Entries by Mike Easterling

Five-Hour Council Meeting Yields Controversial Decision

The Huntsville City Council’s regular meeting Thursday night turned into a marathon session that lasted for nearly five hours, and one resolution that met with much debate was approved by the slimmest of margins. Representatives for Huntsville, Scottsboro and Athens proposed to form the North Alabama Public Energy District, a cooperative district, which seeks to […]

City Council Delays Vote on AI-Equipped Garbage Trucks Amid Privacy Concerns

With a resolution to attach Artificial Intelligence-powered software cameras to garbage trucks to monitor home and road conditions on the agenda, Thursday night’s regular meeting of the Huntsville City Council promised to be interesting. It was, and also very long, with nothing being settled over the AI project. It will be re-addressed at the Sept. […]

Depot planning underway as City reimagines historic grounds as community hub

The Huntsville Depot won’t see a wrecking ball. The nearby Roundhouse isn’t a sure thing. Other buildings sharing the seven-acre site downtown off Church St. might get the axe. The trio of Mayor Tommy Battle, Director of Urban and Long-Range Planning Dennis Madsen and City Historic Preservationist Katie Stamps have made assurances that while some […]

City Council Gathers to Shape Priorities for Tight FY26 Budget

One thing the Huntsville City Council can all agree on when the time comes to finalize a budget for fiscal year 2026 – solving city traffic flow problems will be a priority in what looks to be a tight budget. The council held a special session where each member in attendance could voice their opinion […]

AgTech Gets the Red Carpet Treatment in Huntsville

Land wealth transfer, carbon technology for craft breweries, farm managing shellfish and seaweed, reducing waste and maximizing animal carcass value.  These were themes at the Founders Red Carpet Premiere, the title of Monday night’s HudsonAlpha AgTech Accelerator Showcase, powered by gener8tor, that marked the end of the fifth and final cohort and second fund. After […]

In Rocket City, Baseball Is a Family Affair—Win or Lose

Season ticket holders wined and dined in a luxury box, some inside with the air conditioning and others outside on the patio. Fans also sat along the right field line enjoying the game with their pets during a Dog Days promotion. Kids played make-shift games on the berm and chased baseballs when the right fielder […]

City Council Approves Annexation, Honors Life of Fallen City Worker

Welcome aboard, Marshall County. Huntsville continues to add to its ongoing expansion across North Alabama with its latest annexation – a 1,013.96 acre tract of land south of the Tennessee River lying primarily along McCutcheon Loop Road in Morgan County, with a smaller portion extending along Vaughn Road in Marshall County. With an approval by […]

Madison Election 2025: Candidates Lay Out Plans for the Future

Madison City Council and mayoral election hopefuls gathered Thursday night to stump for votes at the Candidate Connection Reception & Forum at the James Clemens theater. The event was organized by the Madison Chamber of Commerce, represented by President Michelle Epling, and All Things Madison, led by founder and CEO Erica DeSpain. Together, they introduced […]

A Spark in the System: How a Few Students Are Changing the STEM Game

HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology’s Dr. Emily Gordon introduced the classroom to the bookends of STEM simultaneously. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, known by its acronym STEM, is the basis for the “Spark’’ cohort at HudsonAlpha. The nonprofit in Cummings Research Park sponsors ongoing educational projects. The Spark program, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), […]