Latest news with #Gribbin
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WATCH: Lulu Gribbin plays at Regions Tradition pro-am
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Among the celebrities at Wednesday's pro-am at the Regions Tradition was Mountain Brook teenager Lulu Gribbin. Gribbin was the victim of a shark attack last summer off the Florida Panhandle, one of three people bitten by a shark on June 7, 2024. Since the attack, which resulted in the lose of her left hand and a portion of her leg, she advocated Alabama lawmakers to support a proposed shark attack alert system. Alabama governor signs shark bite alert system into law named after teen who survived attack On May 6, Gov. Ivey signed a bill, named the Lulu Gribbin Shark Alert System Act, creating a system that sends out a public notice to cellphones when there's been a shark attack nearby. Gribbin was in attendance when Ivey signed the bill during a private ceremony. 'This bill will help prevent future attacks,' Gribbin said about the legislation earlier this year. 'It's like an Amber Alert when a child goes missing. It will send an alert when there has been a shark attack.' CBS 42's Scott Griffin followed Lulu Gribbin during Wednesday's pro-am and has the full the story above. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hamilton Spectator
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Alabama governor signs shark bite alert system into law named after teen who survived attack
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A new shark alert system, inspired by a teen who survived an attack last year, that warns beachgoers when a shark has bitten someone in the vicinity will be established in Alabama under legislation signed by Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday. The system will issue a public notice to cellphones when there's been a shark attack nearby. The law is named after Mountain Brook teenager Lulu Gribbin, who was one of three people bitten by a shark during a string of attacks off the Florida Panhandle last year. She lost her left hand and a portion of her right leg in the attack. Gribbin, now 16, visited the Alabama Statehouse to urge lawmakers to approve the warning system. She said she would not have been in the water if she knew a woman had been bitten just a few miles away about an hour earlier. 'This bill will help prevent future attacks,' Gribbin said last month about the legislation. 'It's like an Amber Alert when a child goes missing. It will send an alert when there has been a shark attack.' Gribbin was with Ivey as she signed the bill, named the Lulu Gribbin Shark Alert System Act, in a private ceremony in the governor's office. 'Alabama is proud to have the safest and most beautiful beaches in the world,' Ivey said in a statement Tuesday. 'The added tool of having a shark alert system will help officials in Baldwin and Mobile counties keep our beachgoers safe and enjoying the refreshing waters of our Gulf of America.' Supporters said the legislation will be an added measure of assurance for those headed to the beach. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will create rules for the new alert system, according to the legislation. An earlier version would have allowed an alert for an 'imminent danger' when sharks are spotted near the shoreline. However, since sharks are commonly found in waters off Alabama and Florida, beach communities were concerned that would cause excessive alerts, causing panic and hurting coastal tourism. The alerts will only be issued along the Alabama coast. Supporters said they hope other states will pursue similar systems or that federal legislation will expand its use. Gribbin described the attack after speaking to a legislative committee last month. She and her friend had been diving for sand dollars and riding the Gulf waves when her friend screamed, 'shark!' 'My hand was bitten first. I remember just lifting it out of the water, and I was stunned because there was no hand there,' she recalled. 'I couldn't feel it because of all the shock I was in. Then the shark latched onto my leg.' Over 260,000 fans have been following her recovery on social media, including prosthetic leg fittings and physical therapy — as well as milestones such as going to a high school dance and her first trip back to the beach. Experts say attacks are rare despite sharks' prevalence in places like the Gulf. There were 47 unprovoked shark bites worldwide — including four fatalities — in 2024, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History's shark research program.
Toronto Sun
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Alabama governor signs shark bite alert system into law named after teen who survived attack
Published May 06, 2025 • 2 minute read Lulu Gribbin, second from left, an Alabama teenager who survived a shark attack in 2024, speaks with attorney Charlanna Skaggs, second from right, and Alabama lawmaker Rep. David Faulkner, right, at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala., Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Photo by Kim Chandler / AP MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A new shark alert system, inspired by a teen who survived an attack last year, that warns beachgoers when a shark has bitten someone in the vicinity will be established in Alabama under legislation signed by Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The system will issue a public notice to cellphones when there's been a shark attack nearby. The law is named after Mountain Brook teenager Lulu Gribbin, who was one of three people bitten by a shark during a string of attacks off the Florida Panhandle last year. She lost her left hand and a portion of her right leg in the attack. Gribbin, now 16, visited the Alabama Statehouse to urge lawmakers to approve the warning system. She said she would not have been in the water if she knew a woman had been bitten just a few miles away about an hour earlier. 'This bill will help prevent future attacks,' Gribbin said last month about the legislation. 'It's like an Amber Alert when a child goes missing. It will send an alert when there has been a shark attack.' Gribbin was with Ivey as she signed the bill, named the Lulu Gribbin Shark Alert System Act, in a private ceremony in the governor's office. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Alabama is proud to have the safest and most beautiful beaches in the world,' Ivey said in a statement Tuesday. 'The added tool of having a shark alert system will help officials in Baldwin and Mobile counties keep our beachgoers safe and enjoying the refreshing waters of our Gulf of America.' Supporters said the legislation will be an added measure of assurance for those headed to the beach. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will create rules for the new alert system, according to the legislation. An earlier version would have allowed an alert for an 'imminent danger' when sharks are spotted near the shoreline. However, since sharks are commonly found in waters off Alabama and Florida, beach communities were concerned that would cause excessive alerts, causing panic and hurting coastal tourism. The alerts will only be issued along the Alabama coast. Supporters said they hope other states will pursue similar systems or that federal legislation will expand its use. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Gribbin described the attack after speaking to a legislative committee last month. She and her friend had been diving for sand dollars and riding the Gulf waves when her friend screamed, 'shark!' 'My hand was bitten first. I remember just lifting it out of the water, and I was stunned because there was no hand there,' she recalled. 'I couldn't feel it because of all the shock I was in. Then the shark latched onto my leg.' Over 260,000 fans have been following her recovery on social media, including prosthetic leg fittings and physical therapy — as well as milestones such as going to a high school dance and her first trip back to the beach. Experts say attacks are rare despite sharks' prevalence in places like the Gulf. There were 47 unprovoked shark bites worldwide _ including four fatalities — in 2024, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History's shark research program. Toronto & GTA Canada Editorial Cartoons Canada Canada
Winnipeg Free Press
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Alabama governor signs shark bite alert system into law named after teen who survived attack
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A new shark alert system, inspired by a teen who survived an attack last year, that warns beachgoers when a shark has bitten someone in the vicinity will be established in Alabama under legislation signed by Gov. Kay Ivey on Tuesday. The system will issue a public notice to cellphones when there's been a shark attack nearby. The law is named after Mountain Brook teenager Lulu Gribbin, who was one of three people bitten by a shark during a string of attacks off the Florida Panhandle last year. She lost her left hand and a portion of her right leg in the attack. Gribbin, now 16, visited the Alabama Statehouse to urge lawmakers to approve the warning system. She said she would not have been in the water if she knew a woman had been bitten just a few miles away about an hour earlier. Lulu Gribbin, second from left, an Alabama teenager who survived a shark attack in 2024, speaks with attorney Charlanna Skaggs, second from right, and Alabama lawmaker Rep. David Faulkner, right, at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala., Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Faulkner has proposed an alert system, named for Gribbin, that would warn other beach goers when there has been an unprovoked shark attack in the area. (AP Photo/Kim Chandler) 'This bill will help prevent future attacks,' Gribbin said last month about the legislation. 'It's like an Amber Alert when a child goes missing. It will send an alert when there has been a shark attack.' Gribbin was with Ivey as she signed the bill, named the Lulu Gribbin Shark Alert System Act, in a private ceremony in the governor's office. 'Alabama is proud to have the safest and most beautiful beaches in the world,' Ivey said in a statement Tuesday. 'The added tool of having a shark alert system will help officials in Baldwin and Mobile counties keep our beachgoers safe and enjoying the refreshing waters of our Gulf of America.' Supporters said the legislation will be an added measure of assurance for those headed to the beach. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will create rules for the new alert system, according to the legislation. An earlier version would have allowed an alert for an 'imminent danger' when sharks are spotted near the shoreline. However, since sharks are commonly found in waters off Alabama and Florida, beach communities were concerned that would cause excessive alerts, causing panic and hurting coastal tourism. Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Sign up for The Warm-Up The alerts will only be issued along the Alabama coast. Supporters said they hope other states will pursue similar systems or that federal legislation will expand its use. Gribbin described the attack after speaking to a legislative committee last month. She and her friend had been diving for sand dollars and riding the Gulf waves when her friend screamed, 'shark!' 'My hand was bitten first. I remember just lifting it out of the water, and I was stunned because there was no hand there,' she recalled. 'I couldn't feel it because of all the shock I was in. Then the shark latched onto my leg.' Over 260,000 fans have been following her recovery on social media, including prosthetic leg fittings and physical therapy — as well as milestones such as going to a high school dance and her first trip back to the beach. Experts say attacks are rare despite sharks' prevalence in places like the Gulf. There were 47 unprovoked shark bites worldwide — including four fatalities — in 2024, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History's shark research program.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lulu's Law: proposed shark alert system in Alabama piques interest of Florida lawmakers
FLORIDA (WMBB) – On June 7, 2024, there were three separate shark attacks on South Walton County beaches over the course of 90 minutes. Alabama teenager Lulu Gribbin is one of the survivors. Gribbin was swimming in Rosemary Beach when she lost her leg and her left hand in the attack. On Thursday, lawmakers in her home state took action to help keep others safe. Representative David Faulkner presented his bill that would implement a shark attack alert system. It's nicknamed 'Lulu's Law.' 'The morning after, I was extubated, and the first words I said were, I made it. The outcome did not matter. What mattered was that I made it, and that life would be different. I chose to fight. I chose to do it for the people who didn't make it and for the people who never got the chance. This bill allows us to fight for the safety of our environment,' Gribbin said. Two Alabama teens, one woman recovering after Walton County shark attack The system would be implemented along Alabama's Gulf Coast. 'When there is an unprovoked shark attack in close proximity to a shoreline or coastline that the professionals, the emergency management professionals, will have the ability to use an amber alert system. They can geofence it within a certain area, and they can limit it to where it goes to and they will be in charge with both local officials, emergency management professionals,' Faulkner said. The bill passed the House unanimously on Thursday. After the vote, the Alabama speaker of the House got an unexpected message. 'Lulu, I just want you to know, I just got a call from what is going to be the speaker of the house for Florida. And Sam is a graduate of Sanford here in Alabama. And they're going to try to pass this bill in Florida. And we will be sending him a copy of this,' House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter said. Lulu's Law now heads to Alabama's Senate for approval. If it becomes law, the shark alert system would be operational by Oct. 1. News 13 will continue to follow the progress of both the Alabama and the potential Florida legislation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
