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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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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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!
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
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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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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FLOMATON. Ala. Two children rushed to a Florida hospital in critical condition on Tuesday morning have now led to their parents being arrested for child abuse, and torture. And police now say that those charges have been upgraded to attempted murder.
Alabama authorities were contacted about the children’s condition and immediately began an investigation.
Eric McClure, 41, and Cynthia Tedder, 36, were taken into custody in Pensacola, where they await extradition to Alabama. Both are charged with torture and willful abuse of a child under 18 years of age by a responsible person.
According to police, these new charges were filed based on evidence uncovered during the ongoing investigation.
Florida officials alerted the Flomaton Police Department shortly after 5 a.m. Tuesday after the child arrived at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Following an initial inquiry, officers executed a search warrant at the victim’s residence, yielding evidence that led to the arrest warrants according to police investigators.
Anyone with information related to this case is asked to call Lt. Thaihee Staples at the Flomaton Police Department at 251-296-5811.
Flomaton Police Chief Justin Hetrick said the investigation remains active but they cannot release further information due to its sensitivity and the children’s ages.
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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. A woman dying from cancer had only one wish before she departed this world and employees at the Huntsville Hospital, made it happen.
Facing a terminal diagnosis, 74-year-old Jeannie Guffey wanted to be baptized before going home under hospice care.
For some it might have been a bit of a task but some special nurses worked out the details, and it all came together.
First, the three Huntsville Hospital ICU nurses used their own money to buy a kiddie pool so dying patient Jeannie Guffey could be baptized.
Nurses Erin Powers, Kaitlin Swaim, and Emily Owens ordered a pool from Walgreens, had it DoorDashed to Huntsville Hospital, filled it with warm water using ventilator tubing, and then used a ceiling lift to lower her in.
Her son performed the baptism with family around the pool.
Guffey died peacefully a week later.
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The Foley police department responded to a report from an adult victim that they met a man, later identified as Tyrone Sykes (39) of Mobile, in a public place within the City of Foley.
At that point, the woman stated to officers that Sykes had raped her.
Detectives determined that probable cause existed for the arrest of Sykes.
Information was distributed to local law enforcement agencies in an effort to locate Sykes.
The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and the Mobile Police Department assisted in locating Sykes at a residence in the 5400 block of Moffett Road in Mobile where he was arrested by the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office without incident.
Sykes was arrested and charged with Rape in the First Degree and transported to the Baldwin County Detention Center.
The Foley Police Department thanks the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, and the Mobile Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.
This investigation is on-going. If anyone has information regarding this incident or individual, please contact the Foley Police Department.
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GULF SHORES, Ala. No doubt about it, the fall is my favorite time to be outdoors walking, hiking and camping and many visitors flock to the Alabama Gulf Coast too for cooler weather and less crowded beaches.
But exploring our diverse outdoor areas is also a favorite pastime for many tourists as well.
Now locals and visitors have a little more room to roam, explore, ride a bike through or jog with this new addition.
Community leaders, elected officials and Alabama State Parks staff gathered Friday for a ribbon-cutting and ceremonial grand opening of the extension, which brings the Fort Morgan Trail to approximately 10.5 miles along Alabama Highway 180, also known as Fort Morgan Road.
“This is a great day for south Baldwin County,” said Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Blankenship. “Extending the Fort Morgan Trail gives residents and visitors more opportunities to walk, bike and enjoy the beauty of Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Projects like this create new ways for people to experience the outdoors, support tourism and enhance the quality of life for the communities we serve. I’m proud to support this project and excited to see this important connection completed.”
The new 4.4-mile section extends westward from Plantation Boulevard to a new terminus near Fort Morgan Pizza, giving visitors additional opportunities to experience the coastal landscape by foot or bicycle. The trail is paved and 10 feet wide along its entire length, providing a safe and accessible route for walkers, runners and cyclists.
The extension also includes 12 bridges designed to help preserve critical coastal wetlands along the route. At the new terminus, visitors will find a new bathhouse featuring four private, family-style suites designed to provide comfort and convenience for trail users.
The Fort Morgan Trail also connects with the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail system, giving visitors access to a larger network of approximately 28 miles of paved trails throughout Gulf State Park and connecting to Orange Beach.
“Extending the Fort Morgan Trail is a win for residents and visitors alike,” said state Sen. Chris Elliott. “Trails like this draw tourists to our coast, support local businesses and give our families a safe, beautiful place to be outside together. It’s always good to offer more outdoor recreational facilities along our beautiful Gulf Coast.”
The $5.6 million project was funded by the federal RESTORE Act, which uses civil and administrative penalties paid under the Clean Water Act by companies responsible for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Under the Act, the funding supports programs, projects and activities designed to restore and protect the environment and economy of the Gulf Coast region.
And already many have started taking advantage of the new area!
About Alabama State Parks The Alabama State Parks Division, a division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, manages 21 state parks encompassing more than 50,000 acres of land and water across Alabama. The parks range from Gulf Coast beaches to Appalachian Mountain landscapes and offer a variety of recreational opportunities including camping, lodging, hiking, golfing, fishing, nature tourism, and educational programming. Alabama State Parks primarily operates through visitor-generated revenue and partnerships that support long-term sustainability and public access. For more information, visit alapark.com.
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Bay Minette, Ala. One person has been arrested by a special unit of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office after an investigation of animal abuse and cruelty at a residence.
Deputies with the Rural Enforcement responded to a report about the welfare of animals at the property of Jessica Phillips on Monday and observed a deceased dog inside a chain-link kennel. Fifteen additional dogs were also found on the property, with most confined among two other kennels, the BCSO said.
The deputies also found that several of the dogs housed in the kennels were found to be severely malnourished, and they also observed that the animals did not have food or access to clean drinking water at the time of the investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputies have arrested Phillips and charged her with aggravated animal cruelty.
Officials said all surviving dogs, along with a cat found on the property, were taken into custody by Baldwin County Animal Control. The animals were provided with care, including veterinary evaluation and treatment.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be filed as warranted, the sheriff’s office said.
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GULF SHORES, Ala. With nationwide push back and protests over the use of Flock, Automated License Plate Reader camera, a Baldwin County police chief is stepping forward saying that the cameras work but that more transparency is needed.
Police Chief Dan Netemeyer says the technology has helped them solve a multitude of crimes. He said that the city has over 80 Flock cameras and they have been extremely valuable. The city council approved a contract with Flock in September 2025. They were installed in the spring.
The Chief said that despite the flaws, and certain problems and that this technology works well in aiding in speedy arrests, information, searches for suspects and that license plate readers have been around for years. Cameras were placed throughout the city from parks to the beaches. As a destination city, Netemeyer adds it’s a critical tool that has helped the department.
“And all of a sudden, recently, it’s been an issue. And this issue is coming from misinformation that’s being put out there with regard to these cameras. I encourage everybody to do their own research. Make sure it’s factual.”
Netemeyer says a transparency portal will be launched in the coming weeks. This will allow residents to see how the cameras are used.
The Chief made it clear, “We are not hiding anything. These cameras are in public place,” Netemeyer said. “They are taking a snapshot of a vehicle and a license plate. They’re not going into people’s homes, not tracking inside people’s homes. They’re not following people around. They are fixed objects that are tracking the street to which they are reading plates and getting descriptions of vehicles. no different than a police officer sitting there with a car camera on, filming every car that drives by.”
Nationwide, Automatic License Plate Reader Cameras are responsible for the recovery of thousands of missing and kidnapped children, tens of thousands of violent felons and fugitives, the recovery of thousands of stolen vehicles and aid in high profile cases across the country.
Although Flock is often mentioned in the media, there are many other brands and manufacturers of the Automatic License Plate Readers. Flock is a brand, not the technology.
The contract is renewable every year for the city. The city would need to vote on it again once the city votes to approve the budget.
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MOBILE, AL. An off-duty Mobile police officer working security at the Walmart Supercenter, located at 5245 Rangeline Road on Friday, August 28, 2026, at approximately 1:00 p.m. noticed several people working together to conceal products without paying for them.
The officer was able to detain the three people in the loss prevention office. While investigating the theft, the officer noticed that the people in custody were possibly wanted for several home burglaries and contacted a detective to respond to the store.
Between Sunday, August 9, 2026, and Saturday, August 15, 2026, two unknown subjects unlawfully entered a residence located in the 6800 block of Wigfield Road and removed items not belonging to any of the subjects.
A detective responded to the store and determined that property from the residential burglary was also in their possession, and it was recovered and returned to the victim.
Police subsequently arrested Lerinzer Watkins Jr., 33, Corey Womack, 34, and Dylan Cox, 34, and they were transported to Metro Jail.
The three have been charged with 3 Counts of Burglary and Organized Retail Theft.
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LOXLEY Ala. Authorities in Loxley reported that on Saturday, August 29th, 2026, at around 3:55 p.m., the Baldwin County 911 Communications Center received a call of a drowning.
Communication dispatchers immediately dispatched police and the fire department and a Medstar ambulance to the home located on Longview Drive.
Authorities advised that a teen was pulled from a residential pool and given first-aid by those already on the scene and the teen began breathing again.
A medical helicopter was also dispatched to the area and landed in the neighborhood.
The condition of the person has not been made public at this time.
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BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. A new countywide emergency alert system is now active and available to alert residents to area emergencies including tornados, wildfires, hurricanes, flooding and other potential disasters.
Baldwin County Emergency Management Director Tom Tyler said that prior to this, not everyone in our area had that capability although there was an alert system in place.
“We also have a system called Alert Baldwin where people can opt in to receive emergency alerts for anything going on inside of Baldwin County, whether it be weather-related, accident-related, a technological disaster, anything that would not be triggered by the weather service,” said Tyler.
“If you are getting this on your phone, it is necessary to save lives,” added Tyler.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey recently stated that after the Camp Mystic floods in Texas last year, where people lost their lives, it became a priority for her.
A similar alert system is now available throughout Alabama. After the Camp Mystic floods in Texas last year, it became a priority for Alabama Governor Kay Ivey.
Tyler said that it’s important for people to receive the earliest warnings possible so that they can be prepared and when necessary, evacuate from the area.
Most recently, Baldwin County EMA sent an alert about the heavy surf generated by Tropical Storm Bertha. A message went to phones along Fort Morgan to stay out of the water for their own safety.
“The important thing is now every county has the capability to do that,” said Tyler.
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BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. Employees of the Alabama Department of Transportation found themselves dangling from the Delta Bridge over the Tensaw River after authorities said that there was a malfunction of some of their equipment.
The men were inspecting the side of the bridge on Interstate 65 from a platform truck when the platform malfunctioned and wouldn’t go up.
The bucket tilted and dropped a little, injuring one of the employees and causing both employees to be stuck.
911 was called at around 1:05 p.m. on Thursday, August 27, 2026, and three fire departments, law enforcement and EMS responded to the scene for a technical rescue. The Bay Minette Fire Department provided rope rescue technicians and marine units were sent up the river to the scene in case a water rescue had to be performed.
One worker said that his back was hurting but there were no significant injuries reported.
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