COVID Cases Affecting Trash Pickup + Veteran Police Officer Dies

Morning, Birmingham folks! It's your Birmingham Patch editor, Michael Seale, your host of the Birmingham Daily. This is a new format for the morning newsletter, keeping you informed on what's going on in your town.

First, today's weather: Humid and partly cloudy throughout the day. High: 92, low: 73.

Here are the top stories in Birmingham today:

1. Birmingham-area colleges are offering tuition assistance amid the pandemic, as Miles College, Lawson State and Jeff State are utilizing federal funds to help student debt. (Birmingham Patch)
2. COVID-19 cases among public works employees in Birmingham are affecting trash pickup in the city, and the city wants to hire more workers to pick up the slack. The City of Birmingham has a link for potential applicants. (Birmingham Patch)
3. Now that the fall school semester has begun, local schools are hoping to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the delta variant. Here’s how seven Birmingham-area colleges and universities are doing their best to ensure the safety of their students and staff. (Bham Now)
4. The Birmingham Police Department is mourning the loss of one of its own veteran officers, Pinckney Tooson. Tooson died Thursday morning. (ABC 33/40)
5. Like many pediatricians, a local pediatric infectious disease expert urges mask mandates for Alabama schools, as cases of COVID-19 spike among young patients. (WVTM13)

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Today in Birmingham

• Birmingham Barons versus Chattanooga Lookouts at Regions Field (7:05 p.m.)
• Bromberg's Two Day Jewelry Buying Event (9:30 a.m.)
• INTO UAB Soccer Games - University of Alabama at Birmingham - Diversity and Inclusion (3 p.m.)
• Summer Commencement: Graduate - University of Alabama at Birmingham (6 p.m.)
• Sloss Metal Arts Bowl-O-Rama - Sloss Furnaces Visitor Center (6 p.m.)

Birmingham Patch Notebook

• James Spann: "Smoky sunrise in Colorado from 14,000 feet looking towards Mount Lindsey. Photo from Ryan Kushner." (Instagram)
• Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Department: "Today, newly promoted Battalion Chiefs Lafayette Campbell and Dedrick Hope received their hardware and congratulations." (Facebook)
• City of Birmingham Government: "Mayor @woodfinforbham welcomed Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge (@secfudge)." (Instagram)
• A short search for a man reported missing at the Cahaba River ended when Irondale police found the man dead Wednesday. The Jefferson County Coroner's Office has identified him as 29-year-old Kevin Lee Self of Leeds. (Trussville Patch)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• L’Chaim (August 22)

Gigs & services:

• Cremation Center of Birmingham $950 A+ BBB rating, Lowest Cost (Details)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with your next update. If you're into these newsletters, consider bringing some friends and neighbors along for the ride. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Michael Seale

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Birmingham Daily? I'm all ears. You can reach me at michael.seale@patch.com.