Tuscaloosa Airport Ribbon-Cutting + Thursday Football Scores

Happy Friday, people of Tuscaloosa! Here's everything you need to know to get this day started off right.

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

• Thursday's football scores and tonight's schedule.
• New faces at The Chamber.
• A new eatery coming to Northport.

First, today's weather: Rain and humid throughout the day. High: 83 | Low: 72.

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Patch Pick

Tuscaloosa National Airport and Elevate Tuscaloosa held a ribbon-cutting for recent runway improvements on Thursday, as area officials hope to position the airport to become a more versatile hub for travel and transport.

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Here are the top 5 stories in Tuscaloosa today:

1. The Northside Rams and coach Chris Hilliker opened the 2021 season Thursday night with a 37-6 win over the rival Berry Wildcats and their first-year head coach, former Northside High standout Hunter Mims. (More on Patch)
2. A man accused of capital murder in the shooting death of a Tuscaloosa man in Snow Hinton Park in May has been taken into custody in Georgia after three months on the run. (More on Patch)
3. State troopers have yet to identify a person killed in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday afternoon on Crescent Ridge Road, just north of the Tuscaloosa city limits. (More on Patch)
4. DCH Health System reported 130 total coronavirus hospitalizations in Tuscaloosa on Thursday, with 27 patients being treated in the ICU. Of those patients, 16 are being treated on ventilators. (More)
5. Northport City Council President Jeff Hogg confirmed on Thursday that Smoothie King will soon open its first location north of the Black Warrior River. (More on Patch)

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West Alabama high school football scores - Thursday, Aug. 19

Northside 37, Berry 6

Autauga Academy 40, Tuscaloosa Academy 9

Carbon Hill 66, Curry 8

Winfield 6, Fayette Co. 0

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Check it out!

Berry High School football coach Hunter Mims coached his first career football game Friday night in Samantha against Northside High School — his alma mater, where he played quarterback.

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Tonight's area high school football schedule

Tuscaloosa County @ Paul W. Bryant

Homewood @ Hillcrest

Central @ Holt

Northridge @ Sipsey Valley

American Christian @ Parker

West Blocton @ Brookwood

Oakman @ Gordo

Hubbertville @ Hackleburg

Bibb County @ Greensboro

Linden @ Pickens County

Hale County @ Midfield

South Lamar @ Lamar County

Hamilton @ Red Bay

Waterloo @ Marion County

Mars Hill Bible @ Jasper

Greene County @ Aliceville

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Other news stories I'm reading today

• Benjamin Barnes YMCA could get replaced with new building (Aajene Robinson, WVUA 23)
• Tuscaloosa doctors lobby schools to mandate masks as cases surge (Cassie Fambro, WBRC Fox 6 News)
• Weep, Gump: Alabama Twitter loses a 'general' but gains a hero (Joseph Goodman, AL.com)
• 'Not everyone wants to go back': UA professors prepare for return to in-person classes (Isabel Hope, Crimson White)
• Schools in Greene County Switch to Remote Learning Until September (Stephen Dethrage, Tuscaloosa Thread)
• Man in Walker County Jail for murder attempted to bribe officer to import drugs, police say (Lee Hedgepeth, CBS 42)
• Alabama leads nation in child COVID-19 hospitalizations (Eddie Burkhalter, Alabama Political Reporter)
• Commission on reentry: Further discussion needed on recidivism definition (Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News)

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Other sports stories I'm reading today

• After 18 years, Paul W. Bryant High finally has first Alabama football athlete (Jerrell Rushin, Tuscaloosa News)
• Bryce Young: 'Bama is where you come for pressure and expectations' (Tony Tsoukalas, BamaInsider)
• Alabama Soccer Shoots the Lights Out in Season Opener to Jacksonville State, 4-0 (Harrison Holland, BamaCentral)

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Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook

• The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama on Thursday announced two key additions to its staff. Find out the latest here! (More on Patch)
• Shelton State Community College on Thursday announced it is offering opportunities for community members to explore their passions in the arts through non-credit music courses. (More on Patch)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll be in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new update. If you're feeling these newsletters, consider bringing some of your friends and neighbors into the fold. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— 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