Three Dead in Alabama After Severe Weather Sweeps Through the South
Three people from Pickens County, Alabama died Saturday after a tornado struck the area. The deaths occurred near the town of Carrollton along Settlement Road. There were also three storm-related fatalities in Louisiana and one in Texas, bringing the total reported death toll to seven.
Strong winds caused a small plane at the Birmingham-International Shuttlesworth Airport to flip over. Across the area, downed trees and powerlines blocked roadways. The storm led to widespread power outages across the state. Alabama Power says some crews are are beginning work to restore power.
Saturday 3 p.m. update:
Alabama Power crews are working where it is safe to do so, and have already restored service to 67,000 customers affected by the storm. The system is still moving east, and currently there are 90,000 customers without power.
— Alabama Power (@alabamapower) January 11, 2020
Severe weather was anticipated days ahead of the storm. Weather officials warned of tornadoes, flooding and of 70+ mph wind gusts during the storm. Governor Kay Ivey also said her office was preparing state resources ahead of the storms.
Residents took to social media to show the storm’s impacts across the state:
Brindlee Mountain Primary School damage in Union Grove, Alabama @spann
Photo taken from Facebook pic.twitter.com/d5SeBsQmjQ— Bɾιƚƚαɳყ (@BrittSchaf) January 11, 2020
@weswyattweather This is in Roebuck off of Lawson Road pic.twitter.com/8uzVnJdLUO
— Gail Barnes Dunlap (@gdunlap64) January 11, 2020
@spann Lincoln. Tanks to the City of Lincoln Street Department for getting this cleared just before the storm is hitting. pic.twitter.com/UmCKR2yl2c
— Kyle Pringle (@Kyle_CLE_OSU) January 11, 2020
@spann large tree down on house and two cars in Bluff Park pic.twitter.com/5h4qiwBxe2
— Kayla Clay (@KaylaBScott_) January 11, 2020
How Alabama Power kept bills up and opposition out to become one of the most powerful utilities in the country
In one of the poorest states in America, the local utility earns massive profits producing dirty energy with almost no pushback from state regulators.
No more Elmo? APT could cut ties with PBS
The board that oversees Alabama Public Television is considering disaffiliating from PBS, ending a 55-year relationship.
Nonprofit erases millions in medical debt across Gulf South, says it’s ‘Band-Aid’ for real issue
Undue Medical Debt has paid off more than $299 million in medical debts in Alabama. Now, the nonprofit warns that the issue could soon get worse.
Roy Wood Jr. on his father, his son and his new book
Actor, comedian and writer Roy Wood Jr. is out with a new book -- "The Man of Many Fathers: Life Lessons Disguised as a Memoir." He writes about his experience growing up in Birmingham, losing his dad as a teenager and all the lessons he learned from various father figures throughout his career.
Auburn fires coach Hugh Freeze following 12th loss in his last 15 SEC games
The 56-year-old Freeze failed to fix Auburn’s offensive issues in three years on the Plains, scoring 24 or fewer points in 17 of his 22 league games. He also ended up on the wrong end of too many close matchups, including twice this season thanks partly to questionable calls.
In a ‘disheartening’ era, the nation’s former top mining regulator speaks out
Joe Pizarchik, who led the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement from 2009 to 2017, says Alabama’s move in the wake of a fatal 2024 home explosion increases risks to residents living atop “gassy” coal mines.
