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President's budget brings back NASA science cuts

The President's Budget Request for fiscal year 2027 calls for $18.8 billion in NASA spending, a $5.6 billion cut.

Aerospace

NASA is looking at another potential funding hit.Why it matters: Cuts to NASA science initiatives could have a big impact locally because North Alabama is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="one of the largest recipients" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/06/23/nasa-science-funding-huntsville-alabama-congress-budget" data-vars-content-id="eeafa5de-5ab4-4de5-9c45-eac8ee240ecd" data-vars-headline="President&#x27;s budget brings back NASA science cuts" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/06/23/nasa-science-funding-huntsville-alabama-congress-budget" target="_self">one of the largest recipients</a> of annual NASA funding awards.

Wikipedia founder says trust is broken — here's how to rebuild it

Jimmy Wales wants us to trust each other.

Culture

Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales wants us to trust. Why it matters: Trust in institutions, and in each other, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="has reached crisis levels" data-vars-click-url="https://www.edelman.com/newsroom/richard-edelmans-6am-blog/insularity-next-crisis-trust" data-vars-content-id="34975853-8000-4b43-a9fa-a194d9bd7e1b" data-vars-headline="Wikipedia founder says trust is broken — here&#x27;s how to rebuild it" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.edelman.com/newsroom/richard-edelmans-6am-blog/insularity-next-crisis-trust" target="_blank">has reached crisis levels</a>, and the consequences are rippling into every aspect of modern life. <ul><li>&quot;I think we&#x27;ve kind of hit something close to a rock bottom,&quot; Wales, a Huntsville native, told Axios.</li></ul>

Nick Frevold enters growing Huntsville District 4 race

Frevold's plan focuses on safer streets, zoning and Huntsville Transit improvements.

Politics

Nick Frevold is running for Huntsville City Council on a detailed plan to reshape transit, zoning and housing.Why it matters: Voters are going to have <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="plenty of choices" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2026/03/03/candidates-declare-for-council-districts-2-and-3" data-vars-content-id="06df4c93-e185-41e2-abee-da54e3d9e82c" data-vars-headline="Nick Frevold enters growing Huntsville District 4 race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2026/03/03/candidates-declare-for-council-districts-2-and-3" target="_self">plenty of choices</a> to make this year, as at least four challengers have filed for three seats on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the Aug. 25 ballot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/voter/upcoming-elections" data-vars-content-id="06df4c93-e185-41e2-abee-da54e3d9e82c" data-vars-headline="Nick Frevold enters growing Huntsville District 4 race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.sos.alabama.gov/alabama-votes/voter/upcoming-elections" target="_blank">the Aug. 25 ballot</a>, and District 4 alone already has three candidates.

Sneed rallies Democrats to close congressional "trust gap"

Alabama congressional candidate Andrew Sneed has founded a coalition of candidates pushing for reforms like term limits.

Andrew Sneed, Democratic candidate for Alabama&#x27;s 5th Congressional District, is taking aim at Congress months ahead of Election Day.Why it matters: Sneed is spearheading a growing national coalition of candidates focusing on congressional reforms to rebuild voters&#x27; trust.

As DHS shutdown drags, Sen. Britt leads GOP push

Alabama Sen. Katie Britt, leading negotiations for the GOP, says Democrats won't come to the table.

News

Congress is no closer to reaching a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security after hours of back-and-forth on the Senate floor Wednesday.Why it matters: As the partial government shutdown drags near the one-month mark, DHS agencies like FEMA, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency remain in limbo.<ul><li>Alabama Sen. Katie Britt is playing point for Republicans in the negotiations and told local reporters Wednesday that Democrats won&#x27;t come to the table.</li></ul>

Tuberville backs Trump on Iran strikes

The senator told a Huntsville crowd that he's "100% behind President Trump."

As President Trump <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="threatens to escalate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/07/trump-iran-gas-fuel-strikes" data-vars-content-id="2ec1c9cd-6c15-47de-ab22-c674d60121c0" data-vars-headline="Tuberville backs Trump on Iran strikes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/07/trump-iran-gas-fuel-strikes" target="_self">threatens to escalate</a> bombings in Iran, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville says further action there or elsewhere doesn&#x27;t need to come before Congress, pointing to provisions of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="War Powers Resolution" data-vars-click-url="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF13134" data-vars-content-id="2ec1c9cd-6c15-47de-ab22-c674d60121c0" data-vars-headline="Tuberville backs Trump on Iran strikes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF13134" target="_blank">War Powers Resolution</a> and Congress&#x27;s power of the purse.Why it matters: Foreign policy is local for Huntsville, an epicenter of missile defense and other capabilities on the forefront of the conflict in Iran. <ul><li>As Tuberville said Monday at the Von Braun Center, &quot;Many in this room ... are going to continue to play supporting roles in the defensive efforts.&quot;</li></ul>

Candidates declare for Council Districts 2 and 3

Each district up for election this year now has a challenger planning to run.

Election

The ballot for City Council this year just got more crowded.Why it matters: The election may not be till Aug. 25, but all three <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="districts" data-vars-click-url="https://maps.huntsvilleal.gov/citycouncildistricts/" data-vars-content-id="3273ba48-7b5b-433b-a166-d63661e59035" data-vars-headline="Candidates declare for Council Districts 2 and 3" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://maps.huntsvilleal.gov/citycouncildistricts/" target="_blank">districts</a> up for election this year already have challengers declared to run.

Ivey taps Ronald Vaughn to lead Madison County Commission

Gov. Ivey said in her announcement that Ronald Vaughn, a Huntsville resident, is a native of Madison County and longtime operator of Vaughn Farms.

<figure><img alt="An older man in a black suit with glasses sits in a chair in front of a microphone. " height="983" id="feafc2ab-25bf-44ea-8f28-8f1a4748b526" src="https://images.axios.com/EiDq2f91XK_CkneWVhJvVCwjvkw=/2026/03/02/1772482249009.jpeg" width="1064"/><figcaption>Ronald &quot;Rex&quot; Vaughn&#x27;s appointment is effective immediately. Photo: Courtesy Office of Gov. Kay Ivey</figcaption></figure>Gov. Kay Ivey has appointed Ronald &quot;Rex&quot; Vaughn II as the next chairman of the Madison County Commission. Why it matters: The appointment follows the departure of Mac McCutcheon, appointed by Ivey in 2023, whose retirement <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="took effect March 1" data-vars-click-url="https://256today.com/madison-county-commission-chairman-mac-mccutcheon-stepping-down/" data-vars-content-id="abac4b9f-6b81-4a89-93ec-b75a54d059eb" data-vars-headline="Ivey taps Ronald Vaughn to lead Madison County Commission" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://256today.com/madison-county-commission-chairman-mac-mccutcheon-stepping-down/" target="_blank">took effect March 1</a>.

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.

Britt: Half of Space Command personnel will be in Huntsville by 2029

Space Command's move to Huntsville is continuing as planned despite a lawsuit from Colorado challenging the move.

Half of U.S. Space Command personnel will be based in Huntsville within the next few years, according to Sen. Katie Britt. Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Space Command&#x27;s move" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/12/15/hegseth-spacecom-huntsville-alabama-aerospace" data-vars-content-id="c0f6a844-7030-4f49-9315-9b578dd08c87" data-vars-headline="Britt: Half of Space Command personnel will be in Huntsville by 2029" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/12/15/hegseth-spacecom-huntsville-alabama-aerospace" target="_self">Space Command&#x27;s move</a> to Huntsville, announced last year, is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="continuing as planned" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/12/10/space-command-huntsville-alabama-redstone-arsenal" data-vars-content-id="c0f6a844-7030-4f49-9315-9b578dd08c87" data-vars-headline="Britt: Half of Space Command personnel will be in Huntsville by 2029" 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/space-command-huntsville-alabama-redstone-arsenal" target="_self">continuing as planned</a> amid a lawsuit from Colorado that challenges the relocation.

Andrew Sneed gains ground on Rep. Dale Strong in North Alabama race

Reports noted last week that Sneed apparently outraised Strong in the last quarter of 2025.

Democratic House candidate Andrew Sneed is holding his own against incumbent Republican Rep. Dale Strong as the 2026 midterm campaigns get in gear.Why it matters: The fundraising numbers show where the momentum is building ahead of May&#x27;s primaries.

Politics 🇺🇸

President's budget brings back NASA science cuts

Nick Frevold enters growing Huntsville District 4 race

Sneed rallies Democrats to close congressional "trust gap"

As DHS shutdown drags, Sen. Britt leads GOP push

Tuberville backs Trump on Iran strikes