BALDWIN COUNTY, AL. An extremely serious, multiple vehicle traffic collision on Interstate 65 on Saturday afternoon critically injured at least one person and EMS treated several others as well.
According to ALEA troopers, a pickup truck with a trailer attached was hauling another vehicle, a second pickup truck and a third vehicle all became involved in the traffic collision at around 4:00 p.m.
One person who at first was thought to have been ejected from one of those vehicles, had extricated himself from the wreck and laid down on the Interstate, bleeding from his head.
Multiple area volunteer fire departments, Baldwin County sheriff deputies, EMS and a medical helicopter all dispatched to the scene.
Traffic southbound around exit 26 was backed up for miles as the highway was temporarily shut down for more than an hour.
ALEA said that they are continuing to investigate this wreck.
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SPANISH FORT, Ala. An investigation by law enforcement has resulted in the arrest of a man who is a Special Agent, with Homeland Security Investigations.
As this is a holiday weekend, limited information has been released but Spanish Fort Police Chief John Barber stated that a press conference will be held on September 8th, 2026.
On Saturday, September 5th, 2026, Kent Blacklidge turned himself into the Baldwin County Jail after arrest warrants were issued for him.
Blacklidge faces charges of:
Rape 1st Rape 2nd Sodomy 1st Sodomy 2nd Sexual Abuse 1st x2 Sexual Abuse 2nd x 2 Incest
He was placed on administrative leave at the onset of the investigation.
“Without fear or favor, our responsibility in law enforcement is to pursue justice and protect victims of crime, regardless of if the perpetrator wears a badge or not.” said Chief Barber.
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BARNWELL COMMUNITY, Ala. A Sunday morning rollover wreck injured several people including at least one child.
At approximately 10:45 a.m. a collision occurred on State Highway 181 and County Road 24. One of the vehicles flipped over and injured several occupants but they were all able to escape the vehicle prior to emergency services arriving.
The Barnwell Volunteer Fire Department, Fairhope Police, EMS, ALEA troopers and a medical helicopter were all dispatched to the scene.
Several people were transported to the USA Trauma Center in Mobile.
ALEA reported that three vehicles were involved and they are investigating the wreck at this time.
The scene was cleared at 1:35 p.m.
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LOXLEY, Ala. An ALEA trooper conducting routine patrols Saturday afternoon on State Highway 59 observed a moving violation and conducted a traffic stop at approximately 2:00 p.m.
As the trooper was conducting his investigation, he noticed several things that heightened his suspicions.
By then, the ALEA dispatcher notified the trooper that the vehicle had been reported stolen.
The trooper detained the female driver as other troopers and officers with the Loxley Police responded.
The investigation revealed that the vehicle was in the possession of the driver unlawfully and she was taken into custody and transported to the Baldwin County Detention Center and charged with Receiving Stolen Property-Vehicle (Felony)
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ORANGE BEACH, Ala. The Orange Beach City Council has issued a new set of safety rules for bicycles, E-bikes and micromobility devices during their meeting last week.
With the increased use of e-bikes and micromobility devices, Orange Beach police and the city government felt that they needed to update local laws governing their use.
The updated regulations are effective this week, starting September 9, 2026.
Some of these updated rules include:
Maximum speed of 15 mph on sidewalks and multi-use paths
Maximum speed of 12 mph on the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail
Slow to 10 mph or less when within 50 feet of a pedestrian
Pedestrians have the right-of-way
Give an audible warning before passing pedestrians or other riders
Riders and passengers under 16 must wear a helmet
High-powered electric motorcycles/e-motos are prohibited from sidewalks, multi-use paths and the Backcountry Trail and are restricted to areas permitted by law
Violations may result in fines of up to $500
E-bikes can reach 28 mph.
“These rules are intended to reduce conflicts between riders and pedestrians and help keep everyone using our sidewalks, trails and pathways safe,” the post said.
Parents are asked to review the new rules with their children and make sure they understand them.
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MOBILE COUNTY, AL. A pedestrian was struck and killed by a train on Friday, September 4th, 2026, according to the mobile County Sheriff’s Office.
Numerous emergency services including fire departments, EMS and law enforcement responded Friday morning after the person was struck by a freight train.
Deputies reported that the crash occurred at Irvington-Bayou La Batre Highway near U.S. 90, and the train stopped on the tracks at the grade crossing.
The name of the deceased has now been released. Law enforcement said William Hieronymus of Irvington was walking on the tracks when he was hit.
Federal investigators responded and an investigation is underway.
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FORT MORGAN, Ala. A person was struck by lightning while sitting on a Fort Morgan beach on Thursday, September 3rd, 2026.
The Baldwin County 911 Communications Center received reports that the man was injured and dispatched the Fort Morgan Volunteer Fire Department, a Medstar Ambulance and the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department to the area at approximately 12:40 p.m.
A medical helicopter was also dispatched but were able to respond due to the lightning in the area.
Fire medics and EMS personnel treated the person on the beach and transported the patient to an area hospital.
According to the fire department, there was a storm in the area at the time of the incident, but it is unknown if the person was in or out of the water during this time.
The condition of the person is unknown.
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PRICHARD, Ala. A two-vehicle crash that occurred at approximately 11:48 a.m. Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026, has claimed the life of one person.
The crash occurred on Kushla McCleod Road near U.S. 45 within the Prichard city limits, in Mobile County killed an Eight-Mile man, identified by law enforcement as Jeriah C. Roberts, 21.
Troopers said that he was fatally injured when the 2023 Chevrolet Camaro he was driving collided with the 2023 Mack Truck (concrete mixer) driven by Garrick D. Johnson, 55, of Prichard.
After the initial impact, the Mack Truck left the roadway and overturned.
The Camaro also left the roadway and eventually caught fire.
Roberts was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Johnson was also injured and was transported to University Hospital (USA) in Mobile for medical treatment.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.
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GULF SHORES, Ala. Even though Gulf Shores now has a budding international airport, a recent report showed that our area is still lacking when comes to air travel.
While Gulf Shores continues to be Alabama’s most popular beach destination, getting here is still not very convenient when talking about air travel.
A new global study suggests visitors flying into the area face one of the longer airport-to-beach trips in the United States.
Another aspect of our airport is that flights only fly in or out a few times a week, instead of daily.
Ground transportation booking platform Mozio ranked Gulf Shores No. 85 among 97 drivable beach destinations in a study examining the time and distance required to travel from a destination’s primary commercial airport to the beach.
For Gulf Shores, researchers used Pensacola International Airport as the primary gateway. The trip from the airport to Gulf Shores covers approximately 38.9 miles and takes about 67 minutes.
Those numbers made Gulf Shores the fifth-least accessible destination among the 35 U.S. locations included in the study.
Only Cape Cod, the Hamptons, Rehoboth Beach and the Outer Banks ranked lower nationally.
Globally, Gulf Shores was rated the 13th-hardest drivable beach destination to reach and had the 13th-longest airport transfer time. It was also one of only 14 destinations studied requiring more than an hour of ground travel.
Mobile was ranked in the middle of the pack though that could change with the opening of the new downtown airport scheduled to officially open in November 2026.
Nearby Pensacola Beach performed considerably better despite sharing Pensacola International Airport as its gateway. Pensacola Beach ranked No. 45, with its 12.5-mile trip taking approximately 25 minutes. That’s 42 minutes faster than the estimated trip to Gulf Shores.
Mozio examined 100 beach destinations worldwide, with 97 receiving a drivable accessibility ranking. Scores were weighted 60% toward driving time and 40% toward distance.
The study only measures the ground transportation portion of a trip and does not account for factors such as the availability or convenience of flights serving each destination.
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BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. A new law is about to go into effect in just a few weeks.
The law passed earlier this year is meant to protect our pets and to be more humane with our animals.
Starting in October, tethered animals, especially dogs, will require their owners to provide better shelter and adequate food and water or face citations or even arrest.
The requirements come from Beau’s Law, which the Alabama Legislature passed back in April. The law details requirements for keeping a dog outside in humane conditions and goes into effect Oct. 1.
“The law does not unchain dogs,” area law enforcement said. “It simply sets the standards for how a dog may be tethered and confined outside.”
Locally, the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Rural Area Enforcement Unit could be tasked with its enforcement, along with area law enforcement and animal control employees.
The sheriff’s office said that essentially the law requires that the tether for an outside dog must be on a trolley system, meaning the tether must be attached to a cable, also called a “run” that is between two points. This kind of system allows the animal the ability to move around, at the very least back and forth, in a larger area without getting tangled up.
Nationwide, dogs have injured themselves because a short tether, some even having a rope or chain around their neck.
Authorities said the tether must also not be unreasonably heavy relative to the size of the dog, not allow the dog to leave the property, not extend over anything that could cause injury and must be connected to only one dog attached to a properly fitted collar or harness. The law also requires that the animal has continuous access to adequate food, water and shelter.
Law enforcement has all to often seen dogs tied up on extremely short leash, a piece of rope or a chain not allowing the animal to move about or even use the bathroom away from where it slept.
The sheriff’s office said that logging chains, choke collars and pinch collars may not be used to tether a dog. The law does define what is and is not a proper tether.
Proper shelter must protect the dog from the elements, have solid flooring and an adequate opening and allow the dog to stand, turn around, lie down and stretch out. The law also requires the shelter to be constructed of durable materials with proper ventilation and unlimited access and to be clean, free of waste, standing water and debris
The new Alabama law classifies violation as a Class C misdemeanor for the first offense, a Class B misdemeanor for the second offense and a Class A misdemeanor for all subsequent violations.
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BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. A late-night wreck involving several vehicles including a Corvette that rolled over and down the embankment of Interstate 65 near mile-marker 44, slowed traffic and injured at least one person.
Multiple area fire departments, ALEA and EMS were dispatched to the scene at around 10:15 p.m.
One fire department reported that there were only minor injuries.
Traffic was light and the road was reopened within an hour or so.
ALEA is investigating the cause of the crash.
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DAPHNE, Ala. There has been a noticeable presence of Alabama State Troopers along State Highway 181 in Daphne on Wednesday and Thursday. From our observations, there has been a concerted effort to slow drivers down along a very busy stretch of the highway from State Highway 104 north to the area of Rigsby Road.
On Wednesday, our reporter watched three state troopers running radar and stopping vehicles in both the southbound and the northbound lanes of Highway 181, especially in the area of the Jubilee Farms and several other nearby subdivisions.
It’s not unusual for law enforcement to be seen along State Highway 181 which runs from the far northern part of the highway in Spanish Fort all the way back southwards through the Barnwell community and spilling out onto US 98. But it is quite unusual to see multiple ALEA cars chasing violators along a short area of the state highway.
During these two days, we witnessed approximately a dozen vehicles being pulled over and we’ve reached out to ALEA for further information. A spokesperson said that he will contact us Friday with more information.
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MOBILE, Ala. In March 2026, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC) received a cyber tip of possible Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) involving specific IP addresses at a residence in Fairhope, AL as well as a medical office located in Mobile County.
Through extensive investigative efforts involving Sheriff’s Office investigators along with special agents from the FBI, a suspect was identified as Shawn Broxton Clark, a practicing neurosurgeon in Mobile.
On Thursday, September 3, 2026, investigators executed search warrants at two separate locations: Dr. Clark’s Fairhope residence as well as his medical practice office located on Airport Blvd.
Items of evidentiary value were collected.
Dr. Clark was taken into custody near his home without incident.
He was interviewed and transported to Mobile County Metro Jail charged with 5 counts of Unlawful Possession of Child Pornography and 5 counts of Unlawful Production of Child Pornography.
He awaits a bond hearing in Mobile County District Court set for Friday morning.
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HOPE HULL, Ala. One of country music’s newest female rising star, selling millions of records and charting the top of the charts for weeks and months at a time, is from right here in Alabama and still owns a house, property in her hometown and calls, Alabama home, sweet, home!
Alabama native and country music star Ella Langley just became the second artist ever to have a song reach the top spot for 20 different weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
The only other artist to hit that milestone? Mariah Carey with her popular holiday song “All I Want for Christmas is You.”
Langley’s song “Choosin’ Texas” has put the Hope Hull native into rare company and it shows no sign of slowing down.
Recently, Lagley, celebrating her success purchased her first-ever home in July 2025 on a peaceful lakefront property in Montgomery County, Alabama, near her hometown of Hope Hull and just minutes from her parents’ house.
Langley reached the top spot with her 2025 hit “Choosin’ Texas” which first peaked on the chart in February. It has had an off-and-on run at No. 1 but has been in the Hot 100 for 45 total weeks.
The song has set several chart records and now is the second longest-leading hits in the chart’s history. Here’s the other songs with at least 16 weeks at the top spot:
22 weeks, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” Mariah Carey, 2019-26
20, “Choosin’ Texas,” Ella Langley, 2026
19, “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” Shaboozey, 2024
19, “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, 2019
“We loved the song when we wrote it, but none of us thought that it would be the song to do everything it’s doing. It keeps giving us a reason to celebrate new milestones.”
Langley is also finding success as a duet partner with many other country artists and is looking to move forward with other projects in the near future.
The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. streaming (official audio and official video), radio airplay and sales data, the lattermost metric reflecting purchases of physical singles and digital tracks from full-service digital music retailers; digital singles sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites are excluded from chart calculations.
Here’s where Langley’s big hit song ranks on other Billboard charts:
No. 1 Hot Country Songs (38th week)
No. 1 Songs of the Summer (13th week)
No. 1 on Streaming Songs (20th week)
No. 5 on Radio Songs
No. 7 on Digital Song Sales
No. 4 on Adult Pop Airplay
No. 7 on Pop Airplay
“Choosin’ Texas” is just the third song to rule Streaming Songs for at least 20 weeks, joining Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (26) and Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” (20).
Should we begin looking for Langley to make her debut on TV or even the big screen? If I was abetting man, I’d bet the house on it! Her potential seems endless!
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MONTGOMERY, Ala. In recent months we have written about the statewide ALEA operations to combat the growing number of commercial vehicle drivers who are undocumented, can not speak English, driving without valid driver’s licenses and other US drivers who do not have a valid Commercial Driver’s License or have never taken the training.
The operation has taken at least 560 of these drivers off the road, thus making our roads and Interstates safer.
Alabama Trucking Association president and CEO Mark Colson said that honest, hardworking truckers have been happy with this action and agree that this should be a nationwide program.
Governor Kay Ivey on Wednesday applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation, DHS and DOJ for recent efforts to crack down on illegal and unsafe practices in the commercial trucking industry.
The recent federal action shut down a handful of Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training schools after DHS investigated hundreds of schools for identity fraud, document forgery, and unauthorized employment.
This operation involves the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Motor Carrier Safety Unit officers and other agencies.
Much of the investigation focused on ensuring compliance with English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements for CDL operators, an effort led by the state of Alabama, which received recognition from the White House.
Alabama law enforcement has been partnering with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to improve safety by reducing illegal alien operators.
Since the beginning of the year, statistics show a 24% reduction in commercial vehicle-related fatalities compared to last year.
In March, Ivey signed the Highway Safety and Fairness Act into law, which requires foreign CDL holders operating in Alabama to have valid United States work authorization, requires all CDL holders to meet ELP requirements, and makes presenting a fraudulent foreign CDL during an enforcement encounter a criminal offense. The law takes effect October 1.
The recent federal action also received praise from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) for their efforts to cut down on fraudulent training in the industry.
“Nobody cares more about highway safety than professional truck drivers and it is basic common sense that anyone operating an 80,000-pound commercial vehicle on public roadways should be properly trained, able to read critical road signs, follow emergency instructions, and communicate with law enforcement and first responders in English,” OOIDA president Todd Spencer said. “OOIDA and professional truck drivers across America commend Secretary Duffy and Administrator Barrs for taking concrete actions to crack down on fraudulent training operations and restore rigorous English language proficiency enforcement. Congress must now do its part and pass Dalilah’s Law to ensure CDL mills remain closed and English language proficiency enforcement is permanently made the law of the land.”
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PRICHARD, AL. On Thursday, September 3, 2026, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office responded to Gethsemane Cemetery, located at 2850 S. Shelton Beach Road, after receiving a report of a deceased male found between two gravesites.
Upon arrival, deputies located the victim, identified as 22-year-old Vanol Lucky, also known as “Babsco” or “VL.” Lucky was found suffering from a fatal gunshot wound.
Deputies and investigators contained the area.
Mobile County Sheriff’s Office investigators are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding Lucky’s death and are asking for the public’s assistance.
Anyone who has information regarding Lucky’s death is urged to contact the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office at 251-574-8633.
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CONECUH COUNTY, Ala. On Thursday, September 3, 2026, a two-vehicle crash occurred at approximately 6 a.m. and has claimed the lives of two people.
Dalton G. Dustin, 19, of Anniston, was fatally injured when the 2012 Ram 2500 truck he was driving collided with the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado truck driven by Willie L. Likely Jr., 47, of Brewton.
The crash occurred on U.S. 31 near the 101 mile marker, approximately two miles east of Evergreen
Dustin, who was not wearing a seat belt, and Likely, Jr. were pronounced deceased at the scene.
Two passengers in the Chevrolet, Raylen A. Best, 26, of Eastaboga, and Joshua T. Weber, 24, of Ranburne, who were not using seat belts at the time of the crash, were injured and transported to Baptist Medical Center South in Montgomery for medical treatment.
Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.
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DAPHNE, Ala. A multi-vehicle traffic collision on US 98 in Daphne involving two motorcycles injured several people and partially closed down several lanes of the road on Tuesday, August 1, 2026.
Daphne patrol officers responded to the area of US 98 and Merritt Parkway at around 5:30 p.m., as did the Daphne Fire Department several Medstar ambulances.
Police reported that two motorcyclists had crashed and that the operators had been injured.
911 communication operators dispatched a medical helicopter to the scene to airlift one of the injured persons, but it was later canceled and all injured persons were transported by Medstar ground transport.
Daphne police investigated the cause of the collision.
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DAPHNE, Ala. A 22-year-old Daphne man is in police custody after he turned himself in to Daphne police after exposing himself to a woman at the Village Point Park on Main Street.
This park is centrally located and frequented by mothers with mainly small children and across the street from Christ the King Catholic church and school.
Police said that Michael Ryan Cain surrendered at the Daphne Police Department Correction Center on an outstanding warrant for Class A misdemeanor indecent exposure, officials said.
The incident reportedly happened on August 20th, 2026, at around 4 p.m.
The woman reported that a man approached her in the parking lot and intentionally exposed his genitals. When the woman stood her ground and warned that she would defend herself, the man fled in a pickup truck, according to police.
Police were able to track the suspect down with the help of a photo taken by the woman as he drove away.
He was booked into jail and is scheduled to appear before a municipal judge in October.
If convicted, Cain faces up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, and potential mandatory registration on the Alabama Sex Offender Registry, according to officials.
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