Good morning, Tuscaloosa.

Tuscaloosa Fire Rescue responded to an incident at Hunt Oil Refinery on May 7—no injuries were reported as officials work to gather more details.

Brookwood High presented 216 diplomas to the Class of 2025 at its graduation ceremony on May 7 at Coleman Coliseum—graduates celebrated their milestone while remembering two classmates who died before the ceremony.

Tuscaloosa City Schools approved a district-wide cellphone-free policy on May 6 for the 2025—26 school year, requiring students to store cellphones and smartwatches in secure Yondr pouches during class.

Officials said the move will reduce distractions and improve safety as similar measures elsewhere have yielded positive results.

Wind gusts caused power outages this morning across West Alabama—Pickens has about 2,400 customers without power, Bibb nearly 1,500, Tuscaloosa roughly 1,730, and Lamar around 200—in parts of the region.

Traffic lights were out in Tuscaloosa and Pickens Counties—drivers are urged to treat intersections as four-way stops until power is restored.

The Alabama Senate passed House Bill 165 to make Juneteenth an official state holiday and sent it to Governor Kay Ivey for her signature—if approved, state offices will close on June 19.

On Tuesday, the Alabama Senate passed a bill to lower the state sales tax on groceries from 3% to 2% with a 34-0 vote — the change will cut grocery tax on a $600 purchase from $54 to $48.

The bill, which also lets local governments reduce their own grocery taxes, now moves to the House for concurrence before going to Gov. Kay Ivey for final approval.

2025 Alabama Ducks Unlimited State Convention

4 PM - 10 PM — Hotel Capstone — Free entry — Celebrate conservation with fellow enthusiasts at the Alabama DU State Convention.

Georgia Bulldogs vs. Alabama Crimson Tide Baseball

1 PM — Sewell-Thomas Stadium — Check ticket prices — A thrilling college baseball matchup featuring top-tier teams in the SEC.

Adam Hood Concert

7-11:59 p.m. — Government Plaza — Tickets required — Enjoy a soulful evening of country and American roots music from Adam Hood.

Live at The Plaza Concert Series

6-9 p.m. — Government Plaza — Free entry — Enjoy free live local music in a family-friendly atmosphere with fun activities for the kids.

Interviewing Skills Workshop

1-2 p.m. — Goodwill Store & Donation Center — Free entry — Prepare for success with tips and strategies to ace your next interview.

A+ College Ready Leadership Institute 2025

3:30 AM - 10:30 AM — Bryant Conference Center — Registration required — Equip and empower educators to foster innovation in Alabama schools.

Live at The Plaza Concert Series

6–9 p.m. — Government Plaza — Free entry — Enjoy free live music every Friday with family and pets welcome.