Five Headlines We're Watching This Week

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — Here's a look at some of the headlines Patch will be following in Tuscaloosa this week.

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Bar Owners Meet With Mayor Ahead of Proposed Aid Package: Bar owners are expected to meet with Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox Monday to further discuss a plan moving forward for the 29 lounge liquor license businesses forced to shut down by executive order last Monday. The mayor is also set to propose a $400,000 relief package for the bar owners that will be presented to the City Council's Finance Committee on Tuesday. The funds would be allocated by the council from Restart Tuscaloosa and, if passed, aid money would be parceled out before Sept. 15.

Alabama Football Players, Coach To March On Monday: In a widely-circulated tweet by University of Alabama running back Najee Harris on Saturday, it was announced that UA football players and coaches will march on Monday from the Mal Moore Athletics Facility at 4 p.m. Monday to meet at the schoolhouse door at Foster Auditorium. The march for social justice will be similar to those seen around the SEC and country to speak out against systemic racism and police violence. "We want our voices to be heard as we strive to enact social change and rid our world of social injustices," Harris said. The public is invited to participate in the event.

City Of Tuscaloosa Budget Hearings Begin Tuesday: Mayor Walt Maddox last week presented his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2021 to the City Council, who will hold a series of budget hearings over the next month before adopting or revising it. In total, the operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year sits at a proposed $226 million, roughly $10 million less than last year's budget passed by the council. General fund revenue is also predicted to be substantially lower than last year's $164 million, coming in at $154 million for the coming fiscal year. The plans will be considered over the next three weeks, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, with the goal of having it on the regular meeting agenda Sept. 22. Click here for agendas from Tuesday's meetings.

COVID-19 Cases Continue Climb On UA Campus: All eyes will be on the next published update on the University of Alabama System's COVID-19 dashboard, as the number of new cases on the Tuscaloosa campus has exceeded 1,000 since classes began Aug. 19. The rise in cases prompted the closure of bars and the prohibition of bar service at restaurants to combat the further spread of the virus.

County Commission Considers Federal Match For Highway Repairs: Tuscaloosa County Engineer Scott Anders is expected to recommend the Tuscaloosa County Commission enter into agreements with the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) for funding of the repairs to Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) routes in Tuscaloosa County that were damaged during extensive flooding in February. According to Wednesday's regular meeting agenda, the agreement funds the repairs at 80% from federal emergency relief funds, with a 20% match from the county. Click here for the agenda and a list of proposed highway repairs.