Northport Office Park + Campaign Announcement + UWA Mourns

Get on up, Tuscaloosa! Here's everything you need to know to get this Tuesday started off right.

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

• Updates from Northport City Council.
• The latest political campaign announcement.
• Suspended Tide linebacker returns to the team.

First, today's weather: Possible light rain in the afternoon and evening. High: 84 | Low: 68.

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Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa:

1. The Northport City Council on Monday night unanimously approved a $37.5 million general fund budget for FY2022, in addition to $11 million for its water and sewer general fund. Also, the Council approved a 51% increase in funding for PARA and a 25% increase for the Tuscaloosa Public Library. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
2. A Tuscaloosa woman is recovering after being shot Friday as she confronted a suspected thief accused of stealing a Playstation 5 from her home. (Stephen Dethrage, Tuscaloosa Thread)
3. The area in the vicinity of the Tuscaloosa Strip was hit particularly hard by flash flooding on Saturday, which impacted several businesses near the University of Alabama campus. (Michaela Redmond, WVUA 23)
4. Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Hays Webb announced on Monday that he plans to seek a second six-year term as the county's chief law enforcement officer. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
5. Here's part of a touching follow-up on 40-year-old Kelvin Watford, who was killed Saturday when flood waters washed away his SUV in Tuscaloosa. (Tim Reid, CBS 42)

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Other stories I'm reading today ...

• Alabama linebacker returns from suspension, is backup snapper (Mike Rodak, AL.com)
• Tuscaloosa VFW Post honors POWs, MIAs during annual ceremony (Tuscaloosa News)
• For Alabama Swimming, Training for Collegiate and Olympic Competition Goes Hand-in-Hand (Katie Windham, Bama Central)
• 'Justice for Megan Rondini': Settlement reached in former UA student's wrongful death lawsuit (Sneha Subramani, Crimson White)
• UAB doctors talk COVID, Pfizer's news that vaccine safe and effective for 5-11 year olds (Eddie Burkhalter, Alabama Political Reporter)
• Alabama Toyota plant to make truck engines, add 450 jobs (Associated Press)
• Perry County facility key factor in prison plan (Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News)
• UAB to adjust vaccine mandate following new federal rules (Tyler Patchen, Birmingham Business Journal)
• Alabama football extends a trio of offers in Florida (Andrew Bone, BamaInsider)
• Nick Saban, Emil Ekiyor assess Alabama's O-line after three games (Charlie Potter, BamaOnline)

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Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook

DCH Health System reports 37 patients have died at the hospital over the last two weeks after they tested positive for COVID-19. As of Monday, the hospital system reported 133 total inpatients, with 30 people being treated in its ICU. Of the patients hospitalized for COVID-19, DCH says 84% are not vaccinated. (More)

The Northport City Council on Monday night unanimously approved rezoning a contentious property adjacent to a the Greenbrier subdivision that will now become an office park. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees announced on Monday the election of Birmingham attorney Ken Simon to succeed Judge John England Jr. — a Tuscaloosa native and legal legend who has represented Alabama's Seventh Congressional District on the board since his election in 1998. (More)

The University of West Alabama in Livingston will close on Wednesday as the campus community mourns the death of UWA Registrar Susan T. Sparkman, who was killed over the weekend in a vehicle crash at at the age of 45. She leaves behind a husband and two children. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

Kickoff for Ole Miss at Alabama on Oct. 2 has officially been set 2:30 p.m., with the game broadcasted on CBS. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

The Tuscaloosa City Council is set to hold its regular meeting and committee meetings throughout today, so be sure to follow along for the latest. Click here to see the agendas for each meeting. (More)

University of West Alabama running back Demetrius Battle, a senior from Birmingham, was named Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Week, following the Tigers' 80-0 victory over North American University Thursday night. Battle had 10 carries in the blowout win for 170 rushing yards and three touchdowns. (More)

Week 5 is here for west Alabama high school football. Here are all the game's we'll be following on Friday night. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

The University of Alabama System announced on Monday that more than 61% of its students and 73% of its employees on the Tuscaloosa campus have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine. (More)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow with your next update. If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider bringing some friends and neighbors into the fold. You can send them this link to subscribe.

Have a great Tuesday!

— RP

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