West Alabama Weekly by WVUA 23 News

J. Calister Clemons hosts the final episode of his series, Senate Seat Spotlight, where he and Sydney Reinke will be highlighting individual profiles of every Senate candidate for the upcoming 2026 U.S. Senate race, where Alabamians will decide who will join Katie Britt as Alabama’s new junior Senator. In this episode, he highlights current Alabama Attorney General and Republican candidate Steve Marshall.

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 20.Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media intern Sydney Reinke (for the final time) bring you our 20th episode of the podcast. They bring up a handful of local stories from around West Alabama with another LIGHTNING ROUND, as well as a Pickens County emergency services update, as well as local midterm election updates and more.Calister and Sydney also talk about their favorite moment in the recording of the podcast, as Sydney graduates and starts her post-college life.You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Roll tide!

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 19.Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media intern Sydney Reinke bring you our 19th episode of the podcast. They bring up a handful of local stories from around West Alabama including West Tuscaloosa road construction, a traffic stop-turned fatal, Alabama softball and baseball updates, upcoming local events and more.You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Roll tide!

J. Calister Clemons hosts his series, Senate Seat Spotlight, where he and Sydney Reinke will be highlighting individual profiles of every Senate candidate for the upcoming 2026 U.S. Senate race, where Alabamians will decide who will join Katie Britt as Alabama’s new junior Senator. In this episode, he highlights former Navy Seal and Republican candidate Jared Hudson.

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 18.Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media intern Sydney Reinke bring you our 18th episode of the podcast. They bring up a handful of local stories from around West Alabama including a No Kings protest in Tuscaloosa, pedestrian accidents at the University, an Alabama politics update, upcoming local events and more.A new Senate Seat Spotlight will be released next week featuring Republican candidate and former Navy Seal, Jared Hudson.You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Roll tide!

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 17.Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media intern Sydney Reinke are back from Spring Break and they bring you our 17th episode of the podcast. They bring up a handful of local stories from around West Alabama including renovations to downtown Tuscaloosa, a tragic update regarding a UA student in Spain, an Alabama athletics update, storm-safe houses, upcoming local events and more.A new Senate Seat Spotlight will be released next week.You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Roll tide!

J. Calister Clemons hosts his series, Senate Seat Spotlight, where he and Sydney Reinke will be highlighting individual profiles of every Senate candidate for the upcoming 2026 U.S. Senate race, where Alabamians will decide who will join Katie Britt as Alabama’s new junior Senator. In this episode, he highlights Democratic write-in candidate Lamont Lavender.

J. Calister Clemons hosts his series, Senate Seat Spotlight, where he and Sydney Reinke will be highlighting individual profiles of every Senate candidate for the upcoming 2026 U.S. Senate race, where Alabamians will decide who will join Katie Britt as Alabama’s new junior Senator. In this episode, he highlights Republican candidate Rodney Walker.

J. Calister Clemons hosts his series, Senate Seat Spotlight, where he and Sydney Reinke will be highlighting individual profiles of every Senate candidate for the upcoming 2026 U.S. Senate race, where Alabamians will decide who will join Katie Britt as Alabama’s new junior Senator. In this episode, he highlights Republican candidate Morgan Murphy.

J. Calister Clemons hosts his series, Senate Seat Spotlight, where he will be highlighting individual profiles of every Senate candidate for the upcoming 2026 U.S. Senate race, where Alabamians will decide who will join Katie Britt as Alabama’s new junior Senator. In this episode, he highlights Democratic candidate Dakarai Larriett.

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 16.Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media intern Sydney Reinke bring you our 16th episode of the podcast. They bring up a handful of local stories from around West Alabama including a Tuscaloosa City Schools entrepreneurship program, controlled burns in Alabama, septic tanks, West Alabama crime, upcoming local events and more.A new Senate Seat Spotlight will be released next week.You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Roll tide!

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 15.Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media intern Sydney Reinke bring you our 15th episode of the podcast. They bring up a handful of local stories from around West Alabama including Aliceville drama in Pickens County, Alabama men's and women's basketball game recaps, the State of the Union* reactions from West Alabama, upcoming local events and more.*State of the Union audio clip courtesy of AP Newsroom.Additional Senate Seat Spotlights will be available in the coming weeks.You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Roll tide!

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 14.Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media intern Sydney Reinke bring you our 14th episode of the podcast. They talk about a handful of local stories from around West Alabama including increasing nursing enrollment at UA, college hazing, Alabama men's and women's basketball games recap, upcoming local events and more.Additional Senate Seat Spotlights will be available in the coming weeks.You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Roll tide!

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 13.Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media intern Sydney Reinke bring you our 13th episode of the podcast. They talk about a handful of local stories from around West Alabama including a Tuscaloosa City Schools Superintendent update, Tuscaloosa Public Library funding, Alabama men's and women's basketball and more.Additional Senate Seat Spotlights will be available in the coming weeks.You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Roll tide!

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 12.Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media intern Sydney Reinke bring you our 12th episode of the podcast. They talk about a handful of local stories from around West Alabama including a walking trail bridge closing, Alabama basketball, the Tuscaloosa National Airport and more. WVUA 23 News digital reporter Madison Brainerd talks about an interview she had with UA student Christian Martin, who has entered the race for House District 16 in West Alabama. J. Calister and Sydney also chat about Alabama politics with some other bills being filed and a Senate seat wrap up. More Senate Seat Spotlights will be available in the coming weeks. You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Roll tide!

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 11.Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media intern Sydney Reinke bring you our 11th episode of the podcast. They talk about a handful of local stories from around West Alabama including an MLK Day honoring, space heater safety, new state judge appointments and more. Calister and Sydney also talk about all of the new bills being introduced to the house and senate in Montgomery. You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Roll tide!

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 10.We are back after a UA holiday break. Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media intern Sydney Reinke bring you our tenth episode of the podcast. They talk about a handful of local stories from around West Alabama in a new quick-fire segment called 'Lightning Round', where they cover stories that happened over the holiday break. Calister and Sydney also talk about Lake Lurleen renovations and Pickens County emergency services. J. Calister Clemons has his third edition of his series, Senate Seat Spotlight, where he will be highlighting individual profiles of every Senate candidate for the upcoming 2026 U.S. Senate race, where Alabamians will decide who will join Katie Britt as Alabama’s new junior Senator. Today, he highlights candidate Rodney Walker, a Republican businessman and entrepreneur.You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Roll tide!

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 9.Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media interns Sydney Reinke and Hannah Classon bring you our ninth episode of the podcast. They talk about a handful of local stories happening around West Alabama, including a story on local crime, porch pirates, holiday events and more. They also talk in-depth about the University of Alabama student-run magazines (1956 and Alice) that were permanently suspended by UA. J. Calister Clemons has his second edition of his series, Senate Seat Spotlight, where he will be highlighting individual profiles of every Senate candidate for the upcoming 2026 U.S. Senate race, where Alabamians will decide who will join Katie Britt as Alabama’s new junior Senator. Today, he highlights candidate Morgan Murphy.You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠⁠.As a friendly reminder, we will be off for the University of Alabama holiday break, but we will be back in the new year. Roll tide and happy holidays!

J. Calister Clemons sits down for an exclusive interview with our very first guest here at West Alabama Weekly, Daniel DiDonato, a University of Alabama freshman who singlehandedly drew two new State Senate districts as part of a redistricting effort to address historical racial gerrymandering. His plan was chosen over two other professionally-drawn district maps, and he did it entirely by himself, in his free time, pro bono and also, somehow, for fun.Enjoy this sit down interview talking all things maps and Alabama politics.

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 8.Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media interns Sydney Reinke and Hannah Classon bring you our eighth episode of the podcast. They talk about a handful of local stories happening around West Alabama, including an update on the University Beach project, crime in Oakman, holiday events and more. J. Calister Clemons also premieres his new series, Senate Seat Spotlight, where he will be highlighting individual profiles of every Senate candidate for the upcoming 2026 U.S. Senate race, where Alabamians will decide who will join Katie Britt as Alabama’s new junior Senator. Today, he highlights candidate Dakarai Larriett.You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠.As a friendly reminder, we will be off for Thanksgiving next week, but we will be back on December 5th. Roll tide!

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly.Unfortunately, due to some unforeseen technical difficulties, we do not have a new episode this week. We apologize for this and we plan to be back to our regular recording next Friday. As always, you can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠. Follow WVUA 23 News on social media @wvua23 and be sure to catch up on our first 7 episodes of the pod. Thank you and talk soon. Roll tide!

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 7.Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media interns Sydney Reinke and Hannah Classon bring you our seventh episode of the podcast. They talk about a handful of local stories happening around West Alabama, including the ongoing food insecurities concern due to the government shutdown, the Marshall Four, fun events around town and more. Roll tide!You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠our website⁠⁠.

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 6. Happy Halloween!Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media intern Sydney Reinke bring you our sixth episode of the podcast. They talk about a handful of local stories happening around West Alabama, including SNAP benefits and food insecurities, a fun Halloween-themed event, a new segment on the open Alabama Senator role and more. Roll tide!You can view all stories and much more on ⁠our website⁠.

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 5. Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media intern Sydney Reinke bring you our fifth episode of the podcast. They talk about a handful of local stories happening around West Alabama, including improvements for Northport's highway 43 & 82, new electric school buses in Walker County, water safety in Alabama, some good news and more. Roll tide!You can view all stories and much more on our website.

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 4. Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons, social media interns Sydney Reinke and Hannah Classon bring you our fourth episode of the podcast. They talk about a handful of local stories happening around West Alabama, including the annual Beat Auburn, Beat Hunger food drive, food insecurity in our area, Halloween events to check out around town, a flashback clip for Tennessee hate week and more. Roll tide!You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠.

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 3. Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media intern Sydney Reinke bring you our third episode of the podcast. They talk about a handful of local stories happening around West Alabama, including events to check out around town from our social media intern Hannah, the latest in the Darius Miles murder case, the latest on Alabama's latest drought concerns and more. Roll tide!You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠.

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 2. Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media intern Sydney Reinke bring you our second episode of the podcast. They talk about a handful of local stories happening around West Alabama, including a events to check out around town, traveling during a government shutdown, a wild Greene County audit and more. Roll tide!You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠.

Welcome to West Alabama Weekly, episode 1. Digital reporter intern J. Calister Clemons and social media intern Sydney Reinke bring you our first episode of the podcast. They talk about a handful of local stories happening around West Alabama, including a vigil for Trey Reed, an update on the FOCUS act, an Alabama execution and more. Roll tide!You can view all stories and much more on ⁠⁠⁠our website⁠⁠⁠.