FOLEY Ala. On Saturday April 11, 2026, at approximately 6:40 p.m., the McDonald’s located at 1295 Walk Magnolia Drive was evacuated, and the Foley Fire Department was dispatched to the business due to a reported fire.
While customers and employees waited outside in the parking lot, firefighters entered the restaurant and found smoke and a fire inside the kitchen. Firefighters reported that a fire was contained inside a deep fryer.
According to the Foley Fire Department the restaurant was ventilated and the business turned back over to McDonald’s management.
At this time, no injuries were reported.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
DAPHNE Ala. Daphne police officers conducting traffic stops and using their training and due diligence while on patrol were able to make three felony drug arrests in a matter of days.
On Thursday, April 9th, 2025, at around 9:08 p.m. David Allen Rabedew, 34 was arrested by officers and charged with felony charges of: Possession of Dangerous Drugs Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Illegal Possession of Prescription Drugs
Rabedew was booked into the Baldwin County Detention Center.
Daphne police officers also stopped another person and based on probable cause, officers arrested Jason Raymond Richardson, 47 and charged him with a felony. Possession with Intent to Distribute Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
On Sunday, April 12th, 2026, at approximately 1:55 p.m., police stopped Megan Ann Foster, 42. During the officer’s investigation, police found drugs and have charged Foster with a felony and several misdemeanors including: Possession of Methamphetamine Possession of Marijuana 2nd Drug Paraphernalia-1st Offense
Foster was also transported to the Baldwin County Detention Center.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
Mobile County, AL. On April 11, 2026, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of two bystanders being struck by gunfire during an altercation at a horse show event in Grand Bay.
Upon arrival, deputies and emergency medical personnel located two victims suffering from gunshot wounds. One adult male sustained a gunshot wound to the abdomen, and one adult female sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. Both injuries are considered to be non-life-threatening.
Both victims were treated on scene and subsequently transported to local hospitals for further medical care.
The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 130 pounds. He has shoulder-length dreadlocks, a goatee, and visible tattoos on his left arm.
This incident remains under active investigation. Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office at (251) 574-8633 or submit tips online at www.mobileso.com.pril 13, 2026
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
GRAND BAY, AL. During the horse show this weekend in Grand Bay, a teenager was killed in an ATV collision.
The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office responded to the crash along with EMS.
The sheriff’s department told us that they are still investigating this tragedy and that no other information is being released at this time. However, further details will be released in the coming days.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. An early Monday morning traffic stop in Mobile has led to a pursuit and the arrest of the vehicle’s driver.
Mobile police attempted to conduct a traffic stop at approximately 8 a.m. but the driver refused to pull over and eventually crashed on Interstate 10 near the Dauphin Island Parkway during the police pursuit.
Police were able to quickly take the driver into custody.
The driver was transported to the Mobile Metro Jail where he has been booked on several charges.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
LOXLEY, Ala. Five people were injured on Sunday afternoon in a traffic collision in Loxley.
Several 911 calls to the Baldwin County Communications Center reported a wreck near County Road 64 involving an overturned vehicle and reports stated that people were possibly trapped.
The Loxley police and fire departments along with numerous ambulances were dispatched to the area of South Magnolia Street and W Union Avenue.
Firefighters reported that four children, a male adult and an elderly woman all had injuries from the wreck and that no one was currently entrapped in the vehicle.
A medical helicopter was also dispatched to the scene.
Police are currently investigating this two-vehicle collision.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. A two-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 7:55 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, 2026, is being investigated by troopers as a fatality.
The wreck which occurred on Baldwin County 9 near Baldwin County 28, approximately two miles east of Summerdale city limits, has claimed the life of a Fairhope man.
Firefighters, EMS and law enforcement responded to the scene.
ALEA is reporting that Bradford K. Deyton, 64, was critically injured when the 2012 Toyota Camry that he was driving was struck by the 1995 Chevrolet C1500 pickup driven by Rickie F. Jones Jr., 43, of Daphne.
After the initial impact, the Toyota left the roadway, struck a stop sign and a fire hydrant. Deyton and a passenger in the Toyota, Maureen F. Deyton, 65, of Fairhope, were both injured and transported to South Baldwin Hospital for medical treatment.
On Thursday, April 9, Bradford K. Deyton succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased while at the hospital.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE COUNTY, AL. In the month of March 2026, detectives with the Mobile County Sheriff’s office ICAC unit received a Cyber Tip from Google. The tip notified law enforcement about a person receiving child pornography.
Detectives were able to identify Walter Rainey as the suspect. Rainey is a convicted child sex offender. He was convicted of one count of the attempted sexual abuse of a child less than 12 in 2025.
On April 9, 2026, detectives were able to locate and arrest Rainey on 5 counts of unlawful possession of child pornography.
The case will also be presented to the US District Attorney’s Office for federal prosecution.
ICAC, Internet Crimes Against Children, is a national network of 61 coordinated task forces, representing over 5,400 Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.
These agencies are dedicated to investigating, prosecuting and developing effective responses to internet crimes against children. Educating the public through the development and delivery of public awareness and prevention programs is also one of the main important initiatives of the ICAC Task Force Program.
Sheriff Burch began this Unit when he took office in 2023. Since that time, the ICAC Unit has received 1,055 cyber tips resulting in 475 felony charges and 68 Federal indictments.
If you would like to report a crime, you may call 251-574-8633 or go to our website, www.mobileso.com/crimetips/ and report anonymously.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE COUNTY, AL. A single vehicle crash on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at approximately 11:23 a.m. sent emergency personnel from area fire departments, EMS and law enforcement to the scene.
The wreck located on March Road near Boe Road, 9 miles west of the Mobile city limits, in Mobile County claimed the life of a Theodore man. James S. Cross, 54, was fatally injured when the 2004 Toyota Sequoia that he was driving, left the roadway and struck a sign. After the initial impact, the Toyota struck a culvert and overturned. Cross was not using a seat belt at the time of crash, was ejected and airlifted to USA Health University Hospital for treatment where he succumbed to his injuries.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigation revealed that prior to crashing, Cross was involved in a previous crash and fled the scene though state troopers did not release any details about the crash.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
FOLEY, Ala. Another local favorite is back again this year in Foley.
The 2026 Heritage Park Music and Movies series will be held during Friday evenings with a patriotic theme celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
Guests can bring a blanket or a chair and relax while watching the movie and listening to the music during each of the four Fridays and just relax with the family.
The four-week series will include a concert and a movie shown at dusk. Event organizers also noted that they have other things planned each Friday evening including a scavenger hunt.
On the last Friday night, the series will conclude with events planned around the theme of America’s 250th anniversary, including a line dance with 250 dancers and patriotic themed bounce houses for the children.
Concerts will start at 6 p.m. in the park pavilion. The movies begin at dusk. Admission is free and food vendors will be available. Parking will also be available around Heritage Park.
The dates for this four-week series are:
Friday, Apr. 17: The Koontz Band followed by the movie “Wicked for Good”
Friday, Apr. 24: MidLife Crisis followed by the movie “Zootopia 2”
Friday, May 15: Chitlin Switch followed by the movie “Lilo & Stitch (2025)”
Friday, May 22: Strickly Rivers followed by the movie “National Treasure”
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, Ala. Police have arrested a Gulf Shores man, charging him with sexual torture.
Clinton Rowell, 29, is charged with four counts of sexual torture, along with felony domestic violence charges after police responded to a domestic violence call on March 22nd, 2026, in the 1600 block of Hillcrest Road.
Mobile police did not release most details of the incident because of the nature of the charges and did not want to identify the victim in this incident.
The Gulf Shores man has been accused of violence against women according to public records and has been arrested for domestic violence against women in Baldwin and Mobile Counties.
Rowell was charged with strangulation of a woman until she passed out in Baldwin County last year.
Although arrested on similar charges numerous times, Rowell has escaped long term incarceration including in 2023 when Rowell pleaded guilty to domestic violence strangulation and was sentenced to 15 years, but it was suspended to five years’ probation.
Currently, Rowell is being held in the metro jail without bond and his preliminary hearing in Mobile County is set for May 14, 2026.
In Baldwin County, the District Attorney’s Office is asking to revoke his probation and have him serve the 15-year sentence that he was given in 2023.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
Alabama lawmakers voted Wednesday to approve a bill further forcing regulations and expanding government overreach.
SB 361 by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, will make it a crime to keep a dog tied or confined outside except under certain circumstances. The bill also grants broad authority to appointed investigators who are not required to be certified law enforcement officers.
The bill was passed in the House by a vote of 69 to 23 with nine abstentions April 8 despite strong bipartisan opposition.
Rep. A.J. McCampbell, D-Demopolis, raised issues with the bill’s effect on private property rights.
“I’m just trying to see how this process is going to operate and work,” McCampbell said. “Because if you come on someone’s property and you actually start messing with their dogs, in the country, that’s grounds that something needs to happen to you. So how are we going to make sure this is understood out in a rural area and enforced in a rural area?”
Alabama Farmers Federation External Affairs Department Director Brian Hardin said issues with this bill go beyond protection.
“This is another example of government stepping on private property rights and telling landowners what they must do,” Hardin said. “We support humane treatment of animals, and laws already on the books protect animals from cruel owners and abusers. This takes it a step further and opens the door for more government control.”
Several amendments were offered. Two by Rep. Joe Lovvorn, R-Auburn, updated the language of the bill, providing some owner protections. Two tabled amendments, one by Rep. Jennifer Fidler, R-Fairhope, and the other by Rep. Van Smith, R-Billingsley, would have allowed governing authorities to opt into the rule instead of being forced to adhere and outlawed tethering specifically with log chains, respectively. An amendment by Rep. Brock Colvin, R-Albertville, ensured no owner liability for unintentional injuries. Rep. Rick Rehm, R-Dothan, eventually withdrew his amendment requiring a warrant to remove a dog from a property after Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, and Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, argued against it.
The Senate concurred by a vote of 17 to 1 following House passage. Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, was the sole vote against with several voting “present.”
“The Federation thanks the members of the Legislature who studied this bill and understood dogs should be and can be protected from cruelty under existing law without taking a dangerous step to erode property rights of Alabamians,” Hardin said. “In addition to voting against the bill, several representatives worked in vain to prevent this needless and flawed bill from coming to the floor and to amend it to make it less onerous — especially for those in rural Alabama.”
SB 361 awaits Gov. Kay Ivey’s signature.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
FAIRHOPE, Ala. On Friday morning, April 10th, 2026, at approximately 9:20 a.m. the Baldwin County 911 Communications Center received 911 calls reporting that a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle in Fairhope and that the person was injured.
Both the Fairhope Fire Department and the Fairhope Police along with a Medstar ambulance rushed to the area of Gayfer Avenue and North Section Street where they found did find a woman lying on the ground screaming and in pain.
According to authorities, a person driving a truck had hit a woman at that location.
The woman was transported by ambulance to an area hospital. Her condition is unknown.
Fairhope police are investigating.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
FAIRHOPE, Ala. The Fairhope police department were called to the north beach area, north of the Fairhope Municipal Pier after a person was discovered deceased early Friday morning.
According to a person on scene, the person was found at the bottom of the stairs.
Police were on scene for several hours and they stated that there was no threat to the community.
By early afternoon, the Fairhope police ruled the death a suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot.
In November of last year, police also conducted a death investigation and stated that a person committed suicide at the Municipal Pier.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MONTGOMERY Ala. Alabamians may soon get a reprieve on some taxes and two months of grocery tax holiday after the bill passed the Senate on Wednesday.
Legislation establishing an up to $1,000 state tax deduction for overtime compensation was approved during the session.
The bill by State Rep. James Lomax (R-Huntsville) would establish an Alabama individual income tax deduction for qualified overtime compensation not to exceed $1,000 per taxpayer. The bill is temporary and expires at the end of 2028.
The bill also temporarily removes the remaining 2% of the state’s sales tax on groceries starting on May 1 and ending on June 30.
Some have asked that taxes be completely removed from groceries as it has in other states.
An uncapped overtime tax cut sponsored by House Minority Leader (D-Huntsville) was passed into law in the 2023 session but expired in June 2025.
“This is the overtime bill that we have dealt with before, but it’s certainly much more contained as far as the cost to the ETF,” State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) said on the Senate floor on Wednesday. “It also contains a provision for a two-month waiver of the grocery tax, the 2% on food during the months of May and June.”
The bill already passed the House in March. It now heads to Gov. Kay Ivey for her consideration.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
Daphne police officers made multiple arrests relating to alcohol including driving under the influence of alcohol.
Aaron McKay Ragsdale was initially stopped by police on April 1, 2026, at 11:30 for a traffic infraction and found that the driver was also intoxicated. Ragsdale was charged with Driving Under the Influence – Alcohol and transported to the Daphne Justice Center.
Alan Ryan Sawrey was arrested for Driving Under the Influence after police stopped him on US 98 near Walmart for a traffic infraction on April 2nd, 2026, at around 10:30 p.m.
Daphne police officers conducted a traffic stop on Jason Carl Parlee at 12:30 a.m., April 4, 2026 and the officer found Parlee to be driving impaired He has been charged with Driving Under the Influence. (Alcohol)
Police also arrested William Jason Northcutt on April 4, 2026, at approximately 1:45 a.m. on US 98 in daphne.
Northcutt was charged with Driving Under the Influence (Alcohol) and taken to the Daphne jail.
On April 4, 2026, at around 3:12 a.m., Daphne police charged Ryan Mark Hensley with Public Intoxication in the 7000 block of Park Dr.
Five arrests involving public intoxication were made on April 5th, 2026, including multiple arrests at the Top of the Bay bar located in the 20,000 block of US Highway 98 in Daphne.
Jeffrey Foster Hudson was charged with Resisting Arrest.
Alberta Beatrice Fillingim has been charged with Public Intoxication.
Jonathan Hoffman Salter was also charged with Public Intoxication.
Meagan Lashay England was also charged with Public Intoxication during the same incident.
The Daphne police also conducted a traffic infraction stop on April 4, 2026, at around 2:33 a.m. on Frederick Blvd. The driver was later identified as Marc Garrett Posey. Police report that Posey was driving under the influence and that he was arrested.
Police also reported that on April 5th, 2026, at approximately 11:49 p.m., Shaun Michael Ryan was stopped at N. Main Street At Van Buren Street for a traffic infraction and was found to be impaired. Police charged him with Driving Under the Influence (Alcohol)
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. Alabama’s “CHOOSE Act”, education savings account program, got off to a fast start in its first year during the 2025-2026 school year with almost 25,000 applicants but on Wednesday, Governor Kay Ivey announced that Alabama’s education savings account program had a record number of applicants in its second year. The application deadline was March 31, with almost 49,000 students applying.
The Governor has stated previously that the parents should be the ones to decide on what’s best for their children and the “CHOOSE Act” is certainly giving parents another choice in their children’s education.
CHOOSE Act Alabama makes refundable income tax credits called education savings accounts (ESAs) available to support the success of eligible K5-12 students in Alabama. For the upcoming school year, participating students are limited to those whose family has an AGI that does not exceed 300 percent of the federal poverty level for the preceding tax year. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, all students throughout the state will be eligible to apply.
While the program is funded and managed by the Alabama Department of Revenue qualifying and selected students can select from participating schools, selected vendors, tutors, curriculum, and defined resources as part of a homeschool program giving them a wider variety of options rather than being directed to a particular school just because it’s close to where they might live.
“The CHOOSE Act has changed the lives of thousands of Alabama families by enabling them to choose schools that best align with their priorities and their child’s specific needs,” said Ivey in a written statement. “The increase in applications for the upcoming school year shows that the people of Alabama want school choice, and I am proud that we are able to give it to them!”
For the 2025-2026 school year, there were 15,939 students enrolled in a participating school, each able to use up to $7,000, and 7,245 students in home education programs, where families can receive $2,000 per child for up to two children in a family.
Of those who applied, decisions will be based upon:
The first 500 ESAs awarded to participating students* with special needs
Second priority goes to participating students* previously awarded in the prior academic year
Next priority goes to participating students* who are dependents of active-duty service members enrolled in or assigned to a priority school as defined in Section 16-6D-4
Remaining awarded for participating students* based on the family’s AGI as a percentage of the federal poverty level for the preceding tax year
*Priority goes to siblings of participating students.
The 2026-27 CHOOSE Act application deadline closed with 29,341 applications representing 48,927 total students. Of these, 18,832 were new applications, representing 29,986 total students, and 10,509 were renewal applications, representing 18,941 total students.
According to Ivey’s office, applications closely track the 2024 census population numbers for Alabama (68.2% white and 31.8% minority). This year, new applicants included people of different ethnicities, with 66.3% identifying as white and 33.7% as minorities.
Taxpaying Alabama families applied from all school backgrounds and across all grades.
Public and Charter school applications totaled 8,961 students.
Private School applications totaled 21,351.
Homeschool applications totaled 13,425.
Of these, 8,264 were new applications, and 697 were renewals.
For the second year in a row, there was an almost even split in genders: 24,305 total females applied. Of these, 9,480 were renewals, and 14,825 were new. Similarly, 24,611 males applied, with 9,458 renewals and 15,153 new applications received.
Additionally, students with special needs totaled 5,115, with 1,973 renewals and 3,142 new applications received.
Active-duty military families living in a priority school district submitted a total of 1,121 applications, including 356 renewal and 765 new family applications.
Families will be notified mid-April of their funding approval, and Alabama students can begin using their CHOOSE Act Alabama ESA for approved expenses starting in July.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
GULF SHORES, Ala. You stop at a local business, go inside and make a purchase and then decide to walk next door to grab lunch and when you return, you find that your vehicle isn’t where you have parked it. You look around to make sure you haven’t parked it in a different parking space and then walk inside to ask if the employees know what happened to your vehicle and you’re told that it has been towed for trespassing.
You explain that you’re a customer and that you just went to grab lunch and they apologize but say that their signs restrict parking to 15 minutes and when he walked off their property, a towing service towed his vehicle. The towing service patrols various properties, enforcing their client’s parking rules and now the owner of the vehicle owes the towing company $215.00
Is this even legal?
Nationwide, in almost every town and city, private companies can boot a vehicle or tow it off private property under certain conditions which usually includes: a. having clear signage posted that includes parking limits b. the phone number of the towing/booting company c. in some areas, the ordinance number
Towing and booting companies are also restricted in some jurisdictions as to the maximum amount that can be charged for towing or booting a vehicle and that can be different from one city to the next.
In Alabama, a private property owner or property manager may contract with a towing or booting company who is licensed and insured according to either state statute or the local ordinances of that town or city. Currently there is no state law covering private property towing services in Alabama however many city jurisdictions have passed local laws covering this subject.
Property owners in Alabama can remove unauthorized vehicles from their land, but they must follow state regulations to avoid liability. Under Alabama Code 35-12-90, private property owners or their agents can request a towing company to remove unlawfully parked or abandoned vehicles. This applies to locations like apartment complexes, business parking lots, and residential driveways.
Signage is a key factor in determining whether a vehicle can be lawfully towed. While Alabama does not impose a statewide requirement for warning signs, many municipalities require visible postings in parking lots or restricted areas. Cities like Huntsville and Mobile mandate clear signage stating that unauthorized vehicles will be towed at the owner’s expense. If required signage is absent, a vehicle owner may have grounds to challenge the tow.
Once a vehicle is removed, it must be taken to a licensed storage facility where the owner can reclaim it upon payment of towing and storage fees. If a vehicle remains unclaimed for a set period, it may be sold to recover costs. However, any sale must follow strict legal procedures, including notifying lienholders and conducting a public auction.
Tow trucks or booting companies can not arbitrarily impound a vehicle without having permission from the property owner or manager and they cannot act on anyone else’s behalf that has no authority of the landowner or manager. A security guard contracted to a business, apartment complex or other private property often has the authority to have vehicles removed from the property for trespassing or violating certain property parking rules including inoperable or abandoned vehicles.
While predatory towing nationwide and locally can be a problem, if the property is private land, any owner or authorized person can have a vehicle towed for trespassing or violating the property parking rules.
Parking in many areas of the beach communities and in area apartments come at a premium and many business owners and property managers will have vehicles towed for trespassing, parking on the grass, or in a fire lane, blocking in other vehicles or for other parking violations.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. On August 8, 2028, at approximately 3:00 pm, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics and Vice Unit conducted a clandestine surveillance operation at 2654 North Harbor Drive, Mobile, AL 36605.
James Stephen “Butte” Russell, DOB 12/29/86 lives at this address and is the subject of the investigation.
After observing Russell leave the residence, investigators followed his vehicle and noted multiple traffic violations, including failure to signal and an illegal window tint violation.
A traffic stop was conducted based on these violations.
During the stop, Russell fled the scene in his white Dodge Charger, leading investigators on a vehicle pursuit. During the pursuit, Russell attempted to discard narcotics from the passenger-side window and demonstrated a complete disregard for public safety by accelerating to high speeds.
The pursuit ended when Russell failed to negotiate a right turn and struck a civilian vehicle near Halls Mill Road and Rangeline Road.
The civilian driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and Russell was taken into custody without further incident.
The discarded narcotics were also successfully recovered.
Following the arrest, a search warrant was executed at 2654 N. Harbor Drive.
Investigators recovered trafficking quantities of cocaine and fentanyl, along with a large quantity of marijuana.
Russell has been charged with the following offenses: Felony Attempting to Elude – Trafficking Fentanyl – Possession with Intent (Cocaine) – Possession with Intent (Methamphetamine) – Possession of Marijuana First Degree – Tampering with Physical Evidence – Resisting Arrest – Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. Legislators working close to the end of their current session were able to agree on and pass a piece of legislation that would benefit our law enforcement personnel statewide.
This week the Alabama Legislature gave a final passage to HB98, the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers’ Family Scholarship Act, which provides up to $2,500 in tuition assistance per academic period to the spouses and children of long-serving law enforcement officers.
The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Allen Treadaway (R-Morris), was originally part of Governor Kay Ivey and House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter’s Safe Alabama Package in 2025. It is intended to help retain experienced officers at a time when law enforcement agencies across the country are struggling with staffing shortages.
Nationwide, police officers, some longtime employees of their agencies have been jumping ship and going to other law enforcement agencies that pay better, offer better benefits and have a better acceptance in their communities.
In this session and the previous one, several pro law enforcement bills have been passed and were part of Gov. Ivey’s top agenda.
Under this bill, scholarship funds may be used for an undergraduate course of study at any public or private technical school, college, or university in Alabama. The Alabama Commission on Higher Education will administer the program and is required to report annually to the Legislature on its progress.
The bill also establishes the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers’ Family Scholarship Fund and authorizes the Department of Revenue to create a blackout license plate, with proceeds directed to the fund.
Existing law already provides financial assistance to children and spouses of law enforcement officers killed or totally disabled in the line of duty. HB98 expands that support to the families of long-term city, county, and state law enforcement officers still actively serving.
“Our law enforcement put it all on the line every day they go to work, and so do their families,” Ivey said. “I am proud we will support long-serving law enforcement families through dependent scholarships. I look forward to signing HB98 into law, and I thank Speaker Ledbetter for making this a priority.”
Ledbetter called the legislation a long overdue recognition of law enforcement families.
“The passage of HB98 is a long overdue show of thanks for Alabama’s law enforcement officers and the families supporting them as they work to protect and serve this great state,” Ledbetter said. “Over the course of the last two sessions, the men and women of the House have led the charge in delivering additional resources and support to law enforcement in an effort to bolster public safety. It is one thing to say your state is pro-law enforcement, but it is another to put action behind those words. Today, Alabama did exactly that.”
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.