Good morning, Dothan.

At 6:31 a.m. today, Dothan firefighters responded to a structure fire at 717 South Range Street in a duplex where smoke and flames were visible—fire crews performed a search and controlled the fire by 6:47 a.m.

Brianna Sistrunk was crowned Mrs. Alabama America 2025 after representing Alabama and Madison in a pageant, and she will compete against 53 delegates at the national pageant on August 27 in Las Vegas — she plans to use her title to support women facing pregnancy and infant loss.

Senior Trooper Jacob Manning of ALEA's Marine Patrol Division was named the 2025 Southern Region Officer of the Year by NASBLA for his work on boater safety, which includes vessel inspections and a life-saving rescue in Perdido Bay.

He will be honored at the NASBLA conference in September.

Twelve candidates for mayor and commissioner took part in a forum at OCI Housing and Enrichment Center on Montana Street to prepare for the August election, where each candidate shared their views.

This event marks an important step as voters learn about the contenders ahead of the election.

Two Dothan fire chiefs were honored today at the Southeastern Fire Chiefs Conference—Fire Chief Larry Williams received the Key Fire Hose Leadership Award while Deputy Chief Chris Etheridge earned the President’s Award for his work in planning the event.

City officials said the awards show their strong leadership and dedication to public safety.

The 'big, beautiful bill' passed three weeks ago will shift more SNAP costs to Alabama and add over $200 million in extra expenses in the coming years.

The Alabama Department of Human Resources plans to boost staff and client reviews—aiming to keep payment errors below 6%—to prevent further fee increases starting in 2027 and 2028.

Today, Kelly Woodham, President of the South East Alabama Association of Realtors, said that although interest rates have risen compared to recent years, they remain historically moderate and should not discourage buyers in Dothan.

She also explained that several programs offer education and financial guidance to help first-time buyers start their homeownership journey — building equity over time.