Mobile
Daily News
Thursday, May 21st, 2026
Good morning, Mobile. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 21st of May.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ The Pirates Voyage Dinner Theater proposal in Orange Beach has been deferred by the applicant amid community opposition over traffic, drainage, and environmental concerns. The project, set for review by the Planning Commission on May 11, may be resubmitted if revised. Gulf Coast Media
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Mobile's Dora Franklin Finley African American Heritage Trail earned the #4 ranking on USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best History Tour, with guided tours showcasing Black Mobile history + heritage from slavery through the Civil Rights era. NBC 15
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ St. Michael Catholic High School named Reverend Connor R. Plessala as its first dedicated chaplain effective June 26; he has served the campus for two years and will also teach theology while continuing as Vocations Director at St. Patrick Parish in Robertsdale. NBC 15
- ➤ University of South Alabama will expand on-campus housing this fall by acquiring the 384-unit Central House (to be renamed Southpaw Village) at 175 Stadium Drive for $40 million. The deal increases available student housing beds to nearly 4,000 as enrollment grows. NBC 15
- ➤ At Spanish Fort Elementary, special education teacher Elizabeth Von Hofe was honored as Alabama Teacher of the Year on Tuesday, May 19. She will travel statewide to lead workshops as part of her role as public education ambassador (the first from Baldwin County since 1998). Gulf Coast Media
- ➤ St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope will appoint Reverend Connor R. Plessala as its first dedicated chaplain effective June 26, 2026. He will also continue serving as Vocations Director for the Archdiocese of Mobile (residing at St. Patrick Parish) to support campus life. UTV 44
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ On Wednesday, officers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas met at the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park to tell boaters to wear life jackets, avoid alcohol, and check safety gear as National Safe Boating Week leads into Memorial Day weekend. NBC 15
- ➤ U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville and the U.S. Department of State are hosting a Passport Fair on Wednesday, May 27 from 8:30 a.m. to noon at room 202AB in the Mobile Convention Center — applicants must pre-register, bring a 2x2 photo, proof of citizenship and government ID, then pay electronically. UTV 44
- ➤ State Sen. Donnie Chesteen secured 85% of the vote in Tuesday's primary for Senate District 29 — showing strong local support — and thanked voters for their trust as he looks forward to serving Southeast Alabama. 1819 News
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Mobile County EMS will equip three ambulances with a high-tech cooler (holding up to six blood bags) and warming devices starting next Tuesday to speed blood transfusions in the field. The update covers unincorporated areas and 22 municipalities (excludes Mobile) so patients get quicker care during life-threatening emergencies. NBC 15
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ Anglers can fish red snapper seven days a week starting May 22 until the NOAA Fisheries 664,552-pound allocation is met or Dec. 31—federally permitted charter boats will open on June 1. The AL Creel survey received federal certification to improve catch data, while USA begins phone interviews to support timely management. Gulf Coast Media
- ➤ Gardening expert Kitti Cooper shows how Southern Alabama’s warm climate lets squash thrive, offering both summer and winter varieties for fresh meals; her guide explains planting, watering, and pest control & harvest tips for local gardeners to boost yields. Gulf Coast Media
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Saraland’s softball team clinched the Class 6A state championship Tuesday evening with a 5-0 win over Helena at Choccolocco Park in Oxford; right fielder Bryleigh Goff made a decisive catch that kept the Blue Map in play, marking a milestone after last year’s runner-up finish. The Call News
- ➤ Glenwood Academy defeated Gordo 8-2 at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium in Jacksonville on Wednesday, May 20, to win its 26th state baseball title. Coach Tim Fanning praised the effort of the senior group, and junior Andrew Wilkinson earned MVP honors. AL.com
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Gulf Coast Caribbean Carnival 2026
May 22-24 — Mardi Gras Park — Free entry — Celebrate Caribbean culture with vibrant festivities on the Gulf Coast.
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Greater Gulf Coast Caribbean Culture and Arts Festival
11 AM – 8 PM — Oyster City Brewing Company — Check for admission details — Celebrate the vibrant energy, color, and rhythm of Caribbean culture through art, music, and food.
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Weirdo Record Wednesdays
6-9 p.m. — Alabama Music Box — Free entry — Enjoy a mix of vinyl records with guest DJs and local music vibes.
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Brown Bag by the Bay Spring 2026
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. — May Day Park — Free entry — Relish live music while enjoying lunch by the picturesque shores of Mobile Bay.
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Books & Plant Bingo Night
7-9 p.m. — Oyster City Brewing Company — Free entry — Enjoy a fun night of bingo with a twist of books and plants, perfect for enthusiasts of both.
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Born In the Headlines: Your Reel History
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. — Local History & Genealogy - Mobile Public Library — Free entry — Dive into microfilm archives and take home a nostalgic newspaper front page from your birthday.
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Diggery's Dinosaur Adventure
10-11 a.m. — Trinity Gardens Community Library — Registration required — Embark on an exciting journey with Paleontologist Diggery as he brings dinosaurs to life.
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Disney's The Little Mermaid
7 p.m. — Arlene Mitchell Theater — Refunds available up to 7 days before event — Dive into a magical underwater journey with a little mermaid longing for the human world.
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Founders Day at Colonial Fort Condé
1-5 p.m. — Colonial Fort Condé — Free admission — Step back into the 1700s with interactive demonstrations and learn about the founders of Mobile.
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Major Applewhite Youth Football Camp
Lunch included — University of South Alabama — Cost info not specified — A fun and educational youth football camp for kids entering K-8th grade.
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