There are so many great books to look forward to in 2025. But first, you'll want to catch up on these perspective-shifting titles from 2024, exploring art, the afterlife, nuns, nuclear war — and more.

California has turned to incarcerated firefighters since 1915. To those opposed to the use of inmates as firefighters, the system is seen as exploitative.

For President Biden's legacy, we should look to late President Jimmy Carter's history in Central America.

The number of dead tied to the wildfires increases as local officials warn the toll will increase. About 180,000 people have had to evacuate.

This edition of Brass, Reeds, and Percussion features original classical wind-band music that depicts a hunting trip and 1960s music from television shows. But this edition opens with a big hit from 1968: “Those Were the Days.” Boris Fomin, a Russian who lived from 1900 to 1948, composed the music with original lyrics by a Russian poet. Gene Raskin, an American, wrote the English lyrics; and Mary Hopkin, an English singer, recorded the song for the newly minted Apple Records, encouraged by Beatle Paul McCartney, who played the acoustic guitar for the recording. The song was a number-one hit in Great Britain, Canada, and France. In the United States, it topped at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

On the Next Valley Sounds, we dig through the archive and spin some favorites. Get the podcast on iTunes, the WLRH mobile app or WLRH.ORG

Catch up on the week's biggest stories about people, places, events and activities happening in Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley.

In our last episode of 2024, Patricia Sammon recalls a family trip from Canada to Florida back in 1969. Her story is called "Winter Fruit".