The Tuscaloosa News
Tuscaloosa museum prepares for move to Saban Center
The Children’s Hands-On Museum has closed its doors as it prepares to relocate to the future Saban Center and rebrand as Ignite. The museum’s longtime home at 2213 University Blvd. has been listed for sale. CHOM served the Tuscaloosa community for...
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From songwriter to business titan
In 1973, Dolly Parton wrote “I Will Always Love You” to soften the blow of leaving her business partner, Porter Wagoner, after years of producing hit country duets together. Parton was ready to pursue a solo career. So she played the song for Wagoner...
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Wingin’ it
If your hummingbird feeder suddenly seems busier than usual, don’t assume the birds have discovered a new favorite restaurant. Fall migration is getting underway, and Alabama is part of the route for ruby-throated hummingbirds making their way south...
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The art of game day
If football is a religion in the South, Saturday is the weekly service. h And according to College Weekly, Alabama has one of the best places in the country to worship, ranking No. 2 on its list of the 10 states with the best football Saturdays. h With...
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Parton
How Dolly Parton's legacy lives on across Alabama. Dolly Parton, the “Queen of Country” singing and songwriting icon with a personality as bold as her signature blond coif and rhinestone-encrusted outfits, has died. She was 80. Parton’s death was...
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Bald eagle shot in AL returns to the wild
PRATTVILLE − A mature bald eagle was released Aug. 21 in Autauga County after 232 days of rehabilitation. The eagle was taken to Auburn University’s Raptor Center on Dec. 31 after it was found in the Pine Level area with a broken wing. The injury was...
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Road work on track for Alabama football opener
Work proceeds on the busy downtown stretch of Greensboro Avenue, from University Boulevard to Seventh St., with phases 7 and 8, the last two, as the focus for coming weeks. The $4.3 million project, funded by Elevate Tuscaloosa, began May 4, with...
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Can you still take photos at the UA mansion?
Right up front, there’s a gate. But it’s not closed. Social media went mildly wild, as it will, when renovations to the University of Alabama President’s Mansion included new fencing. Boo-birds feared the worst, thinking the fencing meant “Keep...
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When the Tide goes marching in
As the University of Alabama’s eight Weeks of Welcome launch, students whose days, nights, lives, and probable careers revolve around extracurriculars are already well in play. h Fall classes were scheduled to officially began Aug. 19. h Sorority rush...
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Iran vows ‘devastating’ response to U.S. threat
DUBAI – Iran said on Aug. 21 that its response to any new U.S. threats would be “devastating” after Washington pledged to impose the toughest financial penalties in history with the aim of toppling the Iranian leadership. Washington prepared for...
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‘Script A’ tradition grows for Alabama students
For the 10th year that University of Alabama students coordinated to form the Capstone’s script A, spanning the width of Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium, upperclassmen were invited to join freshmen. In earlier years, it was considered a...
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New Piggly Wiggly will include Tuscaloosa Drug Co.
Tuscaloosa Drug Co. will relocate its Five Points pharmacy to the new Piggly Wiggly store scheduled to open this fall, officials announced Aug. 18. The locally owned pharmacy will move across the street from its current location 4301 Veterans Memorial...
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The reality behind the viral #BamaRush trend
Under the sizzling summer heat, nearly 2,500 of students at the University of Alabama learned which sorority had chosen them during Bid Day. Depending on where you measure from, sorority recruitment lasts a little over a week on the Tuscaloosa campus....
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Tuscaloosa weighs data centers and job growth
Tuscaloosa leaders addressing an audience of about 380 people at the University of Alabama’s Bryant Conference Center largely agreed on progress, concerns and processes during the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama’s annual State of the Community...
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Tuscaloosa students ‘start strong’ as classes begin
The 2026-27 academic year has begun at public schools in the Tuscaloosa city and county systems. Tuscaloosa City Schools opened Aug. 10, while the Tuscaloosa County School System began classes on Aug. 12. “A new school year brings new opportunities...
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WARMING WATERS
If you think understanding the natural weather phenomenon known as El Niño is difficult, University of Alabama professor Fred Andrus says you should try predicting one. Andrus studies El Niño events, which involve unusual warming of sea surface...
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AERIAL OUTLOOK
FORT RUCKER — A select group of West Point cadets spent the week at Fort Rucker gaining an early, in-depth look at Army Aviation through a new developmental program aimed at preparing high-potential future leaders long before they reach the branching...
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SHRIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE
It’s not Cajun, but Cajian!, although Cajun and Creole counter-service food are Big Easy-central to what the new downtown Tuscaloosa restaurant offers. The branding adds “twisted” to Cajun and Creole, leaving open to interpretation specials or local...
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State opens first residential healthcare high school
The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences will welcome its first class of freshmen and sophomores this fall. The public residential specialty school is set begin its inaugural school year on Aug. 13. The Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences will...
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How $75,000 will help Tuscaloosa families thrive
A $75,000 donation will support programs and services at the New Heights Community Resource Center in Tuscaloosa. The New Heights Foundation Inc. received the gift from Boost Giving, a privately funded family initiative that provides grants to small...
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Tuscaloosa roads now running smooth before football season
As University of Alabama students and family begin to fill city and campus streets, there’s good news, and other news, about Greensboro Avenue, the main north-south artery in downtown Tuscaloosa. Greensboro Avenue begins at the Black Warrior River,...
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Tuscaloosa has plenty of chicken restaurants
The soon-to-open Raising Cane’s raises a question: How many chicken restaurants does Tuscaloosa have? A quick internet search shows at least 35 restaurants in the Tuscaloosa area where chicken is the undisputed star of the menu. The eateries range...
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‘You just got to keep fighting’
Those closest to Bray Hubbard know the Alabama football safety doesn’t need much to be satisfied. “He is so, just, chill,” said Blake Pennock, who was Hubbard’s football coach at Ocean Springs in Mississippi. “Put him somewhere, in a deer stand or on...
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Miles and miles of treasures
Bargain hunters are hitting the road for the 127 Yard Sale, better known as the World’s Longest Yard Sale, stretching 690 miles from Michigan to Alabama. Running Aug. 6-9, the annual event transforms highways and small towns into one massive open-air...
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Poll shows Tuberville has 8-point lead over Jones
Republican gubernatorial nominee Tommy Tuberville holds an 8-point lead over Democratic nominee Doug Jones in Alabama’s race for governor, according to a new poll commissioned by the Yes, Every Kid Foundation, a national organization that advocates for...
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University of Alabama holds summer commencement
The University of Alabama awarded nearly 1,300 degrees during summer commencement exercises Aug. 1 at Coleman Coliseum. According to UA, the summer class of 2026 included 810 undergraduates, 283 master’s degree or education specialist graduates and...
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Teen remembered for faith after cancer battle
Will Roberts, the 15-year-old from Ralph in Tuscaloosa County, lost his battle with cancer, but his fight inspired people across the country. Family, friends, and supporters gathered Aug. 1 at Shelton State’s gymnasium for the funeral...
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Grant will help fund Chief Tuskaloosa statue
The city of Tuscaloosa has received a $40,000 grant that will help raise a statue and plaza dedicated to its towering namesake. The Creative Places Arts Facilities grant, from the Alabama State Council on the Arts, will go toward the creation of Chief...
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AL families get tech boost with free laptops
AT&T, the United Way of West Alabama, and Compudot combined forces to create a bridge over the information gap for 100 families in West Alabama, giving out refurbished laptop computers to those who qualified during a July 30 event at the United Way...
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Alabama football home games you cannot miss in 2026
Sure, the couch is comfortable. And that big-screen television is great for watching football. But nothing compares to being inside Bryant-Denny Stadium on a Saturday and yelling "Roll Tide" alongside nearly 100,000 other fans. Here's why you should...
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Down-home destinations
Travelers looking for their next Southern getaway may want to add Alabama to their list. WorldAtlas recently featured 10 Alabama destinations that are ranked among U.S. favorites for 2026. The list highlights communities that offer everything from...
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Alabama football fans can grab tickets for fall rally
Tickets are still available for a University of Alabama fall pep rally. Crimson Tide head baseball coach Rob Vaughn and University of Alabama President Peter J. Mohler will be featured speakers at the fall kickoff event from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 4 at...
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Step back in time at this historic Alabama site
The buildings tell an intriguing story; a tale rooted in history. Old Alabama Town, covering about 20 acres in downtown Montgomery, gives visitors a view of what life was like in Alabama in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Operated by the Landmarks...
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UA and Shelton State set summer graduation dates
More than 1,000 students will become University of Alabama graduates during the summer commencement ceremony. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Aug. 1 at Coleman Coliseum on the UA campus. Unlike the spring graduation exercises, which were...
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Rooftop terrace approved for the Saban Center
The Saban Center will get its rooftop event space after the Tuscaloosa City Council meeting approved funding, moving $1.3 million originally intended for the Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater. The funds, approved July 21, won’t affect the amphitheater’s...
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UA Rise Center honors 19 young graduates
It is the best of times. It is the worst of times. The University of Alabama’s Rise Center graduation provides both thrills and tears as parents see their children, many of whom have been with Rise since they were babies, move into the public and...
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FEEL THE RUSH
It’s all about connections, and anyone wishing to connect with sorority recruitment coach Trisha Addicks, author of the May-released “The Rush Bible: Secrets to Crush Sorority Recruitment and Find Your Forever Greek Home” can pursue multiple avenues. h...
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Bayou La Batre among top places to retire
For retirees dreaming of coastal living without the high price tags found in many waterfront destinations, Bayou La Batre, Alabama, offers a different kind of retirement experience. Located along the Mississippi Sound in southern Mobile County, this...
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This Alabama barbecue spot was named the state’s very best
Ribs kissed by hickory smoke, tender pulled pork and a sauce recipe passed down for generations have helped Archibald & Woodrow’s Barbeque become one of Alabama’s most celebrated barbeque destinations. Tasting Table named the family-run restaurant the...
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Young entrepreneurs serve up lessons in Tuscaloosa
Children who attend the Jaycee Park Unit of the Boys and Girls Club of West Alabama learned how to turn lemons into lemonade while also raising money. Boys and Girls Club staff, community members and more gathered July 17 at the newly renovated Jaycee...
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Tuscaloosa hosts inaugural Lake Nicol Paddle Fest
Tuscaloosa celebrated Lakes Appreciation Month on July 18 with the Lake Nicol Paddle Fest, a free community event that featured a competitive threemile race for paddleboarders and kayakers and a fun float for people who only wished to enjoy being on...
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‘They have a voice and their voice matters’
Porsha Ray is training young people how to use their voices in her fourth summer music workshop, but she kicked off the event with a very special guest. “The Voice” finalist Jazz McKenzie gave the young singers an opening pep talk that was part...
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Finding family in the ‘Big Fish’ musical
a lot of Alabama in “Big Fish,” though in retellings, stories grow, not unlike the fabulated ever-expanding bass. Those who first read Birmingham native Daniel Wallace’s 1998 book (full title “Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions,” somewhat ironic...
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STRUCTURE FOR SUCCESS
University of Alabama President Peter Mohler announces the new School of Data Science on April 28. The new AI hub will serve all of the University’s schools, meeting the needs of both professors and students. “You’re going to see offerings that you’re...
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White House blasts an iconic museum
WASHINGTON – Tensions between the Trump administration and the Smithsonian Institution have escalated after a White House report accused the National Museum of American History of promoting a “radical, activist ideology.” In the days after the report...
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LINE DANCING WITH LUNKERS
Alabama’s reputation as a bass fishing paradise just got another boost. Three Alabama lakes have earned spots on Bassmaster Magazine’s 2026 list of the 100 Best Bass Lakes in the United States, ranking among the nation’s top destinations for...
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See the hot dogs winning over crowds at Montgomery Biscuits games
A day in DABOS Park means three things in Montgomery — Montgomery Biscuits baseball action, fun times, and lots of food options. You’ve got to have something good to munch on, and hot dogs are always huge sellers. “A hot dog at a baseball game,...
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Tuscaloosa churches unite to build a new home
Fourteen churches from the Tuscaloosa area joined hands and hearts, not to mention hardhats and hammers, with Habitat for Humanity to construct a new house on Milestone Circle. The new house is being built for Brittany Henderson and Marcell Wade and...
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Rally around
Alabama football fans are invited to a preseason pep rally Aug. 4 at the Tuscaloosa River Market. The pep rally is part of the annual fall kickoff event hosted by the Tuscaloosa County chapter of the University of Alabama National Alumni...
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ROOTIN’, TOOTIN’ GOOD TIMES
Ropers and riders returned to Tuscaloosa for the annual Sokol Park Rodeo in Ray C. Jenkins Arena on July 9-11. Cowboys and cowgirls competed in the 18th annual rodeo in an effort to gain points to qualify for the nationals held every year in...
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Get ready Tuscaloosa; the city’s population will expand by about 40,000 when University of Alabama students begin fall classes in August. Here’s a guide to 2026 fall semester at the Capstone: When do UA students move in? Students will move in during...
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Jamming
Jamming devices have been installed by Russia near towns and military facilities, including some that can disrupt the Starlink systems operated by Musk’s SpaceX, they said. Most of Ukraine’s mid-strike missions are flown using Starlink, which allows a...
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Tuscaloosa celebrates lakes with July events
The city of Tuscaloosa is marking National Lakes Appreciation Month in July with a series of free events and activities designed to encourage residents and visitors to explore Lake Tuscaloosa, Lake Nicol and Harris Lake. The monthlong celebration...
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How to spot heat stroke, stay hydrated
To Alabamians, “heat dome” could seem like just another word for the middle part of any year, from late April until October. But it’s a descriptor of one of the deadliest weather-related hazards, occurring when high-atmospheric jet streams push north,...
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Looking to Make a Move? Find Your Dream Home Here.
The eNewspaper is an electronic copy of your print newspaper. Enjoy every page by going to tuscaloosanews.com/enewspaper or scan this code on your mobile device. You will also find late news and sports in the bonus sections. Check it out today!
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Lawyers read Declaration for 250th anniversary
America’s semiquincentennial deserves a bit of extra pomp and circumstance, and the Tuscaloosa County Bar Association brought their best effort to the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence. This year’s event, held July 2 in front of the...
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Safety issues beset Silicon Valley defense startup
ANEW YORK – year ago, Ryan Tseng, the head of U.S. defense tech startup Shield AI, announced his company had turned a new page. After a gory incident that partially severed a U.S. Navy official’s fingers during a test of its V-BAT drone, Shield AI had...
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OF THE PEOPLE BY THE PEOPLE FOR THE PEOPLE
As America turns 250, the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln points to what comes next
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‘A guiding light for future generations’
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE - Seventy-four years after Tech. Sgt. James H. Ledford saved his wounded pilot and crippled aircraft over North Korea, his extraordinary heroism was permanently etched in stone at the Enlisted Heritage Hall’s Walk of Heroes on...
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THE MEANING OF REVOLUTION
Like Americans today, the people living in the United States in 1826 were preparing to celebrate a milestone for their country. July Fourth of that year marked the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As what was known as the “Jubilee”...
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Tuscaloosa tourism reached $1B milestone in 2025
Visitors to Tuscaloosa County generated more than $1 billion in spending in 2025, underscoring the growing role of tourism as an economic driver for the area, according to data released by Visit Tuscaloosa. Tourism accounted for about 20% of all...
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Local group promotes peace through global partnerships
Tuscaloosa Sister Cities International is celebrating four decades of friendship, cultural exchange and collaboration. The nonprofit organization is marking three major milestones this year: 40 years of sister city partnership with Narashino, Japan...
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18 vehicles built in AL make national list
Alabama’s auto industry had a strong showing in the 2026 Cars.com American-Made Index, with 18 vehicles assembled in the state ranking among the most American-made models. The ranking evaluates U.S.-assembled vehicles using factors such as: Domestic...
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Tuscaloosa center braces for summer food needs
Olivia McDaniel found some direction while working at New Heights Community Resource Center as a student intern from the University of Alabama. The senior studying social work, who is a graduate of Sipsey Valley High School, unpacked boxes and bags...
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GET READY TO HAVE A BLAST
Tuscaloosa’s largest Fourth of July event birthed during the first summer of its downtown amphitheater, in 2011. h That year, joined by the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, the city sponsored what it began calling Celebration on the River. Though there...
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Star-spangled setlists
Patriotic music will fill the air in the Tuscaloosa as the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States of America on the Fourth of July. Here’s a look at three upcoming Tuscaloosa concerts that will feature patriotic...
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PLANTING THE SEEDS OF HEALTHY HABITS
Some children in the Tuscaloosa County School System’s summer learning programs are getting a fresh understanding of where their food comes from. Classes across Tuscaloosa County are making field trips to the TCSS Agriscience Teaching Farm, where they...
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Live at the Plaza adds July show
Live at the Plaza, the city of Tuscaloosa’s free summer concert series, will extend into July. The concerts, held at Government Plaza downtown, began in May and were set to conclude by the end of June, but rainy weather has caused adjustments to the...
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Students build trailer in unique workshop
A 36-foot gooseneck trailer made from steel is taking shape under the hands of both students and teachers in the Northport Career Tech Annex at Tuscaloosa County High. The workshop was originally planned to be for teachers only so they could learn how...
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Northport honors history with new Liberty Elm
A small elm tree now stands on the grounds of the Synergic Center in Northport. The tree is a symbol of the American Revolution and the nation’s defiance of England. It is the spiritual descendant of the Liberty Elm, which once stood on Boston...
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AL residents question promises of proposed new data center
HAYNEVILLE − Lowndes County, Alabama has no shortage of the color green. Lush green trees line the roads, green hills and fields stretch in all directions. The people who live here like it that way. In the opinion of many locals, a proposed data...
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SITES TO SEE
As America celebrates 250 years as a country, now is the perfect opportunity to learn more about Tuscaloosa’s history. h Here are some ideas for places to visit or things to do that show the story of the Druid City: Tuscaloosa’s Veterans Memorial Park...
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Study: City ranks among fastest-growing suburbs
Dreaming of white-sand beaches and sunset waterfronts? Look no further than Alabama’s charming coastal downtowns, home to some of the South’s best beach towns. Southern Living readers ranked Orange Beach and Gulf Shores as the South’s No. 2 beach town...
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SPLASHY SUMMER SPOTS
As temperatures rise across Alabama, many residents and visitors head outdoors in search of ways to cool off. While the state is known for its Gulf Coast beaches and lakes, some of Alabama’s most scenic summer destinations are inland, where waterfalls...
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Tuscaloosa Restaurant Week expands to 10 days of deals
Visit Tuscaloosa will host an extended celebration of the city’s dining scene in June as part of the fourth annual Tuscaloosa Restaurant Week. The event, presented by Huntington Bank, formerly Cadence Bank, will be take place June 18 through June...
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