Good Thursday morning to you…

Weather: Say it isn’t snow. We wish we could, but there’s a slight chance of light rain or snow (depending on the temperature at the time) for this afternoon and evening. Little or no accumulation is expected, but as we all know from last week, this type of forecast can change quickly either way. Highs will be in the upper 30s with lows tonight in the lower 20s. Friday will be sunny and warmer during the day with highs in the upper 40s; there is a slight chance of rain Friday night which could change over to snow overnight with lows around freezing; again, little or no accumulation is expected.

Count Phillips out, too. Gardendale mayor Othell Phillips announced Wednesday afternoon that he would not run in the Republican primary for th state Senate seat about to be vacated by Scott Beason. Phillips announced his decision in much the same way as his friend, Gardendale council president Stan Hogeland – via Facebook. Currently, two other candidates have filed: Oneonta insurance agent Jim Muphree (who ran against Beason in the 2010 Republican primary) and Trussville businessman Shay Shelnutt. The filing deadline is Friday at 5 p.m.

Kidnapping arrest near Fultondale. Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Raphael Darnell Roman early Wednesday morning, after residents of the Candy Mountain Apartments complex on Carson Road reported gunshots being fired. Deputies found Roman in the parking lot, then got a report of a prowler in the complex at the same time. That man was found, and accused Roman of trying to rob him, then stuffing him in the trunk of a car. Roman is charged with first-degree kidnapping and assault, and held in the county jail.

Sports: Heading to the next level. National Signing Day saw four local football players sign a National Letter of Intent to play college ball. Lineman Tyler Swindle of Hayden chose Jacksonville State; he was the only one of the four who had not verbally committed prior to Wednesday. Elsewhere, quarterback Devlin Hodges of Mortimer Jordan signed with Samford, defensive lineman Calvin Burns of Pinson Valley committed to Miles College, and tight end Gabe Hill of Gardendale will go to Troy… Basketball: The AHSAA area tournaments begin in earnest for girls’ teams tonight. Hayden hosts a tournament that also includes Jordan, while Pinson Valley will play at Center Point, Fultondale at Altamont, Corner at Carbon Hill and Locust Fork at Oneonta. Boys tournament play begins on Friday night.