🌱 New Alabama Bill Proposed + Historic Cemetery Damaged

Hello, friends. It's me, Miranda Fraraccio, your host of the Mobile Patch newsletter. Let's get this Friday started off right with a quick review of the most important things happening in town these days.

Also, FYI: I wanted to let you know that Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the Mobile Patch newsletter and make it their own. We want to pass the torch to someone truly local and in-the-know to write about Mobile long term. So if you’re interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

But first, your local weather:

• Friday: A shower and thunderstorm. High: 76 Low: 52.
• Saturday: Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 75 Low: 63.

Business owners and marketers in Mobile: Do you want to build awareness with local customers? I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. Click here to learn more.

Here are the top three stories in Mobile today:

1. Raven Sywaun Yates was arrested on Wednesday and currently awaits being extradited to a Texas prison after abandoning her two children in Texas for six months and moving to Mobile. On Sept. 8, 2o22, Yates left her 12-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son in their Texas home with no access to food or medical supplies for the duration of the time. The father of the 12-year-old was continuously asked by the mother to send the children food from California. The father traveled to help the children, who are currently staying with a family member in Alabama, and found them in the residence alone. A warrant was then issued for Yates' arrest, who made a post on social media that tipped off officers of her location and led them to an apartment complex in Mobile where she was apprehended without incident. (AL.com)
2. A proposed bill in Alabama would make a prison sentence mandatory for fentanyl traffickers in the state. A continued upward trend in fentanyl overdoses is being noticed as a nationwide crisis. Of the 65 drug overdoses last year in nearby Baldwin County, 45 were due to fentanyl. The hope is that with harsher penalties for trafficking dangerous drugs, a decrease in the number of fentanyl incidents and overdoses, in general, will follow. This proposed bill will be a priority and one of the first bills brought up when the committee meets again on Mar. 21. (WKRG News 5)
3. New damage and evidence of trespassing have been discovered at the historic Church Street Cemetary following Mardi Gras season. A local tour guide and others in the area are requesting more from the city in preserving the historic gravesite and making sure it is treated with respect for those buried there. Broken tombstones, trash, and homeless people sleeping on the grounds are evidence that more needs to be done to keep the site protected. The incidents have been reported to Mobile police, who will increase patrolling at night. (WKRG News 5)

Today and tomorrow in Mobile:

Friday, March 10

• Mobtown Showdown – Greater Gulf State Fairgrounds (9:00 AM)
• United Way Fun Day & Departmental Dance-Off Competition – Mardi Gras Park (12:00 PM)
• Free Day Of Gaming – Engage Gaming (1:00 PM)

Saturday, March 11

• American Cancer Society Chili Cook-Off – Canal Street (12:00 PM)
• Po Boys & Pharaohs Alabama Cruise-In – Penalty's Sports Bar & Grill (4:00 PM)
• Mobile Symphony Orchestra: Musical Romance – Saenger Theatre (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Mobile County is hiring! The Mobile County Commission posted job openings for those searching for a career on the Mobile County Personnel Board! Click here to find a position that piques your interest. (Mobile County, Alabama via Facebook)
• Want to stay up-to-date with County Commissioner Connie Hudson? You can follow her newsletter and receive District 2 news. (Mobile County, Alabama via Facebook)
• The Mobile Police Department is reminding the community to lock their doors, even if they're leaving their car for a few minutes. Thirty percent of stolen vehicles result from keys being left in the car – take the extra step and stay protected from potential theft situations. (Mobile Police Department via Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday! I'll catch up with you soon with another update.

— Miranda Fraraccio

About me: Miranda Fraraccio is a staff writer for content creation agency Lightning Media Partners. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where she earned degrees in Writing & Rhetoric and Communication Studies. In her free time, you can find her traveling, drinking tea, or practicing film photography.