Spanish Fort Archives • Alabama Political Reporter

Library battles heat up in Spanish Fort, Athens as new year begins

Alabama's library battles are heating back up as 2025 kicks into gear.

January 6, 2025

Rep. Matt Simpson donates $200,000 to Eastern Shore schools

At Daphne High School, the $100,000 grant will fund the School Safety Initiative, aimed at enhancing campus security.

October 29, 2024

Spanish Fort police thwart possible mass shooter

The Spanish Fort Police arrested 38-year-old Robert Smith of Grove Hill Saturday after he attacked the Bass Pro Shop there. “It certainly appears that his intent yesterday was to commit a mass shooting,” Spanish Fort Police Chief John Barber told reporters. According to early reports, Bass Pro Shop employees spotted the heavily armed man wearing … Continued

September 7, 2020

Tax increases pass in both Spanish Fort and Fairhope

Tuesday voters in Spanish Fort and Fairhope went to the polls and approved a 3 mill property tax increase to benefit local schools. In Spanish Fort, the tax increase narrowly passed. As of press time, there were 1,096 votes (52 percent) in favor and 1,013 votes (48 percent) opposed. There were similar results in Fairhope … Continued

September 18, 2019

Voters in Spanish Fort, Fairhope to consider property tax increases for schools

Tuesday, voters in Spanish Fort and Fairhope go to the polls to decide if property taxes should increase to fund local schools. A much larger property tax increase for Baldwin County was soundly rejected by voters two years ago. This proposal is a 3 mill property tax hike. If passed it would cost a family … Continued

September 16, 2019

Ainsworth opposes Mobile River toll bridge plan

Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth became the latest Alabama elected official to announce his opposition to a controversial new Alabama Department of Transportation plan to build a bridge over the Mobile River and pay for it by tolling motorists who use I-10 for the next 55 years. “A state that built the rockets that sent … Continued

August 20, 2019

Ivey calls for a meeting of the Toll Authority to discuss bridge plan and alternatives

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey called for a meeting of the nine-member Alabama Toll Road, Bridge and Tunnel Authority to discuss the proposal to build the Mobile River Bridge and replace existing I-10 Bayway. “The most significant obstacle to a new bridge is very simple, money,” Ivey said. “Last week, we were notified that Alabama will … Continued

August 5, 2019

Legislature puts ALDOT legal contract for Mobile River Bridge on hold

A bad month for the governor’s Mobile River bridge proposal got even worse on Thursday, Aug. 1, when the Legislature’s contract review committee placed a hold on the Alabama Department of Transportation’s contract with Birmingham law firm Maynard, Cooper and Gale. The panel is tasked with reviewing all state contracts. The $750,000 contract is for … Continued

August 2, 2019

Byrne says GOMESA funding could be used for bridge, questions the latest design

On Monday, the Alabama Department of Transportation launched its own “Mythbusters” campaign to counter the efforts of the tens of thousands of community activists who are opposing the ALDOT plan to fund the bridge through a private, public partnership that would allow the conglomerate to toll interstate 10 bridge users for the next 50 years. … Continued

July 31, 2019