Jan 02, 2025

It was a tragic first day to 2025. And not just in New Orleans.

Check al.com for updates on all breaking news. This morning's report follows.

Thanks for reading,

Ike

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

A University of Alabama student died in the apparent terror attack Wednesday morning in New Orleans, reports AL.com's Carol Robinson and Jeremy Gray.

According to reports, at least 15 people have died since 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar drove  a pickup with an ISIS flag into a crowd during in the early-morning hours after New Year's Eve celebrations. Around three dozen people were injured.

The University of Alabama confirmed that freshman Kareem Badawi was among the fatalities. He came to Tuscaloosa from Baton Rouge and had pledged to join the Sigma Chi fraternity.

The FBI said it's investigating the deadly event as an act of terrorism and is trying to piece together any terror connections Jabbar might have have and whether others were involved.

Because of the attack, the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame was postponed until 3 p.m. today.

A story we followed and updated numerous times during 2024 was the uptick in homicide in Birmingham.

With all reported killings now tallied, the city finished the year with 151 homicides, an all-time record, reports AL.com's Carol Robinson. The previous record was 148 violent deaths way back in 1933.

The difference between last year and 1933 can't be explained away by population growth, either: The number of Birmingham residents was actually higher in '33.

The 151 homicides doesn't include vehicle fatalities in which charges were filed. They do include 11 homicides ruled justifiable, including one by a police officer, and three victims who died in 2024 after sustaining injuries before the year began.

Sadly, the city's not off to a glowing start to 2025. A pizza-delivery driver was shot and killed Wednesday evening during an apparent robbery, Birmingham Police said.

The Campaign Legal Center has released a report that found Alabama to be among the states attempting to undermine the power of ethics commissions, according to a report from the Alabama Reflector.

The CLC is a watchdog over governments regarding campaign-finance issues. This report was based on news reports and litigation regarding ethics commissions.

Last year some in the Alabama Legislature tried to reduce penalties for some ethics violations -- as well as increase them for others -- and change how members are appointed to the Alabama Ethics Commission. It also would have made the state attorney general sign off on any penalties given out by the commission.

Supporters of the changes argued that the current law isn't clear enough on what an ethical violation is.

The Alabama Ethics Commission and the Alabama Attorney General’s office opposed the measure.

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. 

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.)