Good morning, Tuscaloosa.

Tuscaloosa's SantaCon bar crawl kicks off today at 7 p.m. at the Houndstooth — participants dressed as Santa will visit 12 bars across the Strip and downtown while donating toys and supplies for Turning Point.

University of Alabama alumni offered to back two shuttered campus magazines that highlight women and Black culture after the school cut their funding; the alumni group, led by Victor Luckerson, said they plan to print them in the spring if students agree.

Over 100 elementary students from 12 schools competed at Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy in the Elementary Robotics Competition, building LEGO Spike Prime robots for the UNEARTHED Challenge (a task inspired by archaeology).

Four teams will prepare for the Alabama FIRST LEGO League State Championship in Huntsville this spring.

A new education initiative has launched with a $20 million commitment to pair HBCUs with charter schools across Alabama to boost access from K–12 to college.

Tuscaloosa’s I Dream Big Academy opened this year with support from Stillman College, and more schools in the South will join soon.

Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson was named a finalist for the Manning Award on Thursday — he is one of 10 contenders for the annual honor recognizing the top college quarterback.

The Tide captain completed 65.8% of his passes in 12 games and helped secure a top seed in SEC play.

Labaron Philon tied his career high with 29 points to help Alabama rally late for a 90-84 win over Clemson on Wednesday night.

Amari Allen added 20 points and a double-double as the Crimson Tide overcame a brief Tigers gap in Tuscaloosa.

Alabama is set to play Saturday’s SEC Championship against Georgia without LT Overton, a key defensive player with four sacks this season, while Jam Miller, Josh Cuevas and Kam Dewberry remain questionable according to the SEC Availability Report released Wednesday.

The team prepares for the game in Tuscaloosa.

Excerpts From The Nutcracker 2025

2-4 p.m. (Dec 6) — Druid City School of Ballet — Check event page for costs — Experience the holiday magic through enchanting excerpts from Tchaikovsky's beloved ballet, The Nutcracker.

UTSA Roadrunners vs. Alabama Crimson Tide Basketball

3:30 – 9:30 a.m. — Coleman Coliseum — Ticket prices vary — Catch the action as the Crimson Tide takes on the Roadrunners in a thrilling basketball showdown.

Holidays on the Plaza

11 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Hotel Indigo Tuscaloosa Downtown — Free entry — Celebrate the holiday season with festive activities and community cheer.

Holidays on the Plaza 2025-2026

11 AM – 3 PM — Hotel Indigo Tuscaloosa Downtown by IHG — Free entry — Experience festive fun with a seasonal ice skating rink suitable for all ages.

Jackson Chase: New Year's Eve Celebration

9 PM – 1 AM — Roll Call — Cost not specified — Celebrate the New Year with live music from Tuscaloosa's own Jackson Chase.

Controller

Filter of Hope is seeking a skilled Controller to manage all accounting operations and ensure financial integrity across our growing global ministry. This full-time position oversees general ledger, reporting, compliance, and supports leadership with budgeting and analysis. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, experienced in nonprofit accounting, and passionate about advancing our mission to provide clean water and share the gospel worldwide.