Recent news and analysis on Alabama

Latest news, breaking stories, and expert analysis on Alabama. Stay informed with comprehensive coverage from trusted sources.

• Mother charged with murder after toddler found bound, suffocated

  Sierra Shay Hadaway, 22, was charged with murder after her 2-year-old daughter Madilynn was found dead in Lanett, Alabama, bound hand and foot and left face-down on a bed for over 12 hours, leading to suffocation. A second suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on June 14. The arrest was announced on July 18, 2026.

• Figures amendment bans mud dumping in Mobile Bay

  U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures added an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 banning the Army Corps from using thin-layer placement in Mobile Bay. The practice, opposed by fishers and environmentalists, smothers seagrasses and chokes oysters. Alabama passed a similar state law in February.