Tuscaloosa Vaccination Numbers; Popular Eatery Finds New Home

Good morning Tuscaloosa! I hope your weekend is off to an easy and relaxed start.

In today's Daily, I'll bring you updates on how the City of Tuscaloosa and area institutions plan to move forward now that statewide public health restrictions are being rolled back, along with everything going on this weekend from events to politics and more!

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First, today's weather:

Tuscaloosa can expect showers and thunderstorms before 11 a.m., then a chance of showers throughout the day. The high today will be near 76 degrees, with a low around 51.

Patch Pick: Tuscaloosa Patch and the rest of our community are beaming with pride after the Stillman Tigers' memorable run in the NAIA Men's Basketball Tournament. Stillman, along with Talladega College were named 2021 HBCU Small School Men’s co-National Champions by the Black College Sports Network (BCSN) this week.

Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa

1. The statewide mask mandate expired at 5 p.m. on Friday and Jason Morton reports that face-coverings in Tuscaloosa city facilities will be met with case-by-case requirements on whether they will be required for entry. (Tuscaloosa News)

2. Shelton State Community College says it will maintain its current on-campus coronavirus guidelines despite the rollback on restrictions statewide. This will include continued social distancing protocols and campus mask requirements. (More)

3. Reminder: The Tuscaloosa StoryWalk will debut tomorrow at the Tuscaloosa River Walk after being rescheduled for today due to inclement weather. (More)

4. Sitar Indian Cuisine will soon reopen at the former Pokerrito68 at 220 15th St. E., adjacent to the Wendy's, Mark Hughes Cobb reports. (Tuscaloosa News).

5. UA's University Medical Center is currently offering a limited supply of coronavirus vaccines to student workers as eligibility expands, Keely Brewer reports. (Crimson White)

Today in Tuscaloosa

- Grab some produce or check out some of the neat vendors at both the Tuscaloosa Farmers Market and Northport Farmers Market going on this morning until noon.

- Celebrate International Human Space Flight Day at Children's Hands-on Museum for "Fly Me To The Moon" (9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.)

- Birdfest: take a walk along the Black Warrior with local bird experts, to see who's flying through the area. Moundville Archaeological Park (9 a.m. - 11 a.m.)

- 'The Return' at Druid City Brewing Co. Outdoor, socially-distanced live rock n roll. (Saturday, 7 p.m.)

- Daisycutter performing at Copper Top (Saturday, 9:30 p.m.)

Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook

- Kentuck Art Center announced it will maintain its mask policies for the immediate future as it works on getting its entire staff vaccinated. (More)

- The University of Alabama reports that 20 students and one faculty/staff member at the Tuscaloosa campus tested positive for the coronavirus in the testing period of April 2-8. (More)

- Several University of Alabama faculty members were recently honored for new titles and appointments. Check them out here. (More)

- In Tuscaloosa County, about 17% of people 18 and older and 46% of people 65 and older have been fully vaccinated for the coronavirus as of Thursday, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (More)

- The University of Alabama's Center for Business and Economic Research's most recent Business Confidence Index shows that local business leaders have strong expectations for economic growth in the second quarter of 2021. (More)

- Looking to buy a house in Tuscaloosa? Patch can help with that! Check out these five new homes that are currently on the market. (More)

- You can also check out these four local foreclosures up for sale in Tuscaloosa. (More)

- Tuska, a 19-foot tall, seven-ton bronze elephant statue, was recently given to The University of Alabama by The Westervelt Company and will be installed at the southeast corner of University Boulevard and Wallace Wade Avenue in front of Bryant-Denny Stadium April 12.

- Nathaniel Albert Cannon, 43, was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to breaking into Berry Elementary School in Fayette County in November 2018. Cannon reportedly broke into the school on more than one occasion, but most recently was suspected of stealing 11 handheld radios valued at $5,000, two iPads, cash and other items.

Now you're all caught up to get this rainy Saturday going! But don't miss out during the rest of the day! Follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content every day of the week.

Don't be a stranger if you see me out!

- 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!