NJN/am for Thursday, May 3

Published 5:33 am Thursday, May 3, 2012

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Weather: Hot stuff. A few storms roamed around overnight, mainly to our west, and more storms are expected today. They’ll be scattered in nature, but there’s a 70 percent chance you’ll get hit. Nothing severe, though, Highs will reach 80, with lows tonight around 68. It will clear off slowly tomorrow, with highs around 88. There’s a chance of scattered showers for the next few days.

Traffic: ALDOT has scheduled another rolling roadblock on I-65 through the Corridor X construction zone this afternoon. It’s for the northbound lane only, and will begin at the I-20/59 interchange downtown around 1:30 p.m. if the weather cooperates. U.S. 31 will also be closed in the same area about that time.

Home Field owners file suit against Fultondale. The year-long battle between John Douglas, owner of the Home Field Sports Grill in Fultondale, and the city over the rebuilding of the tornado-damaged business has now gone to the courts. Douglas filed suit to stop the city from forcing him to demolish the building, and over what he claims are the city’s efforts to make it impossible for him to reopen. The suit seeks an injunction against the city forcing demolition of the U.S. 31 structure, and also seeks unspecified damages. Lawsuit filings give only one side of the issue by their nature, but the Mayor Jim Lowery and the City Council have publicly denied any effort to force Home Field out. Douglas has staged a year-long campaign on the Internet, particularly on Facebook, pressuring the city.

Charter schools approved — sort of. The Alabama Senate voted for a bill that would permit charter schools, but only under very limited circumstances. The schools would have to be conversions of existing low-performing public schools, not new schools, and would only be allowed in Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile and Huntsville, among other restrictions. The measure passed 23-12 last night.

Sports: Softball galore. All of our local high school softball teams are in action today in their area tournaments, assuming they dodge the storms. The action begins early at Fultondale Elementary, where the Wildcats host their Class 2A affair. Corner hits the road to play in the 4A area 11 tournament, Gardendale closes out its 6A Area 11 tournament at home against Minor (the Rockets have already qualified for next week’s regionals), and Hayden and Mortimer Jordan battle Walker and Curry, respectively in the second day of the 5A Area tourney at Jordan…. Football: Junior Seau, one of the most beloved players in San Diego Chargers history, was found dead in his Oceanside, Calif. Home Wednesday morning. He died from a gunshot wound to the chest; police are investigating suicide… Baseball: Jered Weaver of the Angels pitched a no-hitter over the Twins. Meanwhile, Chipper Jones was feeling chipper enough for a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning, as the Braves beat the Phillies 15-13; Brian McCann also hit a grand slam.