East Alabama community searching for missing 30-pound pet tortoise Squirtle

OPELIKA, Ala. (WRBL) — What started as one family’s search for a beloved pet has turned into an East Alabama community effort to bring a beloved tortoise home. Five-year-old Squirtle, an African Sulcata tortoise weighing just over 30 pounds and measuring about 17 inches long, disappeared from his Opelika home along Marvyn Parkway on July [...]

Alex Eala launches massive comeback, dethrones reigning champ Leylah Fernandez

DOWN 1-5 in the second set, Filipina tennis star Alexandra Eala launched a massive comeback en route to a 6-2, 7-6(1) upset victory over reigning champion and Filipina-Canadian Leylah Fernandez in their round of 16 match of the 2026 Mubadala DC Open early Thursday morning (PH time).

Coming off her earlier upset victory over Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, Eala carried her momentum into the round of 16 and controlled the opening set with an aggressive all-around game.

Fernandez fought back in the second set as she surged to a 5-1 start, but Eala countered with five consecutive games won to take a 6-5 edge before the former forced a tiebreak.

Eala stayed composed in the tiebreak and closed out the contest 7-1 to book another milestone victory.

Despite not firing an ace, the Filipina made the most of her opportunities, converting four of her nine breakpoint chances while winning 79 total points compared to Fernandez’s 61.

Eala also proved more efficient behind her serve, winning 67 percent of her first-serve and 65 percent of her second-serve.

The victory sends the 21-year-old Filipina into the quarterfinals of the tournament as she continue her strong campaign in Washington. (Adrian Co)

The post Alex Eala launches massive comeback, dethrones reigning champ Leylah Fernandez first appeared on Fastbreak.

City cites business allegedly responsible for diesel pollution in Columbus creek

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — A citation and a stop-work order on demolition at the inactive Aludyne Foundry have been issued after diesel pollution was detected in a creek in Columbus. On Tuesday, WRBL News 3 reported that Georgia's Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and city of Columbus officials were responding to reports of diesel pollution in [...]

Midweek heat continues with just a few storms, weekend relief coming

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) -- Good Wednesday morning! We are off to a very mild and muggy start to the day across East Alabama and West Georgia, with partly cloudy skies greeting us as we move through the early morning hours. For today, expect another hot summer afternoon with temperatures climbing into the mid to upper [...]

Heat Advisory Continues as Dangerous Heat Grips the Chattahoochee Valley

Heat Advisory Continues as Dangerous Heat Grips the Chattahoochee Valley

Where’s the bus? Auburn City Schools launches live bus tracking app

AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) — Auburn City Schools is introducing a new bus tracking app ahead of the upcoming school year, giving parents the ability to track their child’s bus in real time and receive updates directly on their phones. The district’s new My Ride K-12 app replaces the previous text message notification system with push [...]

Georgia EPD, City of Columbus responding to diesel pollution in Columbus creek

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — What started as routine, weekly water monitoring in the Roaring Branch Creek in Columbus now has the attention of Columbus Consolidated Government officials, the Chattahoochee Riverkeepers (CRK) and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. On Monday afternoon, Columbus residents were informed via social media that a volunteer with the CRK weekly water [...]