MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – More than two years after the BP oil spill that devastated parts of the Gulf Coast, hundreds continue to file claims.

By 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, dozens of people were lined up outside Christian Life Church along the Dauphin Island Expressway to take part in a BP Claims Class.

Click here to view more... Dozens attend BP claims class | Fox10tv.com.

Long line at BP claims class: fox10tv.com

NAS Pensacola – The Blue Angels took to the skies this morning for a public practice session at NAS Pensacola.

The precision flying team regularly displays their signature manuevers for crowds on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, from March until October.

Click here to view more... WEAR ABC 3 :: Top Stories – Blue Angel volunteers work hard to make shows happen.

WEEKS BAY, Alabama — With one of the last segments of a 29-mile walking and cycling trail through the Eastern Shore nearing completion, organizers are looking at ways to extend the route to other areas of Baldwin County.

The segment of the trail on U.S. 98 connecting the Weeks Bay Reserve Interpretive Center and Dominion Farms should be complete within two weeks, Libbie Dobbs of the Eastern Shore Trailblazers said.

Click here to view more... Eastern Shore Trail nears next stage of completion | al.com.

GULF SHORES, Alabama — The Coastal Resiliency Coalition, formed in the wake of the 2010 oil spill, sent out its last newsletter in April, on the second anniversary of the disaster, but the group has no plans to stop efforts to promote cooperation and planning among local businesses and government, members said.

Click here to view more... Coastal Resiliency Coalition continues mission two years after spill | al.com.

ORANGE BEACH, Alabama — Patrick Daily's clients get social at the newly-opened internet café in the REMAX of Orange Beach office on Perdido Beach Boulevard.

“Ninety percent of our clients are from out of town, and when they are here staying at a condo, they can come here to do business,” said Daily, who owns the agency that has 40-plus agents.

Click here to view more... Orange Beach Realtors open internet cafe | al.com.

ORANGE BEACH, Alabama — A snapshot-worthy scene of a regal blue heron and a nesting family of Canada geese on Robinson Island was marred when a closer look revealed discarded beer cans, plastic bags and bottles tangled in the pines, and a battered beach chair hugging the shoreline.

The new Orange Beach Waterways and Coastline Enhancement Program will address the No. 1 local water-quality problem — marine debris, according to Phillip West, coastal resources manager.

Click here to view more... Orange Beach tackles waterway debris (photo gallery) | al.com.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — A collection of waterfront properties in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach owned by the founder of the Checkers restaurant chain will be sold at auction on May 23, the auction company handling the sale announced.

The properties, including one 49-acre parcel with 2,750 feet of Intercoastal Waterway frontage, will be sold by Gadsden-based The National Auction Group. The properties are owned by Jim Mattei, who founded the Checkers restaurant chain and later owned a Winston Cup race team.

Click here to view more... Gulf Shores and Orange Beach properties belonging to former NASCAR team owner to be sold | al.com.

ORANGE BEACH, Alabama — The city may reduce the impact fees on new development in an effort to bring in more residents and businesses.

“Is our impact fee impeding construction and economic development or a valuable resource?” Mayor Tony Kennon asked rhetorically. In most cases, the developers cannot finance the impact fees and must pay it out-of-pocket, he said. The impact fees are paid at the time the building permit is issued.

Click here to view more... Orange Beach looks at reducing impact fees on new development | al.com.

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – A dredge contractor working for the Army Corps of Engineers hit a submerged oil matt Saturday morning causing a strong odor and oily sheen in the area of Outcast Marina, a city official said.

Click here to view more... Dredge in Orange Beach working in Perdido Pass hits submerged oil matt – GulfCoastNewsToday.com: News.

Mobile Kayak Fishing Association is having their 6th Annual Bagwell Kayak Fishing Tournament, Saturday, May 19th. So Gary stopped by Top Gun Tackle to talk with Dan Silsbee about the ins and outs of kayak fishing.

Click here to view more... Gary Finch Outdoors Kayak Fishing News – YouTube.

Baldwin County beaches look a lot like this when school starts in late summer, empty.

“With a June, July and 10 days of August, that’s 70 days we generate about 65 percent of our total revenue,” says chief tourism official Herb Malone.

Add two more weeks to the season, “It’ll mean more jobs for people. It’ll mean more revenue for the state and local governments and particular schools,” says Malone.

For years kids have been in class long before summer officially ends. “Historically we’ve had a hundred day season. We count it from Memorial Day to Labor Day. That went away years ago and it has shrunk year after year, after year.”

Click here to view more... One More Hurdle for a Longer Summer School Break | WKRG.

A top elected official in Baldwin County tells News 5 he thinks school officials are mis-managing finances.

Commission chairman Bob James says the school system isn't being managed effectively.

Click here to view more... School Sales Tax Still A Hot Topic In Baldwin County | WKRG.

MOBILE, Alabama — Alabama Marine Resources Division personnel caught fish this week that will be sent to Auburn University scientists to see if a cause for last weekend’s die-off in Mobile Bay can be determined.

MRD Director Chris Blankenship said that that the analysis will include a bull red drum — commonly called redfish — and three hardhead catfish.

Click here to view more... State scientists look for cause of Mobile Bay fish die-off | al.com.

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Baldwin County lawmakers unanimously approved a constitutional amendment to renew an expiring sales tax for county schools, during a Wednesday meeting.

House Bill 748, sponsored by Daphne Republican Rep. Randy Davis, would levy a 1 percent sales and use tax for most goods and a 0.5 percent tax for some particular items, such as vehicles and agricultural equipment, with proceeds going to the Baldwin County school board. Voters would decide whether to approve the tax in a February 2013 referendum.

Click here to view more... House panel approves Baldwin school sales tax proposal | al.com.

GULF SHORES, Ala. –The next town hall meeting will be Thursday, May 10 at 5:30 p.m. at the Gulf Shores Activity Center.

The meeting will focus on issues that are important to the citizens of Gulf Shores. This is an opportunity to learn what is happening in our city.

Click here to view more... Town hall meeting in Gulf Shores on May 10 – GulfCoastNewsToday.com

LILLIAN, Ala. –The Optimist Club of Perdido Bay has awarded Foley Police Officer Carlos Lizarraga as the 2012 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.

Each year the club honors law enforcement officers for the help they provide in protecting citizens and by “Bringing Out the Best in Kids”, giving “100% and Then Some” and being “Friends of Youth.”

Click here to view more... Optimist Club of Perdido honors law enforcement officers – GulfCoastNewsToday.com: News.

Prayer events will continue at noon, with observances in Summerdale and Daphne. Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon will be the guest speaker for a noon service at the Summerdale Municipal Complex.

Click here to view more... National Day of Prayer Events abound | al.com.

SUMMERDALE, Alabama — For the past 21 years, John Schnell, pastor of Harvest Church in Summerdale, has been involved in the National Day of Prayer.

Click here to view more... Get to Know John Schnell | al.com.

Celebrate the running of the Kentucky Derby this weekend with my friends, The Treasures of the Isle Mardi Gras Krewe. They are hosting their annual Kentucky Derby event at 2 p.m. Saturday at Live Bait Too on Perdido Beach Boulevard in Orange Beach.

Click here to view more... Kentucky Derby party planning | al.com.

GULF SHORES, Alabama — Gulf Shores High School hosted the inaugural Baldwin County Driving Challenge last month at the Orange Beach Sportsplex.

Click here to view more... Baldwin County Drivers Challenge held in Gulf Shores for area students | al.com.