Dec 11, 2024

Fans of the Atlanta Braves, sports broadcasting or the Madden NFL video game shouldn't overlook today's podcast episode. We're interviewing Brandon Gaudin, probably best known in Alabama as the play-by-play broadcaster for the Atlanta Braves.

Today's report follows. Thanks for reading,

Ike

Looking for the podcast? Click here or check other options below.

If you've been paying attention for any length of time at all, you know not to bet your 401K on a government building being built on time and on budget.

In the case of the future Alabama State House, it's being built by Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) to be leased to the state. Still, RSA CEO David Bronner said construction is four to six months behind, reports AL.com's Mike Cason.

Bronner said they're still hoping to stick to a target of having the facility ready for the 2027 legislative session. And because early in the process they were coming in under budget, they're still on track to stay within the $325 million cost estimate.

Bronner does have his concerns about construction costs going forward. He's specifically singled out President-Elect Trump's promised tariffs, which would likely add to the cost of materials.

So does this all matter to you if you don't work in the State House and don't have your retirement with the RSA? Well, It does if you're a taxpayer. when the RSA leases the building to the Legislature, it will be earning an 8% return on investment from the state, per the contract.

The state has been talking about improving or replacing the State House for years. Lawmakers have been out of a retro-fitted building since 1985. It's leaky and moldy and not disability-friendly. And two years ago engineers determined that, if the Legislature stayed it in the old building, it would require $51 million in work over the next 10 years.

So, after the new State House is done, plans are to demo the old building and develop a parking deck and park area.

The U.S. Army has fired four-star Gen. Charles Hamilton, who leads the Army Materiel Command at Huntsville's Redstone Arsenal, reports AL.com's Howard Koplowitz.

According to Military.com, it's the first time in two decades the Army has fired a four-star general outright.

The Army said Hamilton inappropriately tried to persuade an assessment board to give a command assignment to a female lieutenant colonel. According to documents, he was successful in getting her a second interview even after her recommendation had been voted down 5-0, but his efforts did not ultimately result in the assignment.

Alabama Power announced that next year customers can expect to pay less on their bill, reports AL.com's Howard Koplowitz.

(That, of course, depends on your usage not going wild ... for those of you installing a theater or stadium lights on your patio.)

During the first quarter most customers will see several dollars cut because of $96 million lawsuit judgment against the federal government over a breach-of-contract dispute regarding the removal of spent nuclear fuel.

The entire year there'll be a smaller cut that Alabama Power attributes to lower fuel prices. The utility estimates a 1.88% decrease for customers.

In 1919, the Boll weevil Monument was dedicated in Downtown Enterprise.

In 1926, Big Mama Thornton of Ariton. You may have heard her original, Pre-Elvis version of "Hound Dog."

In 1978, Roy Wood Jr., born in New York City but raised in Birmingham and famously embraces it as his hometown.

If you miss that feeling of sitting down with in-depth, local reporting, consider subscribing to the Huntsville Times, Birmingham News, or Mobile Press-Register. 

By subscribing, you’ll get a new daily digital edition in an email link, or you can use an app to download the new edition every day on your smartphone or tablet. You also get exclusive access to stories written for our subscribers. 

“Down in Alabama” listeners get your first month free by going to al.com/digitalsubscription/exclusive and enter the promo code DIA24. 

Today on the show we have Atlanta Braves play-by-play broadcaster Brandon Gaudin. He grew up a SuperStation kid like so many of us, which drew him to baseball and the Braves. So we'll talk a little nostalgia there, as well as the craft of sports announcing. We'll also talk about how he came to become the voice of Madden NFL.

You can find “Down in Alabama” wherever you get your podcasts, including these places:

We appreciate you for taking the time to read today. Hope you're able to check back soon. Meantime, reply to this email with any suggestions you might have.

If you're so inclined, we'd love it if you'd forward to friends who might be interested in reading. (And if you're someone who's been forwarded this newsletter, we encourage you to subscribe and get this in your inbox every day.)