One simple observation can be quickly drawn from the appearance of the Sphere, the newest and most ambitious entertainment venue on the planet. The Sphere has become a phenomenal, visible landmark near the Las Vegas strip. The outward appearance and shape could draw a parallel to Epcot at Disney World.  But, the truth is there […]

The Madison County Commission has given its final approval to a $240.5 million budget for fiscal year 2023. The balanced budget will take care of the county employees with an 8.6% cost of living adjustment. This comes at a crucial time for these employees as inflation is eroding the budgets of families across the nation. […]

If you want to define Huntsville and Madison County’s success for the past decade, the one word you can start with would be “strategic.” That approach provides definition to the success experienced in its spurt of economic development during that time, according to the area’s chief economic development official Chip Cherry. A simple definition of […]

Madison County Commission chairman Dale Strong spoke of the tremendous strides that had taken place during the past 10 years in Madison County, but he did not stop there during his annual address to the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Tuesday. Strong focused on the monumental pace of the regional economy, and how […]

The former Madison County 911 Dispatch building has been vacant for two years, but it will be finding a new life soon and will become a productive addition to the Madison County Sheriff’s Department. The facility had been used for Madison County 911 dispatch for 30 years but was replaced by a more modern facility […]

Huntsville and Madison County have long had a tremendous reputation when it comes to economic development success. The area has been a leader across Alabama in job creation and capital investment for as long as many can remember. Nonetheless, the past decade has witnessed the area’s economic engine thrust into overdrive with the addition of […]

Last year, Madison County was cited as one of the nation’s top emerging housing markets in the United States. The Wall Street Journal named the Rocket City as the 10th best emerging housing market in the nation. The Journal collaborated with Realtor.com to rank which housing markets are expected to provide both a strong return […]

One may ask the question: What does it take to find agreement on securing funding for more than $100 million in road projects? The answer would be the result of several factors. Local political leadership is a must. Another key factor is a comprehensive and logical approach in placing priorities on specific projects that provide […]

The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) is taking a giant leap forward in its quest to further expand the advanced workforce of the greater Huntsville area. UAH is one of the leading universities in Alabama for graduating engineers and physical scientists, but the university should enhance those numbers in the near future as a […]

For many residents of Madison County, the new Services Center has been a blessing. The center has pulled many of the public-facing services for the county government away from the courthouse into a new building at the intersection of North Memorial Parkway and Oakwood Avenue. What that has meant for the citizenry is quicker searches […]

Sheriff Kevin Turner sits in his modest office on the second floor of the Madison County Courthouse. From that vantage point, he oversees the chief law enforcement department for all of Madison County. Five floors above the sheriff’s office is the meeting location of the Madison County Commission. That governmental entity is the budget authority […]

Plans by the University of Alabama in Huntsville to help create a “college town” experience are one step closer toward becoming a reality following the Huntsville City Council’s approval of the demolition of what has been a former office park on the eastern edge of Cummings Research Park. The university purchased the largely vacant 58-acre […]

A new weather system is being put in place to provide improved weather detection of severe storms and tornadoes across Madison County. The Baron Critical Weather Institute High Density Weathernet was unveiled by Madison County Commission chairman Dale Strong at a recent news conference. The commission provided funding of $100,000 for equipment to put 14 […]

Alabama State Climatologist Dr. John Christy has released a report that shows that increasing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have had essentially no impact on the weather and climate in the state of Alabama. His report, “A Practical Guide to Climate Change in Alabama” contains charts and graphic representations that demonstrate numerous and important climate […]

The ranking sits out there staring Alabama’s leaders in the face. Alabama is the nation’s third worst state at retaining its college graduates, according to Forbes magazine. Although two out of three in-state students are in the workforce one year after graduation, the Wall Street Journal reports the retention of recent Alabama college graduates is […]

Did a book written more than 70 years ago by American space pioneer Dr. Wernher von Braun predict that a man called Elon would lead a 10-man government of Mars colonies? This story may not have received much attention except that billionaire Elon Musk is stepping out and being very public about his desire to […]

Some of the biggest acts in music history have strolled down the halls of the Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville. That venue has served as the location for most of Huntsville’s major events since the doors were opened in 1975. The VBC offers multiple venues for presenting cultural, educational, entertainment, conventions as well as […]

The NASA/Marshall Retirees Association is taking steps to ensure that the difficult and innovative work of space exploration by Huntsvillians will always be recognized and never forgotten. America’s space exploration’s endeavors peaked with the moon landing in 1969, one of humankind’s greatest achievements, but the nation’s spacefaring activities are continuing into the future. All those […]

Visionary is defined simply as planning for the future with creativity and wisdom. Situated by that definition in the dictionary belongs a photograph of the Huntsville International Airport. The development of Huntsville’s airport is closely aligned with the community’s vision, spirit, and expectations, and has been a lesson in smart planning. During those early days […]

Chuck Karr, the former dean of engineering at the University of Alabama, is expected to be named interim president of the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) when the University of Alabama Board of Trustees convene in a special called meeting tomorrow. University of Alabama System Chancellor Fess St. John is expected to recommend Dr. […]

Dr. Darren Dawson today announced his plan to retire as president of the University of Alabama in Huntsville. He joined the university as its ninth president on June 21, 2019. He will remain on payroll through the end of 2021. He succeeded Dr. Robert Altenkirch who served as president for nearly eight years from 2011 […]

Toyota Motor Manufacturing will deliver on its promise of another major expansion at its Madison County plant when the company’s twin-turbo V6 engines come off the assembly line later this month. Toyota is one of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers, and company executives announced in 2019 they were going to invest $288 million on the […]

Alabama State Representative Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville), District 21 of Madison County, has been appointed to the Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement program committee (ATRIP-II). Reynolds is filling a position vacated by State Rep. Bill Poole (R-Tuscaloosa), who resigned from the Alabama House to become the state finance director under Gov. Kay Ivey. The purpose of […]

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has started construction on what is being described as the agency’s state-of-the-art hub where FBI’s multiple divisions with a technological focus will be able to work and train together. “This facility will significantly enhance the FBI’s technical capabilities as well as provide FBI partners with the opportunity to train and […]