIDE of Tuscaloosa. To become a sponsor of Tuscaloosa Daily or the Tuscaloosa Patch website, email ryan.phillips@patch.com. Monthly rates available with seasonal specials.

Patch Pick: I was proud to take this picture of my friend and former Shelton State classmate Sam Phillips, whose Allstate Insurance firm was named the City of Northport's Business of the Month for April by Mayor Bobby Herndon. He is just one of several young people on this side of the bridge making big things happen to move our community forward.

Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa

1. The Tuscaloosa Police Department has identified a woman killed in a Friday wreck at Highway 11 and University Boulevard East near Wildwood Trace. Patch has also confirmed that another driver involved in the crash, who was missing from the scene when officers arrived, has been located and was also hospitalized with injuries. It's unclear if he will face charges (Tuscaloosa Patch)

2. The Northport City Council presented the Tuscaloosa Park & Recreation Authority (PARA) Foundation with a check for $250,000 Monday night that will go toward the Tuscaloosa All-Inclusive Park Project (TAPP) at Sokol Park. The funds will come from revenue generated by the city's 1% sales tax. PARA Executive Director Gary Minor said the new park was slated to open on May 1.

3. Emily Enfinger reports that Tuscaloosa city officials are working to set up a meeting with business owners and landlords in Temerson Square following a violent weekend shooting outside of Roxy's Bar that left five injured. As Patch previously reported, two arrests were made following the shooting (Tuscaloosa News)

4. Alabama football coach Nick Saban has added another coach to his staff, as the university announced on Monday that Drew Svoboda will take over as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach. He joins the Tide after being hired as special teams coordinator at Memphis this offseason and previously serving in the position at Rice.

5. If you didn't get the breaking news alert about it last night from Tuscaloosa Patch, its worth noting that the labor union strike by United Mine Workers of America appears to be coming to a close after roughly 1,100 union members walked off the job at Brookwood-based Warrior Met Coal last Thursday. The Virginia-based labor union announced last night that a vote on a new collective bargaining agreement will be made at the local unions in west Alabama that will decide if the strike will continue or if UMWA members will accept the new agreement.

Today in Tuscaloosa

- Discover Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama: The free event will be held at the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Alabama at 2201 Alberta Parkway at 5:30 p.m. For more information, email Ginger Hanson at ghanson@girlscoutsnca.org.

- Karaoke at the Lookout: Hotel Indigo will host its normal karaoke night tonight at its rooftop bar overlooking downtown Tuscaloosa and the Black Warrior River. Karaoke will begin at 6 p.m.

- The Tuscaloosa City Council will hold its regular meeting tonight at 6 p.m., with pre-council briefings beginning at 1:30 p.m. Click here to view the agenda for the day.

Click here to subscribe to our free daily newsletter and breaking news alerts.

Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook

- The 2021 Alabama Community College Conference's (ACCC) Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament will begin today at the Umphrey Center on the Martin Campus of Shelton State Community College and last through Friday. Both SSCC teams are No. 1 seeds going into the tournament.

- Shelton State Community College announced it will recognize high school seniors planning to attend the school on May 1 through its Virtual Decision Day 2021. Entries may be submitted to recruitment@sheltonstate.edu, with photos accepted through Friday, April 30. A random drawing will also select two participants for $500 book scholarships.

- The University of Alabama will recognize outstanding students and faculty during Honors Week, from April 5-9, which will conclude with the Tapping on the Mound — a UA tradition since the early 1900s.

- The civil service exam for the position of detention deputy at the Tuscaloosa County Jail is set for April 26. Learn more here.

- Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority (PARA), along with UA and the Tuscaloosa Public Library will unveil its StoryWalk Saturday at 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Tuscaloosa River Walk. As I previously reported, the concept will see laminated pages from a children's picture book displayed along an outdoor path, with directions along the way to lead participants to the next page of the story.

- The Tuscaloosa County School System is already seeing success with its Neighborhood Bridges Tuscaloosa County program. I reported last month when the program was launched, with TCSS saying subscribers have stepped up to fill 56 needs in its schools, impacting nearly 4,000 students.

- Several Central High School students were recently honored by the National Center for Women & Information Technology. Their teachers are Roslyn Evans and Alfreda White. Honorees include: Kaylin Hughes - 2021 NCWIT Alabama Winner; Ariana Clark - 2021 NCWIT Alabama Honorable Mention; Adrianna McKinney - 2021 NCWIT Alabama Rising Star; Tajianna Plump - 2021 NCWIT Alabama Rising Star. Click here to hear from the students and teachers.

- The Northside High Lady Rams Golf Team — Erika Allen, Ashlee Allen and Lucy Lunceford — won the Wildcat Tourney Monday at Ol' Colony.

Area baseball scores

Shelton State 16, Wallace Dothan 15

Central High 18, Selma 8

Central High 11, Selma 1

North River Christian 8, Heritage Christian 13

Tuscaloosa Academy 5, Russell Christian 0

Stat line: Central's William Batchelor knocked in four runs on two hits in a Monday double header against Selma. He also struck out two batters in a single inning on the mound.

Area softball scores

Gordo 9, Hale County 4

Holy Spirit 9, South Lamar 4

North River Christian 12, Heritage Academy 0

Stat line: Holy Spirit's Alyssa Faircloth struck out 14 over seven innings against South Lamar in a 9-4 win Monday.

Now you're in the loop for everything you need to know to get this Tuesday off on an informed note. Don't miss out during the rest of the day, though! Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more original content and updates.

I'll see you around!

- Ryan

About me: I grew up in Tuscaloosa. I'm a graduate of the University of Alabama, an experienced journalist, editor and columnist and the founder of Tuscaloosa Patch. You can find me at baseball games, public meetings, events in the local arts community and wherever live music is played