Global bond rating agency Standard and Poor's has lowered the borrowing rate for the newly-created Central Alabama Water system.Concerns about the public utility's weakening liquidity, aging assets and substantial reorganization of management cited as some of the reasons.Earlier this week, the “CAW's” long-term rating was downgraded from Double-A to Double-A minus.S&P also warned of further cuts within 90 days, if financial transparency is not improved.
Alabama Public Radio is proud to share the work of local artist Abi Brewer, who created an original painting exclusively for the station. Views of Home is what Abi calls "a love letter to Alabama." The painting celebrates the different flora, fauna and landscapes of the Yellowhammer State.
News & Commentaries From APR
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On this week's Keepin' It Real, in a few coastal cities in the deep south, in the weeks before Lent begins, a strange behavior begins to appear. Honorable and respectable people step into a different personalities for a short time. They do it together, and it's a heck of a good time.
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It looks like Alabama cities like Tuscaloosa and Mobile may be getting a larger share of state internet sales taxes. Mayors Walt Maddox and Spiro Cheriogatis are among the city leaders who are dropping a class action lawsuit against the Alabama Department of Revenue has been dropped.
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Ever tried to explain a rotary phone to a 10-year-old? Archiving the history of how we talk to each other is more than just collecting old gadgets—it’s about preserving our connection to the past. Volunteer archivist Brad Clasgens with Signals Museum of Information Explosion in Huntsville knows a thing or two about that. He's the latest guest on Quick-Fire Quips and has the full download from scrolling to streaming to syncing up. Plus, the history of fun and unusual devices!
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In our second episode, Lacey sits down with Dr. Michael Innis-Jiménez, an American Studies professor at The University of Alabama. His research is predominantly on how Latino communities function within the United States, making him the perfect guest to discuss the island of Puerto Rico and it's (legal and emotional) relationship to the US!
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The Alabama Department of Human Resources has begun mailing out new chip-enabled EBT cards to SNAP benefit recipients.The upgraded cards offer enhanced security to block unauthorized out-of-state and online purchases.However, Alabama cardholders who wish to make such purchases can still do so by downloading the ConnectEBT Mobile App, visiting the ConnectEBT website or calling the EBT Customer Service phone number.
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This week on StoryCorps, Tres and Helene Taylor return to tell the story of the community mural they organized in Selma, Alabama and how they used the power of art to bring people together.
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An Alabama circuit judge on Monday denied Alabama basketball player Charles Bediako’s motion for a preliminary injunction, ending the 7-foot center's collegiate eligibility and his season with the Crimson Tide.
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The “Dark Side” defense carried Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks to a Lombardi Trophy. Devon Witherspoon, Derick Hall, Byron Murphy and the rest of Mike Macdonald’s ferocious unit pummeled Drake Maye, and the Seahawks beat the New England Patriots 29-13 on Sunday to win the franchise’s second Super Bowl. The win also means former members of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Josh Jobe, Jalen Milroe, Robbie Outz, and Jarren Reed will soon be sporting oversized rings
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Labaron Philon Jr. tallied 25 points, six assists and five rebounds, Amari Allen added 17 points and six rebounds, and Alabama took down Auburn 96-92 on Saturday. Alabama basketball center Charles Bediako's lawsuit against the NCAA was in court for hearing one day before the Tide faced the Tigers.
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Penny the Doberman Pinscher wins the top prize at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, beating out 2,500 competitors!
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At least three former members of the Alabama Crimson Tide will win Super Bowl rings on Sunday. Seven players who formerly worked with retired coach Nick Saban are now with the New England Patriots and the Seahawks. So, either Christian Barmore, Anfernee Jennings, and CJ Dippre (New England,) or Josh Jobe, Jalen Milroe, Robbie Outz, and Jarren Reed (Seattle,) will acquire new bling following the NFL Championship on Sunday. Jalen Hurts has been there.
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"Simplified" is an interview-style show where Morning Edition host Lacey Alexander takes complex topics and breaks them down so that everyone can better understand them. She enlists a new academic in the state of Alabama every week to simplify a big idea-- whether it's science, economics, media or anything in between. Contact the show at simplified@apr.org!Local support for Simplified is provided by The University of Alabama Online.
Sports Minded podcast with host Brittany Young features interviews with coaches, athletes and sports personnel. Insight, commentary and analysis on professional, collegiate and high school sports can be heard here.
Speaking of Pets with host Mindy Norton is a commentary for people who care about pets and want to celebrate that special relationship between humans and animal companions.
Quick-Fire Quips is centered around people who stand out in Alabama. Host Baillee Majors presents guests with a questionnaire of playful personal questions and questions about the Yellowhammer State.
Alabama is known for football and white barbecue sauce. But we’re also making our mark in science, literature and the arts—and we helped put astronauts on the moon! Join APR news director Pat Duggins as he takes up topics like this with interviews on APR Notebook.
Dr. Don Noble, specializing in Southern and American literature, gives his weekly review on the work of Alabama’s finest authors.
StoryCorps episodes show a candid, unscripted conversation between two people about love, loss, family, friendship and everything else in between. These stories are from Selma, where APR recently hosted the Airstream portable studio.
Host Cam Marston brings fun weekly commentaries on generational and demographic trends to provide new ways to interpret the changing world around us.
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Imagine waking up one morning, opening that day's copy of The New York Times, and seeing yourself described as TV's “king of creepy.” My guest tonight got that distinction just last year. Two time Emmy award winning actor Michael Emerson is a University of Alabama graduate, and he once worked at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. We met his wife, Carrie Preston of the CBS TV series "Elsbeth," just last month. Now, just in case you thought that creepy comment in the New York Times was a one off, the Washington Post later called Emerson “TV's most beloved creepy guy” four months later. He seems to relish in that. Emerson starred as Benjamin Linus in the TV series Lost and the eccentric billionaire Harold Finch in Person of Interest. However, fans of the cult classic horror film "SAW" may remember him as the creepy hospital orderly Zep Hindle.
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Ever heard a siren and thought, "Probably nothing"? The National Weather Service is working to fix that! Meteorologist and certified "Weather Weenie" Gerald Satterwhite joins host Baillee Majors for the latest episode of Quick-Fire Quips. Gerald dives into the "Hollywood vs. Reality" of the Twisters movies and explains the tech behind the Dominator—the armored tank-truck designed to drive straight into the eye of the storm!
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In the latest episode of Alabama Out Loud, host Aydan Conchin spotlights Tuscaloosa to turn up the volume on local voices. She's diving into the heart of the Druid City to explore how the community celebrates Valentine’s Day, from unique local traditions to the best ways to share the love in Sweet Home Alabama.
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On this week’s Keepin' It Real, Cam Marston admits that from time to time when he’s on his knees at church on Sunday, he asks himself what in the world he’s doing. Has he, maybe, lost his mind?
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Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey released an affidavit backing the NCAA in its eligibility case against Alabama’s Charles Bediako, who is playing in the SEC for the Crimson Tide over two years after signing an NBA two-way contract.
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Imagine waking up one morning, opening that day's copy of The New York Times and seeing yourself described as TV's king of creepy. My guest tonight got that distinction just last year. Two time Emmy Award winner. Michael Emerson is a University of Alabama graduate, and he once worked at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Since then, he portrayed Ben Linus and lost and fans of the horror cult classic film "Saw" might remember him as the creepy hospital orderly Zep Hindle. In this preview of APR notebook, Emerson and I talk about all that and his days at the University of Alabama.
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A bill that would place new restrictions on what items Alabama SNAP benefit recipients are allowed to purchase, has passed a Senate committee. Senate Bill 61, was approved by the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee. It calls for removing food and drinks with high sugar and sodium content.
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One of the largest meetings of nonprofits in Alabama took place this week. The Alabama Association of Nonprofits hosted their annual summit for nonprofit leaders, board members, and peers. The Renaissance hotel in Montgomery attracted over 250 members of Alabama’s largest nonprofits. The theme of the sold-out event was “strengthening our collective voice into collective power."
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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio went to Capitol Hill last week. One subject was Greenland. The Trump administration wants to acquire the island over national security concerns. Rubio told lawmakers that the uproar over within NATO is calming and that talks are underway about how to deal with Trump's demands. APR News focused on Denmark’s 1909 “Alabama Expedition” to explain how long the dispute over Greenland has been going on. The White House’s ambitions prompted a loud response in Denmark last month.
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Seven members of the Alabama Crimson Tide got some bling following the 2025 Super Bowl. Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, Landon Dickerson, Tyler Steen, Eli Ricks, Byron Young, and Cameron Latu each played for the Philadelphia Eagles and won a Super Bowl ring. No matter how Sunday’s Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks goes, at least three former member of the Crimson Tide will get rings of their own.