Pat Duggins

You can never been too rich or too thin, right?

Beginning Sunday, the Alabama Public Radio newsroom will help premiere a new television program about business. It’s called “Alabama, Inc.” and it will air Sundays at 4 pm and 4:30pm on WVUA-TV. This week on APR, you’ll hear two stories from that opening program. Subject number two is the man behind the high-end fashion mall “The Summit” near Birmingham. Saks Fifth Avenue, Gus Meyer, Jos. A. Banks—the list of high end fashion stores “The Summit” reads like a retail who’s who.

Beginning Sunday, the Alabama Public Radio newsroom will help premiere a new television program about business. It’s called “Alabama, Inc.” and it will air Sundays at 4 pm and 4:30pm on WVUA-TV. This week on APR, you’ll hear two stories from that opening program. Subject number one is food trucks in the Birmingham area by Alabama Inc. host Gigi Douban. Tacos and Vietnamese sandwiches and gourmet popsicles. Depending on where you are in Alabama, you don't necessarily have to go to a restaurant to find these things. They're on the street in food trucks.

The Tuscaloosa entertainment district of Timmerson Square erupted in gunfire the early morning of July 17th. Witnesses told police that a gunman, armed with a military assault rifle, started shooting into the Copper Top Bar, a popular night spot for students of the University of Alabama. APR’s Maggie Martin followed the manhunt for the suspect and the effort to treat the seventeen victims, three in critical condition, who were taken to DCH Regional Medical Center, with SWAT officers posted outside.

The University of Alabama football team won the 2012 BCS college football championship in New Orleans, by defeating the only team that beat the Crimson Tide during the regular season. The Louisiana State University left Tide fans demoralized by forcing Alabama into overtime before a hometown crowd in Tuscaloosa, and then winning by a field goal. APR’s Pat Duggins reports on how both teams won slots in the BCS game, with Alabama winning with a 21-0 shutdown.

On the eve of the 2012 BCS College Football championship game in New Orleans, a group of Alabamians in their early forties looked back on a similar accomplishment. 2012 was the twentieth anniversary of the Crimson Tide’s title winning season under Coach Gene Stallings. APR’s Pat Duggins spoke with fans of the 1992 Alabama team, as well as former players Prince Wimbley, Martin Houston, and Dennis Deason.

Not every lesson on the football field involves passing or blocking. Former members of the University of Alabama football team gathered at a bowling alley in the town of Trussville to try to help two year old Brielle Warren. The little girl is the daughter of Derrick Warren, who played for the Tide in 1992 when the team won the national championship under Coach Gene Stallings. Brielle has Alexander’s Disease, which is typically fatal for children by the age of ten.

Not every beachfront resident in Alabama lives in a condo. APR’s Pat Duggins reports how, during the final hours before the arrival of Hurricane Isaac, a volunteer group of gulf coast residents staged a last minute rescue operation to save loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings from drowning in their nests from the rough surf. Alabama is home to one hundred and forty eight nests of endangered loggerheads. Mike Reynolds leads the group “Share The Beach,” which scoured the Alabama gulf coast for nests.

Remembering the dearly departed with a “bang” is at heart of “Holy Smoke,” a story by APR’s Stan Ingold on a company in Stockton, Alabama. Entrepreneurs Tad Holmes and Clem Parnell are both avid hunters, and wanted to be remembered after their passing. The solution was “Holy Smoke,” a business which loads the cremated remains of hunters into shotgun shells and bullets for their family and friends to use. Stan also spoke with Priscilla Eisler of Spanish Fort. Her husband was a hunter, who requested that his ashes be packed into ammunition.

One year after an EF-4 tornado struck Tuscaloosa, the community is still recovering. The Alabama Public Radio news team followed survivors and local officials in the months after the storm to investigate the aftermath. The result is the documentary “Winds of Change.” Some residents are still in temporary housing or are in the process of rebuilding.

On the eve of the 2012 BCS College Football championship game in New Orleans, a group of Alabamians in their early forties looked back on a similar accomplishment. 2012 was the twentieth anniversary of the Crimson Tide’s title winning season under Coach Gene Stallings. APR’s Pat Duggins spoke with fans of the 1992 Alabama team, as well as former players Prince Wimbley, Martin Houston, and Dennis Deason.

Not every beachfront resident in Alabama lives in a condo. APR’s Pat Duggins reports how, during the final hours before the arrival of Hurricane Isaac, a volunteer group of gulf coast residents staged a last minute rescue operation to save loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings from drowning in their nests from the rough surf. Alabama is home to one hundred and forty eight nests of endangered loggerheads. Mike Reynolds leads the group “Share The Beach,” which scoured the Alabama gulf coast for nests.

Alabama is one of only two States which segregates prison inmates infected with the virus which causes AIDS. APR’s Ryan Vasquez reports on one former inmate who is challenging the policy with a lawsuit. Albert Knox is on parole, and living in Urbana, Illinois. While serving his sentence, Knox was asked to wear a white wrist band and live and eat in segregated facilities. Once, during a drug rehab meeting, he was asked to join other inmates for lunch. Afterwards, prison guards staged a mass search for his plate and utensils in an effort to prevent Knox from spreading HIV to other inmates.

What does the great, great, great nephew of old west gunslinger Wyatt Earp do for fun? Wade Earp is a competitor in the “gay rodeo” circuit, and Alabama wants to bring that kind of contest here. APR’s Maggie Martin produced a three part series on gay rodeos, with the first segment focusing on efforts to get one sanctioned in Alabama. Part two included a visit to the gay rodeo of Fort Worth, Texas, where Martin interviewed Earp as well as John Beck, the so called “grandfather” of the gay rodeo.

Not every beachfront resident in Alabama lives in a condo. APR’s Pat Duggins reports how, during the final hours before the arrival of Hurricane Isaac, a volunteer group of gulf coast residents staged a last minute rescue operation to save loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings from drowning in their nests from the rough surf. Alabama is home to one hundred and forty eight nests of endangered loggerheads. Mike Reynolds leads the group “Share The Beach,” which scoured the Alabama gulf coast for nests.

Not every beachfront resident in Alabama lives in a condo. APR’s Pat Duggins reports how, during the final hours before the arrival of Hurricane Isaac, a volunteer group of gulf coast residents staged a last minute rescue operation to save loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings from drowning in their nests from the rough surf. Alabama is home to one hundred and forty eight nests of endangered loggerheads. Mike Reynolds leads the group “Share The Beach,” which scoured the Alabama gulf coast for nests.

Remembering the dearly departed with a “bang” is at heart of “Holy Smoke,” a story by APR’s Stan Ingold on a company in Stockton, Alabama. Entrepreneurs Tad Holmes and Clem Parnell are both avid hunters, and wanted to be remembered after their passing. The solution was “Holy Smoke,” a business which loads the cremated remains of hunters into shotgun shells and bullets for their family and friends to use. Stan also spoke with Priscilla Eisler of Dothan. Her husband was a hunter, who requested that his ashes be packed into ammunition.

Restaurant goers from Birmingham to New York City know the influence of Chef Frank Stitt. The James Beard award winning chef operates Highlands Bar & Grill in Birmingham, Alabama, which just marked its thirtieth anniversary. Former workers who studied under Stitt have moved on to run other restaurants like Gramercy Tavern in New York. APR’s Pat Duggins reports on Stitt’s influence in a story which goes from Highlands Bar & Grill, to Gramercy in New York, which is recovering from Hurricane Sandy, to the halls of the hospital of the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

The University of Alabama football team won the 2012 BCS college football championship in New Orleans, by defeating the only team that beat the Crimson Tide during the regular season. The Louisiana State University left Tide fans demoralized by forcing Alabama into overtime before a hometown crowd in Tuscaloosa, and then winning by a field goal. APR’s Pat Duggins reports on how both teams won slots in the BCS game, with Alabama winning with a 21-0 shutdown.

The University of Alabama football team won the 2012 BCS college football championship in New Orleans, by defeating the only team that beat the Crimson Tide during the regular season. The Louisiana State University left Tide fans demoralized by forcing Alabama into overtime before a hometown crowd in Tuscaloosa, and then winning by a field goal. APR’s Pat Duggins reports on how both teams won slots in the BCS game, with Alabama winning with a 21-0 shutdown.

On the eve of the 2012 BCS College Football championship game in New Orleans, a group of Alabamians in their early forties looked back on a similar accomplishment. 2012 was the twentieth anniversary of the Crimson Tide’s title winning season under Coach Gene Stallings. APR’s Pat Duggins spoke with fans of the 1992 Alabama team, as well as former players Prince Wimbley, Martin Houston, and Dennis Deason.

Remembering the dearly departed with a “bang” is at heart of “Holy Smoke,” a story by APR’s Stan Ingold on a company in Stockton, Alabama. Entrepreneurs Tad Holmes and Clem Parnell are both avid hunters, and wanted to be remembered after their passing. The solution was “Holy Smoke,” a business which loads the cremated remains of hunters into shotgun shells and bullets for their family and friends to use. Stan also spoke with Priscilla Eisler of Dothan. Her husband was a hunter, who requested that his ashes be packed into ammunition.

Not every beachfront resident in Alabama lives in a condo. APR’s Pat Duggins reports how, during the final hours before the arrival of Hurricane Isaac, a volunteer group of gulf coast residents staged a last minute rescue operation to save loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings from drowning in their nests from the rough surf. Alabama is home to one hundred and forty eight nests of endangered loggerheads. Mike Reynolds leads the group “Share The Beach,” which scoured the Alabama gulf coast for nests.

One year after an EF-4 tornado struck Tuscaloosa, the community is still recovering. The Alabama Public Radio news team followed survivors and local officials in the months after the storm to investigate the aftermath. The result is the documentary “Winds of Change.” Some residents are still in temporary housing or are in the process of rebuilding.

On the eve of the 2012 BCS College Football championship game in New Orleans, a group of Alabamians in their early forties looked back on a similar accomplishment. 2012 was the twentieth anniversary of the Crimson Tide’s title winning season under Coach Gene Stallings. APR’s Pat Duggins spoke with fans of the 1992 Alabama team, as well as former players Prince Wimbley, Martin Houston, and Dennis Deason.

Today marks fifty years since the inauguration of Alabama Governor George Wallace. His speech featuring the phrase “segregation now, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever,” is considered one of the pivotal moments of the civil rights movement in 1963. That year also saw the bombing at the 16th Street Baptist church in Birmingham and the “stand at the schoolhouse door” in Tuscaloosa. Alabama Public Radio’s Pat Duggins looks back at Wallace’s 1963 inaugural to produce this sound portrait. Observers note that Wallace had a change of heart later in his life and renounced racism.

“Obviously, we wish the night could have ended in a different way” said Notre Dame star player Manti T’eo. “But, the season, the year, my career here, I’m been truly blessed by being at Notre Dame” “What the players accomplished, what the coaches accomplished, I think it’s really special,” said Alabama Coach Nick Saban. “I think when I’m sitting on the side of the hill watching the stream go by, I might even figure it out even more.” These are two very different perspectives of the same game in Miami.