Space Command + Joe Wheeler State Park

Get up and on your feet, Huntsville! I’m going to catch you up on the latest and greatest news and events in the area in five minutes or less! In today’s Daily, we're going to look at the latest Space Command update, what is happening with the Trail of Tears portion in the area, and Joe Wheeler State Park's announcement.

First, today’s weather:

Today will be sunny with strong storms possible after 3 p.m. High: 90 Low: 66

Patch Pick:
An Ardmore family, Michaela and Greg Reese, welcomed their third child on May 24, which is also the birthday of their 5-year-old and their 3-year-old. They for sure won’t risk forgetting anyone’s birthday! Congrats on the newest addition, Reese family! (Details)

Here are the top five stories in Huntsville today:

1. President Biden’s Pentagon appointees have said they will not interfere in the decision to move Space Command’s headquarters to Huntsville. Frank Kendall, the nominee for Secretary of the Air Force had said that he will look at the data from the current ongoing reviews and will be willing to discuss the outcomes. (AL.com)
2. The Trash Pandas and The City of Madison have come to a new agreement on a payment plan for the remainder of the $1 million the team owed the city after the 2020 season that wasn’t. According to Sierra Phillips the team will pay $100,000 monthly until September, when they will pay the remainder of over $145,000. (WAAY)
3. The Alabama Department of of Transportation has authorized the display of Trail of Tears official national historic trail signs along Highways 251, 53, and 72. (WHNT)
4. Huntsville High School’s JROTC Air Force program has been chosen as one of ten units to switch to be Space Force JROTC Guardians. The goal of the program is to expand to 100 high schools within the next few years. (WAFF)
5. Limestone County leaders have allocated $600,000 to help to expand broadband. One driving factor is how many students had issues with connectivity when they tried to do their school work, and they want to make sure students have access so nothing stops them from learning, according to Madison Scarpino. (WAFF)

Today in Huntsville

• Cocktails @ The View at Burritt on the Mountain (5 p.m.)
• Golden Hour at the Botanical Garden (5 p.m.)
• The Rocket City Fair is still in town! Today is Wild Child Wednesday, so kids 11 and under get in free! (4 p.m.)

Huntsville Patch Notebook

• Part of Joe Wheeler State Park will reopen in time for Memorial Day after tornado damage! Entrance fees aren’t required for the day-use area, but donations to keep improving the park are encouraged. (Details)
• 565 is being resurfaced during the night right now Sunday-Thursday nights from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and will likely last a year. (Details)
• The University of Alabama System, including UAH, has dropped their mask requirement for students and staff that have been completely vaccinated. (Details)
• Donna Henderson, a registrar, has been recognized as Discovery Middle School’s Staff Member of the Year!
• Sarah Bagwell at the Academy of Academics and Arts has been named the Valley’s Best Teacher!

That's it for today! I'll see you tomorrow with more!

-Amy