🇺🇸 Veterans Day + Bama Theatre Renovations + Vehicle Break-Ins

Happy Veterans Day, Tuscaloosa! 🇺🇸

Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in Tuscaloosa today.

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

• Veterans Day in Tuscaloosa.
• Renovations for Bama Theatre.
• Rash of vehicle break-ins across Tuscaloosa.

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First, today's weather: A few morning showers. High: 71 Low: 43.

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Patch Shout Out!

Our Patch Shout Out this morning goes out to all of the men and women who have served or are currently serving in our nation's military. Our freedoms would not be possible without your selflessness.

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Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa:

1. It's Veterans Day in Tuscaloosa and across the country, with numerous programs being hosted across the area. Among those will be Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority's annual program at Veterans Memorial Park at 10 a.m. (More)
2. The Tuscaloosa County Commission on Wednesday voted to put $150,000 toward much-needed renovations to the historic Bama Theatre in downtown Tuscaloosa. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
3. A new bar and restaurant — SoCal Cantina — is set to open later this winter and bring a West Coast flavor to Tuscaloosa.(Stephen Dethrage, Tuscaloosa Thread)
4. The student newspaper at the University of Alabama reports that the exemption request form is temporarily unavailable for UA employees to request medical, disability and religious exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. (Ainsley Platt, Crimson White)
5. Tuscaloosa Builds will kick off its annual project rodeo, dubbed "Motivated to Work" today from 10 a.m. to noon at the Tuscaloosa River Market. (Kyrsten Eller, WVUA 23)

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Other stories I'm reading today ...

• New Program Aims to Diagnose COPD Earlier in Rural Alabama (Patch.com)
• Alabama hoops lands pair of 5-star prospects for first time (Associated Press)
• Henry Ruggs III facing up to 50 years in prison in Tina Tintor's crash death (Mark Inabinett, AL.com)
• Jo Bonner named University of South Alabama's next president (Eddie Burkhalter, Alabama Political Reporter)
• Federal prosecutors launch investigation into Black Belt county's sewage problem (Lacey Alexander, Alabama Public Radio)
• UAH president to retire, Dr. Chuck Karr will serve in the interim (Tyler Patchen, Birmingham Business Journal)

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Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook

Longtime Tuscaloosa News columnist and Alabama beat writer Cecil Hurt was trending nationally Wednesday evening after it was announced that he has been hospitalized with pneumonia. Our prayers are with Cecil and his family. We hope for a speedy recovery and to see his name in print again soon. (More)

Alabama football coach Nick Saban commented on Hurt's absence at Wednesday's press conference, saying "I just want him and his family to know our thoughts and our prayers are with him ... He's represented the journalistic profession about as professional a way as anybody that I know. We certainly are hoping he has a speedy recovery."

Tuscaloosa Academy senior Reynolds Cole made her college choice official on Wednesday as she signed a Division 1 scholarship to become a member of the prestigious equestrian program at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

Shelton State Community College men's basketball standout Jaykwon Walton signed his National Letter of Intent to continue his college hoops ambitions in the Southeastern Conference. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

A Fayette County man will serve 20 years in prison after escaping the custody of a work release program in July. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

A Lamar County man has been charged with first-degree sexual abuse and production of material containing a visual depiction of a person younger than 17 involved in obscene acts. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

Shelton State men's basketball moved out to a 3-0 start with a 80-65 win over East Georgia State College Wednesday night at home in Tuscaloosa. Thad Williams led the way with 26 points for the Bucs.

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you tomorrow morning for another update. If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

Have a great Thursday!

— 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