Weather Service Crews to Survey Damage Saturday in Southwest Birmingham, Tuscaloosa
National Weather Service crews will assess damage Saturday morning in southwest Birmingham and east Tuscaloosa, locations where tornadoes possibly touched down Christmas Day as storms roared through the state.
“We know there were two possible tornadoes, but we will not for sure until we look at the damage,” said Jason Holmes, a meteorologist in the National Weather Service office in Chilton County.
The storms struck Birmingham around 5:30 p.m., bringing strong wind and torrential rain. In southwest Birmingham around Jefferson Avenue, at least two homes were destroyed and several others were damaged, according to Mayor William A. Bell Sr., who visited the hard-hit area.
“At least one person was taken to the hospital with injuries. Crews will be checking the damage throughout the night and going door-to-door,” he said. In addition to the storm damage, the mayor said he is also concerned about flooding throughout the city.
A shelter was set up at New Hope Baptist Church on Cleburn Avenue for people impacted by the storm.
At 9 p.m. 10,000 Alabama Power Company customers were without power, according to the company’s Twitter feed.
Major bills cross the finish line with one day left in legislative session
Gov. Kay Ivey signed both budgets and supplemental spending packages Thursday. A plan to reduce the state sales tax on food is on the way to her desk as well.
After decades of attempts, major bill to cut state’s 4% grocery tax wins final passage
The legislation now heads to the desk of Gov. Kay Ivey, whose office said she will review it when she receives it. Alabama is one of only three states that tax groceries at the same rate as other purchases.
A water leak led to a $20K bill for an Alabama couple. A smart meter could have saved them
When smart water meters work, they can detect expensive leaks early. But the tech’s costly to do right — and even more so when it’s done wrong.
Alabama sets July execution date as state resumes lethal injections after a series of problems
The governor's office set a time frame for the execution of James Barber. The 30-hour window is designed to give the state prison system more time after two most recent executions were called off because of trouble with intravenous lines.
How TikTok and the South’s urban legends opened new doors for Alabama’s Joshua Dairen
The local content creator turned his love of the paranormal into a promising side gig thanks to TikTok. Now, he wants to make space for others like himself.
Former governor says Alabama’s approach to the death penalty should shock the conscience
Don Siegelman served as both Attorney General and Governor in Alabama. He says he’s come to believe that the state’s approach to the death penalty is flawed.