MOBILE, AL. A suspicious fire in Mobile Friday night, kept firefighters busy at an abandoned apartment complex in the Birdville Community.
The Mobile Fire-Rescue Department said it responded to a call about the apartment complex around 9:36 p.m. Friday, August 7, 2026, on Raven Drive and Cardinal Drive W.
As firefighters arrived, they could see heavy fire showing from the structures.
Firefighters were able to get it under control in about sixty minutes and remained on scene for some time after that.
The fire is suspicious because there were no utilities or electricity connected to the building and no source to spark the fire.
According to officials, no one was injured battling the fire.
The fire is under investigation.
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GENEVA COUNTY, Ala. A woman working within the Geneva County government has been arrested for stealing government funds.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall on Friday announced the arrest of Geneva County Circuit Clerk Ashley Powell.
The high-ranking Geneva County official is behind bars after her arrest on Friday, accused of abusing her public office by lining her own pockets with tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer money.
Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the arrest of Powell, following a grand jury indictment. Her arrest was expected as Powell had been barred from the office months ago.
Powell was charged with violating the state’s ethics laws by using her official position or office for personal gain. Specifically, the indictment charges Powell with illegally using her position as circuit clerk to illegally route more than $93,000 of public funds directly to herself.
Under Alabama law, using an official office for personal gain is a Class B felony. If convicted, Powell faces a prison sentence of anywhere from two to 20 years behind bars.
The case is now in the hands of the Attorney General’s Special Prosecutions Division, a specialized unit that targets public corruption and abuse of power at the highest levels of local government.
State officials are keeping details of the alleged scheme tightly under wraps, citing an active, ongoing investigation.
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SEMINOLE COMMUNITY, Ala. A mobile home went up in flames Saturday afternoon in the Seminole Community at around 2:40 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Firefighters from the Seminole Volunteer Fire Department and the Beulah, Florida Fire Departments responded to the fire on Hunting Club Road and found the home with flames and smoke.
The power company, EMS and law enforcement also responded.
Firefighters extinguished the fire in about ninety minutes but were later called back because the fire rekindled.
No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
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FAIRHOPE, AL. A driver somehow collided with a fuel pump at the Wawa in Fairhope early Saturday morning.
In doing so, authorities reported that a gas leak occurred, and the Fairhope Police and the Fairhope Fire Department responded to 18968 S Greeno Road just before 1 a.m.
Firefighters and store employees were able to just the gas off and bring the situation under control.
There were no reports of any injuries, and it is unknown if the driver was cited for any violation.
A call to the store was not returned.
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SPANISH FORT, Ala. A teenager was critically injured in a go-kart accident Sunday evening and had to be airlifted to an area trauma center.
The wreck occurred at the GoKarts & Mini Golf, located at10460 Eastern Shore Boulevard at around 7:30 p.m., on August 9, 2026.
As the Spanish Fort Police arrived, they found that a thirteen-year-old teen had wrecked a go-kart and was semi-unconscious and had head trauma.
The Spanish Fort Fire Department and Medstar quickly followed and a medical helicopter was also dispatched to the scene and landed in a nearby parking lot.
At this time the condition of the teen is unknown and the cause is under investigation.
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DAPHNE, Ala. City officials announced on Friday that a new roundabout in the County Road 64 and County Road 13 area has been completed ahead of schedule.
The new roundabout, which is on County Road 13 at Milton Jones Road, is now open to through traffic, just in time for the start of the school year.
While city leaders originally contemplated widening County Road 64, they found it to be an extremely difficult project and moved on to the roundabout plan.
The $3 million roundabout and road extension is part of a larger plan to connect Highway 181 to Pollard Road and help ease congestion on County Road 64. At the time, city leaders said the goal was to finish the work before traffic picked up again with the new school year. And they met their goal as kids return to Baldwin County Public Schools on Wednesday, August 12.
The city says the western connection from Milton Jones Road to Friendship Road should open within the next couple of weeks.
Traffic along County Road 64 has steadily increased during the morning and evening commuting hours as recent subdivisions and apartments continue to be built in the area.
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CRENSHAW COUNTY, Ala. You might think that employees working for and around law enforcement would be on their best behavior but in one Alabama county, that wasn’t the case.
In fact, an administrative employee of the Crenshaw County Sheriff’s Office was somehow able to swindle almost $200,00 from her employer.
Jennifer Knighten, a resident of Brantley, came under suspicion and an investigation found that Knighten stole $189,596 before being caught.
The former employee was arrested and charged with several felonies and since pleaded guilty according to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office.
She entered a guilty plea to one felony charge of using the office for personal gain on Tuesday.
The AG’s office says Knighten was able to steal the money in multiple ways. Those include:
Creating false timesheets and corresponding check payments to herself.
Paying personal credit card bills from the sheriff’s office account.
Creating payments to vendors that did not exist, then keeping the money.
Stealing inmate work release funds.
Knighten got a 10-year sentence split to serve two years in prison and five years of supervised probation.
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FAIRHOPE, Ala. We have been reporting for about a year the various discussions and studies being done by Fairhope officials as they look at the possibilities of starting their own independent school system breaking away from Baldwin County as other schools have done in recent years.
Some independent studies have shown that the affluent and fast-growing city could financially support taking the step into creating their own school system while others say that it might be too soon.
As the conversations and deeper studies continue, Fairhope residents may soon have their own opportunity to weigh in on the topic.
City officials are launching three public meetings and an online survey to gauge whether community support exists for separating from the Baldwin County School System. The effort follows two studies that examined the feasibility of a Fairhope city school system but reached sharply different conclusions.
“It’s been an ongoing conversation in Fairhope for the past 10 years, if not more,” Sullivan said.
But things are quite a bit different in 2026 than it was 2016. The city has grown by leaps and bounds and continues to grow to the point of having to issue moratoriums on building high density residential communities several times in the past three years. The city on the bluff once known for its tiny town charm has recreated itself to an upscale, boutique community where retirees and young families are moving to for its charm and the many amenities that it offers, including its schools.
All three meetings will be livestreamed and held in the Fairhope City Council chambers. Overflow attendees will be able to watch the livestream from the building’s lobby.
The meetings are scheduled for 5:30 p.m.:
Tuesday, Aug. 18
Sunday, Aug. 23
Wednesday, Sept. 9
Residents who cannot attend can participate through an online survey. The city is also accepting comments by email at fairhopecityschools@fairhopeal.gov.
The public comment period will conclude in late September, and city staff will present a summary of the feedback to the Fairhope City Council on Sept. 28.
Sullivan and council members Jimmy Conyers and Jack Burrell emphasized that no vote is expected at that meeting.
“What would happen on September 28th, is that we would hopefully have enough feedback and information to say, ‘is this something we want to pursue?’” Conyers said. “And then start the next steps.”
There are many things to consider. New schools may need to be built and that’ll take money that will have to come from increased taxes. While some might support the increase, others, such as retirees with no children, may not. Some have publicly stated that “if it’s not broke, why fix it”.
A news release issued Thursday said Fairhope is served by “outstanding teachers, dedicated administrators, supportive parents, and students who consistently perform at a high level.” The release added that the discussion is not a “criticism of our schools or the people who make them successful.”
Baldwin County School Superintendent Marty McRae said in a statement that county school officials plan to join the city for the public meeting on Aug. 18 to answer questions.
“We are the third largest school system in the state, but we value each of our feeder patterns equally,” McRae said. “Partnerships with our cities are very important to us and we would be very disappointed to lose our Fairhope partnership. We appreciate the support we’ve received from the city and know they are happy with the services we provide.”
While both Orange Beach and Gulf Shores have established their own school system, they also have a significant financial base from lodging tax revenues generated by tourism.
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MOBILE, AL. The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit has arrested Amaurey Jones (DOB: 09/03/2007) following an investigation into the suspected online exploitation of children.
The investigation began in June 2026 after MCSO investigators received information from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding suspected child sexual abuse material (CSAM) that had allegedly been uploaded to an online platform.
MCSO ICAC investigators began working on the information and, in coordination with state and federal partners, identified Jones as a suspect. Investigators subsequently obtained a search warrant for his residence.
On August 5, 2026, members of the MCSO ICAC Unit and Special Operations Unit, with assistance from the FBI Violent Crimes Against Children (VCAC) Unit and the MCSO Crime Scene Unit, executed the search warrant.
As a result of the investigation, Jones was arrested and charged with:
Three counts of Unlawful Possession of Child Pornography
The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to identifying and investigating individuals suspected of exploiting children online and will continue working with local, state, and federal partners to protect children and hold offenders accountable.
The investigation remains ongoing. Additional charges may be possible as investigators continue to examine evidence collected during the investigation.
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SEMMES, Ala. A man has been taken into police custody and charged with child sexual abuse, rape and incest, though due to the nature of the crime, details are thin on this case.
John Elmore Bradly III was arrested after police were notified of allegations regarding the sexual abuse of a minor.
Mobile Police Department officers arrested John Elmore Bradley III, 38, around 11:45 a.m. Friday morning from his residence on Blackwell Nursery Road.
No other information has been released.
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CREOLA, Ala. A single-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 9:15 p.m. Thursday, August 6, 2026, has claimed the life of a Saraland man.
Police, ALEA, local firefighters and EMS responded to the single vehicle crash on Dead Lake Marina Road near Dead Lake Road, within the city limits of Creola, in Mobile County.
Halstyn J. Baggett, 19, was fatally injured when the 2008 Toyota Tacoma he was driving left the roadway and overturned. Baggett was not using a seat belt at the time of the crash, was ejected and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.
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FOLEY, Ala. A bigger, better, beautiful library is officially opened in Foley, and residents have already been flocking to see the many things that it offers.
The doors of the new Foley Community Library officially opened Tuesday, Aug. 4, welcoming hundreds of residents eager to explore the city’s new $20-million community resource.
Tamara Woods had her three children in line as the doors opened and said that this is a spectacular upgrade and one that her family will use often.
The 40,000-square-foot library and community center marks the completion of more than three years of planning and construction to create a facility designed to serve Foley’s growing population for decades to come.
Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the new building reflects the city’s commitment to meeting the community’s future needs.
“We have doubled the size of this library,” Hellmich said. “It is now 40,000 square feet. It has extra spaces that can be used by the community.”
Although built with locals in mind, the library offers snowbirds, vacationers and business travelers a place to relax, read or check out their media departments.
The new facility provides much more room for books, programs and community activities while expanding the role of the library beyond its traditional services.
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SPANISH FORT, Ala. A healthcare worker was attacked and assaulted by a patient in the early morning hours of Tuesday, August 4th, 2026.
According to authorities, the Spanish Fort police and fire department were dispatched to the facility located on US 90 at about 4 a.m.
Because of the nature of the incident, the patient and facility name has not been released.
From the information that we’ve obtained, the employee was not injured, and the patient may have been suffering from a medical condition that prompted the incident.
Nationwide, assaults on healthcare workers have been on the rise for a decade or more.
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SPANISH FORT, Ala. Multiple emergency agencies responded to the causeway this morning after a vehicle crashed and ended up in the Mobile Bay.
The wreck occurred when a vehicle, following too close to a boat that was being towed, clipped the vessel and wound up in the water.
Spanish Fort Police Chief John Barber said that the driver was able to self-extricate themselves from the vehicle but the Spanish Fort Fire Department, Spanish Fort Police, EMS and ALEA were all dispatched to the scene.
At this time, it is unknown if the driver was injured or if there were passengers in the car.
Currently, this wreck is under investigation by ALEA.
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SPANISH FORT, Ala. A spot along the Eastern Shore just off Interstate 10 will soon become home to a Golden Coral Buffet and Grill.
According to the company’s announcement, they hope to be open by early November 2026.
The location, 30179 Eastern Shore Court, sold for $2.7 million
This is the former Briquettes restaurant property which has also housed several other restaurant businesses in recent years.
The Gold Coral offers a variety of food dishes, fresh baked goods and a wide variety of meat products on its daily buffet and carving stations, including hand-carved sirloin steaks, fried and baked chicken, pot roast, meatloaf, pulled pork, and rotating options like shrimp and fish
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MOBILE, AL. Mobile Police say a high-speed pursuit ended with a stolen vehicle driving into Dog River, prompting a major rescue operation.
According to the Mobile Police Department, officers were chasing a car that was reported stolen from the 6700 block of Zeigler Boulevard on Monday, Aug. 3, 2026. The pursuit began near Navco Road and McVay Drive and continued toward Dog River Court.
Police said that at around 3:16 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, the driver refused to pull over for a traffic stop, and the vehicle entered Dog River Drive North, where it plunged into the water at the 2200 block.
Mobile Fire-Rescue and Ems among other first responders were dispatched to the scene.
The car was reportedly fully submerged when officers and rescuers reached the scene. Two people were recovered from the river and taken into custody — one adult and one juvenile.
Police have identified the adult as Bruce Smith Jr., 19, and charged him with first-degree receiving stolen property and attempting to elude. He was taken to Metro Jail. The juvenile was taken to Strickland Youth Center.
Authorities have not released the juvenile’s name.
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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. Alabama continues attracting business to our state that’s employing our citizens, adding to our local, regional and state’s economy.
In Huntsville, another large new business has broken ground and it’s exciting for the entire state.
On Tuesday, August 4th, 2026, Huntsville city leaders along with county and state leaders convened to celebrate the groundbreaking for a massive manufacturing facility for Redwire.
The defense engineering company is building its 164,000-square-foot facility in the JetPlex Industrial Park.
Mayor Tommy Battle praised the 150 additional jobs the new plant will bring and the value that Redwire brings to the entire region.
Redwire’s massive expansion is supported by approximately $8.5 million in eligible state and local economic development incentives.
120,000 square feet will be dedicated to production and integration of Redwire’s Stalker Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS), Octopus UAS Surveillance Systems and advanced batteries.
44,000 square feet will be dedicated to manufacturing exploration systems for space.
The building is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.
“Huntsville continues to be one of the fastest growing technology hubs in the United States, uniquely positioned at the intersection of America’s space and defense industries, which makes it the ideal location to expand our capabilities and strengthen America’s industrial base.
We’re grateful to Governor Ivey, Mayor Battle, and our state and local partners for helping make this strategic growth possible and for their continued commitment to developing Alabama’s high-tech economy”, stated Peter Cannito, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Redwire.
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MOBILE, AL. On Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at approximately 12:45 a.m., officers responded to a shooting in the 1200 block of Glen Acres Drive. Mobile Fire-Rescue were also dispatched to the scene.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a female victim deceased near the roadway with a fatal gunshot injury.
Upon further investigation, officers discovered a known male subject shot the victim during a domestic incident and fled the area.
He was identified and officers located him a short time later.
Wesley Moody, 34, has been arrested and transported to Metro Jail.
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/crimetip.
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BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. A late-night wreck on Interstate 10 in the Rosinton area injured at least one person and caused the roadway to be shut down for a short amount of time.
The wreck which occurred Wednesday, August 5th, 2026, before 10 p.m. sent local firefighters, EMS and an ALEA trooper to scene near mile-marker 57.
A medical helicopter as also dispatched to the wreck.
The condition of those involved is not known at this time.
ALEA is investigating the collision.
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FORT MORGAN, Ala. On the Fort Morgan Peninsula, many come for the beautiful beaches, blue green water, serenity and its quaintness that still somehow escapes the constant traffic heading south on Highway 59.
And with every spring break and each return of summer, the Fort Morgan Volunteer Fire Department and the Baldwin County Sheriff Department’s gear up to respond to water rescues, medical emergencies, and, oh yes, the young and old who sometimes wander away and get reported as missing.
There’s no official word as to how many people go “missing” on Fort Morgan each year, but let’s just say that it’s a regular call for area first responders.
A former volunteer firefighter stated that the missing come in all ages and most of the time, they’re not really missing at all. But when we hear that it’s a small child that’s suddenly disappeared near the edge of the water, our hearts do start racing, he said.
Of course, each call is handled quickly, and all are taken very seriously. Depending on who has gone missing and where they were last seen, firefighters and law enforcement could be searching along the beachfront, in the water, or down the street. Young children can escape their parent’s view very quickly causing panic and older adults with Alzheimer’s Disease or other medical conditions can also seemingly disappear into thin air.
Upon arriving on scene, first responders gather descriptions, ages, clothing type and color, last seen location, medical details and all other relevant information while disseminating the info to others who are already beginning the search.
In recent years besides foot power, drones have been added to search from the sky giving searchers another advantage by covering larger areas quickly.
Sometimes children wander away with a new friend and have even been found playing games with other children not far away. The missing elderly are also quickly found by area first responders within a short time.
Fort Morgan has seen its share of drownings, including a 40-year-old father who tragically drowned in Gulf waters off Fort Morgan while successfully rescuing his struggling 10-year-old son from rough surf during double-red flag conditions.
And of course, we remember Deputy William “Bill” Smith who made the ultimate sacrifice to save two distressed swimmers in the waters off Fort Morgan on June 6, 2021.
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