Tuscaloosa Symphony + Stillman & SSCC Partner + Senator Sworn In

Happy Wednesday, Tuscaloosa! Here's everything you need to know to get this day started.

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

• New COVID-19 cases trend down at DCH.
• Week 6 high school football preview.
• New senator sworn in.

---

First, today's weather: Humid and mostly cloudy throughout the day. High: 83 | Low: 65.

---

Patch Shoutout!

Wednesday morning's Patch Shoutout goes to Republican State Sen. April Weaver, who was officially sworn in this week after winning an election in July with 80% of the vote. She will represent Senate District 14, which covers Bibb, Chilton and Shelby counties.

---

Here are the top 5 stories in Tuscaloosa today:

1. Tuscaloosa Patch readers will remember the story of 25-year-old Austin Benton from earlier this month after the Tuscaloosa father of two with another on the way was hospitalized in late August. Sadly, Benton lost his battle with COVID-19 Tuesday shortly before noon. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
2. The House Ways and Means General Fund committee on Tuesday approved a $1.3 billion package to build two 4,000-bed men's prisons in Elmore and Escambia counties. The measure will now go to the House floor. (Brian Lyman, Montgomery Advertiser)
3. The Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra is set for its return after an 18-month hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's coverage from Monday, when TSO took to the stage on the University of Alabama campus. (Maria Grenyo, WVUA 23)
4. Representatives from Stillman College and Shelton State Community College signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday aimed at creating a bridge between the two schools to address the deficit of certified teachers in Alabama. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
5. Here's a look back at the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama's fourth Benchmarking Trip in Asheville, North Carolina. (Stephen Dethrage, Tuscaloosa Thread)

---

Today's Tuscaloosa Daily is brought to you by our friends at GoodRx — the best way to save money on your prescriptions. GoodRx helps you locate the lowest prices for medications at local pharmacies, so you're not overpaying. Works for pet medications too! To see how much you can save, go to GoodRx.com.

---

Patch Pick

The debut of girls flag football at Tuscaloosa County High School was a success Tuesday night with a double header against John Carroll and Hoover. The Wildcats team can be seen on the far right.

---

Today in Tuscaloosa

• National Coffee Day at Your CBD Store in Northport (More)
• Huxford Symphony Orchestra at University of Alabama School of Music (More)
• T-Town Weekly Cornhole Tournaments (More)
• Yoga at Black Warrior Brewing Co. (More)

---

Other stories I'm reading today ...

• Ivey defends use of virus funds for prisons, bills advance (Kim Chandler, Associated Press)
• Jerry Nadler asks feds to block use of COVID aid to build Alabama's new prisons (Eddie Burkhalter, Alabama Political Reporter)
• Alabama DB says he can still hoop, names 3 teammates in his league (Michael Casagrande, AL.com)
• Intercultural Diversity Center hosts TEDTalk Tuesdays to promote DEI (Shelby Shumake, Crimson White)
• Alabama journalist explores death penalty, local newspapers in new novel 'Tell it True' (Lee Hedgepeth, CBS 42)
• College football world rooting for Ole Miss vs. Alabama, but is it just another game for Tide players? (Cecil Hurt, Tuscaloosa News)
• Tuberville bill would nix proposed IRS bank monitoring measure (Todd Stacy, Alabama Political Reporter)

---

Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook

DCH Health System reported a total of 96 inpatients testing positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, marking the first time the system's number of hospitalizations has fallen below triple digits since Aug. 9. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

Alabama football has announced its game against the Texas A&M Aggies in Bryan-College Station on Saturday, Oct. 9 will kick off at at 7 p.m. local time on CBS. (More)

Tuscaloosa County High School kicked off its inaugural girls flag football season, as this year marks its first as an officially sanctioned school sport by the Alabama High School Athletic Association. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

Here's a look at the games we'll be following on Friday night for Week 6 of high school football in west Alabama, as many schools begin to eye region play and the postseason. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

Two women from Tuscaloosa will be among the massive field of runners on the 26-mile route for the 2021 Boston Marathon on Oct. 11. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

The Tuscaloosa Police Department is asking for the public's help identifying two people suspected of stealing a phone that a man accidentally left sitting on an arcade game at Shindig last week. (More)

The University of Alabama women's basketball team held its first official practice of the 2021-22 season Tuesday in Coleman Coliseum. (More)

---

Feature your local business right here in the newsletter for just $79 a month. Click here to learn more.

---

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday. I'll see you around! If you're loving these newsletters, consider bringing some more friends and neighbors along for the ride. You can send them this link to subscribe.

Have a great Wednesday!

— RP

---

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