Five Tuscaloosa Storylines We're Watching This Week

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The month of January is nearly at its end and the beginning of the year has already brought with it a slew of interesting stories. Here's a look at the big headlines we'll be watching this week.

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1. Qualifying for Tuscaloosa's March 2 municipal elections is set to end Tuesday at 5 p.m. The mayor's race, along with four of the seven seats on the Tuscaloosa City Council will see incumbents challenged, while Districts 1 and 3 will see a new face sworn in. District 4 Councilor Lee Busby is the only incumbent on the council who has not seen a candidate qualify to challenge him on the ballot. Click here to see the current list of those who will appear on the ballot.
2. The Kentucky Wildcats (5-9, 4-3 SEC) will come to Coleman Coliseum on Tuesday to face the red-hot Crimson Tide men's basketball team (13-3, 8-0 SEC), who is undefeated in SEC play and looking to win its 10th-straight game.
3. The Tuscaloosa City Council is set to discuss its legislative agenda on Tuesday during the regular council meeting, with the 2021 Alabama Legislative Session set to begin next week on Tuesday, Feb. 2.
4. The proposed purchase of University Manor will also be discussed once again during the Tuscaloosa City Council's Public Safety Committee on Tuesday. This comes after the Finance Committee last week approved $350,000 in funding to to be voted on by the full Council on Tuesday. If approved, the money would be used to purchase a dozen plots and 13 derelict buildings in University Manor, which is viewed as a public safety concern and hub for crime in the region.
5. The westbound arch on Interstate 20/59 at Exit 73 in Tuscaloosa will be installed this week, the Alabama Department of Transportation says. Patch reported last week that the McFarland Boulevard eastbound outside lane directly under the interstate will close Tuesday at 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. for the contractor to install a section of the arch. McFarland Boulevard, directly under the interstate, will be closed in both directions beginning Friday, Jan. 29 at 11 p.m. until Sunday, Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. for the contractor to complete the installation, while the I-20/59 westbound outside lane will close near Exit 73 on Friday, January 29 from 8 p.m. until Saturday, January 30 at 5 p.m.

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