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Tuscaloosa looks to up sporting events

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Tuscaloosa is known for Crimson Tide sports, but the city has more to offer in the way of sports and now, that is about to grow even more.

In the past few years, the city has said they want to build on their athletic reputation and attract more sporting events to this area.

Tuscaloosa is already a major destination for football, but the Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Commission will make an announcement Monday about several new sporting events coming to Tuscaloosa. Five events are expected to be announced and at least one of those is a multi-year deal that will run through 2016. The commission says their overall goal is to bring more people to Tuscaloosa for sports year round, not just seven football weekends a year.

April 27 memorial held in Holt

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- As the road to recovery continues, Saturday was a time to reflect and look forward with the 2-year anniversary of the April 27th tornadoes.

In Holt, a memorial was held to remember the lives lost. The names of the victims were read aloud and church members also sang and offered prayers. The church's pastor says the service was a time of remembrance and reflection on that unforgettable day two years ago.

"It was a day that tragedy struck our community and there was much loss of life and personal belongings, a lot of homes in our area, but God has been faithful and has helped us through the storm," said Pastor Shaun Faulkner.

Several community leaders were also in attendance including Tuscaloosa County Probate Judge Hardy McCollum and State Senator Gerald Allen.

Copyright 2013 WBRC. All rights reserved.

Tuscaloosa still recovering 2 years after tornado

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox says the city still has a long way to go on the road to recovery. He expects they will be 80 to 85 percent complete with the rebuilding in five years.

Maddox says they want to make sure they get everything done right.

"Our citizens went through hell and back. They deserve a city that builds back in a way that honors all those who lost so much," said Maddox.

Mayor Maddox says most of his calendar is still devoted to the April 27th recovery. The Federal Government just notified Tuscaloosa that it will receive $64-million in disaster recovery funds.

Copyright 2013 WBRC. All
rights reserved.

Post-grad degrees that pay the highest

Post-grad degrees that pay the highest

By Porcshe Moran | Content provided by Investopedia

The pursuit of higher education is nearly synonymous with the pursuit of a higher salary. Some students follow their passions, while others follow dollar signs. A lucky few have passions that are also lucrative. Post-graduate degrees can often lead to a better paycheck as long as you choose the right field. The following advanced degree programs will set you on the path to at least $100,000 a year.

TUTORIAL: Financial Careers

Habitat volunteers bring help and hope to Alberta City

Habitat for Humanity volunteers rebuild a home on Juanita Drive in the Alberta community. Source: WBRC video

ALBERTA CITY, AL (WBRC)- Tomorrow marks a somber anniversary -- two years since the April 27th tornadoes, when a massive funnel cloud ripped Tuscaloosa apart.

That twister and more than 60 others swept across Alabama that day leaving behind a path of death and destruction running from Tuscaloosa to Birmingham to Cullman and beyond.

The tornado damaged or destroyed nearly every home on Juanita Drive in the Alberta community. The clean up took months and rebuilding continues nearly two years later.

The city of Tuscaloosa partnered with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for tornado survivors. Volunteers with Habitat say they felt called to help here, some more than once.

The work of some volunteers put a roof over Sharon Horn's head and touched her heart.

"I just feel a spark of love in my heart knowing that God has people like this leave their family and come and take time out with strangers," Horn said.

Your week in review: April 26

Your week in review: April 26

By Brandon Twichell - email

Tsarnaev while he recovered in the hospital. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev reportedly told police that his brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who died in a shootout with police, was the mastermind of the attacks and that the two of them became self-radicalized from Islamic videos on the internet.

They were also reportedly planning to detonate explosives at Times Square in New York City. Police charged Dzhokhar Tsarnaev with use of a weapon of mass destruction and malicious destruction of property resulting in death.

Tuscaloosa plans events to commemorate April 27 tornado

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- It is a time of mixed emotion in places that were hit very hard on April 27, 2011. A busy weekend has been planned in Tuscaloosa and the different types of events reflect that mixed emotion.

The April 27 tornado cut a six mile path through Tuscaloosa, moving through heavily populated areas. 53 people died in Tuscaloosa County as a result. Hundreds more were injured and thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed or badly damaged.

The Holt community was hit particularly hard. One storm survivor there is working with the group Holt in Action to organize a candlelight vigil on Saturday evening, remembering those lost in the storm.

"I've noticed that a lot of people have rebuilt, went on with their lives, and I don't want Tuscaloosa to forget what happened on that day. It's important that we just can't let that get away," said storm survivor Tameka Rancher.