Midday update: Super Tuesday primaries today

Published 11:20 am Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Good day! Here’s a quick update on Tuesday’s news…

Super Tuesday is here. Nearly 40 percent of the delegate count needed to win the Republican presidential nomonation is up for grabs today, as 10 states hold primary elections and caucuses. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is expected to win the biggest primary in Georgia, his home state, but trails in most others. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum are locked in a battle for Ohio, whiule Texas Rep. Ron Paul has focused on states such as Alaska and North Dakota.

Final state total: seven tornadoes, one death. The National Weather Service has completed it primary assessment of damage from Friday’s tornado outbreak, and has concluded that seven twisters hit Alabama that day, resulting in one death in Tallapoosa County. Three tornadoes hit the Limestone-Madison County area, including the community of Harvest, which has been hit by four major tornadoes since 1970: two during the April 3, 1974 Super Outbreak, one in last April’s outbreak, and again Friday.

Speaking of weather… The Gardendale Chamber of Commerce will host a Weather Safety and Awareness Expo from 4-8 p.m. today at the Gardendale Civic Center. Walt Maddox, the mayor of Tuscaloosa, will be a featured speaker along with weather personalities from CBS-42 and FOX-6. We’ll have a booth there, too, some come by and see us. It’s free and open to the public.

Sports: Rockets pound Blue Devils relievers. Gardendale wasn’t able to make a whole lot of progress against Mortimer Jordan starting pitcher Orion Recke in four innings, but when Coach Shayne Carnes sent in the bull pen, the Rockets blasted off with seven runs in the fifth, on their way to an 11-1 win in the first game of the Jefferson County Tournament. It was also dedication day for Jordan;’s new ballpark, with JefCo Superintendent Dr. Phil Hammonds throwing out the first pitch. In softball, Oak Grove defeated Mortimer Jordan 9-5, thanks to a pair of home runs by Kadey Nolen, while Corner fell to Hueytown 9-1 due in part to five RBI’s by Gophers catcher Heather Johnston.

Today’s weather: Nice. A warm-up trend starts in earnest today, as highs are expected to reach the upper 60s or even 70. Nighttime lows will dip into the 40s in most spots. Highs Wednesday and Thursday will reach the 70s. A chance of rain returns to the area Friday.