Turning Up Your Voice

Now Playing

Midday Mobile

FM Talk 1065

Listen Live

Call Us

Hear Dr. Bill Williams' Forecast

twice an hour on FMTalk1065

Three Big Things

1 2 3

US optimistic of deal with Iran as it increases economic pressure

The Trump administration is expressing optimism about reaching a deal to end its war with Iran, even as a naval blockade on Iranian ports took effect Wednesday and traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained well below normal levels.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said talks mediated by Pakistan have been "productive and ongoing" and that further negotiations could take place in Pakistan as early as this weekend. Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir arrived in Tehran Wednesday to try to prevent a renewal of the conflict. A senior Iranian source told Reuters he would work to narrow gaps between the two sides.

On the economic side, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said China's purchases of Iranian oil would likely pause given the blockade, and warned the U.S. could impose secondary sanctions on countries that continue buying Iranian crude. Two Chinese banks have already been warned to stop processing Iranian transactions or face penalties. China previously bought more than 80 percent of Iran's shipped oil.

The Strait of Hormuz — a key artery for global energy shipments — remains largely closed to non-Iranian vessels. One possible concession under discussion: Iran could allow ships to pass through the Omani side of the strait as part of a broader agreement, but only if a deal is reached.

Nuclear activity remains the central sticking point. The U.S. is proposing a 20-year suspension of all Iranian nuclear work and wants enriched material removed from the country. Iran is countering with a three-to-five year halt and is demanding sanctions relief. Sources say back-channel talks have narrowed the gaps somewhat.

Adding complexity to the negotiations, Israel has continued strikes on Lebanon targeting Hezbollah. Washington and Jerusalem say those operations fall outside the ceasefire agreed April 8th. Tehran disagrees. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel remains prepared for any scenario
Eastern Shore officials frustrated by I-10 bridge project delays

By John Sharp | jsharp@al.com

Public officials on the Eastern Shore of Baldwin County expressed growing frustration Wednesday over the lack of information and progress on the largest infrastructure project in Alabama’s history: the Interstate 10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project.

Read More : Eastern Shore officials frustrated by I-10 bridge project delays - al.com
Gulf Shores airport to get second entrance; will connect to new waterway bridge

Two 1.37-acre parcels will need to be swapped to create a new entry into the expanding terminal at Gulf Shores International Airport. Sounds simple, but it's execution involves a few hoops to jump through created by state laws addressing vacation of rights-of-way by local Alabama governments.

It'll take three resolutions by Gulf Shores City Council and 28 days of advertising and public hearings to make it happen, but the end result will be the new airport entrance. Along the way, the city will relinquish the long unused right-of-way of West Gulf Avenue near Gulf Shores First Baptist Church — essentially in the church's parking lot — to help acquire the right of way for the new entrance.

Planning Director and Assistant City Administrator Lee Jones says the new entrance will serve several purposes for the growing aviation park. Not the least of which is an entrance closer to the new ALDOT bridge and roadway.

"There really are two primary reasons for the additional entrance," Jones said. "The first is distribution of traffic. As vehicular traffic to the airport terminal increases, having an additional entrance will provide options for motorists to get in and out of the aviation park."
As routes to and from Gulf Shores continue to expand, officials expect the current entrance could be overwhelmed.

The new entrance is supported and made possible now by two other larger projects in the area south and east of the airport. Gulf Shores recently completed its connection from Alabama Highway 59 to the new roadway and bridge, North Waterway Boulevard East, and the state is saying the new bridge, which will be two lanes of southbound-only traffic, will be up and running by Memorial Day weekend.

The new terminal expansion is expected to be completed by summer of 2027.

Asphalt Services, the contractor for North Waterway Boulevard East, will build the entrance road, and its completion is expected by the end of this summer.

Gulf Shores airport to get second entrance; will connect to new waterway bridge - Gulf Coast Media