A Long Cruise, Crime-Fighting Efforts: Down in Alabama

Today is a good day to listen to the podcast. We discuss Delta 8 – what it is and how it has caused legal problems for people even though it is legal.

The report follows below. Thanks for reading,

By boat to Seattle

Carnival Cruise Line is offering a unique cruise from Mobile starting in 2026. This requires an investment of time and money.

But Lawrence Specker of AL.com reports that the Carnival Spirit will depart Mobile on April 12, 2026, and arrive in Seattle 16 days later. Sixteen days. Columbus probably got restless after 16 days at sea.

The ship will spend the summer cruising from Seattle to Alaska and then return to Mobile in October. During its deployments from Mobile, the ship will sail 5-, 6-, 8- and 12-day cruises.

The cruise from Mobile to Seattle includes a stop in Cartagena, Colombia, a passage through the Panama Canal, and visits to Puntarenas, Costa Rica and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

As for the cost, an overnight stay in an interior room for two people is just over $3,000.

Further unrest in Tarrant

He was not arrested last week for allegedly withholding key information from the city clerk, but Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton still has to go to court, this time to face impeachment charges, AL.com's Joseph D. Bryant reports.

Five city residents have filed suit accusing him of “willful neglect of duty, corruption in office, incompetence and other offenses involving moral turpitude.” The allegations describe a corrupt, inept administration and include claims that Newton abused his office to pay family members and enrich his own business.

Newton called the lawsuit frivolous and said it was brought by supporters of the City Council. The relationship between the mayor and the City Council has been strained for years.

Scott Morro is the lawyer who filed the unusual impeachment complaint on behalf of the five citizens. “It's unusual, but it's part of the Constitution,” he said. “So it's a bold step, a rare step, but in this city it's a necessary step.”

Crime prevention measures in Birmingham

Some new measures are being taken to reduce or combat crime in Birmingham.

The Birmingham City Council has signed an agreement with the Birmingham Board of Education to share video recordings from cameras on school grounds, reports Greg Garrison of AL.com.

The BPD has expanded its access to cameras throughout the city and can now also listen in on areas around school buildings.

The city has also launched a program called Project Safe Streets to restrict access to residential areas, reports Alaina Bookman of AL.com. The program has inevitably been controversial among residents. It involves placing barriers at the points of entry to a residential area to combat speeding, shootings, theft, prostitution and violent crime.

Barriers have currently been installed throughout the East Lake neighborhood.

Quote

“You were able to show that you were not afraid of him. You challenged him and he was able to show that he stood up for his players.”

Terry Saban to Paul Finebaum (according to Finebaum) after he and Alabama football coach Nick Saban were involved in a notoriously intense exchange at the 2016 SEC Media Days.

More Alabama News

To the podcast

We speak with reporter Amy Yurkanin, who has covered Delta 8, hemp, and the difficulties a pregnant woman faces after taking a legal product.

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