GULF SHORES, Alabama — If lifeguards post a red flag to warn swimmers of high-risk rip currents at the beach, the National Weather Service should have that information, according to beach safety officials.

Click here to view more... Lifeguards, weather forecasters meet to save lives at Gulf (graphic) | al.com.

LILLIAN, Alabama — The Baldwin County Sheriff's Office and other agencies are searching the waters around the KOA campground in Lillian for 33-year-old David Dill, who was reported missing this morning by his wife, according to a news release.

Click here to view more... Man reported missing after possible late-night swim in Lillian | al.com.

BAY MINETTE, Alabama — Alimireo Felix English was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of trafficking in cocaine, Baldwin County District Attorney Hallie Dixon said today.

English, 36, of Bay Minette was also sentenced to 40 years on a charge of distribution of cocaine.

Click here to view more... Baldwin County man gets life sentence for trafficking cocaine | al.com.

BAY MINETTE, Alabama — A Baldwin County grand jury and investigation by the county’s Drug Task Force resulted in the arrests of some 14 suspects including one man growing a crop of marijuana indoors in Elberta. Authorities were searching for three others in the drug sweep.

Click here to view more... Baldwin County authorities arrest 14 in drug sweep (Updated) | al.com.

MAGNOLIA SPRINGS, Alabama — On a bright April morning, with mourners overflowing the chapel, the funeral for Summer Moody took place Monday at Pine Rest Funeral Home near Magnolia Springs.

Click here to view more... At Summer Moody funeral, pastor recalls vibrant youth but urges good conduct (Gallery) | al.com.

GULF SHORES, Ala. — The City’s attorneys are working through the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling invalidating the annexation of Ft. Morgan Road by the City of Gulf Shores.

“The Mayor, City Council and staff have not yet had an opportunity to review the decision with the attorneys and will have a comment on the matter as soon as the attorneys have a chance to work through the issues,” Mayor Pro Tem Carolyn Doughty said.

Click here to view more... Supreme Court overturns Gulf Shores annexation – GulfCoastNewsToday.com: News.

ORANGE BEACH, Alabama — In the art world, one never knows when the next Picasso will appear — or the next O’Keeffe, Pollock or Warhol.

Therein lies the beauty of an event such as the 4th annual “Emerging Artists” exhibit that opens Friday, May 4, at the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach. The artwork will remain on view through July 14.

Click here to view more... Coastal Arts Center opens ‘Emerging Artists’ | al.com.

ORANGE BEACH, Alabama — Developer Larry Wireman says BP gave a $37.2 million steroid shot to competitor Phoenix West II, and now he’s wondering why the oil company hasn’t done the same for his $375 million Turquoise Place condominium project.

Click here to view more... Orange Beach developers want BP funds for Turquoise condo project | al.com.

ORANGE BEACH, Alabama — Diamond Jims and Ms. Donnas restaurant will open in 4,000 square feet at 25638 Canal Road over the Memorial Day weekend at the end of May, according to owner Jim Dial Jr. He and his wife, Donna, have leased the former Tiki Beach Pub building. They also own Diamond Jims and Ms. Donnas in Livingston, Ala. The restaurant specializes in steak and seafood.

Click here to view more... Diamond Jim’s restaurant to open in Orange Beach | al.com.

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Riding with pride on the Pink Fire Truck in the Feb.,20 Wharf Mardi Gras Parade are the past queens and emblems of Sirens of the Sea: Karla Woodring; Linda Pacatte; Sally O’Donnell; Oliveth Archer; Helen Shivers; Susan Sizemore; Annette Mitchell; Joan Contorno; Allyson Walters; and Ren White.

Click here to view more... Sirens of the Sea donate to PInk Heals cause – GulfCoastNewsToday.com: News.

Tony Reisinger of the Texas Sea Grant Extension Service, told CNN that the tiger prawn “are cannibalistic as are other shrimp, but it's larger so it can consume the others.”

The black-and-white-striped sea creatures have shown up in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast coast and, unlike their bottom-feeding cousins, are big enough—up to 13 inches long and up to a quarter-pound—to gobble up smaller shrimp.

Click here to view more... Cannibal shrimp: The invasion has begun | The Upshot – Yahoo! News.

Just one day after the announcement the three adults in the Gravine Island incident won’t be charged, the attorney for one of the teens said his client is saying investigators have it all wrong.

Scott Byrd was the boyfriend of Summer Moody , and his attorney Clark Stankoski said Byrd has a different story to tell.

Click here to view more... Gravine teen tells a different story | Fox10tv.com.

Mullet fans are crowding the Alabama/Florida state line this weekend for the annual Mullet Toss.  The event draws thousands of people to the FloraBama.

Click here to view more... Mullet Toss drawing thousands to beach | Fox10tv.com.

Baldwin County District Attorney Hallie Dixon not only cleared William Hearn and Larry Duncan in the accidental shooting death of Summer Moody, she will not prosecute the convicted felons on state gun charges.

Click here to view more... Gravine Island Investigation Not Over | WKRG.

Former Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine is set to be released from a federal prison in Miami Monday, according to the  Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Nodine has been serving a 15-month sentence after pleading guilty in 2010 to a federal gun crime.

Click here to view more... Steve Nodine to be released from federal prison Monday | al.com.

With Summer Moody now dead from the gunshot she received 2 weeks ago at a Baldwin County fishing camp, her boyfriend and 2 other teenagers could face murder charges even though none of them pulled the trigger.

Baldwin County District Attorney Hallie Dixon has not said how she intends to proceed, but the state’s felony murder law makes it a crime to set off a chain of events that leads to someone’s death.

Click here to view more... Summer Moody: Foreseeability could be key issue if prosecutors file felony murder charges | al.com.

GULF SHORES, Alabama — Today through Sunday, the Gulf Coast Region of USA Volleyball is hosting the 2012 AVCA Collegiate Sand Volleyball National Championships in front of The Hangout in Gulf Shores.

Click here to view more... Get a primer on sand volleyball before this weekend’s AVCA Championships (Infographic) | al.com.

BAY MINETTE, Alabama — An attorney for one of the teenagers charged with burglarizing a Baldwin County fishing camp in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta said today that the shooting of a 17-year-old girl in their group was intentional.

Donald D. “Wayne” Doerr Jr., who represents Daniel Parnell, said his client described a sequence of events that radically contradicts the version offered by law enforcement authorities when they announced Thursday that they would not file charges against any of the 3 men who had come from a neighboring camp on Gravine Island to investigate noises in the wee hours of April 15.

Click here to view more... Attorney for burglary defendant: Shooting of Summer Moody was intentional | al.com.

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — Baldwin County commissioners agreed that the public should vote on new school taxes, but during the Friday meeting, half said that they opposed a request from tax supporters to decide the issue in a special election next February.

Some objected to the timing of the vote and some to the tax proposals themselves.

Click here to view more... New school tax needed in Baldwin, supporters tell County Commission | al.com.

Alabama native Tim Cook has had a whirlwind year since being named Apple CEO last August, succeeding tech legend Steve Jobs. Now he’s been listed at the top of Out Magazine’s list of most powerful individuals in the LGBT community.

Click here to view more... Magazine lists Apple CEO Tim Cook of Robertsdale as world’s most powerful gay person | al.com.