If you get uncomfortable just thinking about going to the dentist, there's a word for that: dental anxiety. Research published in the Journal of the American Dental Association indicates that about 73% of U.S. adults hold some level of fear about dental work or oral health visits. Some research suggests that up to 15% of U.S. adults avoid the dentist entirely due to being terrified of those needles, drills, and bright lights. I'm a big believer in exposure therapy, though. So if you're one of those that fear the chair, these two episodes may help you feel better.

“We will not tolerate the victimization of vulnerable women here in Shelby County,” said Lieutenant Clayton Smith, commander of the Shelby County Drug Task Force to the press. His comments followed the arrest of fifteen men now accused of soliciting sex. The group reportedly includes former sports writer Robert Aaron Suttles, who left journalism to become the content director for “Yea Alabama,” the name, image, and likeness operation for Crimson Tide athletics. The arrests occurred during a human trafficking sting operation.

This week, Don reviews Sisterhood Above All by Kathleen Barber with Amayah Shaienne.

The "Dog Days" should remind us to find ways to keep our furry friends comfortable and safe in the hot Summer weather!

Cam Marston has been digging into what makes retirement happy, and it turns out, part of the answer is that spouses need a break from each other.

The family of Nolan Wells is still searching for answers about what exactly led to the 18-year-old athlete's death during a July 4 boat trip with friends off Mississippi's Gulf Coast, near the border with Alabama. Though Wells traveled by boat with his friends to Horn Island, he didn't return with the group that afternoon as planned. His body was found two days later off the island's coast.

The American Veterinary Medical Association says that roughly one third of all American homes have at least one house cat. That's a LOT of feline companions, especially when you consider that many of these homes have multiple kitties (you can never have just one). Simplified is a podcast committing to simplifying potentially confusing topics, and if you've ever had a pet cat, you can likely attest to its mannerisms and health needs being, at least at times, a bit confusing. But have no fear-- we made a call to our friends "On the Plains" to get some advice on how to best care for your four-legged besties.

Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall in Louisiana and was southwest of New Orleans while moving west toward Texas early Thursday morning, after closing beaches on the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle to Mississippi.

The Fourth of July has come and gone. But, events for America’s two hundred and fiftieth are still going on. Earlier this month on APR, our special correspondent James Niiler brought us the story of the annual Rebild Festival in Denmark. It’s an event that celebrates the democratic connection between the Danish and the United States. Political tensions between the two nations helped make this year’s celebration a little tricky. James’ original story was the lead up to this year’s Rebild Festival. He attended this year’s event to see how it would go.

Before Arnold Schwarzenegger was “The Terminator,” and before Lou Ferrigno was the “Incredible Hulk,” there was Charles Gaines. The Alabama native and author whose book and documentary “Pumping Iron” helped bring professional bodybuilding into the mainstream and introduce Schwarzenegger to the world, has died. He was 84.

Communities on the U.S. Gulf Coast distributed sandbags and closed beaches as Tropical Storm Bertha threatened to bring flooding and strong winds Wednesday from the Florida Panhandle to Louisiana.

The Trump administration may approve a controversial plan to allow state oversight of coal ash ponds throughout Alabama. The website of Inside Climate News reports the proposal would allow millions of tons of toxic coal ash to remain buried in place alongside the state’s rivers. Critics say much of that material is sitting in groundwater where it can leach into the environment.