Alabama
Politics of libraries and migrants, and the quiz: Down in Alabama
Library leadership
The Alabama Public Library Service’s board of directors elected state GOP chair John Wahl as its head, reports AL.com’s Howard Koplowitz. The governor appoints a board member from each of the seven congressional districts. Wahl has been on the library board since 2022.
There have been times in our history I’m sure when a library board election has gone fairly unnoticed and not drawn criticism, but Wahl’s promotion comes at a time when public libraries have become a front in the culture wars.
There are groups such as Clean Up Alabama that say they’re trying to prevent children from having access to sexually explicit material in the libraries. Others, such as the group Read Freely Alabama, accuse the more conservative groups of targeting libraries for books with LGBTQ or racial-justice themes.
Read Freely Alabama released a statement calling Wahl an “anti-library extremist” for aligning with Clean Up Alabama and Moms for Liberty.
Back in January, the library service board voted to split from the American Library Association over how it categorizes sexually explicit material.
Migrant anxieties
Concern over migrant workers from Haiti, who have moved into many places in the country on a temporary federal work program, continue to roil small towns in Alabama.
AL.com’s Mike Cason reports that a couple of local officials in Enterprise tried to tamp down anxieties there through statements similar to that from majors and council members in other cities: They weren’t given personal information about the newcomers, they’ve seen no increase in reported crime, and they have seen misinformation on social media.
Mayor William Cooper acknowledged the possibility for unintended consequences of an influx of people and said he’s communicating with law enforcement, the healthcare community, local school systems and other cities in a similar situation to monitor for problems.
There was a meeting billed as “open to the public” last night at a church in Enterprise to discuss the migrants, although people there told one of our reporters to leave. A flyer advertising the event said it would have a former Trump advisor as a speaker.
Environmental settlement
Warrior Met Coal has agreed to fix a coal slurry impoundment, stop wastewater from polluting a Tuscaloosa County waterway, and pay $250,000 per a settlement with Black Warrior Riverkeeper, reports AL.com’s Margaret Kates.
The wastewater has been leaking into a tributary of Texas Creek, which flows into the Black Warrior River. The environmental group filed a lawsuit in 2022 over 21 leaks it had documented since 2021.
The deal also calls for Warrior Met Coal to place the impoundment in the Alabama Dam Safety Program. That means it’ll face more monitoring and regulation by the local EMA.
The company is reimbursing Black Water Riverkeeper $28,000 in legal fees. The $250,000 is going to the Freshwater Land Trust for a project in that river system.
By the numbers
415
That’s how many citations and warnings Mobile police issued Tuesday and Wednesday as part of a “Red Light Blitz” focused on traffic-light violations.
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2019 Alabama Prison Escapee Now Facing Florida Charges For Walnut Hill Machete Carjacking : NorthEscambia.com
A man who escaped an Alabama prison facility and allegedly staged a local carjacking in 2019 has been extradited to Escambia County, Florida.
Travis Wyatt Dawson was served with outstanding warrants and extricated last week for felony carjacking with a weapon and misdemeanor battery. He remains in the Escambia County Jail with bond set at $102,500.
The charges stem from a July 14, 2019, incident on Miller Road in Walnut Hill. Dawson, who had escaped from a Loxley, Alabama, work release center four days prior, allegedly grabbed a victim from behind, brandished a machete, and stole a 2016 Dodge Caravan. As Dawson fled the scene, a witness jumped into the back of the minivan to try to stop him. The vehicle was later found abandoned after running out of gas at Interstate 65 and Government Street in Mobile.
Dawson eluded capture until May 2020, when he was apprehended in Louisiana.
At the time of his escape, Dawson was serving a 20 years sentence for a 2013 convocation for possession of a controlled substance in Escambia County, Alabama.
A man who escaped an Alabama prison facility in 2019 and allegedly staged a local carjacking has been extradited to Escambia County, Florida.
Travis Wyatt Dawson was served with outstanding warrants and extricated last week for felony carjacking with a weapon and misdemeanor battery.
The charges stem from a July 14, 2019, incident on Miller Road in Walnut Hill. Dawson, who had escaped from a Loxley, Alabama, work release center four days prior, allegedly grabbed a victim from behind, brandished a machete, and stole a 2016 Dodge Caravan. As Dawson fled the scene, a witness jumped into the back of the minivan to try to stop him. The vehicle was later found abandoned after running out of gas at Interstate 65 and Government Street in Mobile.
Dawson eluded capture until May 2020, when he was apprehended in Louisiana.
At the time of his escape, Dawson was serving a 20 years sentence for a 2013 convocation for possession of a controlled substance in Escambia County, Alabama.
Pictured top: Officers from the Alabama Department of Corrections speak to an Escambia County (FL) deputy and a citizen a roadblock on Miller Road in Florida on July 12, 2019. Dawson allegedly carjacked a minivan just a few yards from this location on July 14, 2019. Pictured below: An Escambia County (FL) Road Prison K-9 team searches near a Rockaway Creek Road bridge that spans the Alabama-Florida state line. Pictured bottom: An Escambia County (FL) deputy helps maintain a perimeter around a neighborhood along Rockaway Creek Road at Grubbs Street in Atmore. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Some Alabama downtowns just feel made for a slow walk and a good coffee, and a new ranking says there’s plenty of them.
World Atlas recently highlighted 10 small towns with the best downtowns in Alabama in a recent travel roundup, pointing to walkable streets, historic storefronts and locally owned shops that give each destination its own sense of place.
The list reflects a growing interest in small-town travel, where downtown districts serve as hubs for dining, shopping and community life.
Standout Alabama downtowns highlighted by World Atlas
A few of the towns on the list stand out for especially distinctive downtown experiences. Here’s what World Atlas had to say.
In Fairhope, a waterfront downtown meets a historic shopping district, where Fairhope Avenue leads to Mobile Bay and the city’s iconic pier stretches into wide coastal views. Independent bookstores, antique shops and cafes anchor a walkable core that feels both coastal and classic.
Opelika has transformed its railroad heritage into a lively downtown scene. Brick storefronts line North Railroad Avenue, now home to breweries and distilleries like John Emerald Distilling Company, along with a growing cluster of locally owned restaurants and tasting rooms.
In Eufaula, antebellum architecture defines the downtown experience. Grand historic homes, courthouse squares and the Yoholo Micco Creek Trail combine history and nature in a setting that feels deeply preserved and unusually expansive for a small city.
And in Monroeville, literary history shapes nearly every corner of downtown. The courthouse square and surrounding district reflect the legacy of To Kill a Mockingbird, with museums, sculptures and shaded public spaces that reinforce its identity as Alabama’s Literary Capital.
Some of the most unique features on the list
Several towns also stand out for their one-of-a-kind attractions:
- Montevallo features more than 50 intricate tree carvings hidden throughout Orr Park
- Abbeville is home to Huggin’ Molly’s, a 1950s-style diner inspired by a local ghost legend
- Fairhope’s pier and coastal park system offer one of the most scenic downtown waterfronts in the state
World Atlas’s 10 best downtowns in Alabama
- Fairhope: waterfront pier, bookstores and bayside views.
- Opelika: railroad district and craft distilleries.
- Eufaula: 700+ historic structures and scenic trail.
- Cullman: German heritage and Oktoberfest events.
- Wetumpka: Coosa River views and historic district.
- Abbeville: 1950s neon and Huggin’ Molly’s diner.
- Tuscumbia: Helen Keller birthplace and Spring Park.
- Montevallo: arts scene and tree carving park.
- Monroeville: “To Kill a Mockingbird” courthouse.
- Sheffield: Tennessee River views and arts venues.
Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@usatodayco.com.
OZARK, Ala. (WTVY) – Dale County Schools Superintendent Ben Baker has been named Alabama’s Superintendent of the Year.
The honor was announced at the State School Superintendent Association Conference, which celebrates leaders who champion public education and academic progress.
Under Baker’s leadership, Dale County Schools scored a 95 on the state report card, the highest score recorded by a county school in state history.
Baker was recognized by State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey. He said the award reflects the work of his staff.
“I recognize that it has a lot to do with the good people that work for Dale County Schools, that work hard every day to try to create opportunities for our students,” Baker said. “Superintendents across our state really work hard to provide the best opportunities for our students, and I’m excited to have this platform because I’m going to use this platform to share the great things going on in Dale County, and also the great things going on in the state of Alabama.”
Baker was one of nine finalists up for the award.
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