Good morning, Tuscaloosa.

Mahjong fans will join a fundraiser for the RISE Center on Tuesday, Oct.

20 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Stallings Center (600 Johnny Stallings Drive) where friendly play, food, and drinks will offer a fun evening for a good cause.

Mourners gathered in Brookwood on Sept.

23 to honor the 25th anniversary of the Jim Walter No. 5 mine disaster, which claimed 13 lives. Family members and community groups laid wreaths, lit candles, and saluted the flag in tribute.

Councilman Cassius Lanier confirmed that First Watch will open at the former Red Lobster building (2620 McFarland Boulevard East) as demolition has begun and permits secured for swift redevelopment in McFarland Plaza.

Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority approved $314.5M in tax abatements & a $270M community benefit package for Delta Forge 2, a $3.2B AI data center set for Brookwood.

Construction will begin in October and finish in 2028, and the project is expected to create over 100 full-time jobs.

Tuscaloosa County Schools are training 22 bus driver candidates to ease a shortage of nine full-time drivers this week; interested applicants must enroll by Tuesday, Sept.

29, with the next training class scheduled for January.

UA President Peter J.

Mohler outlined UA's future-ready flagship vision at a Sept. 22 fall campus assembly, noting increased in-state enrollment (18,652 residents), higher national rankings, and improvements in nursing, AI Experience, and internship programs.

Mayor Phillips told city council that Northport lacks the high-voltage power needed for large data centers, so zoning amendments are being drafted in case a proposal arises; he will host a town hall tonight at City Hall (6 p.m.) to discuss the issue.

A new state law (signed by state Sen. Gerald Allen) will ban vaping in all enclosed public areas where smoking is already forbidden starting Oct.

1. Businesses must update their posted signs before the new rules take effect.

Tuscaloosa-area high school football teams wrapped up Week 5 on Sept.

24 and continue updating scores today, Sept. 25 — many games stream live on the NFHS Network with a subscription.

Coaches statewide ranked top high school defensive linemen in 5A public as the 2026 season unfolds; the list spotlights players like Courtney Acoff from Bessemer City (with 14 Division I offers) and Jeremiah Beverly from Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, and local fans will track their progress for impactful games.

Alabama football will be without edge rushers Justin Hill (lower-extremity injury) and Desmond Umeozulu (turf toe) for the South Carolina game after both were injured in the Florida State match.

Hill is expected to miss several weeks while Umeozulu’s return timeline remains uncertain.