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New president aims to make UAH "indispensable"

UAH is a critical part of Huntsville's education, research and economic development ecosystem.

Business

Donald Leo is four months into his role as president of the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and he&#x27;s rolling up his sleeves.Why it matters: UAH is a critical part of Huntsville&#x27;s education, research and economic development ecosystem.Driving the news: As Huntsville grows and attracts companies like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Eli Lilly" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2026/10/19/huntsville-biotech-pharmaceuticals-alabama-eli-lilly" data-vars-content-id="1b57dbcc-df92-4237-bce9-b51caa8cb899" data-vars-headline="New president aims to make UAH &quot;indispensable&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2026/10/19/huntsville-biotech-pharmaceuticals-alabama-eli-lilly" target="_self">Eli Lilly</a>, UAH and other institutions face mounting pressure to develop a workforce that can meet the region&#x27;s needs.

Mazda-Toyota hits 1 million vehicles made in Huntsville

In the five years since production began, the company has grown into a $2.3 billion venture, VP Mark Brazeal told Axios.

Mazda-Toyota Manufacturing has built 1 million vehicles in Huntsville.Why it matters: The company exemplifies Huntsville&#x27;s approach to economic development: offering major incentives to attract billions in private investment and thousands of jobs.

How Mazda-Toyota is training its future north Alabama workforce

Manufacturing is growing but its workforce is aging — and not enough new workers are prepared to meet demand.

As manufacturers compete for skilled workers, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing is taking steps to build its own talent pipeline in North Alabama.Why it matters: Manufacturing is growing and becoming more advanced. But its workforce is aging, and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="not enough" data-vars-click-url="https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/manufacturing-industrial-products/supporting-us-manufacturing-growth-amid-workforce-challenges.html" data-vars-content-id="e1afbad9-c219-487c-9a17-32450e75d21d" data-vars-headline="How Mazda-Toyota is training its future north Alabama workforce" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/manufacturing-industrial-products/supporting-us-manufacturing-growth-amid-workforce-challenges.html" target="_blank">not enough</a> new workers are prepared to meet demand.

Unclaimed Baggage's 45th annual Ski Sale returns to Scottsboro

It's a shopping experience "like none other in the Southeast," said Jennifer Kritner, vice president of retail and company culture.

Local Brief

Unclaimed Baggage is preparing for a mainstay in shoppers&#x27; calendars across the South and beyond: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ski Sale" data-vars-click-url="https://www.unclaimedbaggage.com/blogs/events/annual-ski-sale-event" data-vars-content-id="941c80c0-63f6-4d4b-a177-3f0f95140c47" data-vars-headline="Unclaimed Baggage&#x27;s 45th annual Ski Sale returns to Scottsboro" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.unclaimedbaggage.com/blogs/events/annual-ski-sale-event" target="_blank">Ski Sale</a>.Why it matters: The Ski Sale is a tradition for the famous Scottsboro store, offering name-brand apparel and gear at discounts as deep as 80% off retail.

Fall gives Huntsville a break from the heat

Temperatures are forecast to drop over the next week or so, falling back in line with normal conditions for the start of autumn.

Climate

Tuesday marked the first day of fall, and the temperatures are finally starting to follow suit. Why it matters: Temperatures are forecast to drop over the next week or so, falling back in line with normal conditions for the start of autumn after weeks of abnormally high temperatures.

Huntsville's live music growth raises the stakes for sustainability

The Orion has diverted 100% of venue waste from landfills since opening in 2022.

Partners

Large concerts create a basic sustainability challenge: The more people a venue serves, the more food, drinks, materials and waste it has to manage.Huntsville&#x27;s Orion Amphitheater is redesigning those systems to reduce the environmental impact of bringing thousands of people together.

North Alabama pipeline moves to early study phase

The pipeline could affect landowners and influence the area's growth and energy bills for decades.

Environment

The North Alabama Public Energy District is taking the first steps toward constructing a new natural gas pipeline across North Alabama. Why it matters: The pipeline could become a major cog in the region&#x27;s energy machine and could affect landowners and influence the area&#x27;s growth and energy bills for decades.

Testing Huntsville Utilities' free home audit

Making sure your home is running efficiently can lessen the impact of high energy bills.

It&#x27;s hot out there, y&#x27;all, and too hot in my house. So I took advantage of Huntsville Utilities&#x27; free Home Energy Audit.Why it matters: Dotting all the i&#x27;s and crossing all the t&#x27;s in your home energy ecosystem can lessen the impact of higher energy bills in the height of summer and the depths of winter.

TVA sets new data center rate

TVA says it will keep costs down for customers and ensure long-term reliability.

TVA will require power-hungry data centers to pay more for the electricity they use in the Valley. Why it matters: As data center demand — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="and anxiety" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/20/data-center-uproar-2026-midterms" data-vars-content-id="02c7b20c-b8b2-45ca-875b-9b412c2232fe" data-vars-headline="TVA sets new data center rate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/20/data-center-uproar-2026-midterms" target="_self">and anxiety</a> — ramps up across the country, TVA is setting a new data center rate it says will keep costs down for customers and ensure long-term reliability.

HudsonAlpha's grass-based manufacturing effort lands $15M

The initiative is poised to fuel sustainable growth in agriculture and manufacturing in the region.

Grass grown on underutilized farmland in Alabama and Tennessee will soon be used to make everything from food packaging to car parts.Why it matters: The initiative is poised to fuel sustainable growth in agriculture and manufacturing in the region, forecast to result in billions in investment over the next decade.

Huntsville researchers discover "demon cavefish"

There are still natural wonders to be found right under our noses — or feet.

Culture

Researchers have discovered a new species of cavefish at Redstone Arsenal.Why it matters: There are still natural wonders to be found right under our noses (or feet).

TVA says reservoirs are ready for summer despite drought

Drought or not, reservoirs are at full summer pool levels.

News

The Tennessee Valley Authority says reservoirs are at full summer pool levels despite an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ongoing drought" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2026/05/01/drought-persists" data-vars-content-id="8e55122c-06b4-494e-a548-8421fb7a8fda" data-vars-headline="TVA says reservoirs are ready for summer despite drought" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2026/05/01/drought-persists" target="_self">ongoing drought</a>.Why it matters: Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer season, and in North Alabama that means getting out on the Tennessee River.<ul><li>Recreation across the watershed generates nearly <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="$12 billion annually" data-vars-click-url="https://www.tva.com/the-powerhouse/stories/Valley-Lakes-Worth-Billions" data-vars-content-id="8e55122c-06b4-494e-a548-8421fb7a8fda" data-vars-headline="TVA says reservoirs are ready for summer despite drought" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.tva.com/the-powerhouse/stories/Valley-Lakes-Worth-Billions" target="_blank">$12 billion annually</a> — about $1 million per shoreline mile.</li></ul>

Huntsville biotech boom draws national security focus

The National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology and other agencies took a close look at HudsonAlpha on the 20th stop of NSCEB's national roadshow.

Huntsville is big on defense in more ways than aerospace.Why it matters: The workforce and research engine created by <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology" data-vars-click-url="https://www.hudsonalpha.org/" data-vars-content-id="bb8dd234-fd0e-4260-bc13-4734ba48f275" data-vars-headline="Huntsville biotech boom draws national security focus" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.hudsonalpha.org/" target="_blank">HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology</a> doesn&#x27;t only drive economic development such as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Eli Lilly&#x27;s new plant" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/12/10/eli-lilly-alabama-6-billion-huntsville-plant-drug-manufacturing" data-vars-content-id="bb8dd234-fd0e-4260-bc13-4734ba48f275" data-vars-headline="Huntsville biotech boom draws national security focus" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/12/10/eli-lilly-alabama-6-billion-huntsville-plant-drug-manufacturing" target="_self">Eli Lilly&#x27;s new plant</a>, it&#x27;s key to national security.

Greenways lead to growth in Huntsville

A long-term plan aims to put every resident within a mile of a trail as the network rapidly grows.

Huntsville is big on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="greenways" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/08/12/land-trust-nature-center-greenway-outdoor-recreation-huntsville" data-vars-content-id="e3ad1b08-65e8-4ae9-94d6-5f1f1ab8cabf" data-vars-headline="Greenways lead to growth in Huntsville" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/08/12/land-trust-nature-center-greenway-outdoor-recreation-huntsville" target="_self">greenways</a>. Why it matters: City leaders see the pedestrian trails as quality-of-life infrastructure that&#x27;s key in drawing in new industry, residents and investment.