🌱 PAC Money In Races + Big News For Ol' Colony + Signing Day

Happy Thursday, Tuscaloosa! Here's everything you need to know to start today off on an informed note.

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

• Detailed look at campaign finances in local races.
• Tuscaloosa County Commission updates.
• Contentious gun bill clears committee.

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First, today's weather: Heavy afternoon thunderstorms. High: 72 | Low: 39.

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🗣 Patch Shout Out 🗣

Our Shout Out for this Thursday morning goes to Tuscaloosa County High School linebacker Jestin Gilmore, who signed on Wednesday to play football at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

🗞 Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa 🗞

1. Following the Jan. 28 qualifying deadline for the 2022 election cycle, candidates had another deadline on Wednesday, with monthly campaign finance reports due with the Alabama Secretary of State's Office. Check out what west Alabama candidates raised and spent in January. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
2. Tuscaloosa County is providing additional support to the Ol' Colony Golf Complex as the course gears up to host two major golf events in the coming year. Learn more about what those events will be! (Tuscaloosa Patch)
3. Assistant County Administrator David Howell told the Tuscaloosa County Commission on Wednesday that over $750,000 in potential fraud attempts have been identified in the county's Emergency Rental Assistance Program, coming from tenants and landlords, alike. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
4. Two bills that would radically impact gun laws in the state of Alabama — including the repeal of the state's pistol permit requirement — are moving forward after passing the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
5. Carbon Hill Mayor April Kennedy-Herron announced her resignation from office on Wednesday, citing ongoing issues with other elected officials, in addition to "despicable and shady people." (Tuscaloosa Patch)

🏈 In other Signing Day news 🏈

Wednesday was also a big day for Central High defensive back Keyshawn Waller, who signed his letter of intent to play football for Benedictine University in Illinois. (More)

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🗓 Today in Tuscaloosa 🗓

• Kentuck Art Night: February (More)
• The Great Dying @ The Booth (More)
• Valentine Dance @ UA Student Activity Center (More)

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📉 Number of the Day 📈

$3.24 million

The amount paid out to date to qualifying residents in the City of Tuscaloosa from the Tuscaloosa County Emergency Rental Assistance Program. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

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✏️ Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook ✏️

The University of West Alabama announced its 2022 signing class on Wednesday, adding 18 high school student-athletes as part of its 2022 signing class. This included three football standouts from the Tuscaloosa Patch coverage area. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

Alabama football on Wednesday announced the addition of tight end Danny Lewis to its 2022 recruiting class on the first day of the February signing period. Lewis will join 23 other early signees from 10 different states. (More)

In other Crimson Tide football news, coach Nick Saban announced the addition of Coleman Hutzler, Travaris Robinson and Eric Wolford to the Alabama coaching staff on Wednesday. (More)

The National Weather Service has placed a large portion of Alabama, including Tuscaloosa County, under a flash flood watch that will remain in effect through Friday morning. Meteorologists say total rainfall amounts could exceed 4 inches north of I-59. (Birmingham Patch)

Southern rock jam band Gov't Mule is set to take the stage in Tuscaloosa at Druid City Music Hall in April, with tickets going on sale Friday, Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

Economists at the University of Alabama predict the state's economy will grow 3.4% in 2022 to reach $213.5 billion in Alabama's gross domestic product. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

Alabama women's basketball will face No. 1 South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina on Thursday at 6:02 p.m. local time. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network. (More)

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👨‍💻 Other stories I'm reading today 👨‍💻

- Tuscaloosa City Council considering redrawing district lines (Tim Reid, CBS 42)

- UA Board of Trustees To Consider "Athletics Competition Arena," Stadium Renovations This Week (Stephen Dethrage, Tuscaloosa Thread)

- Everything Nick Saban said on National Signing Day 2022 (Charlie Potter, BamaOnline)

- Partnership in Tuscaloosa County saving lives on the streets (Bryan Henry, WBRC Fox 6)

- Maddox makes good on championship bet (WVUA 23 News)

- La Mexicana opens in UA Student Center (Emilee Boster, Crimson White)

- Former Sen. Doug Jones to help shepherd Biden Supreme Court nominee (Josh Moon, Alabama Political Reporter)

- Nick Saban 'not accusing anybody' of abusing NIL in recruiting (Michael Casagrande, AL.com)

- Prominent environmental suit touches Alabama (AJ O'Leary, Birmingham Business Journal)

- Marsh bringing amendment to school choice bill, not willing to 'gut' it (Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you soon!

— RP