MOBILE, AL. A Semmes man previously arrested for murder and robbery has been found guilty this week.
Joseph Timmons, 22, was found guilty on Friday, May 8, of the murder of Triston Bohannon and first-degree robbery.
Court testimony showed that Timmons was the one to bring Collins-Smiley and Bohannon together by “knowingly participating in the plan that led to his death,” the release said.
“Joseph Timmons helped set this crime in motion by luring Triston Bohannon to that park, fully aware of what was planned,” DA Blackwood said. “He is every bit as responsible for Triston’s murder as Tre’Vion Collins-Smiley who pulled the trigger. This week’s verdict makes clear that everyone involved in taking a life will be held accountable.”
Collins-Smiley has since been guilty of murder and was given two life sentences.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
GULF SHORES, Ala. The City of Gulf Shores is holding an online auction and offering an array of items. The surplus auction is being held May 26-June 9, 2026.
The auction is being held online at: www.govdeals.com
Auction items may be reviewed during auction by appointment only at:
PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY 19901 W. 36th Avenue Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (Behind Mobile Lumber located on Highway 59)
Call Tracy James at 251-968-1441, or email at tjames@gulfshoresal.gov for more information.
Appointment times are scheduled between the hours of 8:00 AM and 1:00 PM Monday-Thursday
Terms: ALL ITEMS ARE SOLD “AS IS” AND MUST BE PAID FOR AND PICKED UP WITHIN TEN (10) BUSINESS DAYS FROM THE END OF THE AUCTION.
Note: THE CITY IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LOADING AUCTION ITEMS. SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS MUST COME PREPARED TO JUMP START VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT, CHANGE BATTERIES, REPAIR FLAT TIRES, AND LOAD OR TOW AUCTION ITEMS.
All payments will be made through GovDeals (see website for details).
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
CENTER POINT, Ala. A Jefferson County city has begun forming a new police department and has hired its first police chief.
The City of Center Point has appointed Zandral Washington as their first police chief of its Public Safety Department, in what city officials are calling a milestone for the city.
The city, part of the Birmingham metro area, sits to the east of the city and has depended on the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for its law enforcement.
Washington comes to Center Point after serving as deputy police chief for the University of Alabama Birmingham Police Department. The city said Washington will spearhead development of the city’s police department including building foundational policies and procedures, establishing operational frameworks, and developing relationships with local, county, and regional law enforcement agencies.
City officials noted that the creation of a municipal police department will be gradual and strategic, adding that financial limitations currently require a measured approach to building a fully functional department.
The law enforcement services to the community may continue to be a combination of city police and county deputies.
“Chief Washington’s appointment represents an important step forward for the City of Center Point,” the release said. “Her leadership, experience, and vision will help lay the groundwork for a professional and community-focused public safety department that reflects the needs and values of our residents.”
Washington expressed her gratitude for being selected for the role.
“I am honored to have been selected to serve as the City of Center Point’s first Police Chief,” she said. “This is an opportunity to build a strong foundation for the future while developing meaningful relationships within the community.”
A pinning and swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, June 4, at 6:30 p.m. at Refresh Church Event Center, 117 12th Court NW in Birmingham. The city said the public is invited.
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GULF SHORES, Ala. A major player in the convenience store business is putting down roots in Baldwin County after buying out several CEFCO stores. While the name Casey’s may not be familiar to many of us, those who have moved from or are visiting from the central part of our country will probably recognize it.
Casey’s is known for more than just being a gas station or a convenience store. They’re recognized in numerous states for their pizza!
Casey’s is based in Ankeny, Iowa, and operates more than 2,950 stores.
In addition to Gulf Shores and Foley, the chain has stores in Axis, Mobile, and Loxley and they have begun selling its well-known pizza at their local locations.
“Casey’s is renowned for their pizza including a breakfast pizza and a taco pizza, making them the fifth-largest pizza chain in the U.S.,” according to the company website. “Stores offer fuel, snacks, and made-from-scratch pizza, donuts, subs, and more, with pickup and delivery available.”
Officials from the chain are seeking a liquor license from Gulf Shores for the rebranded store located there but it’s not certain if they plan on selling liquor in all of their rebranded stores.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. He was accused of sex crimes against a child and on Monday, May 11, 2026, he accepted a plea deal that’s going to put him behind bars for a long time.
Hoa John Nguyen, 31, pleaded guilty and will serve 10 years in prison for sex abuse of a child under 12 years old, as part of his sentencing on Monday, May 11.
He is also ordered to pay $50 to the Victims Compensation Assessment Fund and court costs.
As part of the plea deal, five other charges in this case have been dropped according to court records.
The original charges included: Rape 1st degree 3 counts of Sodomy 1st degree 2 counts of sexual abuse involving a child Sexual abuse 1st Rape 2nd degree Sodomy 2nd degree
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
Trussville City Schools is working to open a new elementary school as part of an overall plan to address overcrowding.
Since Trussville first opened their own public schools in 2005, the district, like the city, has been continually growing. Currently, the community is home to the largest elementary school in Alabama. Superintendent Patrick Martin said the district is working to balance enrollment across the district.
“This is a good problem to have, but it’s a problem nonetheless and our infrastructure needs to be able to support our student enrollment,” Martin told AL.com.
Martin said the district is in the planning stages to expand by building a new elementary school and adding a sixth grade to all elementary schools.
“You address two problem areas with the build of one school,” Martin said.
Paine Elementary School houses about 1,300 students, the most of any elementary school in the state, compared to 400 students at Magnolia Elementary School and 500 students at Cahaba Elementary School.
As a result, at Paine Elementary, there are 12 sections per grade level, as opposed to three to five sections at Trussville’s other elementaries.
The district is expecting 1,000 to 1,200 new students to enroll within the next ten years due to new housing being built throughout the city, Martin said.
To accommodate population growth, the city has already added an extra wing to Hewitt-Trussville High School which currently has about 1,600 students.
Last year, the district proposed funding the school expansions through a 12.9 mil property tax increase, but voters did not approve.
“We needed to go back to the drawing board and come up with another solution to this matter of student enrollment and capacity issues,” Martin said.
He said it will take about $30 to $35 million to build a new elementary school that can accommodate 1,000 students. The district is still working to figure out the location of the school.
Martin said the district is in talks with the city to figure out how to fund the expansion. He added that the city may have to discuss new zoning to accommodate the new elementary school.
“It’s a tribute to our teachers and our city,” Martin said. “People – families – want to come to Trussville and put their students in our school system.”
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
FAIRHOPE, Ala. Another intersection will soon be getting traffic lights installed due to its continual congestion and volume of traffic.
St. Michael’s Way and State Highway 104 have been the sight of numerous wrecks, some with injuries in recent years and now the Baldwin County Commission has agreed that the intersection needs traffic signals but exactly when they’ll be installed has not been determined yet.
Both ALDOT and the commission have previously agreed that the intersection traffic needed to be addressed but with other intersections having heavier traffic, they received traffic lights first. But the joint project now has the attention that it needs. The lights may be up before the end of the year or in the early part of 2027.
A dead-end road to the south, Lawrence Road, is slated to be built through to County Road 48 in the near future. But commissioners stated that funding continues to be an issue.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
San Francisco, California A $250 million dollar settlement made with Apple may bring some sudden cash to some iPhone users.
The cash payments of up to $95 from Apple may be available to you after the company on Tuesday reached a $250 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit for false advertising of its artificial intelligence capabilities.
Apple marketed their new AI features for its virtual assistant Siri when it rolled out the iPhone 16 in 2024, part of new software updates that the company billed as “Apple Intelligence.”
But much of what they claimed in their worldwide advertisement campaign was mostly wishful thinking.
The company has been scrambling to keep up with tech rivals amid the AI boom but still hasn’t delivered on the Siri revamp two years later.
The lawsuit, filed on behalf of U.S. consumers in the San Francisco federal court for the Northern District of California, alleged that Apple deceived consumers with a marketing campaign that promoted features that did not yet exist and misled them into buying the devices.
Lawyers for the iPhone buyers asked a court for preliminary approval of the proposed $250 million settlement, according to a court filing. If approved by a judge, it would be one of the biggest ever for Apple.
The settlement covers about 37 million devices bought in the United States between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025, including all iPhone 16 models and the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.
According to the news release, current or previous customers could be eligible for a payment of at least $25 for each device, and that amount could go up to $95 depending on how many claims are filed “and other factors,” the filing said.
Customers will be notified by email or mail that they can file a claim on a settlement website, it said.
Apple released a statement saying that they “resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users.”
Apple, based in Cupertino, California, was caught off-guard by the intense consumer interest in the Siri AI features. Buyers were angered after finding out that the new features would be released later than expected, the filing said.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. Mobile police responded to an armed robbery at an area gas station on Sunday May 10, 2026.
Officers were dispatched to Circle K located at 6900 Airport Blvd. at approximately 3:45 a.m. and when officers arrived, they were told that a male subject armed with a handgun demanded money from the register a short time earlier.
Upon further investigation, officers discovered the subject had struck a female employee with the handgun during the incident, causing pain, but no serious injuries.
Officers scoured the area but did not locate the suspect.
This remains an active investigation.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
ESCAMBIA, Ala. Troopers are investigating a fatal car crash involving two vehicles.
State troopers, fire personnel and EMS responded at approximately 6 a.m. Monday, May 4, 2026, to a wreck that has claimed the life of a Carriere, Miss., man. Brandon G. Wascom, 46, who was fatally injured when the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado he was driving struck the rear of the 2001 Peterbilt tractor-trailer driven by Jaron K. Bush, 34, of Mobile.
After the initial impact, the Chevrolet caught fire. Wascom was critically injured and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The crash occurred on Interstate 65 near the 73-mile marker, approximately 18 miles north of Flomaton, in Escambia County.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOUNT VERNON, Ala. On May 9, 2026, at approximately 10:45 p.m., the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office responded to 2640 Coy Smith Highway in Mount Vernon, Alabama, in reference to an altercation where shots were fired.
When deputies arrived on scene, they discovered one individual suffering from multiple stab wounds. The victim, identified as David Sullivan, was transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect, identified as Caleb Reed (DOB 04/11/2006), was detained by deputies at the scene.
Preliminary investigation revealed the property owner was hosting a graduation party for his son.
As the evening progressed, several uninvited guests reportedly arrived, prompting the homeowner to shut the party down and ask attendees to leave.
While guests were leaving, an altercation broke out between Reed and Sullivan. During the fight, Reed allegedly stabbed Sullivan multiple times before fleeing the immediate area.
Reed later returned to the scene, where he was detained by Mobile County Sheriff deputies.
Several witnesses who observed the altercation were also interviewed by investigators.
Caleb Reed was taken into custody and charged with Murder and Assault 2nd Degree.
This investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the
Mobile County Sheriff’s Office 251-574-8633 or go to our website, www.mobileso.com/ crimetips
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
A Florida man has been sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for crimes involving the sexual exploitation of multiple victims, including minors in Alabama, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Alabama, Trevon Lamont Brown, 25, of Ocala, was sentenced to 600 months in prison followed by a lifetime term of supervised release.
Authorities say an investigation into Brown’s activates showed that he was involved in online cyber stalking and luring underage minors for sex.
Federal officials said Brown pleaded guilty in December 2025 to several charges, including sex trafficking, production of child pornography, coercion and enticement of a minor, and cyberstalking. Brown used social media accounts beginning in December 2020 to pose as a teenage girl and communicate with males between the ages of 15 and 23. Authorities said Brown exchanged sexually explicit images and videos with victims before threatening to share the material with their friends and family unless they complied with additional demands.
According to court documents, investigators said “Trevon Brown victimized children across the United States, not just in the Northern and Middle Districts of Alabama. These children have suffered tremendously and will continue to experience lifelong impacts as images of their abuse remain online forever. We are grateful to our federal and state law enforcement partners that remain resolute in their pursuit of justice for these children. With their help, we will make sure monsters like Brown spend significant time behind bars,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Catherine Crosby.
Federal investigators later obtained search warrants for Brown’s online accounts and searched his residence in Florida in August 2023. Authorities said multiple electronic devices were seized, and forensic examinations revealed child pornography and sexually explicit material involving numerous victims.
Officials said investigators also identified additional victims in Alabama’s Middle District. Prosecutors said Brown used similar online sextortion tactics against three victims between March and August 2023.
“We will not tolerate predators who exploit children and young adults. Our agents, alongside our dedicated law enforcement partners, worked tirelessly across state lines to protect victims and bring offenders to justice,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “The public can be assured we are vigilant and unwavering in our mission to defend the most vulnerable.”
The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative focused on combating child sexual exploitation and abuse.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
The sentence was handed down by Corey L. Maze in the Northern District of Alabama.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
A proposed entertainment venue in Orange Beach is already getting a lot of push back as residents step forward with questions about traffic and noise and the environmental impact.
The Pirates Voyage Dinner Theater will be built off Orange Beach Boulevard if approved. The site is currently the Beech Camper & Mobile Home Park.
The Dolly Parton Company pirate show also operates in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Panama City Beach, Fla.
Citizens packed the Orange Beach Performing Arts Center on Wednesday for a town hall and presentation from Mayor Tony Kennon and had many questions for the mayor.
Mayor Kennon told the audience that the property is already under contract for $14 million and will undergo all of the normal steps including the planned unit development (PUD) process, which is designed for “out-of-the-box projects.”
Kennon said that he called for citizens to meet with him to explain the details of the project and to address their concerns.
Kennon said he negotiated with developers to bring the best deal to the council for a vote and has discussed the city purchasing half of the property for drainage purposes and to keep it natural.
No matter what development comes to the property, Kennon said there will be traffic concerns. He said he spoke with officials from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), who told him the roadway has sufficient capacity for the development.
For a sold-out show, the Pirates Voyage Dinner Show would bring in an estimated 285 vehicles. In the summer, there would be three shows a day. There are two shows during the off-season, although the business would be closed for part of the winter.
This venue will give residents and visitors another chance to enjoy quality entertainment by a name that most people recognize and a woman that is trusted and who has been very successful in business.
“It’s going to be something Kennon said.
Kennon told the crowd that the quality of life for area residents is directly related to tourism. That’s why he said city leaders need to pay close attention to attractions offered to ensure the city offers options for families.
The Planning Commission will consider the project on May 11, and the City Council will vote on the matter at its next regular meeting on June 2.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE COUNTY, AL. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Alabama, Jesus Penaloza-Munoz, 33, was arrested during a traffic stop by U.S. Border Patrol agents on February 23rd, 2026. It was at that time that police realized that the man from Mexico had entered the U.S. illegal on more than one occasion.
U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Penaloza-Munoz during the traffic stop.
During the stop, Penaloza-Munoz used his Mexican Consular Identification Card to identify himself to agents. He reportedly told them he had no documents that allowed him to be in the country.
Agents found that he had been previously deported from the country on five different occasions after putting his fingerprints into the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System.
This time, Penaloza-Munoz has been sentenced to time served and a year of supervised release. After being released, he will be referred to immigration officials for deportation proceedings.
He is also required to pay $100 in special assessments.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. Police were notified that a victim of a brutal assault had arrived at an area hospital and that the person had extensive injuries after being beaten with an object.
Mobile police said that in the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 5, 2026, officers were notified of an assault that occurred days prior at 304 Bay Shore Avenue (Central Plaza Towers).
Police said that it was discovered that a male victim arrived at a local hospital in late April with major lacerations following an incident at the apartment complex. The victim, who police did not identify, remains in the hospital for his injuries.
Upon further investigation, officers were able to determine that a male subject who also lives at the apartment complex struck the victim with a metal pipe.
On Tuesday, May 5, 2026, Jonathan Williams, 71, was arrested and transported to Metro Jail.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
By Rick McCann/Dale Hines Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
May 6, 2026
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. During the past seventy-two hours in Mobile and Baldwin Counties, authorities have responded to multiple suicide threats, attempts and at least two suicides.
Just this morning, authorities in Mobile County responded to a fatal self-inflicted gunshot wound that was deemed to be a suicide. Two days ago, a man went into a wooded area of Stapleton, and he also committed suicide with a gun.
A person being held at the Daphne jail on Tuesday, May 5th, 2026, also threatened or attempted to commit suicide and detention officers intervened. The person was transported to an area hospital, but we do not know their condition.
Daphne police, fire department and EMS also responded to a suicide threat inside the Jubilee Farms residential community earlier this week.
Police in several Mobile County communities have also responded to a number of suicide threats or attempts this week and they say that the number of calls for people in crises have increased in recent years.
Many of our area police officers are trained and certified in Crises Intervention Techniques (CIT) which trains officers to be able to interact with people in crises and to deescalate the situation while offering the person help.
In our county and others, all emergency calls for medical assistance automatically have a fire engine and an ambulance dispatched and that includes calls involving a mental health crisis, suicide threats, or attempts.
We have reported for several years on what many deem a suicide crisis in our area. Some of the increase comes from the stress of everyday life, while others come with in the influx of people moving to the area to start over, or to escape their life from wherever they were living. A lack of a support system often leaves many feeling alone with no one to talk to and little hope of making their new start a reality.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, thinking of ending their life or just needs to talk to someone, please call 911 or for immediate mental health emergencies in Baldwin County, Alabama, call the AltaPointe Health crisis line at 251-450-2211 (available 24/7). For non-immediate support, you can call 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
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