Tuscaloosa City Council Runoffs Today; New UA Landmark Installed

Get up and vote Tuscaloosa!

It's election day for some in Tuscaloosa and is sure to still be a busy Tuesday for others. In today's Daily, I bring you updates on the newest face on the University of Alabama campus, a major bank merger, and all of the other stories I'm following apart from today's races.

First, today's weather

Tuscaloosa can expect a mostly sunny day with a high near 84 degrees and a low around 57.

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Patch Pick: The University of Alabama welcomed Tuska to its new home on Monday near Bryant-Denny Stadium. The statue was a gift from The Westervelt Company after calling the North River Yacht Club Home since 2000. Check out my coverage here.

Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa

1. Runoffs for two Tuscaloosa City Council seats are set for today, as Que Chandler will be on the ballot for District 1 against Matthew Wilson, while John Faile will look to unseat incumbent Eddie Pugh in District 6. (Polling locations, district maps and more)

2. The University of Alabama’s 2020 College Football Playoff national championship team will be honored at the end of the A-Day Game on April 17. (More)

3. Cadence Bank announced on Monday it will merge with Tupelo, Mississippi-based BancorpSouth Bank, making it the fifth-largest bank in its market area across the south, including Alabama. (More)

4. The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations at the University of Alabama will host a virtual event on Thursday to discuss the topic of spreading misinformation among the public. (Crimson White)

5. A labor strike continues at Brookwood-based Warrior Met Coal as United Mine Workers of America announced plans for public rallies against the company after the first round of negotiations broke down for a new collective bargaining agreement. Read my coverage here.

Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook

- Reminder: The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama will host its Business After Hours Tonight at Jalapeños Mexican Grill on Rose Boulevard in Northport. (More)

- Mellow Mushroom will host its weekly trivia night from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. tonight.

- The University of Alabama on Monday kicked off its fourth-annual online fundraising event — Bama Blitz, which raised $2.15 million in 2020.

- The Stillman College baseball team (3-21) will face Rust College on the road for a doubleheader beginning at noon today.

- The RISE Center will hold the RISE Tournament of Champions April 22-23 at NorthRiver Yacht Club and a women’s doubles tennis tournament April 22 at the PARA Tuscaloosa Tennis Center, both benefiting therapeutic services provided by RISE.

- The Tuscaloosa County School System and school safety technology provider Gaggle are partnering to provide a way for students to confidentially report threats of violence. (More)

- The Tuscaloosa Police Department is asking for the public's help identifying the man in these photos, who stole a wrench set and a socket set out of a truck parked at Candlewood Suites, 651 Skyland Blvd. E. On Match 23.

Area baseball scores

Central 11, Ramsay 12

Area softball scores

Holy Spirit 3, Bibb County 9

Northside 8, Hale County 0

Gordo 13, South Lamar 10

If your district is voting today, I hope you'll get out and cast a ballot to help make our community a better place. Be sure to follow me today for exclusive election coverage and live updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

I'll see you around!

- Ryan

About me: I grew up in Tuscaloosa. I'm a graduate of the University of Alabama, an experienced journalist, editor and columnist and the founder of Tuscaloosa Patch. You can find me at baseball games, public meetings, events in the local arts community and wherever live music is played!