June 14, 2026

Juneteenth became a U.S. federal holiday in what year?

A) 1965
B) 1980
C) 2001
D) 2021

This Weeks Newsletter Presented By...

Toyota recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in Huntsville, Alabama, where it announced a $1.17 billion investment in the area.

The investment will go towards expanding the plant, creating 450 new jobs and supporting new hybrid vehicle production.

This expansion comes as Toyota aims to accelerate its electrification and zero-emission objectives.

The CEO of Toyota North America praised the hard work and dedication of the Huntsville team and expressed excitement about the future of the plant and the company's commitment to sustainability.

Alabama WIC income limits increased, so more families may qualify

Alabama Public Health says WIC income guidelines have increased for 2026. Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, new mothers, and parents or guardians of children up to age five may qualify for food benefits, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals. In Madison, this is worth sharing with young families facing higher grocery costs; families receiving Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF already meet income qualifications. [Read More]

Small businesses can use the Huntsville/Madison County resource hub

The Huntsville/Madison County Chamber’s Small Business Resource Hub collects local, regional, and national resources for entrepreneurs and business owners at different stages, from idea to startup to growth. This is useful for Madison’s small businesses and side-hustle owners looking for licensing help, mentoring, funding guidance, training, or local connections. [Read More]

Local nonprofits have grant windows open now

The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville lists the give256 Fund grant cycle from June 1 to July 15, 2026, supporting a wide range of nonprofit and community-based projects. Madison-area school support groups, youth programs, neighborhood organizations, churches, and nonprofits should review eligibility before the deadline gets close.

[Read More]

Here’s a look at the 7-day weather forecast for Madison, AL:

Renovations at Huntsville International Airport

Q: Why is there so much construction at Huntsville International Airport?
HSV is updating the airport as more people fly in and out of Huntsville. The airport has been working on better bathrooms, new food options, concourse improvements and more parking.

Q: What has already changed?
The airport's HSV Refresh page lists updated bathrooms that opened in July 2025, a surface parking lot near the Sheraton Four Points Hotel that opened in August 2025 and Starbucks plus Interstellar Pizza by Gate 8.

Q: What food options can travelers find at HSV now?
Current options include The Grille Restaurant & Lounge before TSA, Comet Coffee, Starbucks, Interstellar Pizza, Rocket City Bar & Grill, Rocket City Express and Everbowl. Hours can vary by location and flight schedule.

Q: Is the parking deck expanding?
Yes. The airport is adding more than 1,400 parking spaces through a $57 million parking deck expansion. Axios reported the project would bring the deck to around 3,800 spaces and construction was expected to last about two years.

The ChopHouse

The Chop House has officially opened in Town Madison, giving the area a new steakhouse option near Toyota Field. This is the restaurant group's first Alabama location and it comes from the same group behind Connors Steak & Seafood at Bridge Street. That matters because folks around here already know Connors, so The Chop House is walking in with some expectations on its shoulders.

The early word is strong. During the soft opening, General Manager Justin Meyer said the response from guests had been "10 out of 10" and that the team was proud of how the kitchen and staff were handling opening week. The menu is built around hand-cut steaks, chops, seafood, lunch options, desserts, kids meals, gluten-free items, wine, cocktails, beer and bar bites.

If you are planning a first visit, this feels like a reservation-worthy dinner instead of a quick stop. Go for a steakhouse plate, add a side worth sharing and leave room to look over the cocktail or dessert menu. Meyer singled out the ribeye with blue cheese butter, burgundy mushrooms, creamed spinach and a chopped salad as his personal pick. That sounds like a pretty good first order if you do not want to stare at the menu too long.

The space also has a private event option called the Hollow Room, which could make it useful for business dinners, birthdays or small celebrations where you want a polished setting without leaving Madison. Happy hour runs Monday to Friday from 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM in the lounge and bar area, so there is a reason to check it out even before dinner.

🌐 Website

160 Graphics Dr

Madison, AL 35758

📍Google Maps

(256) 870-6116

Flash Flooding is a Force of Nature

Did you know flash flooding can happen in North Alabama when heavy rain falls too fast for the ground, creeks and drainage systems to keep up? It does not always take a tropical storm. A slow-moving summer thunderstorm can sit over one area and drop rain faster than water can run off. That is when low spots, creek crossings, ditches, underpasses and neighborhood roads can turn dangerous.

It usually starts with saturated ground, heavy rain rates and poor drainage. If the ground is already wet from earlier rain, the water has fewer places to go. Water starts running across yards, filling ditches and pushing into roads. The National Weather Service says minor flash flooding can happen when small streams, creeks, drainage ditches and low-lying areas overflow within a few hours of heavy rain. Moderate flash flooding can turn streets, parking lots and normally dry creek beds into moving water.

There is no magic number. One inch of rain may be fine in one area and a problem in another. Two inches in a short period can overwhelm a low road or poor drainage spot. Several inches over a few hours can create a serious flooding problem, especially if the storm keeps training over the same area. The National Weather Service uses flash flood guidance to estimate how much rain over 1, 3, 6, 12 or 24 hours could cause small streams to flood in a specific county.

The danger is not only the depth of the water. It is the movement. The National Weather Service warns that 6 inches of fast-moving water can knock an adult down, 12 inches of rushing water can carry away most cars and 2 feet can carry away SUVs and trucks. If water is covering the road, the safest move is to turn around and find another way.

Check alerts before driving through heavy rain, keep kids away from drainage ditches and do not trust a road just because you drove it yesterday. Water can hide a washed-out road underneath. That is the part people cannot see from the driver’s seat.

I Can Fix That

There is a certain type of person who looks at a broken chair leg, loose gate bracket, cracked metal frame or random garage project and thinks, "I could probably fix that."

This week's product is for that person.

A handheld welder is one of those tools that makes you feel dangerous in the best possible responsible adult way. It is compact enough for a garage shelf but useful enough to make you start looking around the house for little metal jobs you have been ignoring. Loose garden cart? Wobbly stand? Small repair on a fence, bracket, rack or trailer piece? 

This ain't a giant shop setup. It's just a tool that empowers someone to say, "I want to learn, fix small things and maybe save myself a few service calls along the way." This is for homeowners, hobbyists and weekend tinkerers.

Read the manual, watch a few tutorials. and you should be good to go. 

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If you missed the new kind of kettle..

Here you go...

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How do you spend Juneteenth?

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In time we will have rotating sections for recipes, job opportunities, events and much much more. So stay tuned!

If you have read this far, you may wonder why there isn't any news about tragic events, hate and terrible crimes and it's because there is just too much of that everywhere else. We want this newsletter to bring you kind awareness and also to help spread joy and information on your Sunday!

Thank you for your support 🙏

- Robert

D) 2021

National Independence Day was signed into law as a national holiday on June 17, 2021.