🌱 West AL Storm Damage + JD Davison Enters Draft + 'Shrek' At UA

Rise and shine, Tuscaloosa! It's Thursday, so here's everything you need to know about your community today.

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

• New unit for Tuscaloosa Police Department.
• UA CrossingPoints Program presents "Shrek"
• Northport nursing home sued.

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First, today's weather: Mostly sunny and pleasant. High: 75 | Low: 48. ☀️

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🗣 Patch Shout Out 🗣

Our Shout Out for this Thursday morning goes to the students in the University of Alabama's CrossingPoints Program for their dinner-theater production of the comedy classic "Shrek" Wednesday night at the Bryant Conference Center. Click here to see even more photos from the side-splitting show! (Tuscaloosa Patch)

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🗞 Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa 🗞

1. Details are still coming in, but storm spotters have confirmed extensive structural damage in the Greene County city of Eutaw, specifically in the Branch Heights community. Damage was also reported on Flatwoods Road in Northport. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
2. Alabama freshman point guard JD Davison has declared for the NBA draft and is expected to be a first-round selection after his lone year at the Capstone. (Associated Press)
3. The Tuscaloosa Police Department is touting the effectiveness of a new investigative unit focused on interstate crime enforcement that has already made two major seizures of suspicious cash and marijuana. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
4. Cottondale man is behind bars and accused of sexually abusing numerous young girls over the last several years, which follows a months-long investigation by the Sexual Assault Section of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
5. No. 5 Alabama gymnastics is set for the NCAA Women's Gymnastics semifinals on Thursday at noon. (Michael Casagrande, AL.com)

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🏆 Winners of the Day 🏆

A big Patch Congratulations is in order for coach Tommy Honeycutt and the softball team at my alma mater, Northside High School, who clinched their regular-season area championship Tuesday night with a 4-0 win over American Christian. As the No. 1 seed, the Lady Rams will now host the area tournament in the first week of May.

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🗓 Today in Tuscaloosa 🗓

• 2022 Death By Chocolate Tournament (More)
• Field Recordings of Mind in Morning @ The University of Alabama (More)
• Mississippi State softball @ Alabama (More)

👀 Check it out 👀

Holt High School student Mackensie Loyd was announced as the recipient of The Bryant Jordan Student Athlete Achievement Award for Region 4 in AHSAA Class 4A. (More)

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✏️ Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook ✏️

Tuscaloosa Magnet Schools — Elementary third grader Henry Hawley, a student in Robert Ray's class, has organized a one-mile fun run/walking event on Saturday, April 23 at the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk, with the goal of collecting donations for Save the Children's Ukraine Relief Fund. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

A Northport nursing home is accused of negligence, wantonness and other charges after a woman was severly injured in a fall earlier this year. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

Tuscaloosa City Schools on Wednesday announced that dual enrollment opportunities for its high school students are now available at no cost. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

The Phoenix House of Tuscaloosa has announced plans to celebrate its 50th anniversary by hosting a Walk to End Addiction on May 7 at the Tuscaloosa River Walk. The free event will also include one of the first public Naloxone training programs in Tuscaloosa. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

Can you help the Tuscaloosa Police Department identify these suspects? Click here for surveillance photos of suspects who stole around $350 of clothing and shoes from Plato's Closet on March 28. (More)

In other crime news, a Tuscaloosa man has been charged with first degree arson after setting fire to a residence on 35th Avenue Sunday. (Tuscaloosa Patch)

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1️⃣0️⃣ Other Stories I'm Reading Today

1. Tommy Stevenson, longtime journalist at The Tuscaloosa News, dies at 73 (Mark Hughes Cobb, Tuscaloosa News)
2. Bryce Young Confident Alabama WRs Will Catch on After Spring Struggles (Tony Tsoukalas, BamaCentral)
3. State's driver's license offices to close next week for major system upgrade (Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News)
4. Jaguars LT Robinson signs 1-year, $16.7M franchise tender (Associated Press)
5. Alabama health officer Dr. Scott Harris tests positive for COVID-19 (Drew Taylor, CBS 42)
6. Hyundai's Montgomery plant expanding, adding hybrid electric models (Eddie Burkhalter, Alabama Political Reporter)
7. Hudson named dean of Cumberland School of Law (A.J. O'Leary, Birmingham Business Journal)
8. Honda to build new North American production line following shift to electric vehicles (Taylor Mitchell, Daily Home)
9. Experts say straw purchasing, stolen guns are likely contributing to gun crime (Lauren Jackson, WBRC Fox 6 News)
10. Ex-UAB football player found guilty in fatal 2020 shooting (Jeff Wyatt, ABC 33/40)

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You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you around.

— RP