Good morning, Tuscaloosa.

City council will vote soon on a plan to grant a sales tax incentive for Jack's Family Restaurant to build a 3,600 sqft restaurant on a former gas station site in west Tuscaloosa, offsetting about *$3M* in site work costs.

USA Today readers voted downtown Tinsel Trail as the nation's fourth best public light display, a ranking that honors over 200 decorated trees and festive attractions.

The trail opened last month and runs through the holiday season, benefiting local community programs.

Pooley Hubert set a football standard 100 years ago with a 20-19 Rose Bowl win over Washington that sparked Alabama's championship legacy.

The feature revisits the veteran's role in shaping the season that changed South football.

UA has been reaffirmed for accreditation by SACSCOC through 2035 after a comprehensive self-study + on-site evaluations in February 2025.

This accreditation supports academic quality, federal aid eligibility, and UA’s ongoing mission to innovate.

A new report from the Environmental Integrity Project finds that Alabama cut ADEM’s budget by nearly 50% over a 15-year span from 2010 to 2024.

Staff numbers dropped slightly during that time.

If a package addressed to someone else arrives at your door, state law explains that keeping it could lead to fines or jail time.

Residents are advised to mark it (not at this address) and contact the delivery service to return it safely.

Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday night in Las Vegas — a recognition of his landmark career at Tuscaloosa.

Alabama football landed its first offensive skill player in the 2027 recruiting class as four-star tight end Colt Lumpris, a 6-foot-6 recruit from Lawrenceville (New Jersey), committed to join the Crimson Tide.

He becomes part of a class ranked No. 11 per 247Sports composite rankings.

The college football bowl season will start on Dec.

13 with Atlanta’s Celebration Bowl, and the CFP First Round will follow on Dec. 19 in Norman featuring Alabama vs. Oklahoma. Additional bowls will take place in Orlando, Birmingham, and other venues.

Johnny Mack Brown scored two touchdowns for Alabama in the 1925 20-19 Rose Bowl win that led to his signing with MGM and launch of a Hollywood career in B-Westerns; he later earned honors in the College Football Hall of Fame (and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame).

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.

Jackson Chase: Acoustic Performance at Innisfree

3-7 p.m. — Innisfree Irish Pub — Cost not specified — Enjoy the acoustic sounds of local talent Jackson Chase in a cozy pub setting.