Pat Duggins

Attorney General Luther Strange wasted no time in seeking to stay yesterday's court decision overruling Alabama's ban on same sex marriage. Strange is asking a federal judge to stay a ruling that ended the law against gay marriage. Meanwhile, advocates are cheering what once seemed an improbable victory in the deeply conservative state. Luther Strange's office asked a federal judge on Friday to put the ruling on hold since the U.S. Supreme Court plans to take up the issue. U.S. District Callie V.S.

One hundred and fifty years ago, the battle of Mobile Bay helped bring the U.S. Civil War to a close. Historians also credit the engagement with helping Abraham Lincoln win a second term as President. Over the next half hour, Alabama Public Radio will look back on the battle and Alabama’s role in the Civil War in 1864. Stan Ingold will examine the Mobile campaign from the perspective of the man who lost. Ryan Vasquez will explain how Mobile resulted in more Congressional Medals of Honor than any other U.S. Naval battle.

Ky and al healthcare/ ingold Feature All year long on Alabama Public Radio, we’re collaborating with al.com to examine the affordable care act. When it comes to health care, Alabama has its problems. So does the state of Kentucky. The difference is, the bluegrass state is going about it differently and they seem to be getting results. Alabama Public Radio’s Stan Ingold travelled to Kentucky to see how that state is handling their challenges…

Ky and al healthcare/ ingold Feature

All year long on Alabama Public Radio, we’re collaborating with al.com to examine the affordable care act. When it comes to health care, Alabama has its problems. So does the state of Kentucky. The difference is, the bluegrass state is going about it differently and they seem to be getting results. Alabama Public Radio’s Stan Ingold travelled to Kentucky to see how that state is handling their challenges…

Audio Clip is at  the bottom of  the page

WHEELCHAIR RUGBY/PAT

MARCH 7, 2014

ALL WEEK LONG HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC RADIO, WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT ADAPTED ATHLETICS. THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA IS HOME TO WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL, TENNIS, AND GOLF AMONG OTHER SPORTS. HOWEVER, THIS IS THE AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL. DISABLED ATHLETES WILL SOON HEAD TO BIRMINGHAM TO GET READY FOR THE PARALYMPICS IN RIO DE JENEIRO IN 2016. ALABAMA PUBLIC RADIO’S PAT DUGGINS HAS MORE ON THE SPOT WHERE THEY’LL TRAIN, AND ONE UNIQUE SPORT THAT’S BEING FEATURED…

Oprah Winfrey and cast members from the Oscar nominated film “Selma” marched in a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. It was one of many events around the nation ushering in Monday's federal holiday for the slain civil rights leader. Remembrances of the King legacy come amid somber reflection by many on incidents in which unarmed black men were killed by police in recent months. The incident spurred protests and heightened tensions in the U.S.

The Alabama Public Radio news team aggressively uses our website and social media to widen the audience for its daily broadcast product. Using an NPR core publisher base, APR’s on-air anchors transcribe and post morning and evening newscasts along with audio links, then use Facebook and Twitter to alert our listeners and other interested parties. The day before each long-form feature airs on APR, our reporters write what we call a “web article” derived from the production script. These articles are posted early to promote the stories and drive listeners to the audio version on-air.

Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard laid out details of his legislative agenda for the upcoming session. Hubbard says he will consider expanding charter schools and promised continued opposition to labor unions. The Speaker told his audience at a Republican men’s club in Huntsville that dual enrollment and charter schools are two possible solutions to a poorly performing public school system. He also accused the National Labor Relations Board of organizing labor unions in Alabama. Hubbard will serve his latest term as Speaker while defending himself on ethics charges.

Operators of an Alabama based dog fighting ring must now pay what's considered a record level of damages.

U.S. District Judge Keith Watkins ordered participants in the high-stakes dog fighting operation to pay $2 million in restitution.

For more information contact your school's central office or check their website.

The National Weather Service is looking into damage from last weekend’s storms in Alabama. APR’s Alex AuBuchon reports, forecasters are also looking ahead to some brutally cold weather starting tonight…

No property tax hike. Governor Robert Bentley is making that promise as he prepares His first budget to include raising taxes. Speculation is that the Governor may want to cut tax exemptions and other tax breaks. Bentley isn't saying yet what will be in the package he unveils when the Legislature meets in March. But he says he doesn't like property taxes and neither does the Alabama public. The Legislature may have to raise upwards of seven hundred million dollars to cover its debts. Bentley begins his second term January nineteenth.

Alabama will trade yesterday's high winds and heavy rains for sub freezing temperatures this week. The South is cleaning up from rough weather, including a couple tornadoes, and storms that pelted parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee yesterday. The system downed trees and power lines, damaged homes, and prompted tornado warnings in parts of Alabama, including Tuscaloosa and Marion counties. At the height of the storm, Alabama Power reported close to seven thousand customers lost electricity.

Citizens of Selma can see the controversial new movie "Selma" for free. Paramount Pictures announced that the movie will be show free to Selma citizens starting this Friday at the Walton Theater in west Alabama city. The film is disappointing supporters of President Lyndon B. Johnson, including the director of the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin. Mark Updegrove says the film incorrectly portrays Johnson as an obstructionist to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Tuscaloosa

.SATURDAY...WARMER. CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS IN THE MORNING...THEN RAIN SHOWERS AND CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 60S. CHANCE OF RAIN NEAR 100 PERCENT. .

SATURDAY NIGHT...RAIN SHOWERS AND CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE EVENING...THEN CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS IN THE LOWER 50S. CHANCE OF RAIN NEAR 100 PERCENT. 

Selma

.SATURDAY...WARMER. CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS IN THE MORNING...THEN RAIN SHOWERS LIKELY AND CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S. CHANCE OF RAIN 70 PERCENT. .