hurricane ianBy CURT ANDERSON Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Hurricane Ian has left a path of destruction in southwest Florida, trapping people in flooded homes, damaging the roof of a hospital intensive care unit and knocking out power to 2.5 million people. It’s now aiming for the Atlantic Coast as a tropical storm. One person is confirmed dead…
Tuscaloosa this week welcomed residents from Florida who were fleeing ahead of Hurricane Ian, which smashed into the state Wednesday afternoon. Khristina Smith is from Apollo Beach, Florida, which is about 20 miles from Tampa. Her son is a student at Shelton State Community College here in Tuscaloosa, so it made sense for her to ride out the storm in…
Former prisoner of war Alex Drueke is happy to be back home in Tuscaloosa. Drueke and Andy Hyunh were captured in June when they went to help Ukraine in its fight against Russia. He said he was mistreated during his time in captivity, but did not elaborate. He did say and Andy were placed together in a cell somewhere in Russia, but that allowed…
By WVUA23 Sports Reporter Juliet Brown The Crimson Tide travel to Fayetteville to play the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday. Alabama head football coach Nick Saban believes that the Razorbacks present a big challenge for his team. “Playing a really good team on the road that has a really difficult offense to defend,” Saban said Wednesday evening. “Their defense is playing…
hurricane ianBy CURT ANDERSON Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Hurricane Ian has made landfall in southwest Florida as one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the U.S. It swamped city streets with water and smashed trees along the coast while moving at a crawl that threatened catastrophic flooding across a wide area. Barely an hour after…
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said the state is prepared and will ship out to assist those in need in Florida following Hurricane Ian. Alabama emergency management officials are closely monitoring Ian’s path, and once they were sure Alabama would avoid the hurricane they switched toward making preparations for recovery in Florida. Ivey has approved sending emergency response vehicles including utility…
It’s time to strap on your skates. Druid City Pride and Druid City Derby are hosting Pride Skate Night at Super Skate in Tuscaloosa Wednesday, Sept. 28. The event will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is free, but skate rentals are $5, cash only. The event is family-friendly and organizers are encouraging attendees to wear their best rainbow…
It’s never too early to find the perfect Christmas present, and Circlewood Baptist Church is making that easy this weekend with a fall craft fair. The church’s Market for Missions event is happening Saturday, Oct. 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church’s gym, 2201 Loop Road in Tuscaloosa. Proceeds benefit the church’s Women on Mission mission projects….
By WVUA 23 News Reporter Karnera Gafford NORTHPORT -The city of Northport threw its support behind local vendors and student musicians on Tuesday with the first-ever Wildcat Bash at Christ Harbor Church. Country singer Jackson Chase and Tuscaloosa’s Got Talent winners Caroline Gibson and Matt McCraken took the stage to perform in front of the crowd. Chase said he’s hoping…
TUSCALOOSA – Tuscaloosa’s riverfront has a new staple as the new River District Park next to the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater is now open. The park, funded by Elevate Tuscaloosa, officially opened Friday. “When we passed Elevate Tuscaloosa we said we did it to take this community to the next level in the decade to come. We are delivering on that promise”…
By WVUA 23 Student News Reporter Caleb Aguayo TUSCALOOSA – In the Student Center plaza at the University of Alabama on Tuesday, students protested following recent news of the Iranian government’s treatment of its residents. Protests initially erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who was taken into police custody on Sept. 13 for failing to…
TUSCALOOSA – The Tuscaloosa City Council approved funding for improvements at Sokol Park North and South at on Tuesday. The project received $13,591 for repairs, park expansions and updates on Tuesday in addition to previous funding. One of the biggest changes will be road work at Sokol North. Turning lanes will be added on Watermelon Road along with more lighting….
By WVUA 23 News Student Reporter Daniel Tomas TUSCALOOSA- A new mentorship program is teaming up with the Tuscaloosa County Juvenile Detention Center. The Verb Kind is partnering with local volunteers to help people under the age of 18 who have committed crimes. The Verb Kind is an organization that started in Florida. Volunteers spend time with juveniles one-on-one to…
TUSCALOOSA- Alabama Power is already on standby for Hurricane Ian making landfall. Storm crews have been watching the hurricane ever since it came on the radar. They want to make sure they have a plan if any weather threats impact the state. Crews are currently located in Birmingham and will leave for affected areas once it is safe to do…
hurricane ianBy AAMER MADHANI Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden is warning the oil and gas companies against increasing prices for consumers as Hurricane Ian nears landfall along Florida’s southwest coast. Biden’s message to the industry is: “Do not, let me repeat, do not use this as an excuse to raise gasoline prices or gouge the American people.”…
hurricane ianBy CURT ANDERSON Associated Press ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., (AP) – The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Ian has rapidly intensified off Florida, gaining top winds of 155 mph, just shy of the most devastating Category 5 hurricane status. Ian is pushing a storm surge that could cause catastrophic damage along the state’s heavily populated Gulf Coast. Forecasters say the…
A 2020 capital murder case came to a close in a Tuscaloosa County courtroom Tuesday morning WVUA 23 was there as 33-year-old John Michael Charles Thompson became a convicted killer. By pleading guilty to the charge, we now know Thompson killed his girlfriend’s 1-year-old daughter on July 27, 2020, at a home where they resided in Coker. As part of…
Gary Harris and Rodney Orr discuss Alabama’s impressive win over Vanderbilt in their SEC opening game. Also, the Crimson Tide received new recruits for both football and men’s basketball. We discuss how well Arkansas looks even after their loss and how Alabama shouldn’t overlook them as an opponent. Crimson Tide soccer continues its hot streak with wins over Tennessee and…
nasa moon rocketBy MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer NASA’s moon rocket is safely back inside its hangar as Hurricane Ian approaches Florida, its launch now unlikely before mid-November. Instead of attempting to blast off Tuesday on its first test flight, the 322-foot rocket was moved off its launch pad at Kennedy Space Center. A NASA official says it will be…
alabama mapTRUSSVILLE, Ala. (AP) – An Alabama mayor says a high school principal failed to tell police about a student’s “death notebook” that was found last year and disclosed earlier this month only after the same student threatened to shoot a classmate. Trussville Mayor Buddy Choat told a news conference a “total lack of communication” had led to a situation…
boligeeThe city of Eutaw is officially in charge of Boligee’s water system, as the Boligee City Council on Monday approved turning over the rights. Eutaw was already maintaining and providing water to Boligee, and needed the rights to execute a $3.5 million grant from the state that will replace pipes and help fix the town’s water system. Residents have complained…
fatal crashA crash in Tuscaloosa County Monday afternoon claimed the lives of a 33-year-old woman and a 3-year-old child, Alabama State Troopers said Tuesday. The multi-vehicle crash happened just after 4 p.m. on Interstate 59 near the 68-mile marker in Tuscaloosa County, about 3 miles south of Tuscaloosa. Laquavia R. Thomas and the child were fatally injured when the vehicle…
One every eight women will develop breast cancer at some point during their lifetime, but catching and treating it early means a greater chance of full remission. DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa is doing its part to ensure people who can’t afford testing get it during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. The free breast screening event will be…
jemison van de graff mansionBy WVUA23 Digital Reporter Melanie Bumpus Interested in good food and a history lesson? Historic Tuscaloosa is hosting “Dining Through Time: A Taste of Historic Tuscaloosa” to raise funds for restoration and structural repairs at the Battle-Freidman House in downtown Tuscaloosa. The event is happening Thursday, Sept. 29, and the progressive dinner features three of Historic…
