Birmingham Metro School Rankings + Mystery Bama Fan

Welcome back, Birmingham! It's Wednesday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on today in town. First off, several Birmingham area schools were ranked among the best schools in the state in the latest Niche Best Schools report. Congrats to those schools and systems.

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First, today's weather:

Humid and mostly cloudy throughout the day. High: 76 Low: 51.

Here are the top stories today in Birmingham:

1. The latest school rankings released by the data analysis company Niche offer a look at how K-12 schools in Alabama compare with each other. Several Birmingham metro schools were ranked among the best in the state. (Birmingham Patch)
2. Those of you who watched the Auburn game against Penn State Saturday may have seen a lone fan wearing an Alabama shirt among the sea of white in Beaver Stadium. Well, Ryan Phillips of the Tuscaloosa Patch tracked the guy down. Pretty interesting interview. (Tuscaloosa Patch)
3. Samford University is ranked number one in the nation for student engagement, according to rankings published by The Wall Street Journal and Times Higher Education. (Alabama's News Leader)
4. A crime-plagued motel on Crestwood Boulevard will have eight weeks to clean up its act, the Birmingham City Council decided Tuesday. (birminghamwatch.org)
5. The former director for hospitality at the Chick-fil-A on Birmingham’s Southside has pleaded to federal charges after he pocketed thousands of dollars from customers. (AL.com)
6. A new Broadway-aimed musical will debut at Red Mountain Theatre's upcoming Human Rights New Works Festival in Birmingham. (Birmingham Patch)

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Today in Birmingham:

• The Art of Travel, Trade, and Transportation is an exhibition that brings together over seventy objects from Birmingham Museum of Art's permanent collection to explore subjects of travelling for both pleasure and necessity. (Details)
• It's alright to admit that you may be overwhelmed by your smart TV. Well, here is a great tutorial at Five Points West Regional Library Branch: How to Use Your SmartTV. (10:30 a.m.)
• The community is invited to join Central Alabama Pride for an unveiling at the Sidewalk Cinema. (6 p.m.)
• I'm a total sucker for these events, mainly because of Birmingham's somewhat haunted history, but tonight you can visit Birmingham's storied hotels, theaters, graveyards and mansions on a small-group ghost tour. (7 p.m.)
• Try your hand at trivia and enjoy some of the best beer brewed in Birmingham at Birmingham District Brewing Co. (7 p.m.)

Birmingham Patch Notebook

• Insomnia Cookies is offering free cookies to all teachers and school staff of Birmingham City Schools from September 20-22, 2021. (Facebook)
• Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Department received new computers and EMS jump bags. They have 100 computers to go on every emergency vehicle, which will allow first responders to receive and keep more accurate information. (Facebook)
• The Taking Pride Where I Reside cleanup campaign is helping to keep Birmingham beautiful. Check out the city's progress and when your neighborhood is up on the schedule. (Facebook)
• Tickets are on sale for Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience! From November 17 through January 2 at the BJCC. (Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow for another update! If you're liking these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Michael Seale

About me: I am a lifelong Alabama resident with more than two decades of media under my belt. I have worked for a daily newspaper, a weekly newspaper, a monthly magazine, a television station and a couple of radio stations. I also tried my hand at marketing for a little while. But I love writing news. This opportunity to bring Patch to Birmingham is a chance for my hometown to benefit from a new - and better - way to read and receive news.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Birmingham Daily? Contact me at michael.seale@patch.com.