Good morning, Tuscaloosa.

Tuscaloosa Metro Animal Shelter notes a seasonal surge in returned foster pets as college students have left for summer, adding strain to shelter capacity.

Shelter managers urge local families to volunteer via the Happy Hour program (which lets dogs socialize) to ease overcrowding and care for the animals.

Forbes ranked the best employers in Alabama based on feedback from over 245,000 workers.

The list features local and national companies like Auburn University, Baptist Health, and NASA and considers pay, benefits, and job flexibility.

The University of Alabama fight song 'Yea, Alabama!' was composed by engineering major Ethelred (Epp) Sykes in 1926 after a student contest sparked a tradition that has endured for a century; band leaders still teach the tune during football games to connect generations of Crimson Tide fans.

University of Alabama graduate Jamie Causey said a TikTok message from Olivia Rodrigo and a $5,000 gift helped her pay for her final semester last year so she could graduate.

Now working on campus, Causey plans to pass the kindness on to others & support students in need.

The Saban Center in downtown Tuscaloosa named Dr. Jamie Burke as its new Director of Development to lead fundraising for its $120 million learning campus, with her role beginning Monday; the project will open early 2028 + she brings extensive local experience from UA and community groups.

University of Alabama researchers in Tuscaloosa found that combining the immunosuppressant drug with Urolithin A improved lupus treatment in a rodent model; the result may pave the way for treatment approaches with fewer side effects and has been reported in the Journal of Immunology.

The FDA upgraded a recall of GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries to Class I on Thursday, Aug.

20 after 12 people fell ill and four were hospitalized from possible E. coli. Affected berries sold at Publix in Alabama and other states should be discarded or returned for a refund.

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said both quarterbacks improved their pre-snap performance today during the scrimmage — Keelon Russell led scoring drives but threw a pick-six.

He will decide the starter over the weekend as fall camp continues Sunday morning.

Freshman running back Trae’shawn Brown is making progress at fall camp, adapting well from increased reps after injuries (head coach Kalen DeBoer praised his improved ball security and pass protection) and he is set to help boost the ground attack when teammates return.

After Alabama's second fall camp scrimmage, coach DeBoer said running back EJ Crowell and wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks missed practice while defensive back Nick Sherman underwent a leg evaluation — coaches expect them to return next week.

Alabama football held its final preseason scrimmage at Bryant-Denny Stadium with 90 plays and one turnover as it battled for a quarterback; the team will choose between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell next week (preparing for a home game on Sept.

5).

Head coach Kalen DeBoer did not hint at a starting quarterback after the second scrimmage on Thursday, noting that both players improved before the snap.

Keelon Russell led three scoring drives as Alabama prepares for fall camp practice on Sunday and a home opener against East Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 5.