Boeing’s CEO said this week that the aerospace giant will be “pruning the portfolio” over the next year. This comes after $12 billion in annual losses. The company’s year was its worst since 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. Boeing is one of Huntsville’s largest employers with more than 3,300 workers. The company’s work in north Alabama is focused on missile defense, specialized circuits for missiles and space missions and related programs. AL.com reports Boeing announced two rounds of layoffs in its Huntsville operations during the past year: 128 workers were affected in June and another 158 this month.
Cummings Aerospace recently completed a series of flight tests for Hellhound, a turbo-jet-powered, 3D-printed kamikaze drone that can fly faster than 350 miles per hour. Hellhound will enable precise, long-range strikes against tanks, armored vehicles and fortified positions. A news item from Cummings Aerospace says the flight tests provided critical data validating Hellhound's readiness for complex operational scenarios.
Alabama lawmakers have reintroduced a bill to offer prenatal care to low-income pregnant people for up to 60 days during pregnancy. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Marilyn Lands, D-Huntsville. The Alabama Reflector reports it would provide “presumptive Medicaid eligibility” for pregnant people, allowing them to receive Medicaid coverage for up to 60 days before formal approval of their Medicaid applications. While some lawmakers expressed concerns about funding, Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, said she supports the bill not only because it may potentially save the state money in the long run but also because it “promotes children being born healthier, and mothers being able to take care of themselves.”
Alabama’s fourth graders continue to break from national trends and improve in reading and math skills. That’s according to new data released today. The state, once considered at or near the bottom in the nation in math and reading, has managed to inch up on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. AL.com reports much of the country’s schools have yet to regain ground lost during the pandemic. Alabama and Louisiana are the only states in the country this year to exceed pre-pandemic scores in both fourth grade reading and fourth grade math.
Alabama Agriculture Commissioner Rick Pate unveiled the state’s “Thank a Farmer” initiative during a press conference held at a restaurant in Montgomery this week. The new campaign aims to increase public appreciation for farmers and raise awareness about where our food comes from. According to the Alabama Political Reporter, the “Thank a Farmer” program includes marketing, advertising, and media outreach. The initiative will feature television, radio, digital, and print ads, along with a strong social media presence to engage communities across the state.
America's top Para-cyclists are returning at the end of March for the 2025 U.S. Paralympics Cycling Time Trial. This one-day event will be held in Cummings Research Park and will determine Team USA's roster for the first two UCI Para-Cycling World Cup competitions later this year. A news item from the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber notes that many of the participating athletes competed in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris and won medals. The races are free and open to the public.
Groundhog Day isn’t until Sunday, but Sand Mountain Sam couldn’t wait until then. Sand Mountain Sam is a possum who lives in Boaz. He predicts the weather around Feb. 2 every year. WAFF TV reports that on Friday he did not see his shadow, which means there will be an early spring.