ORANGE BEACH, Alabama –
One of the most popular fishing spots in Orange Beach is off limits.

Sink holes and crumbling concrete and asphalt now threaten the fishermen who come here. The Alabama Department of Transportation installed a thousand feet or more of chain link fence to keep the public a safe distance away.

via Popular Orange Beach Spot Off-Limits | WKRG.

ORANGE BEACH, Alabama — Unlike the 2011 edition, the 2012 Hangout Music Fest isn’t presenting any late-night post-festival parties — but that doesn’t mean there won’t be any late-night post-festival parties.

The biggest such event likely will be the third annual Outer Hang 2012, billed as “a city-wide takeover of Orange Beach.”

Click here to view more... Outer Hang event provides late-night action after Hangout Fest | al.com.

(GULF SHORES, Ala.) – The Hangout Music Festival is sold out and expected to bring thousands to Gulf Shores. Crews are working to finish last minute details to the site before fans arrive.

Organizers have been very protective of the back stage area but they said they’ll be flying in some cooks for the musicians that will play at the event.

Click here to view more... Finishing Touches for The Hangout Music Festival | Mobile AL, Pensacola FL News, Weather, Sports | WPMI-TV | Local15TV.com.

(BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala.) – Stephen Nodine's defense has subpoenaed 11 witnesses for Monday's prosecutorial misconduct hearing. His defense alleges gross misconduct warrants the charge being thrown out. Nodine's accused of murdering his girl friend Angel Downs. His first murder trial ended in a hung jury.

There are a few surprises with this list of defense witnesses. Former Baldwin County District Attorney Judy Newcomb is not on that list, despite the defense claiming she acted inappropriately. Newcomb says she'll still be at the hearing she calls, “a media show.”

Click here to view more... Surprises in Nodine Defense Witness List | Mobile AL, Pensacola FL News, Weather, Sports | WPMI-TV | Local15TV.com.

BAY MINETTE, Alabama — Attorneys for former Mobile County Commissioner Steve Nodine has renewed their motion to move his murder re-trial out of Baldwin County.

In a motion filed this afternoon in Baldwin County Circuit Court, defense attorney Pascal Bruijn said 74,100 articles mentioning Nodine have been published since the death of his mistress, Angel Downs.

via New Subpoenas, Motion In Nodine Case | WKRG.

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — A Florida man was arrested this morning on charges that included stealing two trucks and trying to run over a Baldwin County deputy, officials said.

Michael Jay Scott II, 20, of Pensacola is being held in the Baldwin County Corrections Center with no bail, according to jail records.

Click here to view more... Man tased, arrested in Robertsdale after two stolen trucks wrecked in chases | al.com.

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would require insurance companies to annually detail to customers what their policies do and do not cover.

House Bill 166, sponsored by Gulf Shores Republican Rep. Steve McMillan, has already passed the House and will go to Gov. Robert Bentley for his approval.

Click here to view more... Fifth insurance bill passes Legislature | al.com.

FOLEY, Alabama — City officials are considering a request to make up $25,000 in school program funding lost to Baldwin County Commission budget cuts.

The Foley City Council voted Monday night to provide $12,500 to the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation. The council had approved $25,000 for the foundation in the 2011-12 municipal budget. Half the money was given to the foundation when the budget was approved in the fall of 2011 with the provision that the other $12,500 would be awarded in six months if funds were available.

Click here to view more... Foley asked to increase school program support | al.com.

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — A measure to renew Baldwin County's expiring education sales tax was approved by the Senate this afternoon on a 27-0 vote and will go before voters in November.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Randy Davis, a Daphne Republican, would levy a 1 percent sales and use tax on most goods and a 0.5 percent tax for items including vehicles and agricultural equipment. Proceeds would go to the Baldwin County school board.

Click here to view more... Senate approves Baldwin County education sales tax | al.com.

TALLAHASSEE — New coastal homeowners seeking coverage from the state-backed insurance pool could see a big jump in premiums, but Escambia and Santa Rosa county homeowners could see their rates nearly double.

The changes are part of a scenario to be reviewed today by members of Citizens Property Insurance Corp’s actuarial and underwriting committee.

Click here to view more... Hurricane insurance rate hikes may target Escambia, Santa Rosa | Pensacola News Journal | pnj.com.

The Baldwin County Commission is encouraging citizens to promote the county by providing free car decals, coffee mugs and flags sets to citizens.

The decals are available at all Baldwin County Commission offices in Bay Minette, Fairhope, Foley and Robertsdale.

Click here to view more... Promoting Baldwin County | WKRG.

SUMMERDALE, Alabama — Short-staffed and with limited funds to hire new officers, the police chiefs in Elberta and Summerdale approached their mayors with a possible solution.

Summerdale Police Chief Eddie Ingram and Elberta Chief Stanley DeVane asked their bosses to adopt an official mutual aid agreement between the departments.

via Two Baldwin County Police Departments Join Forces | WKRG.

Shaggy’s Waterfront Bar & Grill, the newest restaurant on Pensacola Beach, opened without fanfare on Tuesday to give its staff of 100 a head start as it gears up for the Memorial Day weekend holiday.

But there was nothing slow about building the restaurant, the fourth that the Mississippi-based owners have opened in five years.

Click here to view more... Shaggy’s Bar & Grill open for business on Pensacola Beach | Pensacola News Journal | pnj.com.

The mayor of Orange Beach, Ala. wants someone to investigate a possible tar mat in Perdido Pass.

About ten days ago the Army Corps of Engineers found an oil sheen while dredging in the Pass. The U.S. Coast Guard tested a sample and said the oil is not related to the 2010 BP oil spill

Click here to view more... WEAR ABC 3 :: Top Stories – Orange Beach mayor not satisfied with sheen/tar mat investigation.

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA — Richard James Tucker, 39, of Fairhope will be sentenced May 24 after being convicted of 13 counts of criminal activities associated with Synergy Finance Group LLC of Robertsdale, Alabama Securities Commission officials said.

Click here to view more... Fairhope man convicted in securities fraud case | al.com.

BAY MINETTE, Alabama — An $11.565 million settlement with BP for financial damages to Baldwin County will pay attorneys an estimated $1.397 million in fees with expenses continuing to add to the total until the deal is “consummated,” officials said today.

“The settlement is not yet consummated,” said County Attorney David Conner, who is among those lawyers who will receive some of the fees. “There are some expenses still ongoing that will come from the proceeds of the settlement.”

Click here to view more... Baldwin attorneys stand to collect $1.39 million in BP settlement | al.com.

FAIRHOPE — Stop feeding the gators. City officials offered the warning after learning of four sightings in the last week and a half of alligators in the park beside Municipal Beach.

“The biggest problem we’re having is people feeding the alligators the way they feed the ducks,” City Manager Gregg Mims told the City Council on Monday.

Click here to view more... Fairhope officials warn public about feeding alligators | al.com.

BAY MINETTE, Alabama — Baldwin County District Attorney Hallie Dixon appeared before the state Board of Pardons and Paroles to keep behind bars a man who shot a Gulf Shores policeman in 2000, the district attorney said today.

Bradley Harrison Trawick, 30, will not be eligible for parole again for at least five years.

Click here to view more... Parole denied to man who shot Gulf Shores policeman in 2000 | al.com.

DAPHNE, Alabama — City Councilman Derek Boulware, a candidate for mayor, has until 8 a.m. today to remove campaign signs that violate a city ordinance, Mayor Bailey Yelding said Tuesday.

Boulware, in a statement emailed to the Press-Register, said he would comply with the city’s request. But he said he had been “singled out by long-serving Daphne politicians and their friends.”

Click here to view more... Daphne candidate’s campaign signs have got to go, mayor says | al.com.

FAIRHOPE, Alabama — The unusually mild winter may have been good for citizens’ pocketbooks, but it put city government some $700,000 in the hole.

The City Council on Monday voted to cover the projected shortfall in the general fund by increasing the amount of revenue transferred from the city-owned utilities. Percentages of natural gas, electric and water earnings make up a substantial portion of the city’s budget — 20 percent for the 2011 fiscal year.

Click here to view more... Fairhope fixes budget shortfall | al.com.