It's official: Huntsville's Ikea store will be open within a week.

Why it matters: Ikea has long been among the city's most-desired retailers, announcing last summer its plan to bring a new, smaller-format store to University Drive near GigaParts.

The latest: Ikea US announced Wednesday it will open its first Alabama store, on Wednesday, Feb. 25 with a grand-opening celebration.

• Customers can start lining up at 7am, and festivities kick off at 8am with toys for the first 100 kids and giveaways including Ikea products and gift cards.
• Regular store hours will be 11am-7pm every day of the week.

What they're saying: "As we expand our presence in the U.S., we're excited to introduce the Ikea experience to North Alabama," said Rob Olson, interim CEO of Ikea U.S., in the announcement.

Zoom in: The 46,000-square-foot store will showcase more than 5,000 products, with more than 2,000 for immediate takeaway.

• An As-Is Department will offer sustainable options, and though it will be smaller than traditional Ikea stores, it will still offer the famous Swedish meatballs and other fare.

Context: The new store comes as the company invests in growth as part of a $2.2 billion investment to become more affordable, accessible and sustainable, Ikea says.

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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's requirements.

Zoom in: Senate Bill 298, introduced by Sen. Will Barfoot of Elmore, Montgomery and Crenshaw counties, requires police departments in the state's Class 3 municipalities to have two sworn officers for every 1,000 residents by Oct. 1.

• The bill applies to Class 3 municipalities, which Alabama state law defines as having a population of 100,000-174,999 in 1970.
• The only two in the state are Huntsville (139,282 in 1970) and Montgomery (133,386 in 1970).
• The bill calculates the two-officers requirement using the 2020 Census, which puts Huntsville's population at 215,006, meaning the bill would require 430 sworn officers in Huntsville.

How it works: The bill gives the cities till Oct. 1 this year, when a five-year grace period begins. The cities must make progress toward the ratio at 10% of the missing number each year.

• If they can't reach the goal, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency "may assume operational oversight of the police department," and take related actions for at least a year after the department comes into compliance.

What they're saying: "The proposed legislation applies to an antiquated system of municipal classifications," the city said in a statement to Axios. "The City of Huntsville already meets all of these requirements."

• Barfoot did not return requests for comment from Axios this week.
• State Sen. Sam Givhan told Axios that he's been in contact with Huntsville Police Chief Kirk Giles and other representatives from Huntsville as they work through the process.

Context: Montgomery officials are pushing back on the measure, per the Alabama Political Reporter, with Mayor Steven Reed calling it "a solution in search of a problem" at a hearing.

• "There are major differences between the circumstances that we enjoy in our community and those being experienced by those in Montgomery," Givhan said to Axios in an email. "We don't need as many officers in Huntsville as they do in Montgomery."

What we're watching: The bill was heard in the Senate's County and Municipal Government Committee Tuesday, and APR reports it's the first item on that committee's schedule next week.

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🎼 Local aerospace engineer Tim DiMella is composing a seven-movement symphony inspired by the return to the moon and the local history of space exploration. (Redstone Rocket)

✈️ Delta Airlines is expanding in Huntsville, adding another daily nonstop flight June 7 between HSV and New York's LaGuardia Airport. (FOX54)

🔭 The INTUITIVE Planetarium at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center has been named the best in America via the 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards. (News release)

So much for our balmy February.

The big picture: Some rain moves in tonight, and while temperatures are staying relatively warm, by Sunday night they'll be in the mid-20s.

Zoom in: There's a chance of showers before midnight tonight, per the National Weather Service, with showers and potentially a thunderstorm between 12-3am.

• Chances of overnight precipitation are 90%, and are followed by a 20% chance of rain Friday morning and into Friday night.
• Temperatures are staying warm Friday with a high of 73 and a high of 66 Saturday, with 20% and 30% chances of rain respectively.

What we're watching: The sun should come back Sunday, but the high is forecast to only reach 50 with a low of 27, and Monday's forecast is even colder, with a high of 45 and low of 25.

The second Artemis II wet dress rehearsal is tonight, with a simulated launch window set for 8:30pm.

How it works: The test will run launch and support teams through the full range of launch operations, including loading and draining the liquid hydrogen fuel.

Catch up quick: The mission's first wet dress rehearsal, earlier this month, experienced a fuel leak reminiscent of similar problems seen during the Artemis I mission.

• The launch window for Artemis II, which will send four astronauts around the moon and back for the first time in more than 50 years in preparation for Artemis III's moon landing, opens March 6.

Zoom in: Catch the live stream here.

More from Axios: Artemis II heads to launch with Marshall on deck