Huntsville

Huntsville Members

Membership

A postcard image of the Huntsville skyline

Huntsville Alerts

Alert

blue

Axios Huntsville Partners

Axios Huntsville Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Huntsville with Derek Lacey.

Axios Huntsville

Standard

Ikea Huntsville grand opening set for Feb. 25

Ikea US announced it will open the store, its first in Alabama, on Feb. 25 with a grand-opening celebration.

Business

It&#x27;s official: Huntsville&#x27;s Ikea store will be open within a week. Why it matters: Ikea has long been among the city&#x27;s most-desired retailers, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="announcing last summer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/08/12/ikea-huntsville-alabama-store-midcity-opening" data-vars-content-id="1ba8a082-7758-4d5e-92c8-3538a16c77ff" data-vars-headline="Ikea Huntsville grand opening set for Feb. 25" 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/ikea-huntsville-alabama-store-midcity-opening" target="_self">announcing last summer</a> its plan to bring a new, smaller-format store to University Drive near GigaParts.

Inside Huntsville's new smaller-format Ikea

The grand opening of Ikea's first Alabama location is on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

Development

After <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="months of" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/08/12/ikea-huntsville-alabama-store-midcity-opening" data-vars-content-id="3580d4e1-04ed-4988-814f-056567a76daf" data-vars-headline="Inside Huntsville&#x27;s new smaller-format Ikea" 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/ikea-huntsville-alabama-store-midcity-opening" target="_self">months of</a> anticipation, Ikea opens Wednesday on University Drive. Why it matters: Ranking high among Huntsville&#x27;s most-wanted retailers, Ikea is bringing its new <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="smaller-format store" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/newsroom/corporate-news/ikea-u-s-to-celebrate-grand-opening-of-first-location-in-alabama-on-february-25-pubf3895110/" data-vars-content-id="3580d4e1-04ed-4988-814f-056567a76daf" data-vars-headline="Inside Huntsville&#x27;s new smaller-format Ikea" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ikea.com/us/en/newsroom/corporate-news/ikea-u-s-to-celebrate-grand-opening-of-first-location-in-alabama-on-february-25-pubf3895110/" target="_blank">smaller-format store</a> to the Rocket City, targeting the rapidly growing area for its first store in Alabama.

"A living museum:" Joy McKee Arboretum takes root

Huntsville plans to open the arboretum in May, weather permitting.

News

Construction is underway at John Hunt Park on the Joy McKee Arboretum, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="newly named to honor" data-vars-click-url="https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/huntsville-approves-naming-of-arboretum-for-longtime-landscape-director-joy-mckee/" data-vars-content-id="c488d2bc-bbf6-4051-bc2c-0a0715a7063c" data-vars-headline="&quot;A living museum:&quot; Joy McKee Arboretum takes root" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/huntsville-approves-naming-of-arboretum-for-longtime-landscape-director-joy-mckee/" target="_blank">newly named to honor</a> a longtime steward of Huntsville&#x27;s green spaces.Why it matters: City landscapers saw an opportunity to preserve history, support native trees and urban canopy, give visitors a nature break and educate the public in an unused corner of the park.

Senate bill targets police staffing in Huntsville, Montgomery

Senate Bill 298 would require police departments in Alabama's Class 3 municipalities to have two sworn officers for every 1,000 residents by Oct. 1.

A bill introduced in the state Legislature aims to set minimum staffing levels for Huntsville and Montgomery police departments.Why it matters: If passed, the bill could lead to a state takeover of local law enforcement, though Huntsville leaders say the city already meets the bill&#x27;s requirements.

City greenlights Pinhook Creek park transformation downtown

Huntsville leaders envision a grass- and tree-lined stream beside concrete sidewalks, benches and other amenities.

Culture Brief

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="&quot;skybridge&quot; part" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/08/11/skybridge-parc-project-development-huntsville-alabama" data-vars-content-id="24a58f2d-2a8b-4632-a7b1-358c3edf25bb" data-vars-headline="City greenlights Pinhook Creek park transformation downtown" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/08/11/skybridge-parc-project-development-huntsville-alabama" target="_self">&quot;skybridge&quot; part</a> of an ambitious project underway in Huntsville may grab headlines, but a contract recently approved by City Council could have just as big an impact downtown.Why it matters: Essentially a stream restoration project for a prominent stretch of Pinhook Creek downtown, the contract is the first step in transforming it into a 13-acre linear park and greenway.

HudsonAlpha research helps speed chestnut restoration

Research from HudsonAlpha and The American Chestnut Foundation shows genetic markers can predict the success of chestnut trees in resisting blight.

Environment

Huntsville researchers working with the American Chestnut Foundation are driving a leap forward in efforts to restore the trees that once dominated the East Coast.Why it matters: The findings will focus and accelerate <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="efforts to breed" data-vars-click-url="https://youtu.be/2arI3-bOs8g" data-vars-content-id="d610d69c-8fd9-481c-b35c-fd25e13b2df0" data-vars-headline="HudsonAlpha research helps speed chestnut restoration" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://youtu.be/2arI3-bOs8g" target="_blank">efforts to breed</a> blight-resistant chestnut trees and ultimately restore populations of the functionally extinct species.

Get ready for the winter storm hitting North Alabama this weekend

"It is going to be impactful," NWS meteorologist Katie Magee said.

Climate

North Alabama — and a huge swath of the Southeast — is bracing for a significant winter storm expected to blow in Friday and last through the weekend.Why it matters: Get ready to hunker down for a few days.

Huntsville researchers challenge hottest temperature record

Researchers say the hottest temp may have been closer to 120, instead of 134 degrees in 1913.

Researchers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville are calling for the invalidation of the hottest near-surface temperature ever recorded: 134 degrees in Death Valley, Calif., in 1913.Why it matters: Climate monitoring depends on accurate long-term historical data, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new UAH research paper" data-vars-click-url="https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/bams/aop/BAMS-D-24-0313.1/BAMS-D-24-0313.1.pdf" data-vars-content-id="bec8d3b6-232a-473f-a955-47b4315e688e" data-vars-headline="Huntsville researchers challenge hottest temperature record" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/bams/aop/BAMS-D-24-0313.1/BAMS-D-24-0313.1.pdf" target="_blank">new UAH research paper</a>.

The next space station era starts in Huntsville

The Huntsville/Madison Chamber of Commerce brought leading companies together to talk about opportunities for public-private partnerships in low-earth orbit.

The era of commercial space stations is here — and Huntsville will play a central role in shaping America&#x27;s future in low-earth orbit.Why it matters: The International Space Station is set to be decommissioned in 2030, and private companies are working with Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville to maintain the nation&#x27;s competitive edge in space.

HudsonAlpha's BRIDGES Engine heads to funding competition finals

Researchers are looking at ways to use certain grasses as raw materials for manufacturing.

A local research effort hoping to transform manufacturing with grass has advanced to the finals of a national competition for funding.Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Huntsville-led research" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/07/14/huntsville-grass-research-alabama-tennessee-manufacturing" data-vars-content-id="23fdd44c-57e4-47a4-abc6-3098551a2e40" data-vars-headline="HudsonAlpha&#x27;s BRIDGES Engine heads to funding competition finals" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/07/14/huntsville-grass-research-alabama-tennessee-manufacturing" target="_self">Huntsville-led research</a> at HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology could launch a new era of sustainable manufacturing for the region.

Marshall made: Orion stage adapter ready for launch

The Orion adapter is a key Rocket City contribution to NASA's next moon mission, Artemis II.

Marshall Space Flight Center has wrapped up a key part of next year&#x27;s crewed <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="moon mission" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/08/04/huntsville-alabama-john-blevins-nasa-sls-sammie-artemis" data-vars-content-id="e9fe62b4-ec2e-4694-ada1-429ab231b0f6" data-vars-headline="Marshall made: Orion stage adapter ready for launch" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/08/04/huntsville-alabama-john-blevins-nasa-sls-sammie-artemis" target="_self">moon mission</a> — the Orion stage adapter — now bound for Florida to be stacked atop the Space Launch System rocket for Artemis II. Why it matters: This is why Huntsville is The Rocket City. <ul><li>The adapter was constructed at Marshall and is part of the center&#x27;s — and Huntsville&#x27;s — contribution to mankind&#x27;s exploration of deep space.</li></ul>

North Alabama Land Trust moves forward with nature center, greenway

Work is expected to start in January 2027.

The North Alabama Land Trust is moving ahead with several marquee projects, including the Nature Discovery Center and Tollgate Greenway.Why it matters: The Land Trust is expanding residents&#x27; opportunities to experience and learn about North Alabama&#x27;s distinct natural environment.

Heat streaks are hitting Huntsville and other U.S. cities more often

Huntsville has four more extreme heat streaks on average, per the data.

Many U.S. cities, including Huntsville, now have more heat streaks on average each year compared to 1970, a new analysis finds.Why it matters: Prolonged heat — as much of the U.S. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="has experienced this summer" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/22/heat-wave-dome-corn-sweat-forecast" data-vars-content-id="0e270693-2dfe-4599-bac4-86404dc2a012" data-vars-headline="Heat streaks are hitting Huntsville and other U.S. cities more often" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/07/22/heat-wave-dome-corn-sweat-forecast" target="_self">has experienced this summer</a> — is particularly hazardous to human health.