TCS COVID-19 Update + Donald Watkins Case

Happy Thursday, Tuscaloosa! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening locally today.

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

• The latest courtroom judgement against Donald Watkins.
• COVID-19 update for Tuscaloosa City Schools.
• Fiber internet on the way for Northport and Tuscaloosa.

First, today's weather: Rain expected in the evening. High: 91 | Low: 72.

Patch Pick

Charles Nash, of the Tuscaloosa Rotary Club, awarded a $10,000 check from the Tuscaloosa Rotary Memorial Foundation to The House Tuscaloosa to expand its WiFi capabilities expansion and a computer laboratory. Nash (left) presented Reverend Lori Maxey, founder and executive director of the organization, with the check this week.

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tHere are the top stories 5 today in Tuscaloosa:

1. Here's an exclusive newspaper interview with Tuscaloosa's Chuck Leavell, who has played keyboards with the Rolling Stones, following news of the death of the band's famed drummer Charlie Watts (Mark Hughes Cobb, Tuscaloosa News)
2. A longtime Alabama political consultant has been awarded a $1.5 million summary judgment against prominent Birmingham businessman Donald Watkins in a lawsuit involving online comments made in response to news stories about the alleged sexual assault of a female University of Alabama student who later committed suicide. (Michael Seale, Birmingham Patch)
3. DCH Health System says 31 of its 34 coronavirus patients (91%) receiving treatment in intensive care units are unvaccinated as of Wednesday, which saw the hospital add another 25 hospitalizations in a single to bring its overall total to 148. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
4. A Tuscaloosa man has filed a lawsuit against the City of Tuscaloosa following the death of his dog last year at the Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter. (Stephen Dethrage, Tuscaloosa Thread)
5. Roughly two weeks into the new school year, more than 1% of the nearly 11,000 students enrolled in Tuscaloosa City Schools are out after testing positive for COVID-19 (Tuscaloosa Patch)

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Other stories I'm reading today ...

• Warrior Met Coal's strike practices could bring National Labor Relations Board complaint (William Thornton, AL.com)
• Missing Tuscaloosa 14-year-old found safe (Phil Pinarski, CBS 42)
• Missing Baby Recovered, Reunited With Family (Michael Seale, Birmingham Patch)
• Questions we still have about Alabama with 10 days until the opener (Charlie Potter, BamaOnline)
• Pete Golding Working to Get Defense Back to Alabama Standard (Katie Windham, Bama Central)
• Cameron Latu offers optimism for an Alabama tight end unit facing turmoil (Tony Tsoukalas, BamaInsider)

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Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook

- Huntington Place Elementary fourth grade teacher Amber Barton and Northside High Assistant Principal Lindsey Thompson have been selected to the University of Alabama's College Of Education Top Alumni Under 40. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

- The Woodstock Police Department says a Tuesday night pursuit ended with two people in custody and the seizure of roughly 500 grams of methamphetamine valued at $50,000. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

- Internet and communications provider C Spire announced on Wednesday that work on a 243-mile-long fiber optic cable should be complete some time in 2022 that will bring expanded high-speed internet to many in Tuscaloosa County (Tuscaloosa Patch)

- The University of Alabama says it will offer doses of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine by appointment only on Saturday, Aug. 28 at University Medical Center. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

- In other UA news, its Office of Environmental Health and Safety is currently replacing older model automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, with new Physio-Control Lifepak CR2 models, which are easier to use and expected to save more lives. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

- Looking to get into the spirit for the start of college football season? The Paul W. Bryant Museum will host a long list of former Crimson Tide football stars for an autograph event on Saturday. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

- Check out this video of Dr. Albert White, an infectious disease physician and medical director of epidemiology for the DCH, who discusses the importance of the COVID-19 vaccine for the community. (More)

- Here are the Red Cross blood drives coming up in the Tuscaloosa area in the next few weeks. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday. I'll see you around! If you're liking these newsletters, consider bringing some of your friends and neighbors into the fold. You can send them this link to subscribe.

Have a great Thursday

— RP

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Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.