The Associated Press

An Alabama city closed all of its beaches after four men drowned in dangerous rip currents in the Gulf of Mexico since Sunday.

   Gulf Shores officials on Monday posted double red flags on all beaches in the city, meaning that extremely hazardous conditions are present and all waters are closed to the public.

   The city said in a statement that water conditions might not appear life-threatening, but underlying rip currents posed a significant risk to anyone entering the Gulf.

The University of North Alabama Board of Trustees has approved an approximate 5 percent tuition hike.

   The TimesDaily of Florence reported Monday (http://bit.ly/18oUpda ) that the increase is set to take effect during the 2013-14 school year. The board approved tuition increases of $11 per credit hour for both undergraduate and graduate students.

   The hike brings undergraduate tuition to $236 per credit hour for in-state students, and $276 per credit hour for in-state graduate students.

An Alabama city closed all of its beaches after three men drowned in dangerous rip currents in the Gulf of Mexico and crews searched for a fourth person who was missing.

   Gulf Shores city officials on Monday posted double red flags on all beaches in the city, meaning that extremely hazardous conditions are present and all waters are closed to the public.

   The city said in a statement that water conditions might not appear life-threatening, but underlying rip currents posed a significant risk to anyone entering the Gulf.

A new exhibit at the Alabama Department of Archives and History will use voices to tell the story of Alabama from 1700 to the end of the 21st Century.

   Archives officials say the new exhibit - scheduled to open by the end of the year - will include language taken from diaries, letters, speeches, songs and other sources to represent Alabamians from every walk of life.

   The new exhibit will be located on the second floor of the archives building in downtown Montgomery.

The National Federation of Young Republicans will hold their annual convention in Mobile July 10-14.

   A vice chairman of the Young Republicans in Alabama, Daniel Dyas, says speakers will include Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, and Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley.

   The group covers ages 18 to 40. Dyas says about 500 members are expected for the convention in downtown Mobile.

Authorities say two people drowned in rough surf in the Gulf of Mexico off the Alabama coast.

   Deputy Baldwin County Coroner Brian Pierce said the deaths happened Sunday afternoon on the Fort Morgan peninsula. The coroner's office could not provide additional information.

   Baldwin County sheriff's Maj. Anthony Lowery tells Al.com (http://bit.ly/19eQ1Nu) that one of the drowning victims was a Louisiana man, who was pronounced dead at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center in Foley.

   Few other details were available early Monday.

OPELIKA, Ala. (AP) — The University of Alabama fan who poisoned the oaks at Toomer's Corner on the Auburn University campus is scheduled to be released on Monday.

AL.com reported Friday evening that Harvey Updyke Jr. is scheduled to be released from the Lee County jail after serving the remainder of his 6-month sentence.

Updyke pleaded guilty in March to one count of unlawful damage of an animal or crop facility. He was sentenced to 6 months in jail and credited with 104 days for time already served.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A Dothan doctor is the new president of the state's largest medical association. Dr. Michael T. Flanagan is now heading the Medical Association of the State of Alabama. Flanagan is an anesthesiologist and director of the Southeast Pain Management Center at Southeast Alabama Medical Center. Flanagan also has served on the two state boards that regulate doctors, the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and the Medical Licensure Commission of Alabama. The state medical association is the largest and oldest organization representing doctors in Alabama.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama's governor says prescriptions are the next part of the state Medicaid program he wants to address now that he's signed legislation to change how doctors and hospitals are paid. Gov. Robert Bentley signed an executive order Thursday creating a commission to review the Medicaid pharmacy program and make recommendations by Dec. 1. The state Medicaid program spends about $600 million annually on prescriptions. Bentley used the same approach a year ago to address hospital and physician costs.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The body of a soldier who was considered missing In action 60 years ago is set to be returned to his relatives in Alabama. WBMA-TV reports Master Sgt. Olen Berry Williams died during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in North Korea and his remains were set to be sent back to Alabama Thursday. He was declared missing in action Dec. 12, 1960 and was positively identified in March. Relatives used biographical information and DNA to identify Williams, who had been buried at the National Military Cemetery in Hawaii.

GULF SHORES, Ala. (AP) — Gulf Coast and Orange Beach authorities say Tropical Storm Andrea has forced them to rescue more than a dozen swimmers. Gulf Shores City Spokesman Grant Brown tells AL.com 10 people had to be rescued at the city's beaches Wednesday afternoon as the storm gained strength. Most didn't require hospitalization, but a 17-year-old boy was taken to the University of South Alabama Children's and Women's Hospital in Mobile. Brown says he regained consciousness after CPR was administered.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Researchers from the University of Alabama are part of a team studying the deadly tornado that struck Moore, Okla., last month. Experts from six schools were part of a group that went to the city to assess damage from the twister, which killed two dozen people. The work is part of a National Science Foundation grant program. The researchers will look at ways to improve the construction of wood-frame homes in tornado-prone areas.

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Former Republican candidate for governor Bradley Byrne has entered the special election in the 1st Congressional District. Byrne announced his candidacy Tuesday at an event on the Mobile Causeway. He is seeking the seat being vacated by Republican Jo Bonner of Mobile, who is taking a job with the University of Alabama System. The governor has not yet set a date for the special election. Byrne says Congress needs to balance the budget by not raising taxes and by holding the line on spending. He called for simplifying the tax code and lowering rates for everyone.