An Alabama built rocket is maybe days away from making space history. The Atlas-V is set to carry two astronauts and a new NASA space capsule called Starliner. Not even the astronauts know how it will go.
News & Commentaries From APR
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The Biden administration is moving reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. That’s being hailed as a monumental step in reshaping national policy. But it might do little to ease a longstanding problem in the cannabis industry, including in Alabama. Medicinal marijuana is regulated by the State. But, there's a reported lack of loans, checking accounts and banking services for this industry that other businesses take for granted.
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The Cullman Strawberry Festival has reportedly provided strawberry-themed fun for the community since the 1930’s when it began as the Cullman Strawberry Jubilee. In 2023, Governor Ivey honored Cullman’s strawberry festival by electing it the official Alabama Strawberry Festival.
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Alabama lawmakers proposed a compromise on gambling legislation that would authorize a state lottery and multiple sites with electronic gambling machines. But the measure faces an uncertain outlook
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Some 170 foundations, donors and advisors have signed on to a pledge started by the nonprofit Democracy Fund to make their grants earlier this Election Year. The "get out the vote" effort will reportedly include Alabama.
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The document in which Abraham Lincoln blockaded southern ports, including Mobile, is now part of the late President’s library and museum. The order set in motion the Union's military response to the launch of the U.S. Civil War. The document is now among Illinois' prized papers of the 16th president, thanks to a donation by the state's governor and first lady. APR covered the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Mobile Bay, which occurred after the signing.
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Democrats in both Alabama and Florida are looking to the possible political blowback from conservative actions like the Sunshine State’s new six week abortion that takes effect starting in May. There's also the ongoing headaches from an Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are children. Activists in both States think reproductive rights could be a rallying cry during the November election
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Siblings Bridget and Jim Mulroy sat down at Storycorps to talk about their childhood-- Growing up with several other brothers and sisters; and whether or not they felt pressure from their parents to be similar to their older siblings, and share the same interests.
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Hurricane Preparedness Week takes place May 5-11 in an effort to inform and equip people in the Southeast to be better prepared for the threat of a hurricane.
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Now a retired English professor at The University of Alabama, Dr. Noble's specialties are Southern and American literature.
Speaking of Pets with host Mindy Norton is a commentary (opinion piece) for people who care about pets and humane treatment for animals in general, and who want to celebrate that special relationship between us and our animal companions.
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After the Chernobyl disaster of 1986, hundreds of children from the affected areas dealt with multiple health issues caused by radiation from the nuclear meltdown. A few years later, families from all across Alabama housed many of those same children for a summer to give them access to better healthcare and a reprieve from the radiation.
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It took six rounds and a whole lot of waiting, but former Alabama kicker Will Reichard made Crimson Tide history during the 2024 NFL draft. The Minnesota Vikings picked the one position where former Head Coach Nick Saban saw no players join the NFL during his career at Alabama. Reichard is the first Tide kicker to be drafted since 1966, and reportedly only the third chosen by the Vikings in the last forty five years.
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The United Auto Workers union announced it reached a last-minute tentative agreement with truck and bus manufacturer Daimler Truck, averting a potential strike of more than 7,000 workers. Tuscaloosa's Mercedes Benz plant is within days of its own vote on unionization.
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The theme for World Veterinary Day this year is "Veterinarians are essential health workers."
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Two astronauts are waiting for their chance to blastoff aboard Boeing’s new Starliner space capsule. The trip to the International Space Station for NASA veterans Sunita Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore will be powered by an Atlas-V rocket, built by the United Launch Alliance at its factory in Decatur, just south of Huntsville. This is the first Atlas-V launch with people on board, but this model of rocket has boosted a series of unmanned spacecraft to Pluto, Mars, and the asteroid Bennu.
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The historic run on offensive players, especially quarterbacks, in the first round of the NFL draft pushed plenty of talented defenders down the board. It also pushed some first-round worthy defensive players into Round 2 on Friday. Those include Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean, Texas A&M inside linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. The former Crimson Tide player was picked by the New Orleans Saints.
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Alabamians are remembering the devasting tornado outbreak that destroyed communities across the state on April 27, 2011. According to the National Weather Service, the super-outbreak affected 26 states across the Southeast, but Alabama saw the worst destruction.
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Mobile’s Police Chief will reportedly reject a settlement offer made by the city, according to Fox10 TV. This comes as city council leaders gave Paul Prine a deadline at noon on Friday, April 26 to accept that settlement agreement, in which he would have to resign and be removed as Police Chief.
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The annual Interstate Mullet Toss returns to Alabama and Florida’s state line beach bar. What started as a small get together at the Flora-Bama now brings in around 30,000 people over the long weekend.
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Alabama lawmakers advanced legislation that could see librarians prosecuted for providing “harmful” materials or programs to minors. The Alabama bill removes the existing exemption for public libraries in the state’s obscenity law.
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Alabama lawmakers advanced a bill making it a crime for medical examiners to retain a deceased person’s organs without family permission. The bill would make it a felony for a medical examiner to retain a deceased person’s organs without getting that permission from “the appropriate next of kin.”