[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5980895,"mediaKeyId","5793770-f8d10d8d64a90484449977aab6f80591","parentId",5793770,"title","Bar-employee safety and late-night parking on University Boulevard raised at council; PD suggests employer shuttle","audioSeconds",161,"startMs",1388000,"endMs",1549000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793770-f8d10d8d64a90484449977aab6f80591&start=1388&end=1549","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793770-f8d10d8d64a90484449977aab6f80591/thumbnail_1388000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5980895/Tuscaloosa-City/Tuscaloosa-County/Alabama/Bar-employee-safety-and-late-night-parking-on-University-Boulevard-raised-at-council-PD-suggests-employer-shuttle","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980895-6cc85574a721e4e66502b1423b0385fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191543&Signature=QIxeEL0bHARd30OBMfE0XxHQr7EgnEQVNbngkA9QuUzsv-wj9xll8w5ZgsSFXNip9WzMuILCLSh8cbZcQpORreSTEBuy~~OzRtoIrmp1LfkVBFsyN5hLfPEjF1eIxG3thj2tbjuEiMbLcvTEsuIP6xxoCE5zkHdHL6dBuM7wk4Hp161fcn585sKF9DjhufElpmVUbcIGEHKyQIys4Tp4-40AvUo1oO6R17xR~0SwjNxHJCIg7xmzXK0Ln3iteE-2FuTGB7FhRwpL1M4B1nQtMbn4OJ8hnMH41cmbwgDfaVtTjFgsIeaoMvPv6QcFV8TkSrKnndEcLs96OhxzeXWD8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tuscaloosa City, AL","date","2025-09-17T10:28:12Z","article","A local employer told the Tuscaloosa City Council that employees who work late at bars and restaurants along University Boulevard face long walks to vehicles after shifts, raising safety concerns.
Jay Jarrett, who gave his address as 1225 University Boulevard, said he is \"one of the largest employers on the strip\" and described employees who sometimes walk blocks or up to about a mile to reach parked cars after 2 a.m. He said that distance and the early-morning hours pose a public-safety concern for employees, particularly women.
Police suggestion and rationale: Police Chief Clark noted that the city has removed some parking near the corridor for safety reasons and suggested a private-sector solution: businesses could arrange shared vans or coordinate with nearby lots that are unused overnight. \"That way, I think that'd be a good way for the businesses to make sure their employees are safe,\" Clark said.
Council response and context: Council members acknowledged the concern and joked briefly about closing times but did not propose a specific municipal program at the meeting. The transcript records no motion, ordinance or appropriation tied to the suggestion.
Why it matters: Late-night employee safety affects worker welfare and business operations in entertainment districts; the police recommendation frames the issue as operational and cooperative rather than a city-funded program at this time.
Next steps: No formal council action was recorded; the chief’s suggestion places the immediate responsibility for transportation arrangements with businesses rather than the city.
","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tuscaloosa City Council Meeting - Sep 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Bar and restaurant employer Jay Jarrett told the council that employees must walk long distances late at night to reach vehicles; the police chief suggested businesses arrange vans or shuttles to improve safety.","taxTitle","Tuscaloosa City, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama","taxId",4830,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5980899,"Local tow operator tells council fee changes cost him nearly $12,000; chief promises follow-up email",228,1148000,1376000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793770-f8d10d8d64a90484449977aab6f80591&start=1148&end=1376","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793770-f8d10d8d64a90484449977aab6f80591/thumbnail_1148000.jpg","/articles/5980899/Tuscaloosa-City/Tuscaloosa-County/Alabama/Local-tow-operator-tells-council-fee-changes-cost-him-nearly-12000-chief-promises-follow-up-email","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980899-e9d173f00473f64b8f6f5f6be290ad24/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191543&Signature=MODYQ57Onkn5aULQimKNdbeHbmeRnVYLRbi~NXdu9w4jd~Cifc6WvC9xnd66s5J4ZTHBewQNAiJx1jxJozrQKTy1RkSrMJ20PoY4IaxGg0W6NXt3IivdhCiHcS27zi-TZ0thTd9xYZW7KconwR2nnYs4ZnGm3a7D8fYGUGB5J3b1fLh391XVgi7cgdBI8UaN5LptUSFk6Twqd1e7SWDIFED61TU43r9h6WMg6LkjMpCFRbQ~xSeGZLoNjucJOSU1YB26QRglRqSNQyyBR-yd5RRCRAsJE4aCZ~R7dT~wdllKAV~1DILD5wJhGEuixG~w-jPMRy~ONmCYebLOkHRGwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A local tow operator told the Tuscaloosa City Council he lost revenue after changes to release-fee rules for nonconsensual tows during football-game periods and asked the city for an update on the ordinance changes.
The operator said the city removed a $75 release fee he previously charged for certain tows. \"Last year alone, I had to release 151 cars during that 2 hour time frame...I lost...a total of $11,778,\" he said, and added that changes to merchant card fees increased his costs.
He said the regulation now requires him to be open during a two-hour period after games and that signage and other measures have not prevented chronic parking violations on and near campus. He said the requirement to accept card payments at a lower reimbursement rate cost him additional fees and described the effect on his business and customers.
Police follow-up: Chief Clark responded that the chief's office and city staff have been working on the matter with the city attorney’s office. \"I apologize. I do not have an immediate update, but I will when I get to work at 8 in the morning, I will check and I'll have you an email out before 10AM,\" Clark said.
Why it matters: The complaint concerns enforcement and administrative changes that affect private tow operators and businesses that rely on private towing to manage parking. The speaker framed the issue in financial terms and pointed to the operational impact during busy game-day periods.
Status and next steps: The transcript records no formal action or vote on towing rules. Chief Clark committed to checking the status of the ordinance and sending an email to the speaker before 10 a.m.; council and staff did not record a formal deadline or motion on the council floor during the meeting.
","A tow company representative told the Tuscaloosa City Council that changes to release-fee rules for nonconsensual tows during game-day periods cut his revenue; Police Chief Clark told the speaker he would check and send an email by 10 a.m.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5980902,"Tuscaloosa proclaims Diaper Need Awareness Week, honors Bottoms Up Diaper Bank",252,53000,305000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793770-f8d10d8d64a90484449977aab6f80591&start=53&end=305","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793770-f8d10d8d64a90484449977aab6f80591/thumbnail_53000.jpg","/articles/5980902/Tuscaloosa-City/Tuscaloosa-County/Alabama/Tuscaloosa-proclaims-Diaper-Need-Awareness-Week-honors-Bottoms-Up-Diaper-Bank","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5980902-924d65d2852c9802b8fd556edeb3faca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191543&Signature=R0XacEqKW4BIyNa3cduXEyhhvjh9mTOELF7AjpFLXkG0vEwsOEj6IpnOsl52rbpKO7pmrjbv~aZMpAisvLkFFbGA74aZKQTVHo8QazgL03pJnppusXsZK6eKKSLP~~niS5j6x83Yq1YizTjmEigl9Dg5pA1IkNgmZ54xT6VOwsydSGH2eSD2AHR8SDJ55M9owdSiNXS48IW2QwuOtjG8rzsYzCnWKajrb8~2JN7p702tyc4Vl4ON6dwR~9G3KNVZB5zwV8lA11iuu~QnZjeS0yJsHKHYNeZXf9A8lLszyJkyigrf~WcbciK9m1gmI5P9Z0nCXfMhLJCgyOC6S3bi4w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Tuscaloosa proclaimed Sept. 15 through Sept. 21, 2025, as National Diaper Need Awareness Week and presented the proclamation to Bottoms Up Diaper Bank.
The proclamation, read by Mayor Maddox, said diaper need — lack of sufficient clean diapers — can harm child health, raise medical costs and limit access to child care. It called attention to research cited in the proclamation that “nearly half of all families struggle with diaper needs, with 48 percent delaying diaper changes to stretch needed supplies.”
The recognition highlights a local nonprofit’s work. Danielle Lee, speaking for Bottoms Up Diaper Bank, described the group’s growth since 2016 and the scale of its local distribution: \"We have distributed over 260,000 diapers to families in West Alabama,\" she said, and urged donations and volunteer support.
Why it matters: Council members and the mayor framed the proclamation as an effort to raise awareness of a basic need that affects infant health and parents’ economic stability. The proclamation encourages residents to donate diapers, hold drives and otherwise support diaper-distribution efforts in Tuscaloosa.
Council remarks and next steps: After the proclamation, council members thanked Lee and invited citizens to donate. No formal vote was recorded for the ceremonial proclamation beyond the council’s acceptance and the presentation.
Background: Bottoms Up Diaper Bank began in 2016 in Greene County and has expanded to four distribution sites across Tuscaloosa County, according to Lee’s remarks. The proclamation text cited national research and linked diaper access to child health and child-care access.
","The City of Tuscaloosa read a proclamation recognizing Sept. 15–21, 2025 as National Diaper Need Awareness Week and honored Bottoms Up Diaper Bank for local diaper distribution and family support.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bar-employee safety and late-night parking on University Boulevard raised at council; PD suggests employer shuttle

Local tow operator tells council fee changes cost him nearly $12,000; chief promises follow-up email

Tuscaloosa proclaims Diaper Need Awareness Week, honors Bottoms Up Diaper Bank