It’s Tuesday, and it’s time to vote!…

Weather: Nice. Weather will not be a valid excuse for not going to the polls, as today will be sunny with highs around 70. Lows tonight will drop to the middle 50s. Rain moves in on Wednesday, with a 40 percent chance in the afternoon and highs near 70. More rain at night, with lows in the upper 50s and rain chances of 90 percent.

It’s mid-terms time. All state offices are up for election today, with Gov. Robert Bentley (R) seeking a second term and Parker Griffith (D) challenging. Most of the Republican incumbents are expected to win re-election handily, though the attorney general’s race between GOP incumbent Luther Strange and Democrat challenger Joe Hubbard may be closer than most. Locally, Gary Palmer is expected to win the race for the Sixth District seat in the U.S. House. All five Jefferson County Commission members are expected to cruise to victory over their opponents from the Libertarian Party. The only local race that has any suspense is the referendum on whether to establish a fire district, complete with madatory annual dues, for West Blount Fire and Rescue in the Hayden area. We’ll have full results tonight and tomorrow.

Will the sales tax hike continue? Gardendale’s city council heard first reading Monday night of an ordinance that would extend the one-cent sales tax increase for an additional three years. The tax hike went into effect in 2012, and was scheduled to end at the end of this year. The extra tax,which puts the local rate at 10 percent overall, would be used to pay down debt service and for economic development purposes, as well as unforeseen emergency expenses. The extension is scheduled to expire at the end of 2017. The council will act on the proposal on Nov. 17.

Sports: State honors for Stewart. Fultondale’s Jared “Jay” Stewart, who spent a good portion of his high school career in the shadow of his brother ArDarius, got some recognition of his own this week as he was named the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Defensive Player of the Week. Stewart’s effort in the win Thursday over Oak Grove was actually remarkable on both sides of the ball – he intercepted three Tigers passes, and ran for three touchdowns.