Free Republic

MOBILE, AL (WALA) - One boater was rescued, but four were still missing as the United States Coast Guard searched the waters of Mobile Bay after sailing vessels participating in a Dauphin Island sailing regatta capsized during a storm. The Coast Guard Sector Mobile received the report at approximately 4:30 p.m. Saturday that the regatta was struck by severe weather causing multiple vessels to capsize and leaving multiple people on the water. The United States Coast Guard said 200 people were on 119 boats during the 57th annual iteration of the Dauphin Island Race.

During a change of venue hearing Thursday, the father accused of throwing his four children off the Dauphin Island Bridge pleaded guilty to capital murder.

Sunday, 5:50 p.m. (Jan. 20) -Body of small Asian child found near Venice, Louisiana. -An autopy will determine if it is 2 year old Hannah Luong. -The Coast Guard in New Orleans received a call around 10 a.m. that a body had been found near Plaquemines Parish.

Amid heavy fog, Mobile County Sheriff's Office officials called off their search this afternoon for four dead children reportedly tossed off the Dauphin Island bridge. After sonar cameras spotted something submerged under the bridge, divers explored the area but did not find any bodies, officials said. Authorities plan to resume their search at dawn. The massive search involved 50 to 70 people from several agencies, nine vessels and a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter. Sheriff's Capt. Paul Stewart said cadaver dogs on boats alerted handlers to an area of the water, prompting the Sheriff's Office to deploy the sonar cameras. The...

Under a spending bill passed Thursday by the Senate Appropriations Committee approximately $2.5million would be appropriated for public beach and wildlife habitat purchases on Dauphin Island out of the next federal budget. The bill was created by Republican Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama. Senator Shelby heads the subcommittee that crafted the spending bill. Why is this happening, you ask? Because Shelby knows Dauphin Island needs these things for its continued growth as a socio-economic entity. Because Dauphin Island officials don't have the resources to do this themselves. And because he's in a position to allocate a small portion of pork...