The Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge, and Etta James all have one thing in common. These legendary musical acts all recorded hits in Muscle Shoals. The home of the back-up band known as the Swampers has had an international impact on popular music. Now, an effort is underway to preserve that musical heritage.

Today is World Autism Awareness Day. The observance was set up by the United Nations in 2007, World Autism Awareness Day to raise awareness for autism and celebrate those giving special care to those with this unique condition. One group “in the trenches” is the staff of Archway Academy.

Four astronauts embarked on a high-stakes flight around the moon Wednesday, humanity’s first lunar voyage in more than half a century and the thrilling leadoff in NASA’s push toward a landing in two years. The crew flew to Earth orbit aboard the space agency’s new “Space Launch System” rocket designed, built, tested, and managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.

Fannie Etheridge has been quilting for 30 years, but she’ll be the first to tell you that the legacy of Gee’s Bend started long before her. She shared a beautiful insight during our latest Quick-Fire Quips: The women who started the Freedom Quilting Bee didn't have five-year business plans—they had an idea, a community and the drive to build something from nothing. Today, those quilts aren't just blankets, they are world-renowned art.

NASA is counting down the hours before the first trip around the moon by astronauts since 1972. The mission of Artemis two begins with a ride to space aboard a rocket made here in Alabama. Some of the engineers who made the Apollo lunar missions possible are still in the Huntsville area and NASA knows it.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey was hospitalized Tuesday after undergoing what her office described as a minor procedure to remove fluid that was pressing on her lung.

This week on StoryCorps, Susan Youngblood tells the story of her career as an advocate for victims of domestic abuse. She begins with her graduation from paralegal school in Nashville and then tells how she went on to establish the SABRA sanctuary to protect victims here in Alabama.

The U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville will be hosting a large watch party tomorrow, as thousands are expected to gather to view the launch of the Artemis II mission around the moon.The trip is designed to begin with the blastoff of the Alabama built “Space Launch System” rocket, based on technology from the retired Space Shuttle program.

This week, Don reviews A Land More Kind Than Home and When Ghosts Come Home by Wiley Cash.

Supporters of Wednesday’s planned launch of an Alabama built rocket on the first crewed trip to the moon since 1972 can sink their teeth in an edible souvenir at their local Krispy Kreme. The donut outlet, on Tuesday, is debuting a limited-edition Artemis II Doughnut, launching just in time for this historic moment in space exploration.

Five men involved in a fatal shooting at a sweet 16 party in Alabama were sentenced Friday to five years in prison after taking plea deals that were sharply criticized by some of the victims’ families.

Demonstrators in Tuscaloosa carried signs reading “War is not a game,” “No Kings—No Immunity from Accountability,” and “Justice for All.”These marchers joined protesters in twenty other Alabama cities during what’s called the largest “No Kings” march event, which went international with protests in France and Italy.