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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Michael Taylor faces execution in Alabama, 35 years after fatally beating an older couple with a metal bar during a robbery in their Gadsden home. Police arrested the 19-year-old Taylor with the victims' Cadillac, an hour away in Birmingham. The execution would be the state's third this year. Alabama’s scheduled execution is the one of three nationally today. One death sentence in Indiana was carried out this morning. -
It’s been a confusing college football season so far. Nobody felt that more deeply than the College Football Playoff selection committee, which raised eyebrows aplenty in its first attempt of the season to make sense of it all. At number five, was Alabama — eight spots ahead of Tennessee, even though the Tide is only a few weeks removed from a 16-point loss to the Vols. At No. 6 was Kentucky, followed by Texas. -
At the urging of President Donald Trump, Republicans in eight states redrew the boundaries of dozens of congressional districts over the past year while angling for an edge that could help them hold onto a slim House majority in a tough midterm election.Ultimately, it didn't work. In Alabama, a Supreme Court ruling allowed the Republican-led Legislature to revert to what the GOP considered to be a friendlier map. But Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures won reelection anyway, defying Republicans' plans. -
Democrats have won control of Congress in Tuesday’s 2026 midterm elections in a widespread repudiation of President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, a drubbing that reached deep into reliable GOP territory. The Associated Press called Alabama's Governor's race for Republican Tommy Tuberville just after midnight. -
One of the things we do at Alabama Public Radio News is produce major journalism projects. That's where we've won most of our 187 awards for excellence in reporting. Back in 2014, we did one on the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Mobile Bay during the Civil War. That's where Admiral David Farragut is said to have shouted, "Damn the torpedoes! Full steam ahead! Although there's not a stitch of evidence he actually said that. But I digress. I was down at Fort Morgan along the coast recording sound for that documentary when I got to hear Birmingham musician Bobby Horton. -
Democrats won control of the U.S. Senate and are on the brink of taking the House in Tuesday’s 2026 midterm elections in a widespread repudiation of President Donald Trump and the Republican Party that reached deep into their most loyal territory. The Associated Press called Alabama’s District two race one ballot to watch. -
Alabama’s midterm election is here. Voters in the state will cast ballots to choose a new governor and settle races for members of Congress and the State legislature. APR news has been in touch with the Alabama League of Women voters for tips on how to make election day go more smoothly. -
One of the things we do at Alabama Public Radio News is produce major journalism projects. That's where we've won most of our 187 awards for excellence in reporting. Back in 2014, we did one on the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Mobile Bay during the Civil War. That's where Admiral David Farragut is said to have shouted, "Damn the torpedoes! Full steam ahead! Although there's not a stitch of evidence he actually said that. But I digress. I was down at Fort Morgan along the coast recording sound for that documentary when I got to hear Birmingham musician Bobby Horton. Pull up a chair and get ready to learn more about the Civil War. My talk with Bobby Horton is next on APR Notebook. -
Mass shootings over the Halloween weekend — largely in nightlife districts across the U.S. — left at least six people dead and dozens injured, officials said. In Birmingham, one person was killed and eight others were wounded in two separate shootings just outside Legion Field after the annual “Magic City Classic” football game on Saturday night, Mayor Randall Woodfin said at a news conference Sunday. -
Alabama’s mid term election is tomorrow. But, voters in our state have a deadline today if they want to cast an absentee ballot and deliver it by hand. Those votes have to be dropped off to your election official by close of business today.
