Recent firing of a Lee County deputy for misuse of camera data adds local urgency to a national debate over privacy, access and oversight BY DANIEL SCHMIDTTHE OBSERVER LEE COUNTY — When a gunman killed two students at Brown University last December, the break that ended a six-day manhunt came not from a witness or confession, but from pole-mounted cameras.After a tipster described the suspect’s car, investigators found a Flock Safety license...
BY DANIEL SCHMIDTTHE OBSERVER AUBURN — A vote on a moratorium on new lounges in the heart of downtown Auburn was postponed until October, with Auburn City Council members citing a need to further engage with local business owners and other stakeholders before making a decision.That vote, which was originally supposed to be held at the Sept. 15 meeting, was rescheduled for Oct. 6.If approved in October, that ordinance would declare a temporary...
BY MICHELLE KEYPUBLISHER OPELIKA — The Opelika City Council approved new regulations governing hemp stores and moved forward with additional restrictions on package liquor stores during its Sept. 15 meeting.The council approved amendments to the city’s zoning ordinance regulating hemp-related businesses on second reading. The ordinance established separate definitions for tobacco-vape stores, hemp stores, pharmacy-hemp stores and grocery stores...
New Auburn location and the Bluebonnet Market CONTRIBUTED BY BOW & ARROW PUBLIC RELATIONS AUBURN — Following a soft opening over Labor Day weekend, five-time James Beard Award semifinalist Chef David Bancroft officially opens the next chapter of Bow & Arrow with a second Auburn location. The Bluebonnet Market — an old-fashioned, grab-and-go market connected to the restaurant and designed to function as both a waiting area and a...
Proposed ordinance removed from Sept. 15 agenda but is expected to return for future council consideration BY MICHELLE KEYPUBLISHER OPELIKA — The Opelika City Council was scheduled to consider an ordinance amendment during its meeting on Tuesday night that would establish new licensing and reporting requirements for residential, commercial and short-term rental properties, as well as self-storage facilities. The proposal, however, was removed...
Community
Introducing the Opelika Chamber’s 2026-2027 20 Under 40 class CONTRIBUTED BY OPELIKA CHAMBER OPELIKA — Opelika’s 20 Under 40 program is made up of 20 outstanding people under the age of 40 who live in Opelika, love Opelika and have a vested...
BY DANIEL SCHMIDT THE OBSERVER AUBURN — The June 9 international soccer friendly between Argentina and Iceland generated an estimated $27.2 million in total economic impact for Lee County, according to an Auburn University Athletic Department...
CONTRIBUTED BY PACK AND TROOP 858 OPELIKA — Pack and Troop 858 from Opelika spent the night of Saturday, Sept. 12, living aboard the Battleship USS ALABAMA in Mobile. Led by leaders of the Pack and Troop, the members learned about a “battlewagon”...
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