New Tuscaloosa Playground Opening; SSCC Bucs Start NJCAA Tourneys

Happy Tuesday Tuscaloosa! Let's get moving so you can be all caught up on everything you need to know for today.

In today's Daily, we have the latest on a major revitalization effort in Northport, an update on the Tuscaloosa All-Inclusive Playground Project at Sokol Park, and all of the other stories Tuscaloosa Patch is reading and working on this week.

First, today's weather:

Tuscaloosa can expect a mostly cloudy start to the day, before gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 76 degrees and a low around 44.

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Patch Pick

Black Warrior Council Cub Scout Pack 36 was in attendance for Monday night's meeting of the Northport City Council and were even invited back to lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

Here are the top 5 stories today in Tuscaloosa

1. Ingenuity — NASA’s experimental Mars helicopter named by Tuscaloosa County High School student Vaneera Rupani — achieved the first powered flight by an aircraft on another planet on Monday. (Associated Press)

2. Here's everything you need to know about the Northport Redevelopment Authority's Facade Improvement Program, which will see $350,000 set aside for eligible businesses in the city's busiest commercial corridor. (More on Patch)

3. Warrior Met Coal on Monday announced its first quarter 2021 investor conference call is set for 3:30 p.m. local time Wednesday, May 5. The company is expected to release its results following the close of market trading that afternoon, as a labor strike continues involving around 1,100 United Mine Workers of America union members (More)

4. Both basketball teams from Shelton State Community College are gearing up for their first matchups in their respective NJCAA tournament appearances this week. Here are 5 Things To Know about the Bucs before they take the hardwood.

5. The PARA Foundation also announced the grand opening of Phase One of the Tuscaloosa All-Inclusive Playground Project (TAPP) on April 21 at 4 p.m. in Sokol Park, located at 5901 Watermelon Road. (More on Patch)

Quoteworthy: “This is the most exciting thing that has happened in Tuscaloosa County in quite a while, and everyone wants to be a part of it.” — PARA foundation Chairman Tripp Powell.

Number of the Day

271

The number of calls for service to the Tuscaloosa Police Department that occurred during the 24-hour period between midnight Saturday and midnight Sunday, which coincided with A-Day festivities in downtown Tuscaloosa.

Tuscaloosa Patch Notebook

The Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama will host its quarterly Membership Luncheon today at Embassy Suites by Hilton in downtown Tuscaloosa. (More)

Coming Up: The Velcro Pygmies will play at Rhythm & Brews in downtown Tuscaloosa Friday at 10 p.m. (More)

Congratulations to our friends at Townsquare Media, who earned four Alabama Broadcasters Association Awards, or ABBYs, in its 2021 season. Winners were: Meg Summers (Medium Market Reporter of the Year); Don Hartley (Medium Market Public Affairs Show of the Year & Best Election Coverage); The Big Dawg DreDay on 105.1 The Block (Medium Market Personality of the Year).

Looking for a summer job? Tuscaloosa County Park & Recreation Authority (PARA) is now hiring for life guards (More)

District Two Councilor Raevan Howard and City of Tuscaloosa officials will host a community litter cleanup event Saturday, April 24. Check-in will be at the Tuscaloosa Career and Technology Academy, 2800 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., at 8 a.m.

The University of Alabama's RISE Center will hold the RISE Tournament of Champions April 22-23 at NorthRiver Yacht Club and a women’s doubles tennis tournament April 22 at the PARA Tuscaloosa Tennis Center, both benefiting therapeutic services provided by RISE.

Stay tuned: Interim Northport City Administrator Hardy McCollum (right) was honored for his service during Monday night's City Council meeting by Mayor Bobby Herndon (left) and others as his time comes to a close following the hire of Glenda Webb to serve in a permanent capacity. Look out for more on this today!

Area baseball scores

Paul W. Bryant 10, Central 0

Northridge 1, Homewood 2

North River Christian 5, Cornerstone 6

Tuscaloosa Academy 8, Morgan Academy 3

Stat line: Tuscaloosa Academy's Sam Rowley, Patton Miller, and Phillip Lancaster each had RBIs in the big fourth inning to put the Knights over the top against Morgan Academy Monday.

Area softball scores

Northridge 0, Holy Spirit 2

North River Christian 12, Cornerstone 3

Stat line: Katelyn Rhodes and Ramsey Kittrel combined for a no-hitter in North River Christian's 12-3 win on Monday.

Now you're all caught up to begin this Tuesday! Don't miss out during the rest of your day, though. Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content and live updates every day.

If you see me out, be sure to say hi!

- Ryan

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.