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Former sports anchor arrested.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 4:14 pm
Posted on 4/6/26 at 4:14 pm
He always had a soft spot for the barners.
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A longtime sports anchor who was a regular presence in Alabama sports for decades has been arrested and charged with using his position on a local board for personal gain.
Mike Raita, who was the lead sports anchor at ABC 33/40 from 1996 until he was laid off in 2017, was arrested April 2 and charged with using his position or office for personal gain. The 67-year-old former broadcaster was released the same day after posting $25,000 bond.
Raita, who works as the regional director for Sen. Tommy Tuberville, had served as executive director of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame from 2020 until 2024. The group came under questioning during a recent audit, where a former employee accused leadership of misspending an estimated $236,000.
During the investigation, the entire board was removed from the hall. In November 2025, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey named a new board.
Talladega County Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore said Raita’s arrest was part of an indictment by a grand jury.
Raita was well-known for his time covering all kinds of sports–both at the high school level and college– across Alabama. One of Raita’s most memorable works of journalism was when he ambushed former Alabama football coach Dennis Francione while he was in College Station, Texas, where he was taking the head coaching job at Texas A&M.
In 2018, Raita was selected for the Barons Hall of Fame. He released his memoir, “The Show Goes On,” in 2019.
LINK
A longtime sports anchor who was a regular presence in Alabama sports for decades has been arrested and charged with using his position on a local board for personal gain.
Mike Raita, who was the lead sports anchor at ABC 33/40 from 1996 until he was laid off in 2017, was arrested April 2 and charged with using his position or office for personal gain. The 67-year-old former broadcaster was released the same day after posting $25,000 bond.
Raita, who works as the regional director for Sen. Tommy Tuberville, had served as executive director of the International Motorsports Hall of Fame from 2020 until 2024. The group came under questioning during a recent audit, where a former employee accused leadership of misspending an estimated $236,000.
During the investigation, the entire board was removed from the hall. In November 2025, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey named a new board.
Talladega County Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore said Raita’s arrest was part of an indictment by a grand jury.
Raita was well-known for his time covering all kinds of sports–both at the high school level and college– across Alabama. One of Raita’s most memorable works of journalism was when he ambushed former Alabama football coach Dennis Francione while he was in College Station, Texas, where he was taking the head coaching job at Texas A&M.
In 2018, Raita was selected for the Barons Hall of Fame. He released his memoir, “The Show Goes On,” in 2019.
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Posted on 4/6/26 at 4:18 pm to Night Vision
I remember him waiting for Fran when he got off the plane in College Station 
Posted on 4/6/26 at 4:18 pm to Night Vision
quote:
One of Raita’s most memorable works of journalism was when he ambushed former Alabama football coach Dennis Francione while he was in College Station, Texas, where he was taking the head coaching job at Texas A&M.
This was hilarious at the time. Also kind of sad to see how desperate Alabama was during this period.
This post was edited on 4/6/26 at 4:19 pm
Posted on 4/6/26 at 4:24 pm to LSU Grad Alabama Fan
Desperate? We were 10-3 with the only losses being Oklahoma in Norman, Georgia and Auburn. The Auburn game is the one, most Bama fans felt like he knew he was leaving.
Fran had momentum and would’ve played for the conference title if not for sanctions. Looking back I don’t blame him for running from sanctions but still, he left Alabama for aTm.
Fran had momentum and would’ve played for the conference title if not for sanctions. Looking back I don’t blame him for running from sanctions but still, he left Alabama for aTm.
Posted on 4/6/26 at 5:03 pm to Night Vision
so the military industrial complex has "misplaced" trillions of dollars, but this guy gets arrested on 236k because the MIC is going after
Tub?
Tub?
Posted on 4/6/26 at 5:17 pm to Night Vision
Little surprised this wasn’t for Herb Winches if I’m being honest.
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