LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ala. A state representative is now under investigation after his 6-year-old son accidentally shot his 13-year-old brother in the back of the shoulder at their home.
Yarbrough’s wife called 911 to report the incident but when Lawrence County Sheriff’s deputies and EMS responded to their home Saturday evening, March 21, 2026, the family had already transported the injured child to the emergency room before deputies arrived and later took him to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Brian Covington reported.
Covington said the 6-year-old had retrieved a .556-caliber AR-style rifle which was loaded with ammunition and accidentally fired it, striking his 13-year-old brother in the back of the shoulder.
The 13-year-old suffered non-life-threatening injuries and is reportedly back home recovering. Yarbrough, his wife, and four other children were inside the home at the time of the shooting.
The case is under investigation and has been forwarded to the Lawrence County District Attorney’s Office, according to the sheriff’s office.
The first-term lawmaker has not publicly commented on the shooting
Alabama law mandates locked storage of firearms when children are in the home and parents can face legal liability for negligence if a child accesses an unsecured gun.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE COUNTY, AL. A former Bayou La Batre police officer has pleaded guilty to rape on Monday, March 23rd, 2026.
William “BJ” Squires must register as a sex offender.
Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said that Squires pleaded guilty to second-degree rape as part of a plea deal in connection with the rape of a 14-year-old.
“This was done in very close consultation with the victim in the case. There were evidentiary hurdles that we had due to this being a late report, and it was many years later that the victim reported this. We have a duty to justice. That was done here. The defendant has taken accountability,” Blackwood said.
A judge sentenced Squires to 10 years in prison but suspended that sentence and gave Squires three years of probation.
The charges stemmed from complaints made two years ago involving allegations of sexual misconduct with underage girls while Squires was a Bayou La Batre police officer.
That same year, a grand jury indicted Squires on four felony counts in connection with the alleged rape of the 14-year-old that prosecutors say happened about 20 years ago: first- and second-degree rape, and first- and second-degree sexual abuse.
But because of the lengthy time between the incidents and the complaint prosecutors later dropped one of the sexual abuse counts.
Squires has been behind bars since last June, after a judge revoked his bond for violating bond conditions.
Blackwood says the DA’s office has a duty to protect victims, and in this case, they did not want to cause any further trauma by forcing the victim through a trial. “We are thankful that the defendant will be a supervised sex offender. My hope is he will never be in law enforcement again,” Blackwood said.
Squires is a convicted sex offender and will never be allowed to work in law enforcement again.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
A bill is making its way through the legislative process that will enhance state-level immigration enforcement.
The Alabama House of Representatives recently passed a bill called the ‘Laken Riley Act,’ named after a 24-year-old Georgia nursing student killed by an undocumented immigrant in 2024. It allows state and local law enforcement to enforce federal immigration laws such as arresting and transporting people who are in the country illegally.
The legislation also allows Alabama law enforcement officers to transport those suspected of illegal immigration to federal facilities.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R), said the bill is a matter of public safety.
“When leadership abdicates their duty, it’s incumbent on us in the structure of the American republic in the 50 states for the states to step up and do the job to protect the people and be a firewall,” he said. “America is a land of opportunity, but we’re a nation of laws and faith and values, and those have to be reinforced.”
But not all law enforcement agencies are on board with enforcing a civil law. Others say they are already understaffed and this is a federal enforcement issue.
But more police agencies say that they agree with what the bill proposes to do.
During last year’s legislative session, Alabama’s House passed a similar bill, but it was not taken up for consideration by a senate committee. The bill is modeled after one that Alabama U.S. Senator Katie Britt introduced into the U.S. Senate in 2025. President Donald Trump singed that bill into law at the end of January last year.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. On Sunday, March 22, 2026, at approximately 4:30 a.m., Mobile police officers responded to the 7000 block of Forest Glenn Court in reference to a disorderly conduct call. Upon arrival, officers discovered three homes and two unoccupied vehicles were struck by gunfire.
While on scene, officers discovered two male victims with gunshot injuries had just arrived to local hospitals by personal vehicle.
One of the victims was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The second victim has non-life-threatening injuries.
The deceased victim has been identified as Willie Allen, 24.
Police said that this is an active investigation.
If anyone has any additional information that could assist in the investigation of this case, please contact the Mobile Police Department at 251-208-7211. Alternatively, you can submit an anonymous tip by texting 844-251-0644 or by visiting mobilepd.org/crimetip.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
SUMMERDALE, Ala. A serious wreck in the Summerdale area on Friday morning injured several motorcyclists.
The Baldwin County 911 Communications Center began receiving calls about the wreck involving two motorcyclist riders who had collided at around 8:03 a.m.
The Summerdale Fire Department, Police and Medstar were dispatched to the area of County Road 32 and Sherman Road.
Upon arrival, firefighters found one person trapped under the motorcycles and they were able to extricate the person quickly.
A medical helicopter was also dispatched to the scene.
The wreck is under investigation currently.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. An overnight fire tore through a home in the 1500 block of Plover Street and injured one person.
Mobile Fire-Rescue was dispatched to the fire shortly before 4:30 a.m. and found heavy fire showing the structure.
A fire department spokesperson reported that initial reports were that three people were possibly trapped inside of a burning structure with several oxygen tanks present.
MFRD said that two people in the home escaped unharmed.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. A free program helping keep beachgoers safe by using a life jacket if you’re not a strong swimmer or a younger child and it has made a difference along the Alabama Gulf Coast.
It’s part of a program through the Sea Tow Foundation, making water safety easy and accessible and right now, they’re asking that area residents donate some life jackets so that more people can be safe when they’re in the water.
You can find the free life jackets at Alabama Point in Orange Beach.
“We chose this place here at the pass because it’s kind of a higher hazard area with the tides coming in and out,” said Zac White with Orange Beach Fire Rescue.
“We keep multiple sizes on there just so it’s able to be used by whoever,” he said.
The idea is simple — take one, wear it, bring it back.
Officials say the jackets have proven to save lives year after year.
It’s so successful that they need you to donate life jackets of all sizes especially those made for young children. You can drop off new or gently used life jackets at the Orange Beach Fire Rescue administration building.
“Yes, the safety aspect has definitely improved,” said White. “Seems like people are more aware. We have more lifeguards. We upgraded this tower last year and the life jackets have definitely improved the conditions here for swimmer safety.”
“One of the lifeguards comes out, takes them out of the closet, sets them out, inventories them, checks the buckles, check to make sure there’s not any mold growth, just to make sure they’re in all good working order,” White said. “So, they get regularly checked and yes we see them used quite regularly.”
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. A single-vehicle crash involving a pedestrian occurred at approximately 1:46 a.m. Saturday, March 21, 2026, and has claimed the life of a Theodore woman.
ALEA has identified the pedestrian as Amanda C. Godwin, 34, who was in the roadway, and was fatally injured when she was struck by a vehicle that left the scene and is currently unknown.
Godwin was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The crash occurred on Theodore Dawes Road near Gunn Road, approximately three miles west of the Mobile city limits, in Mobile County.
If you have any information concerning this crash, please contact the Mobile Highway Patrol Post at 251-315-0103; please press 2 to leave a message.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. On Saturday, March 21, 2026, at approximately 12:30 a.m., Mobile police officers responded to the 5400 block of Vienna Avenue in reference to a shooting.
When police arrived, they discovered a female victim with a fatal gunshot injury.
Upon further investigation, officers discovered a known male subject shot the victim during a domestic incident.
Desmond Longmire, 39, was arrested and charged with Murder and Burglary 1st Degree.
He was transported to the Mobile Metro Jail where he currently remains.
The victim’s name will be released once next of kin has been notified.
If anyone has any information that could assist in the investigation of this case, please contact the Mobile Police Department at 251-208-7211. Alternatively, you can submit an anonymous tip by texting 844-251-0644 or by visiting mobilepd.org/.
This remains an active investigation, and no further information will be released at this time.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
GULF SHORES, Ala. Legislation inspired by a Mountain Brook teenager who lost a hand and a leg in a shark attack in Florida in 2024 became law in May 2025 and directs the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to work with emergency management agencies and law enforcement offices on the state’s coast to set up an Amber Alert-style notification system for shark attacks.
Alabama’s new mass notification system for statistically rare shark attacks on Mobile and Baldwin counties’ beaches will finally go into effect next month.
This alert system is set to kick off on April 1, 2026.
Alerts will be sent to all cellphones in the specific sighting zone.
Similar to an Amber or Silver Alert, Alabama beachgoers will receive a cell phone alert if there’s a shark attack close to the device.
“All of these wireless emergency alerts will be geofenced to where they’re only hitting people along the coast of Alabama,” Baldwin Emergency Management Agency Director said.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. A Saturday afternoon collision has taken the lives of two people.
At approximately 5:25 p.m. on March 21, 2026, a single vehicle rollover crash was reported on Vernant Park Road, which runs between Foley and Magnolia Springs and is also known as Country Road 12.
The Magnolia Springs Fire department was dispatched to the scene, as well as law enforcement and EMS. Upon arrival, firefighters quickly made their way under the vehicle to assess the injuries and found that the two occupants were trapped.
A medical helicopter was dispatched to the scene while firefighters continued working on gaining access to the patients.
Sadly, both occupants were deceased.
Jefferson B. Davis, 61, of Foley, was fatally injured when the 2014 Maserati Ghibli he was driving left the roadway and overturned. Tamatha F. Davis, 57, of Foley, who was a passenger in the Maserati, was also fatally injured. Both Jefferson B. Davis and Tamatha F. Davis were pronounced deceased at the scene according to ALEA.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. A huge line up of 14 concerts has been announced for this year’s line up at the Wharf Amphitheater!
Tickets have already gone on sale for this year’s season with some big headline shows coming to the beach.
A lot of country hitmakers will be in the spotlight along with some of your favorite pop singers and even comedians.
Kicking off the season, Bailey Zimmerman with special guests Tucker Wetmore and McCoy Moore will hit the stage on March 27 at 7 p.m.
Then on May 23rd, HARDY with Tucker Wetmore & McCoy Moore will hit the stage at 7 p.m.
Godsmack and Stone Temple Pilots and Dorothy will play May 24, also at 7 p.m.
The Dave Matthews Band will play on May 25 at 7:30 p.m., and The Black Crowes with Whiskey Myers & Southall will play on May 27 at 6:30 p.m.
On June 6th, two of our favorite country singers will be on the stage at the Wharf. Gary Allan and Tracy Lawrence will kick it off early at 5:30 p.m.
Train, Barenaked Ladies and Matt Nathanson are scheduled to play on July 12 at 6:45 p.m.
Parker McCollum with Vincent Mason and Jackson Wendell will take the stage the following month on July 17 at 7:30 p.m., and Creed will play on July 24 at 7 p.m.
Georgia singer and American Idol judge, Luke Bryan will be on stage at the Wharf on July 25, also at 7 p.m.
On August 4, the lineup includes Toto with Christopher Cross and The Romantics playing at 6:45 p.m.
Rounding out this season’s schedule is the Goo Goo Dolls on August 21 at 8 p.m., Jack Johnson with Lake Street Dive will play on Aug 26 at 7:30 p.m., and Weird Al Yankovic will wrap up the season on October 3rd at 8 p.m.
That’s a season packed full of great music and entertainment!
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
A mega country music artist is heading to the Flora-Bama for an exclusive SirusXM concert.
Kenny Chesney will be here on Saturday April18, to celebrate ten years of his SiriusXM channel No Shoes Radio with this exclusive concert.
SiriusXM announced the concert on Thursday, March 19, with the show being held at the iconic Flora-Bama located on the beach between the border of Orange Beach, Alabama and Perdido Key, Florida. SiriusXM will broadcast the performance for listeners on the No Shoes Radio channel at 2 p.m. CT that day, both on the radio and on streaming via the SiriusXM app.
A representative with SirusXM said “We started No Shoes Radio on the internet as something fun to do, a place to play that special cocktail of reggae, rock, country, and more,” Chesney said as part of the announcement. “When SiriusXM embraced what we were doing, it opened up a whole other portal for people who live in these songs. After 10 years, we needed to do something that captured the sea salt, the joy, and all the memories in our music. What better place than inside the Flora-Bama?”
Of course, Chesney is no stranger to the Gulf Coast. Chesney first single released to radio was “Whatever It Takes” in 1993, followed closely by “The Tin Man” in 1994, both from his debut album In My Wildest Dreams. While “The Tin Man” is often cited as his breakout first song, as every since, he’s been racking up awards and accolades including being a four-time winner of the Country Music Association Award for Entertainer of the Year and induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2025, is no stranger to the Flora-Bama, having previously played a free beach show at the site back in 2014 and has occasionally passed in and out of the establishment over the years, including in 2023 when he partook in a surprise performance there during a tour stop at the Wharf in Orange Beach.
Admission is expected to be limited, but those who are hoping to attend the concert in person can enter for a chance to win a trip to the concert.
All you have to do is submit a voice message explaining what your favorite Kenny Chesney song is and why. To enter, you must be 21 or older and a SiriusXM subscriber, even if it is just a trial subscription.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MAGNOLIA SPRINGS, Ala. The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident where someone shot two dogs, killing one.
Investigators combed the area along Brantley Lane for bullet casings or other evidence that would reveal clues as to who was responsible for the senseless act.
Melissa LaCoste was at work when she received a call from neighbors letting her know about gunshots in the area. When she arrived home later that afternoon, she found that one dog, “Prissy” was deceased and a second dog suffering from a gunshot wound to her leg. Unfortunately, a veterinarian had to amputate the leg.
The sheriff’s office said they have some information regarding the incident and a security camera captured images of a black pickup truck believed to be driven by the person who fired the shots, but LaCoste said that she doesn’t recognize the vehicle.
There’s no explanation at this time as to why the person would target these two dogs specifically.
In Alabama, it is generally illegal to shoot a dog solely for trespassing or roaming at large. However, under Alabama Code § 13A-11-246, a person may legally kill a dog or cat found off the owner’s premises if the animal is threatening or causing immediate physical injury to a person, pets, or livestock.
Roaming dogs at large has become a larger issue in the county in recent areas as rural areas are becoming more populated and homes are closing together.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, Ala. A war criminal wanted and on the run for almost twenty-five years has been captured in Mobile County.
Hamdja Alukic is accused of committing war crimes in Bosnia and was taken into police custody on Wednesday following an extradition request from the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is accused of being involved in two deadly attacks on behalf of a Bosnian Muslim paramilitary group during the Bosnian War.
According to area residents, Alukic and his family lived a quiet life in Wilmer for several years.
“They had dogs, chickens and they would sell eggs to Walmart and stuff,” the neighbors said.
There was never any signs that he was any type of wanted fugitive, a neighbor said. They were always cool. I’ve been over there a few times and they seemed cool but didn’t speak good English the neighbor said.
Attorneys for Alukic are requesting that he be released with conditions to prepare to oppose the extradition. Alukic, now 70 years old, is not a danger to the community, according to attorneys, who said they can show his advanced age, medical condition and character and background will demonstrate he is not a flight risk.
However, that will be up to the federal judge and the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama Sean P. Costello’s office.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
FOLEY, Ala. The City of Foley is going to purchase a 121-acre parcel of land at the intersection of the Foley Beach Express and the Baldwin Beach Express and build an industrial park complex on it.
A grant through the Site Evaluation Economic Development Strategy was approved by the Alabama Industrial Development Authority and announced on Thursday, March 19.
The area is growing and companies want to move here and we need to have the proper spaces and buildings for them, said Foley’s mayor.
“Alabama is making smart, targeted investments to ensure communities like Foley continue to compete and win,” Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said. “Through our SEEDS program, we are strategically positioning this 121-acre site in Baldwin County for future, long-term growth and building on the strong economic momentum we’re seeing along our Gulf Coast. Alabama will not be slowing down when it comes to bringing good jobs and opportunities to every corner of our state.”
Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the property that was chosen was the top pick out of 16 other sites in Alabama.
Since the start of 2026, $15.7 million has been distributed to support 21 industrial sites in the state, as part of the third round of the SEEDS program. The program “prepares sites for immediate industrial use through investments in land acquisition, site clearing and grading, environmental and geotechnical surveys, and infrastructure improvements,” the release said.
Areas in Baldwin County including Loxley and Bay Minette already have large industrial complexes under construction which will bring in more jobs and better pay for our workers.
Across 77 sites in Alabama, officials say SEEDS has driven an estimated $138 million in investments in three years.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. A two-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 12:36 p.m. Monday, March 16, 2026, has claimed the life of a Fort Walton Beach, Fla. woman.
Shelly R. Ogden, 54, was fatally injured when the 2022 Kia Sportage, she was a passenger in collided head-on with the 2016 Toyota Sienna driven by Donna K. Williams, 69, of Niceville, Fla. Ogden was pronounced deceased at the scene.
State troopers said that Donna K. Williams and a passenger in the Toyota, Robert W. Williams, 54, of Niceville, Fla., were both injured and transported to USA Health Providence Hospital in Mobile for treatment.
The driver of the Kia, Suzannah M. Stone, 55, of Plant City, Fla., was also injured and transported to University Hospital in Mobile for medical treatment.
The crash occurred on Alabama 158, near the 3-mile marker, approximately five miles west of Semmes, in Mobile County.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continues to investigate.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
MOBILE, AL. A stolen vehicle was spotted driving down a city street and officers attempted to stop it but it fled on Monday, March 16, 2026, at around 3:30 p.m.
According to a spokesperson with the Mobile Police Department, officers saw the vehicle that they said had been reported stolen earlier, and they activated their emergency equipment, lights and sirens and attempted to stop it near Panorama Boulevard and Via Alta Drive.
The driver of the car allegedly refused to stop and led them on a reckless pursuit.
Officers that the vehicle hit an empty, parked car and police were able to take the driver into custody.
Th vehicles received heavy damage, according to MPD.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
By Rick McCann
