Tuscaloosa Provides Storm Aid; First Lady Postpones Jasper Visit

TGIF T-Town!

I hope you stayed safe during our latest round of severe weather Thursday and are ready to get your weekend started on a positive note.

In today's Daily, you'll find extended coverage from the destructive storms that hit the region, along with a look ahead at what the weekend holds in Tuscaloosa.

First, today's weather:

A big change from yesterday as Tuscaloosa can expect a mostly sunny Friday, with a high near 78 degrees and a low around 62.

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Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa

1. Pam Huff wrote a thoughtful piece about ABC 33/40 Chief Meteorologist James Spann, who provided his typical in-depth weather coverage on Thursday, only to see the storm impact his neighborhood and home in Shelby County. (ABC 33/40)

2. Gary Cosby Jr. viewed the destruction caused by a tornado in Bibb County on Thursday, showing the power and scope of the significant weather event. (Tuscaloosa News)

3. Emma Butler reports that research professors and students at the University of Alabama are utilizing a $150,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to design surveillance robots for the Tuscaloosa Police Department. (Crimson White)

4. Actress Jennifer Garner and First Lady Jill Biden have postponed a visit to two Alabama cities on Friday following damage caused in central and west Alabama during Thursday's storms, Howard Koplowitz reports. The visit included a stop in Birmingham, along with an appearance in Walker County to tour the Jasper Area Service Center as part of the "Help is Here Tour.”(AL.com)

5. Residents of Northport's Huntington Place continue to report a "chemical-like" odor in the air and Aaron Bonner followed up on this story for this week's print edition of the Northport Gazette. The Northport Police Department continues to insist those with any information contact law enforcement so it can be addressed.

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Today in Tuscaloosa

- Brian Rhea live at the Lookout Rooftop Bar at Hotel Indigo (7 p.m.)

- Stand Up Tuscaloosa will be at Loosa Brews for comedy on the patio with headliner Dan Alten from Louisville, Kentucky. (8 p.m.)

- Boon Dock Saints live at VFW Post 6022 (8:30 p.m.)

- Mark Ultra's Thought Police live at Top Shelf Tavern (10 p.m.)

Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook

- Mayor Walt Maddox said Tuscaloosa Fire and Rescue will be helping surrounding communities following severe storms on Thursday. TFR says Battalion 3, Technical Rescue Team 1, and Rescue 25 were sent to provide search and rescue assistance.

- Donny Jones, COO for the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and executive director of West Alabama Works, has been appointed to serve on a national manufacturing panel that will advise President Joe Biden's administration on its “Made in All of America” initiative and related policies.

- Northport Mayor Bobby Herndon, known for his generosity toward others during times of crisis, said on Thursday he will be in touch with leaders from affected towns and cities and will provide an update Friday morning on how citizens of Northport can aid in the recovery effort.

- Here's a reminder that the Tuscaloosa Half Marathon is set for Saturday at Government Plaza, with a start time of 7 a.m.

- For the kiddos, Children's Hands-on Museum will host an Easter extravaganza from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

- Tuscaloosa Academy graduate Sarah Corbett Woods, who now lives in Nashville, was recently featured in a music video for the Sam Soto song "Eye Candy," which was shot in Santa Barbara, California. Watch it here.

Now that you're in the loop for everything going on today, you're ready to kick this weekend off. Don't miss out through the rest of the weekend, though. Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates and more.

- 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!