Apr 11, 2024

Welcome back. Lots of news below, and check out the podcast for a deeper look at automakers and auto unions in Alabama.

Ike Morgan

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A 26-year-old man from Irondale has been charged in the case of that explosive device that was detonated outside the Alabama Attorney General's Office in February, reports AL.com's Carol Robinson.

No injuries or major damage has been reported from the incident.

Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert was charged with malicious use of an explosive and possession of an unregistered destructive device (always register your destructive devices, folks).

Around the time of the explosion he is alleged also to have placed stickers with anarchist, anti-police and antifa messages on government buildings.

Alabama Democrats are working with national Democrats to figure out how to make sure Joe Biden's name appears on ballots here, reports AL.com's Mike Cason.

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen put Democrats on notice this week that the Democratic National Convention, where the party's presidential candidate is officially nominated, falls a few days after the state's deadline to submit a certification of a nominee.

A statement from Alabama Democratic Party Chair Randy Kelley: “The Alabama Democratic Party and the Democratic National Committee are in discussions regarding a resolution ensuring President Biden’s ballot access. While this issue with convention dates has occurred many times in the past, notably with the Alabama GOP in 2004, 2012, and 2020, it appears to only be a problem this year now that the Democrats’ convention is behind the deadline.

Meanwhile, the Biden Campaign said his name will be on the ballot in all 50 states, noting that provisional-ballot certification has previously been granted in Alabama and other states.

Another high-end auto theft took place in Alabama this past weekend, reports AL.com's William Thornton.

In this one, the thieves knew what they were doing.

At North Country Ford in Arab early Sunday, the camera system was taken down, footage was erased, and a computer was used to get into a safe and take 330 keys out. General Manager Greg Anthony said all these vehicles have push-button starts. All you need is for the key to be nearby when you start the car, so instead of having to match keys with cars, they just passed around a big sack of keys as they cranked up the cars.

The haul, folks, $1.2 million worth of merchandise, including eight vehicles -- one of them a $158,000 Dodge Challenger Demon. (How many people have spent $158,000 on anything that didn't have at least two bedrooms and two baths?)

Authorities have already recovered a Jeep Wagoneer near Blountsville and a Ford Bronco Raptor in Bessemer.

Arab police and the FBI are investigating.

It's not unusual to have a country-music award nomination with an Alabama connection. Mac McAnally alone has seen to that with his string of CMAs.

But here's a cool one for an award I didn't realize existed: The Academy of Country Music's 2024 Outdoor Venue of the Year. It's one of what they call the "Industry Awards."

The Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach drew a nomination for that honor this week, reports AL.com's Mary Colurso. It's the fourth year in a row and the fifth time The Wharf has been nominated.

Mary pulled a list of country artists playing The Wharf this summer. They include Luke Bryan, Alabama, Cody Jinks, Dierks Bentley, Cole Swindell, Parker McCollum, Kane Brown, Jordan Davis, Billy Currington and Kip Moore.

Other outdoor venues nominated were Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado; Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville, St. Augustine Amphitheatre and Santa Barbara Bowl.

“We’re all for certifying additional teachers and filling vacancies – we need that. We just want to make sure it’s quality programming and it’s producing a quality product.”

Allison King, government liaison for the Alabama Education Association, on a legislative effort to further loosen teacher certification rules.

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That's how many PFAS -- or "forever chemicals" -- are being strictly limited in drinking water. PFAS have been linked to increased cancer risk and have been the focus of legal action in Alabama.

In 1899, chemist Percy Lavon Julian of Montgomery. The grandson of slaves, he was a pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicine from plants. He received well over a hundred patents.

William Thornton joins us to talk about Alabama's booming auto industry -- and the union push that it's attracted.

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