Editor's Picks: A Look Back On Our Biggest Stories Of 2024

TUSCALOOSA, AL — We're about to close the book on 2024, which proved an eventful year in local news, to say the least.

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It was a year of tragedy for many, triumph for some and pure shock for others, especially with the biggest news story of the year in Tuscaloosa: The retirement of Alabama football coach Nick Saban.

So here's a look back at the year in news, some of the stories I am particularly proud of, and the important ones that highlight what this year meant for so many.

Crime

• Mother Still Seeking Justice Four Years After Teen Slain In Tuscaloosa: In this story, we take an in-depth look at the murder of an Indiana University student in Tuscaloosa that has yet to see its suspect go to trial.
• A History Of Violence: What We Know About Suspected Serial Killer Stacy Lee Drake: Here's an update following the arrest of a suspected serial killer believed to have murdered a Tuscaloosa man at the local Alcoholics Anonymous Clubhouse.
• Man Slain At Tuscaloosa AA Remembered As Compassionate Force In Local Recovery Community: Here's what those closest to Rusty Andrews had to say about him after his body was found at the Tuscaloosa Alcoholics Anonymous Clubhouse.
• WHAT'S DONE IN THE DARK: The Complete Four-Part Series: Part true crime, part history and the length of a novella, this four-part series takes the deepest look yet at the 1989 murder of Father Francis Craven on a secluded road in Tuscaloosa County.
• COLUMN: Waiting For A Man To Die: Here's my firsthand account of the atmosphere at the Holman Correctional Facility ahead of the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith — the first person executed in the United States by nitrogen gas suffocation.
• 'Losing A Little Bit Of Sunshine': Hale County Man Slain In Buhl Remembered For Compassion: In this heartbreaking account, Tuscaloosa Patch spoke with loved ones of a man shot and killed in Buhl to learn more about a life cut tragically short.

Politics

• COLUMN: Red Flags At University Beach: Much of my political reporting in 2024 was dominated by intrigue over one of the most contentious projects in Tuscaloosa County history — a proposed resort-style water park in Northport expected to bring in $350 million in capital investment.
• COLUMN: Northport Leaders Remain Hog-Tied After Entering University Beach Agreement: This column examines how leaders in Northport City Hall are still left dealing with the effects of the public-private partnership agreement they voted to enter into with developers of University Beach.
• COLUMN: Unanswered Questions Piling Up About Northport's University Beach Development: This story produced plenty of copy over the last year but this column takes a close look at questions that have still yet to be answered.
• COLUMN: Hogg's Abrupt Exit Is Only The Beginning Of The Circus: Perhaps the most surprising development in the Northport water park saga came when its most vocal proponent, City Council President Jeff Hogg, abruptly resigned from office after igniting a firestorm of public criticism.
• Following The Money: Tracking The Influence of Developer Dollars In Northport City Hall: In another important chapter of the University Beach saga, I took a close look at who the biggest financial players in Northport politics are and what, if anything, they stand to gain from the University Beach development.
• Examining Both Sides Of Property Tax Vote For Tuscaloosa City Schools Funding: Ahead of the vote on a proposed property tax increase to benefit Tuscaloosa City Schools, I burned up shoe leather in speaking to as many sources as possible for perspective.
• COLUMN: A Postmortem Analysis Of Failed Tuscaloosa City Schools Property Tax Referendum: After the proposed property tax increase was voted down, I offered my informed perspective on the measure and why it was resoundingly defeated at the ballot box.
• Understanding Tuscaloosa's Tug-Of-War Over Internet Sales Tax:In one of my more ambitious reporting projects over the last year, here's my attempt at making Simplified Sellers Use Tax a topic that everyone can understand.

Sports

• COLUMN: Super Fan Zach Petruccelli's Pure, Unrivaled Love For The Crimson Tide: One of my favorites from 2024. Here's the story of Zach Petruccelli and his unrivaled passion for his hometown team.
• COLUMN: 'Let's Get Out Of Here And Go To The Final Four': It was a 2023-24 basketball season for the rafters at Coleman Coliseum, so I put down my thoughts after the Crimson Tide secured its ticket to the Final Four.
• Former Alabama Standout, Tuscaloosa Civic Leader Clell Hobson Dead At 93: Tuscaloosa lost a true sports legend this year as we said goodbye to Clell Hobson — the last living former Alabama quarterback to have played before the Bear Bryant Era.
• Hoops, Faith & Rattlesnake Meat: Remembering Longtime Northside Coach Steve Deavours: In another devastating loss, this time for my alma mater at Northside High School, I wrote this long-form obituary to remember the life and legacy of longtime NHS basketball coach Steve Deavours.
• Former Crimson Tide, MLB Star Returns To UA To Share A Half-Century Of Baseball Stories: Former Boston Red Sox third baseman Butch Hobson, who was a two-sport standout at Alabama, is one of my favorite people in the world and allowed me to accompany him when he returned to his alma mater to speak to a class.
• COLUMN: Embracing Great Expectations In The Kalen DeBoer Era: Here are my initial thoughts after the introduction of Kalen DeBoer as Alabama's latest football coach.
• COLUMN: Watching The Sun Set On The Nick Saban Era: It was inevitable but still remains a situation that no one expected they would ever see. Here's my column on the eve of the end of the Nick Saban Era.

Other Stories That Were Special To Me

• Chief Tuskaloosa Reimagined Through Extensive Research By TCSO Chief Deputy: Here's our in-depth look at the research of career lawman Loyd Baker in his quest to provide the most accurate image ever of Tuscaloosa's namesake.
• 'Who's Gonna Fill Those Shoes?' | Remembering Tuscaloosa Courtroom Titan Bob Prince: There were many legends we lost in 2024 but none had an impact on the legal community quite like Bob Prince.
• COLUMN: A Farewell Chorus For An Empty Newspaper Office: As the former Tuscaloosa News building came down to make way for the Saban Center, I spoke with several of the legends who once walked its halls to hear their stories about the building.
• Why Tuscaloosa Developer Stan Pate Bought Sections Of The Southern Border Wall: In one of the quirkier stories of 2024, here's my reporting on why Tuscaloosa developer Stan Pate purchased sections of the Southern Border Wall.
• COLUMN: A Day With Developer & Northport Kingmaker Ron Turner: Here's my in-depth column after an extensive interview with local developer Ron Turner, who is one of the most influential players in local politics, especially in Northport.
• COLUMN: So Shines A Good Deed In A Weary World: In a moment that went viral for all the right reasons, here's my column on Hunter Sartain and his decision to stand up for what is right after racist comments were directed at his friends at a local restaurant.
• Bone Camp Bigfoot: April Marks 10-Year Anniversary Of Last Sighting In Tuscaloosa County: Another fun and quirky story, here's my deep-dive examining a series of cryptid sightings in northern Tuscaloosa County.
• Memory Of The Week: When The Civil War Came To Tuscaloosa: I've always considered myself a history buff and enjoyed researching the blow-by-blow account of Tuscaloosa's involvement in the Civil War.
• COLUMN: Today In Tuscaloosa, We Are All Marshall: In one of our more somber historical stories, we take a look back on the four Tuscaloosa men killed in a plane crash that decimated the Marshall University football program.
• Memory Of The Week: How Cecil 'Hootie' Ingram Got His Head Coaching Start In Tuscaloosa: Following the death of former Alabama Director of Athletics Hootie Ingram, I took a deep-dive into how he got his coaching head start in Tuscaloosa County.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com.