NASA is set to lose over 2,100 highly experienced staff – including hundreds in Huntsville - under the Trump administration’s downsizing efforts. That’s according to a report from Politico. The publication reported this week that documents show the federal employees are mid-to-senior positions with specialized skills or management responsibilities. The report says that more than 10% of those senior-level reductions – 279 in total - are to take place at Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. AL.com reports Trump’s budget proposal called for a total reduction at MSFC of 526 full-time positions. The Politico report means 53% of those reductions would come in the form of highly experienced staffers.
At Thurday night’s meeting, the city of Huntsville approved the annexation of about 1000 acres south of the Tennessee River in Morgan and Marshall counties. City Manager of Planning and Zoning Services Thomas Nunez, tells AL.com there's only one single-family home on the land, and no more homes are planned. The company that operates Smyrna Ready Mix Concrete LLC petitioned Huntsville to annex the land. It allows the city to regulate Smyrna's quarry there. Huntsville has annexed more than 1,600 acres this year and is now the 37th-largest city geographically in the nation. The Rocket City is roughly the size of Chicago and San Francisco.
The Huntsville City Council voted to apply for three federal grants totaling more than $14 million for the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles for its transit fleet and upgrades to transit facilities. The city is applying for a $5.2 million grant with the Federal Transit Administration for a $6.5 million project that includes renovations to the bus maintenance facility at 500 Church Street. The city is also applying for a $3.1 million grant to help with the purchase of eight electric paratransit vans that would replace the gasoline powered vans. The project includes charging infrastructure.
A report from the website Niche ranks the top cities for homebuyers this year based on home values, taxes, crime rates and quality of schools. This year, Hazel Green takes the top place for homebuyers. The town in northern Madison County rates highly for its cost-of-living, public schools, family-oriented community, and housing market. Homes in Hazel Green have a median value of $179,500 compared to the national average $303,400.
RentCafe.com has released its annual report highlighting the best cities for renters in 2025 and Huntsville is in the top ten. The study analyzed 20 key metrics across 150 U.S. cities, including apartment quality, economic strength, traffic, air quality and access to natural amenities. These factors were grouped into three main categories: cost of living and housing; local economy; and quality of life. All of the top ten cities were in the south, and Huntsville came in at number five. McKinney Texas was first, followed by Sarasota Florida and Atlanta was third.
The Huntsville Museum of Art will reopen at the end of summer. It closed in March to make updates to the building including a new state-of-the-art HVAC system. The system is needed to preserve and conserve their permanent collection. AL.com reports the museum’s “Keep it Cool” community-driven fundraising initiative raised $50,000 to cover operating costs during the museum’s closure. It will re-open on August 31st from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on the Betsy and Peter Lowe Community Free Day.
Huntsville’s Free2Teach has announced a new program - Free2Play. This program will provide educators with the tools they need to bring play into their classrooms. Play items are among the most requested by teachers in their work to build students social emotional skills and confidence. Donations of gently used sports equipment, gently used toys, puzzles, games, musical instruments, stands and books as well as alternative seating such as bean bags and wobble chairs can be dropped off at 3054 Leeman Ferry Road Suite F. More information is at https://free2teach.org.