Kyle Sandler, the former Opelika businessman who served federal prison time after defrauding investors through The Roundhouse business incubator, has been reported to have died June 22, 2026.The Human Intelligence Ledger reported Sandler died after suffering a catastrophic brain hemorrhage while hospitalized in Florida. Prison Law Firm later reported that it had obtained a Florida death certificate confirming his death. The Observer has not...
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 Correction: The Auburn City Council voted to postpone a vote on vacating the Prosper at Plainsman Lake sewer easement at 1803 Kenai Pass at the request of Bison Trust until Oct. 6. The Observer originally reported the council approved this agenda item. We apologize for any confusion and will correct this in our online version. AUBURN — A vote on a moratorium on new lounges in the heart of downtown Auburn was...
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...
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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