Madison, AL: Artemis II Progress, IKEA Arrival, City Council Updates and a bowl you never knew existed.

Is Alabama Really That Red? Plus Artemis, IKEA and something new at Aloha Ramen House

Current Issue

The Madison Memo

Trivia Question❓

Is Alabama a blue or red state?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

North Alabama teachers weigh in on first few weeks of school without phones

Part of Artemis II completed in Huntsville now ready for takeoff

City Council Candidates in Madison, Alabama Address Growth Management, Infrastructure Improvements, and Public Safety in Community Discussion

City council candidates in Madison, Alabama discussed several key issues facing the city including growth management, infrastructure improvements, public safety, education, and environmental sustainability.

Candidates agreed that managing growth while maintaining the city's quality of life was a top priority, alongside addressing school overcrowding, traffic congestion, and promoting economic development.

Other concerns raised included improving communication and transparency within city government, supporting small businesses, and enhancing the city's recreational amenities.

Candidates emphasized the importance of collaboration and strategic planning to effectively address these challenges and ensure a prosperous future for Madison residents.

The realities of being an empty nester

Your Money: Deductions from the new tax law

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

What You Should Know About Artemis II

Q: What is Artemis II and why does it matter?
Artemis II is NASA’s upcoming crewed mission to orbit the Moon... the first time astronauts will travel beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in 1972. It's part of the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the Moon and eventually establish a long-term presence there. This mission is a huge step forward in space exploration... and Huntsville’s own Marshall Space Flight Center plays a key role in making it happen.

Q: Who are the astronauts flying on Artemis II?
The crew includes four astronauts...

Reid Wiseman (Commander)
Victor Glover (Pilot)
Christina Koch (Mission Specialist)
Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist, Canadian Space Agency)

This historic team includes the first woman and the first person of color assigned to a lunar mission, as well as the first non-American astronaut on a Moon-bound NASA mission.

Q: When is Artemis II launching and what will it do?
Artemis II is currently scheduled to launch in April of 2026. The crew will orbit the Moon (without landing) during a mission that lasts about 10 days. The goal: test NASA’s deep-space systems and ensure everything’s ready for Artemis III... the first mission to land astronauts on the Moon in over 50 years.

Q: Why is Alabama important to the Artemis mission?
Alabama, especially Huntsville, is the backbone of NASA’s space exploration efforts. The Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville is leading the development of the Space Launch System (SLS)... the powerful rocket that will launch Artemis missions. From rocket engines to flight control systems, much of the technology powering Artemis is designed and tested right here in our own backyard.

IKEA Coming to Huntsville, AL: What It Means for Shoppers and the City

IKEA has officially announced its first-ever Alabama store, set to open in early 2026 in Huntsville, marking a major milestone for local residents, shoppers across the state and state lines. It will be located at the University Place Shopping Center, near popular hubs like MidCity and Bridge Street Town Centre. The store will bring...

She Rolled Her Eyes… and I Let Her...

It happened in the middle of a meeting. I’d barely finished my sentence when someone across the table rolled her eyes... subtle, but sharp enough to sting.

Normally, I’d tense up. Try to smooth things over. Re-explain myself. Anything to fix what had just happened. But this time? I didn’t.

I stayed quiet. Kept my tone steady. And let her have her moment.
What surprised me most wasn’t her reaction... it was mine. No racing heart. No mental spiral. Just calm. Like I’d finally stopped trying to control what wasn’t mine to carry.

By the end of the week, she circled back... curious, not combative. But by then, I wasn’t waiting for it. I had already moved on.

... want to feel that kind of freedom?

If you missed last weeks surprise... Check It Out Here

We Want to Spotlight Your Business

If you have a local business and would love to be featured in our newsletter, you can connect with us here.

Want more visibility to your business, create your free account here.

Thank you to the businesses that have taken us up on the Pro Accounts. Y'all can still sign up with Starter Accounts.

College Football is spinning up!

... and thank you for being a valued subscriber and neighbor in our community!

Don't forget to share our newsletter link with your neighbors at

https://themadisonmemo.com

We appreciate any suggestions or recommendations you may have, so feel free to reply to this email with your feedback.

We also have sections for recipes, job opportunities, events and much much more that we'll be rolling out in the future. So stay tuned!

We are also looking for Community Contributors. If you are interested, go here and signup.

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

💡 Answer to Trivia Question:

Alabama is considered a red state, meaning it typically supports Republican candidates in elections.