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The thirteenth amendment did away with slavery in the United States 157 years ago. Alabama voters may take similar action next month. The state’s Constitution still allows involuntary servitude. An estimated 400,000 slaves were held in Alabama before they were finally freed in 1865. APR spoke with the descendants of some of these people. They talked about trying to find the burial sites of their ancestors, and facing roadblocks not shared by their white neighbors.

Alabama voters head to the polls for the November midterm election next month. One issue on the ballot would do away with slavery. It’s still allowed in the state constitution. Alabama Public Radio news spent nine months looking into one lingering aspect of the slave trade. APR’s focus is on finding and preserving slave cemeteries in the state. By the time of the Civil War, an estimated four hundred thousand people were held as slaves in Alabama. Some accounts put the number throughout the South at closer to four million. That would appear to make the issue of slave cemetery preservation a southern issue. But, that doesn't appear to be the case. Here’s part four of our series we call “No Stone Unturned."

The Alabama Public Radio news team is known for its major journalism investigations. We've been doing them for over a decade. Our most recent national award winning effort was an eight month investigation into Alabama's new U.S. House seat in the rural Black Belt region of the state. The new voting map was ordered by the U.S. Supreme Court so Alabama would be more fair to black residents. Now, anybody who follows the news might reasonably be thinking— okay? The same high court that overturned Roe versus Wade and ended affirmative action in the nation's universities told Alabama that they needed to treat black voters better. Even the plaintiffs in the legal case of Allen versus Milligan told APR news they were gobsmacked they won. The goal after that legal victory was to make sure the new minority congressional district works. The point there was to keep conservative opponents from having the excuse to try to flip the voting map back to the GOP. And that's a moving target that could change at any moment, even as we speak. The job of managing all of these issues now falls to Congressman Shomari Figures.

Everybody, it seems, has a favorite story about barbecue. Here's mine. Mrs. Duggins and I took a road trip to Memphis. We were going to see Bonnie Raitt in concert. Now, when it comes to barbecue, Memphis has Elwood’s Shack, Corky’s, Fat Larry's and they all have their fans. But with apologies to all, this story is about Charlie Vergos Rendezvous. And, Robert Moss has me beat. He's author of the book "Barbecue, The History of an American institution." It's in a new and expanded edition from University of Alabama press. He joins me next on APR notebook.

The premiere episode of "APR Notebook" looks into the "darker side of infertility." News Director Pat Duggins talks with University of Alabama professor Diane Tober about her book "Eggonomics." It's about the "wild west" atmosphere in the U.S. between wealthy infertile couples and young women who donate their human eggs at a price. It's a story of money, racism, and often—unintended consequences.

Sports Minded host Brittany Young speaks with guest Karisma Chapman. Karisma - who's a former UAB women's basketball player and currently the Director of Operations for the MLK Women's Basketball League in Birmingham, Alabama - talks about hooping in the alley with her siblings as a kid in Chicago, playing professionally in Iceland and Israel, coaching AAU and girls high school basketball and lacing up her shoes for the women's league before moving into operations. Chapman also discusses some goals she has for the league in the coming seasons.

Sports Minded host Brittany Young and guest/former Midfield High School basketball coach Reggie Ware analyze WNBA head coaching changes, W players opting out of 2020 collective bargaining agreement, expansion draft for new Golden State Valkyries franchise, Unrivaled & Athletes Unlimited leagues, and some of the top players in women’s college basketball.

Spots Minded host Brittany Young and guest/former Midfield High School basketball coach Reggie Ware discuss the 2024 WNBA season, featuring the Finals/playoffs, regular season awards head coaching fires and the narrative that surrounded the league this season.

Sports Minded host Brittany Young and guest/former Mississippi State women's basketball teammate and Murrah High School Head Girls Basketball Coach Candace Foster recap the men's and women's Final Four. They also talk top women's basketball players in the transfer portal who have already committed to another school and where the players who are still available will land.

APR Notebook premieres on Alabama Public Radio on June 27 at 7:00 p.m. Take a listen to this preview and hear what topics you can expect from host Pat Duggins!