Pat Duggins
News DirectorPat Duggins is APR’s news director. As a kid, he watched the Apollo manned moon launches along Florida’s space coast. Pat later spent 14 years covering NASA for NPR. After re-organizing the APR newsroom, he and the team were honored with over 150 awards for excellence in journalism. That includes APR being the first radio newsroom to receive RFK Human Rights’ “Seigenthaler Prize for Courage in Journalism.” Pat holds a master’s degree from the University of Alabama and has published two books on NASA. When he’s not at APR, he enjoys cooking with Lucia, and tending his beloved fig tree.
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The United Launch Alliance company is gearing up for the next use of one of its remaining Alabama built Atlas-V rockets to launch the next mission of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station. That flight could come as soon as April of 2026. The contractor, and its Atlas boosters which are built at the ULA factory in Decatur, are currently under contract to launch for Starliners. -
The film “Everything Everywhere All at Once” by Birmingham director Daniel Scheinert is being recognized as one of the top one hundred comedy films by Variety Magazine. The film by Scheinert and Daniel Kwan stunned critics by winning seven Oscars in 2023, including Best Picture, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actor. The directing duo, known as the “Daniels” were both first time nominees. Their film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards that year. -
Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, whose 2017 election renewed hope for Alabama Democrats, on Monday filed campaign paperwork to run for Alabama governor in 2026.Documents were filed with the Secretary of State's Office, creating a principal campaign committee for Jones to run for governor as a Democrat. A gubernatorial bid by Jones could set up a rematch with U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the Republican who defeated Jones in 2020 and is now running for governor. -
Deuce Knight amassed 401 total yards and tied a school record accounting for six touchdowns and Auburn beat lower-division Mercer 62-17 on Saturday. -
Six different players scored touchdowns, including two apiece from Kevin Riley and AK Dear, and No. 10 Alabama cruised to a 56-0 win against lower-division Eastern Illinois on Saturday. Alabama held out a few key players — receiver Germie Bernard, center Parker Brailsford and tight end Josh Cuevas — with the Iron Bowl on tap next week. -
The Crimson Tide is within two games of possibly losing a shot at the playoffs. And, Sports Illustrated and Newsweek are reporting on rumors that Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer is in the running to replace the newly fired James Franklin in charge of the Penn State Nittany Lions. One report quotes a source close to DeBoer refuting the reports. A lot of others are “keeping their powder dry.” -
Published reports are swirling over what critics say started as a story in the college newspaper at Penn State. Specifically, that the Nittany Lions need a new head coach, and one name in the running is that of the Crimson Tide’s current head coach, Kalen DeBoer. Five days ago, The Daily Collegian ran a piece titled “If Alabama does the unthinkable, is Kalen DeBoer the guy for Penn State?” At first, local news outlets appeared to chortle over the possibility. Now, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated are reporting on it. -
The board overseeing Alabama public libraries on Thursday voted to remove books that discuss being transgender from the teen and children’s sections of all public libraries in the state. The Alabama action is the latest salvo in the national fight over library content that has frequently centered on titles with LGBTQ+ themes and characters. -
Coming off a home loss to Oklahoma and with lower-division Eastern Illinois visiting Saturday, number ten ranked Alabama will try to reclaim its rhythm before the Iron Bowl. Saturday represents the last chance for the Crimson Tide to tune up its game before the now all important Iron Bowl. Alabama’s Homecoming loss to Oklahoma means its path to the playoffs has narrowed -
The Mobile based band “The Red Clay Strays” took a top honor during last night’s Country Music Awards. The country rock band won vocal group of the year, which broke a seven year streak by Old Dominion in that category. Billboard Magazine listed the win for the Strays as a “surprise” during last night’s CMA’s .
