Good morning, Decatur.

Two local businesses in Decatur have been named finalists for state awards presented by the Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama and the Business Council—award details will be announced soon.

Decatur City Schools has set aside roughly $10M for fiscal 2026 upgrades across 19 school buildings with funds designated for renovating Austin Junior High and upgrading athletic facilities at Austin and Decatur High Schools — fiscal 2026 begins today following board approval of key projects. The move aims to keep the school infrastructure safe and up to date.

Rep. Reed Ingram proposed a constitutional amendment that will require school boards to vote on the Pledge of Allegiance and on allowing prayer or reading religious texts—schools that do not adopt these policies will lose up to 25% of their state funding, and the measure will go to a statewide vote in the 2026 session.

Decatur City Council announced it will reduce nonprofit funding by $136,331 to just over $4 million in the fiscal 2026 budget — the only new change in the plan.

The Morgan County Health Department released food safety inspection scores for local restaurants inspected from Sept.

22 to Sept. 27—some Decatur sites scored as low as 74 with issues like mold on equipment and outdated products while others earned perfect scores of 100.

Tennessee Valley high schools will kick off Week 6 football on October 2 and 3 with games starting at 7 p.m.—Decatur will face Columbia among other teams in close contests across the region.

Ruthie Foster Concert

7:00-8:30 p.m. — The Princess Theatre - Center For The Performing Arts — Ticket prices may apply — Experience soulful music with Ruthie Foster as she delivers powerful performances.

Cupping with Silicone Cups Workshop

9 AM – 5 PM — Massage Therapy Institute — $200 — Master the art of silicone cupping and enhance your massage practice with new techniques.

Percussive Power: Unlocking the Benefits of Vibrational Therapy

9 AM – 3 PM — Massage Therapy Institute — $150 per person — Enhance your massage practice with masterful percussive therapy techniques.

River Clay Fine Arts Festival

9 a.m. – 4 p.m. — Decatur City Hall — Admission fees vary — Explore a vibrant artistic marketplace with live music, food trucks, and activities for all ages.