Juneteenth Events | Former Tide Hoops Standout Dies | Belk Center Expansion

TGIF T-Town! Let's get you all caught up to start this Juneteenth!

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

• Juneteenth events.
• Former Tide hoops standout mourned.
• Groundbreaking on Belk Center expansion.

First, a look at today's weather: Rain and chance for storms. High: 82 | Low: 72 🌧

🗣Patch Shout Out 🗣

Our Shout Out for this Friday morning goes to Shelton State Community College administrator and decorated Navy vet Eric Prewitt, who has been selected as the 2026 State of Alabama's Veteran of the Year. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

👏 Thanks to our sponsors 👏

Our mission to bring quality, independent journalism to Tuscaloosa would not be possible without the support of our friends at DCH Health System, United Way of West Alabama, Strange Brew Coffeehouse, Right Space Commericial and BankFirst. Interested in becoming a local Tuscaloosa Patch sponsor? Please email me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.

🗞 Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa

1. Former Alabama Basketball Standout Mikhail Torrance Dead At 37: Former University of Alabama basketball player Mikhail Torrance has died at the age of 37, the university announced Thursday. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
2. ALDOT Seeks Feedback On Proposed Skyland, McFarland Improvements: The Alabama Department of Transportation will host a public involvement meeting later this month to gather feedback on a proposed roadway improvement project along one of Tuscaloosa's busiest corridors. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
3. Tuscaloosa Juneteenth Events To Include Parade, Car Show And More: Tuscaloosa residents will have multiple ways to commemorate Juneteenth through a series of events commemorating the end of slavery in the United States while also celebrating Black history, culture and community. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
4. Sentencing Next Week For Tuscaloosa Man Convicted Of 2023 Murder: A Tuscaloosa man convicted of murder in the 2023 shooting death of Rufus Tyrone Carter IV is scheduled to be sentenced next week in Tuscaloosa County Circuit Court. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
5. Drinkard Promoted To Principal At Holt High School: The Tuscaloosa County Board of Education earlier this month appointed Carmen Drinkard as the new principal of Holt High School. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

📅 Today In T-Town 📅

• Tuscaloosa County Branch NAACP 2026 Juneteenth Living Legend Luncheon (noon)
• Live At The Plaza (6 p.m.)
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier @ The Bama Theatre (7:30 p.m.)

📸 Around T-Town 📸

Tuscaloosa city leaders and parks officials broke ground Thursday on a major expansion project at the Belk Center that will add new recreational and therapeutic amenities to the longstanding community facility at Bowers Park. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

5️⃣ Other Stories I'm Reading Today

1. Tuscaloosa County 250 Committee Liberty Tree Dedication (Josyln Malave, WVUA 23 News)
2. Tuscaloosa residents push back on business incentives (Avery Boyce, CBS 42 News)
3. Governor Ivey Sets Execution Date for Alabama Inmate Jeremy Williams (ABC 33/40)
4. Alabama State Board of Education considers changes to world languages course of studies (Andrea Tinker, Alabama Reflector)
5. Missouri-based steel producer acquires Alabama company (William Thornton, AL.com)

🕊 Obituaries 🕊

*Our obituary section is generously sponsored by our friends at Dorroh & Mills, P.C.

Louis David Sizemore, 70, of Fayette (Norwood-Wyatt Chapel)

Eddie Rex Tilley, “Rex”, 94, of Coker (Sunset Funeral Home)

William Heflin Barton Jr., 72, of Tuscaloosa (Tuscaloosa Memorial Chapel)

Now you're in the loop about what's happening today.

Thanks for reading and we'll see you in your inbox next time! And if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch!

- RP