Huntsville will soon be relocating up to 80 people living in a sanctioned homeless encampment where a fire broke out last month. According to city officials and nonprofits that serve unsheltered people, the move has been in the works for several months due to deteriorating conditions and concerns over drug use and violence. Scott Erwin, Huntsville’s director of Community Development tells AL.com the recent fire accelerated those plans. The residents will be moved to an adjacent site. Volunteers will help residents relocate their belongings by Oct. 16, when the city will begin removing fire debris and other hazardous materials. Huntsville does not plan to close the Derrick Street camp once the cleanup is completed.
The City of Huntsville and the Huntsville Housing Authority announced they have received a $50 million grant from the Department of Housing & Urban Development. The money will be used to help revitalize and transform the area surrounding Butler Terrace and Johnson Towers. Huntsville Blast reports the Mill Creek transformation plan proposes 750 residential units – a mix of market rate, Housing Authority, workforce and senior housing. It also includes pedestrian-oriented shopping focused on the Governors Drive and Clinton Avenue corridors. Phase 1 is slated to commence within 10-12 months.
The City of Athens unanimously agreed to a one-year deal that will keep the Athens-Limestone County Animal Shelter open. The vote comes after the county’s contract with the shelter was set to expire October 1st. Last month, the Limestone County Commission decided to end its services contract with the shelter and open its own animal control facility due to the increase in the cost of a renewal. Athens officials agreed to pay $480,000 which is more than the $200,000 that the city had paid towards the county contract. WHNT TV reports the county still has plans to open its own animal shelter.
Alabama is seeing a rise in whooping cough cases this year, prompting health officials to urge residents to stay vigilant and get vaccinated. Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection that poses a particular risk to infants and young children. Dr. Wes Stubblefield of the Alabama Department of Public Health tells WBRC TV in Birmingham the state has already surpassed last year’s numbers. Vaccinations for pertussis are available through local health departments and doctors’ offices across Alabama.
Alabama college and university enrollment is trending upward again this year. That’s according to preliminary data from the Alabama Commission on Higher Education. University enrollment increased 2.4% in 2024 from last year and community college enrollment went up 12.7%. An increasing number of Alabama high school students are attending school in-state. AL.com reports area schools seeing the biggest jump in enrollment are Drake State Community and Technical College and Alabama A & M.
Alabama high school seniors will be able to apply to select colleges and universities at no charge next week. The Alabama State Department of Education said in a news release Tuesday that the initiative aims to increase the number of young people pursuing college degrees, especially those from low-income families or who would be the first in their families to attend college. Students and parents can access tips for scholarships and more at the Alabama Possible - Cash for College website,
alabamapossible.org/programs/alabamagoestocollege.
Drivers can expect single-lane closures on the northbound I-65 Tennessee River Bridge each weekend in October, beginning Friday, October 4th. The contractor will close the outside lane about 6 p.m. on Fridays and reopen it about 5 a.m. on Mondays. The department of transportation says you can expect delays on the northbound roadway during the weekends. You might want to plan additional travel time or use alternate routes. For real-time traffic updates, including congestion and live traffic camera feeds, visit ALGOTraffic.com.