Pat Duggins

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — It's football season in Alabama, at least for a day. Both Auburn and Alabama are holding their A-Day spring scrimmages Saturday. Alabama plays at 1 p.m., followed by Auburn at 2 p.m. Thousands of fans are expected at both Jordan-Hare Stadium and Bryant-Denny Stadium. While Auburn is charging $5 for non-students, admission is free at the Alabama scrimmage. In Auburn, tailbacks Corey Grant, Cameron Artis-Payne and redshirt freshman Peyton Barber are hoping to shine.

DOTHAN, Ala. (AP) — Officials at the Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan are telling people not to get excited if they see a lot of law enforcement and emergency vehicles around the plant next week. It's only a drill. Farley official Cheryl Gayheart says the nuclear power plant will be conducting a hostile action exercise Wednesday afternoon along with federal, state and local emergency officials. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission requires nuclear power plants to conduct the exercises at least once every eight years.

The National Labor Relations Board in Birmingham is hearing evidence against Mercedes Benz. Supporters of the United Auto Workers Union claim the German car maker is violating the rights of pro-union workers at its plant near Tuscaloosa. Alabama Public Radio’s Pat Duggins reports on day one of the hearing…

“Yes, I’ve been there and I was hand billing, and security surrounds you and they ask for your ID.”

The University of Alabama Crimson Tide faced the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in the 2013 BCS title game at Miami’s Orange Bowl. The rivalry between Tuscaloosa and South Bend was a sensitive subject for Tide fans, since Notre Dame beat Bama by a single point in the 1973 Sugar Bowl. Many Alabama supporters at the 2013 title game were in New Orleans forty years ago and remember the loss vividly. APR's Pat Duggins reported throughout the event, both on the field and off.

The University of Alabama Crimson Tide faced the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame in the 2013 BCS title game at Miami’s Orange Bowl. The rivalry between Tuscaloosa and South Bend was a sensitive subject for Tide fans, since Notre Dame beat Bama by a single point in the 1973 Sugar Bowl. Many Alabama supporters at the 2013 title game were in New Orleans forty years ago and remember the loss vividly. APR's Pat Duggins reported throughout the event, both on the field and off.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Reaction from Alabama officials to the death of former Alabama Sen. Jeremiah Denton on Friday: U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala.: "Jeremiah Denton was a friend, warrior, leader and hero. The nation with never forget his courage when, having endured the brutal torture as a POW in Vietnam, he defied and outsmarted his captors and broadcast a Morse code message to the world. He was a man of grit and character that can't be manufactured. His word was his bond and his loyalty was unshakeable." U.S. Sen.

If you've started an application to get health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, the deadline to finish the process is mid-April. The Act and its internet marketplace have lowered insurance premiums for some Alabamians and raised them for others. All year long on APR, our news team will be working with AL.com for a year’s worth of stories on how people are trying to make the Act work.

“I’m a cashier. I’ve been a cashier for seven years. Everybody likes me.”

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama legislators will return from their spring break April 1, and they will have plenty to do with only three meeting days left.

The pending legislation ranges from serious matters like the state budgets and abortion restrictions to light-hearted matters, such as declaring cornbread the official state bread.

The House and the Senate have passed differing versions of the General Fund and education budgets. They will have to come to an agreement when they return.

Despite national championship victories for both the men’s and women’s teams, wheelchair basketball doesn’t attract the same crowds as Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide football team. However, a recent men’s match in Tuscaloosa between Alabama and the Orlando Magic team from Florida did have people in the stands. That includes Javalla Hardy of Tuscaloosa and her family.

Student interns at Alabama Public Radio get to work alongside our national award winning news team creating actual news to be broadcast statewide on APR. You'll get to research stories, conduct interviews, write copy, and then hear your work "on the air." This is real life experience that can go on your resume.

Call Alabama Public Radio News Director Pat Duggins at 205-348-5913 for details.

What do you think? Should workers at Mercedes Benz join the United Auto Workers union or not?

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A spokesman for the state Department of Education says about 11,000 students spent Tuesday night at Alabama public schools. Most of those were in the Birmingham area. Spokesman Michael Sibley says about 1,600 students remained at schools as of 2 p.m. Wednesday. He says there are plans to get most of them home by Wednesday evening, but some students will have to spend a second night at school. The students became stranded Tuesday when school buses couldn't get them home and parents couldn't drive to the schools.

Alabama's monster snowstorm that paralyzed cities and left motorists stranded on highways has given weather forecasters a lot to think about. Tuesday's weather outlook called for snow south of Interstate twenty, impacting cities like Montgomery, Selma, and Mobile. By mid-morning, snow was blanketing Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, prompting immediate traffic gridlock that turned into a weather emergency. Alabama Public Radio's Pat Duggins spoke with Renny Vandewege about it. He teaches broadcast meteorology at Mississippi State University.

It was a long night for Alabama motorists, first responders, and for the state emergency managers who coordinated rescue and relief efforts following Alabama’s unexpected monster snowstorm. The icy weather paralyzed roads and highways across the State, and the Alabama Department of Transportation is working to restore traffic. Motorists are warned to remain off the roads if possible to avoid the threat of ice. Alabama Public Radio’s Pat Duggins spoke with Tony Harris of Alabama DOT about the “day after the storm.”

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