Gulf Coast

A project aimed at helping restore passenger rail service to the Gulf Coast for the first time in nearly two decades is well underway. The start of the Gulf Coast Corridor Improvement project began on Oct. 22 in downtown Mobile with a groundbreaking ceremony.

Alabama broadcaster Mel Showers, who broke racial barriers in a Deep South newsroom and became a beloved and trusted newsman along the state’s Gulf Coast, has died. He was 78. WKRG-TV, the station where he worked for 50 years, announced his death over the weekend.

Members of the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department are participating in the Fill the Boot drive. Funds raised help support Muscular Dystrophy Associations efforts to fund groundbreaking research, accelerate treatments and cures, as well as funding support services.

Helene has made landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida's northwestern coast as a Category 4 hurricane. Forecasters say the storm is threatening a “catastrophic” storm surge in northwestern parts of Florida as well as damaging winds, rains and flash floods. In Alabama, the impact of the storm is lessening across the state.

Florida A&M University has postponed its upcoming college football game against Alabama A&M because of Tropical Storm Helene. The Rattlers rescheduled the game for Friday, Nov. 29, in anticipation of Helene strengthening into a major hurricane Wednesday while moving north toward the United States.

Registration is still open for the City of Mobile's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event set for Sept. 21. The free event allows residents to discard items that the city cannot accept during routine trash and garbage collection.

Francine is weakening after striking Louisiana as a Category 2 hurricane as it heads far inland from the Gulf Coast. Power outages and damages are being reported across Central Alabama, including in Jefferson County, Tuscaloosa County and Hale County.

“National Preparedness Month” is recognized throughout September, and Governor Kay Ivey is urging all Alabamians to create a plan and be prepared before disaster strikes. This comes as Hurricane Francine is barreling toward Louisiana and an expected landfall.

Hurricane Francine is barreling toward Louisiana with an expected landfall with potentially deadly storm surge, destructive winds and widespread flooding. Alabama is also at risk of “considerable” flash and urban flooding.

A Mobile nonprofit is offering opportunities to learn about a prominent ecosystem on the state’s shorelines. The Alabama Coastal Foundation has announced its Wetlands Compliance Workshops are set for August 8 and August 20 respectively.