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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.

Council mulls Huntsville Utilities board consolidation

Moving from three boards to one is a key point of Huntsville Utilities' new plan.

Development

Huntsville is mulling big changes to city utilities, leaving the City Council with a big question: whether to consolidate Huntsville Utilities&#x27; three boards into one single entity. Why it matters: The utility is prioritizing changing its governance structure <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="as it eyes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2026/02/09/huntsville-utilities-natural-gas-electricity-alabama" data-vars-content-id="3c3cfe87-c1ae-4cd5-8dc7-d628a0920c70" data-vars-headline="Council mulls Huntsville Utilities board consolidation" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2026/02/09/huntsville-utilities-natural-gas-electricity-alabama" target="_self">as it eyes</a> a new natural gas pipeline for North Alabama and a major update to its grid.

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.

News

<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>.

Huntsville lands CUSA tournaments through 2029

Huntsville will host CUSA's basketball, volleyball and cross-country tournaments.

Business

Huntsville will host the next three Conference USA Championships in basketball, volleyball and cross-country, CUSA announced Friday.Why it matters: It&#x27;s a big get for Huntsville as the city seeks to attract more <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/sports" data-vars-content-id="3c1e828e-b737-444e-a5d6-ada011fc6a3e" data-vars-headline="Huntsville lands CUSA tournaments through 2029" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/sports" target="_self">sports</a> events and bolster its reputation for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first-class facilities" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/06/30/huntsville-curling-44m-ice-center-expansion" data-vars-content-id="3c1e828e-b737-444e-a5d6-ada011fc6a3e" data-vars-headline="Huntsville lands CUSA tournaments through 2029" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/huntsville/2025/06/30/huntsville-curling-44m-ice-center-expansion" target="_self">first-class facilities</a>.

Airport to start 1,400-space parking expansion

The $57-million project is expected to bring the total parking deck capacity at HSV to around 3,800.

Transit

Huntsville International Airport is starting work on a new, 1,400-plus-space expansion to its parking deck.Why it matters: New parking will make it easier for travelers at HSV to get to their gates, but it will mean changes in where they&#x27;ll access parking during construction.

Northern Bypass intersection with Memorial Parkway opens

The full completion and opening of Phase Two of the project will happen in spring 2026.

A key component of Huntsville&#x27;s Northern Bypass project — a highway extension connecting to Memorial Parkway — officially opened Friday.Why it matters: The second phase of $40 million project is set to alleviate traffic for locals and commuters in the northern part of the city.

Transit 🚗

Airport to start 1,400-space parking expansion

Northern Bypass intersection with Memorial Parkway opens