Latest In Battle Over UA Student Magazines + Deadly Crash In Pickens County

Good morning, Tuscaloosa! Here's a look at the biggest headlines from around town to start your Thursday.

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

• Tide football television schedule.
• Deadly crash in Pickens County.
• Latest in battle over UA student magazines.

First, a look at today's weather: Rain in the forecast. High: 84 | Low: 72 ⛈

🗣Patch Shout Out 🗣

Our Shout Out for this Thursday morning goes to Benjamin White, who has been announced as the inaugural head coach of the new women’s flag football program at the University of West Alabama. (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. Alabama Football Lands Trio Of National TV Showdowns To Open 2026: The Southeastern Conference and ESPN on Wednesday unveiled the television schedule for the opening weeks of the 2026 college football season, with the University of Alabama slated for three nationally televised matchups to begin the year. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
2. Pickens County Crash Kills Aliceville Man, Injures Woman And Infant: An Aliceville man was killed and two others injured Monday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash in Pickens County. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
3. West Alabama INTERCEPT Task Force Seeks Parental Input On Growing Online Safety Threats: The recently rebranded West Alabama INTERCEPT Task Force is asking parents and guardians of K-12 students to complete an anonymous online survey and consider participating in upcoming focus groups aimed at improving online safety for children. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
4. Federal Judge Sides With UA In Early Court Battle Over Closure Of Student Magazines: A federal judge has denied a request from University of Alabama students seeking to force the school to reinstate two student-run magazines that were shut down late last year. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
5. SEC Launches Mandatory Sports Gambling Education Program For All Student-Athletes: The Southeastern Conference (SEC) announced Wednesday that all student-athletes competing in the conference will be required to complete a new sports gambling education program before the start of the 2026-27 athletic year. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

📅 Today In T-Town 📅

• Grounded @ Moundville (9 a.m.)
• Jugtones Quartet @ Nocturnal Tavern (6 p.m.)
• Silent Book Club @ Ernest & Hadley Booksellers (6 p.m.)
• Monthly Tuscaloosa County Republican Party meeting (6:30 p.m.)
  

🥎 Tide Softball News 🥎

Crimson Tide softball standout Audrey Vandagriff was recognized Tuesday night as the recipient of the Elite Scholar-Athlete Award for the 2026 NCAA Division I Softball Championship. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

5️⃣ Other Stories I'm Reading Today

1. Alabama Asks Supreme Court To Allow Use Of Congressional Map Helping GOP, Despite Racial Bias Ruling (Associated Press)
2. Amari Allen announces intentions to return to Alabama basketball (A.J. Holliday, CBS 42 News)
3. Tornado survivor in east Tuscaloosa County learns crucial lesson for the next storm (Bryan Henry, WBRC Fox 6 News)
4. The new Alabama player whom Kalen DeBoer called ‘really steady’ (Nick Kelly, AL.com)
5. What Patrick Murphy Told Alabama Slugger Brooke Wells after Hitless Weekend in Supers (Katie Windham, Bama Central)

🕊 Obituaries 🕊

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

Bernice Payne Morrison, 97 of Akron (Magnolia Chapel)

Carolyn Dalsing, 68, of Tuscaloosa (Memory Chapel)

Jessieline Jacobs, 84, of Fosters (Norwood-Wyatt)

Samuel Mack Fuqua, 78, of Ethelsville (Skelton Funeral Home)

Stephen Paul Hummel, 78, 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