Huntsville News: Safety, Economy, Infrastructure, Development

Ongoing coverage of Huntsville safety incidents (car crash into Aldi, officer-involved shooting, arson/murder-for-hire plot, domestic violence arrest of officer, lawsuit over 2025 wreck, University Drive shooting, robbery standoff, Memorial Parkway shutdown, store burglarized twice, mistaken identity shooting, U-Haul chase, car into house after chase, Toure McLaurin attorney speaks on Dumas case) and economic growth (TIF 9 approved, L3Harris expansion, Toyota anniversary, airport grants, Phoenix $11.7M contract, $2/night hotel fee proposal for VBC). Also: widespread flooding, power outages, storm damage, new business openings, new Mayor's Youth Advisory Council cohort, capital murder suspect won't face death penalty, dispatcher hiring streamlined. Huntsville approves 1% lodging tax for VBC improvements; councilmember pushes demolition of Serenity Apartments; scatter garden approved at Maple Hill Cemetery. New: City Council approves $220M TIF district for downtown infrastructure including VBC expansion, junior high, courthouse, greenway, park. Huntsville PD accepting applications for fall Citizens Police Academy. Huntsville Male Mentorship Program registration opens. Four arrested after major Huntsville cocaine bust. Food City opening in Athens on July 22. Redwire to expand campus adding 150 jobs; Sigmatech awarded $108.9M Air Force contract; Perry's Steakhouse opening second Alabama location at MidCity. Huntsville police ask for help locating missing 83-year-old man. City Council approves 500-acre rezoning for 1,800 housing units in North Huntsville; Northern Bypass on track; retail hub planned. Man pleads guilty to peeping into girls' windows. Three candidates seek south Huntsville City Council District 3 seat ahead of Aug. 25 election; positions on growth, infrastructure, public safety. New: Man shot dead at Huntsville hotel (Comfort Suites on Torok Circle); HPD investigating. Hands-free driving law reminder two years in.