Mar. 13, 2025

We have a couple of crime stories for you today. First, another angle on retaliatory tariffs (these from the EU).

Thanks for reading,

Ike

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Many economists will tell you that import tariffs work kind of like a consumption tax on your own citizens. It may keep some foreign goods out of the market or in the market at a higher cost, driving up prices that are paid by the consumer.

But on a more micro level, they're used to protect specific industries and businesses. For example, in 1983, the U.S. put into place temporary tariffs that targeted Japanese motorcycles in order to give Harley Davidson time to get into a better financial place.

The current trade wars between the U.S. and various parts of the world is showing us the reverse of protecting domestic businesses: Targeting specific sectors or businesses in the other country.

AL.com's William Thornton reports that the European Union's latest retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. are targeting red states, including Alabama, with the obvious intent to put some squeeze on businesses in states that are friendly to President Trump.

The Associated Press has reported that Alabama wood products are in the EU's crosshairs, and Fortune reported that Alabama produce is on the hit list.

That, of course, probably adversely affects wood and produce consumers in the EU but also takes a market away from Alabama businesses.

So everybody loses a little.

President Trump has vowed to retaliate.

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville was on Fox Business Wednesday to actually credit tariffs for the economy's performance during Trump's first term: “There’s going to be some pain with tariffs. But tariffs got us back as the strongest economy in the world when President Trump was in the first time. He knows what he’s doing.”

It's hard to fully appreciate the lives that are saved by some murder arrests and convictions because we don't know whether the suspect would have killed again.

When a crime is solved we might see justice being served. But how many crimes does it mean won't ever happen?

That thought came to me with the latest update on a killer who's been in prison since 1982.

Steven Fike was convicted in the rape and strangulation murder of Patricia Ann Culp. Culp was a dancer at Sammy's in Birmingham and was last seen alive at the Hiway Host Motel on Bessemer Super Highway. She was later found dead in a ditch along I-59.

Fike was a Birmingham native who had been described as a drifter. He was identified as the suspect and eventually arrested in Atlanta, found guilty and sent to prison, where he is today.

Fast-forward to this week. AL.com's Carol Robinson reports that Fike was indicted by a Massachusetts grand jury in a 1980 rape-and-murder case involving a woman named Wendy Dansereau who was killed in a Boston hotel room.

If he were guilty of the new murder charge, you can see there could be a frightening pattern developing.

Authorities in Massachusetts say DNA that was collected during the 1980 investigation has been entered into the FBI's Combined DNA Index System and matched Fike's genetic profile. They also say that police reports have placed Fike in New England the day before the Boston woman's killing.

For the '82 killing of Patricia Culp, Fike is serving life in prison with the possibility of parole.

Here's a word of caution: Even if your love life has kind of ruined your past several months or years, try not to react to that in a way that messes up your next 11 years and three months.

AL.com's Carol Robinson reports that a Birmingham woman was sentenced this week to 135 months in federal prison for placing an explosive device outside the apartment of someone who's dating her ex-boyfriend.

The resulting explosion was estimated to have caused $470,000 in damage.

Fortunately, nobody was in the apartment, which was in the Lakeview Green apartments in Birmingham.

Investigators say she placed the device against the ex's new love interest's door and ran down a nearby stairwell. The device included a plastic bag, some other object and gasoline.

The woman then returned to the site a few hours later. She told the apartment manager she was visiting her cousin and gave him a unit number that didn't exist. That raised suspicions and led to her arrest.

On Wednesday's "Down in Alabama" podcast, we caught up with Rick & Bubba alum Bill "Bubba" Bussey for an entertaining chat about what he's doing now and more.

“Nick Saban said the word (expletive) twice, (expletive) once and something else I can’t remember.”

From an FCC complaint filed against the former Alabama coach for his language during ESPN College GameDay broadcasts this past season.

In 1940, singer-songwriter Candi Staton of Hanceville. She had a big disco hit with "Young Hearts Run Free."

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