Good morning, Mobile.

Frank Harkins will retire this October after 50 years in nonprofit work.

He spent 46 years at Easter Seals Mobile and Goodwill Gulf Coast — growing free programs for thousands in southwest Alabama and northwest Florida — and his leadership has supported many local services.

Foley police are searching for 12-year-old Nicole Solorzano—who was last seen around 9 a.m. on August 7 at her home and is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall and 150 pounds—and anyone with information should call 251-943-4431.

Alabama passed a law that bans cellphone use in schools and requires teachers to collect phones in bags until the end of the school day.

The law adds a delay to driver license eligibility by giving points for suspensions — one point for an in-school suspension and two for an out-of-school suspension — and points will be reduced if no new ones are added over time.

A wildfire that spread over 25 acres last week in the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge near Fort Morgan Road was likely started by a lightning strike, officials said.

Emergency crews responded on Thursday, July 31 — coordinating with state and federal agencies to contain the blaze — and new growth appeared within the area near the Kiva Dunes Golf Course.

Share the Beach reported 88 documented sea turtle nests on the Alabama Gulf Coast this season, with 18 hatching and most nests being Loggerhead along with four Kemp's Ridley nests.

Since the end of June, false crawls have nearly doubled from 63 to 124 and human activity on the beach has been linked to this rise—one nest in Orange Beach was vandalized and is under investigation.

Mobile County leaders and local swim officials gathered Friday afternoon for a beam-signing ceremony to mark the halfway progress on Phase I of the Mobile County Aquatic Center.

The $25 million project broke ground on September 6, 2024 and will finish in early summer 2026 — the outdoor competition pool is complete while crews continue work on the mechanical and concessions buildings.

Federal judges ruled on August 8 that Alabama must keep a court-chosen map for its second minority-majority U.S. House district until 2030 — the order leaves future redistricting after the 2030 Census to state lawmakers.

Eligible voters must register by Monday, August 11 if they are new, updating, or re-registering ahead of the municipal election on August 26.

Voters may register electronically or visit their county registrar’s office during business hours — meeting age and residency requirements — so they can cast a valid ballot.

Alabama Amateur Open

2 AM – 5 AM — PickleRage — Registration fee required — Dive into competitive pickleball hosted by the APA for an action-packed weekend.

Chess Club at West Regional Library

3-5 p.m. — West Regional Library — Free entry — All ages welcome to improve chess skills in a friendly club environment.

SS United States Tour with Historian John Sledge

3-4 p.m. — Mobile Convention Center — Tickets from $15 — Discover the storied history of the SS United States from esteemed maritime historian John Sledge.

Orchestra Noir

8:00-9:30 p.m. — Saenger Theatre Mobile — Ticket required — Experience Orchestra Noir's electrifying reimagining of early 2000s music through orchestral power.

An Evening with Pastor Shirley Caesar

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Saenger Theatre Mobile — Ticket details available — Experience the uplifting performance of the Queen of Gospel.

Emerald Coast Beer Festival

5:30 p.m. — Seville Quarter — Cost not specified — Sample a variety of craft beers from Iron Hand Brewing at this local festival.

Free First Sunday at the History Museum of Mobile & Colonial Fort Conde

1-5 p.m. — History Museum of Mobile — Free admission — Enjoy a day at the museum and explore local history for free on the first Sunday of each month.

Comedy Open Mic Night

6:30-7 p.m. — Lucky Irish Pub & Grill — Free entry — Enjoy a cozy evening of laughter with local comedians showcasing their talents.