Latest news with #Huntsville-area
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Huntsville Police teams up with non profit to provide teachers with school supplies needed to equip students
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — The Huntsville Police Department is teaming up with a local non profit, Free 2 Teach, to support public school teachers with the supplies they need to equip students. The After School Bash, a community-wide celebration, is set for Saturday, June 7, from 4-8 p.m. at Big Spring Park. The event will feature bounce houses, live entertainment, local food trucks and vendors, police activity zones and more. Attendees are encouraged to bring school supply donations to help 'Stuff the Squad Car,' with all items going directly to support Huntsville-area teachers through the Free 2 Teach non profit organization. HPD South Precinct Commander, Captain Chris Riley, said events like this reflect the department's commitment to meaningful community engagement. 'When we invest in our teachers, we invest in our students – ultimately investing in the future of our City.' Riley said. 'A well-supported classroom can unlock potential and give a student the confidence they need to believe in themselves and that's a kind of safety and empowerment that no badge alone can provide.' Free 2 Teach CEO Alison Kling said she hopes this event becomes a lasting tradition. 'Our partnership with the Huntsville Police Department makes a significant impact on thousands of teachers and students,' Kling said. 'The After School Bash will be a joyful community celebration with a powerful purpose: gather supplies to equip teachers and fill classrooms so that every child across our public schools has access to an equitable and excellent education.' This free event is open for anyone to come and enjoy. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Huntsville protesters calling on Congressman Strong for help include long-time residents, federal retirees
HUNTSVILLE, Ala, (WHNT) — A third day of protests in Huntsville over proposed cuts to federal programs and jobs. Protesters are also calling for Huntsville-area Congressman Dale Strong to make himself more accessible to the public Strong and other U.S. House Republicans have said these protests and calls for town hall meetings are the work of paid, liberal agitators. DOJ, voting rights groups drop lawsuit against Alabama Secretary of State News 19 spoke to several people at today's protest, which drew a smaller crowd than the protests on Monday and Tuesday. Of the people News 19 spoke to, most live in Huntsville and there was at least one Madison resident. Most of the people said they have lived in the area for decades, many were retired federal employees or had a spouse in the military didn't identify as Trump voters, or say they'd voted for Dale Strong. News 19 repeatedly asked why Strong or local Republican voters should care about what they had to say. The replies were consistent, the people told us they are long-term residents, they've raised families here, contributed to the community, they pay their taxes and Strong's their congressman. Some talked about the oaths they'd sworn to defend and obey the U.S. Constitution and they said America is a nation led by the people and for the people — not a kingdom. Alabama businesses talk futures amid new tariffs Several people expressed concerns that the Trump Administration was intent on cutting jobs and programs, including NASA. Most of those News 19 spoke to said they have not heard Strong push back, against those plans, or communicate to 'the powers that be' that people here are being directly impacted by the administration's actions. Huntsville resident Margie Zoladz said she's reached out to Srong's office several times, with no response so far. 'He represents everybody, I know he knows that,' she said. 'I feel like there must be some pressure, he's feeling from above, that is forcing him to ignore one side in preference to the other.' Soladz said she believes she voted for Strong at some point. 'What got me out here today is I have five children and they all live here,' she said. 'I have six grandbabies, that all live here, one of them is not born yet. I'm terrified about what's happening to our country. I don't know too many people who are in a position to do something about it and he's one of them. More than one person expressed concern about possible cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits, basically health care and food programs for low-income people. They also expressed concerns that cuts by the Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE. are destructive rather than based on audits aimed at saving money. Protest groups have said they plan to hold a Town Hall in Athens on Saturday and Strong is invited. Some protesters told News 19 that in speaking to Strong staff members, they've been told about telephone town halls that he would hold, but they never received a follow-up call. During a contractor event Tuesday morning in Huntsville Strong said that he was glad to be back in the 5th District. 'I'm just happy to be in recess this week,' he said. 'And, that's what I do when I'm back in the district. I have a full schedule. I'll actually be in Madison County today (Tuesday). I'll also be in Jackson County. And what we're doing is just meeting with our people. I represent three-quarters of a million people in North Alabama, and I do everything I can to be, visible and be there with them. when I'm here in the district.' News 19 reached out to Strong's office again today, as we did Monday, for comment on the protests or if he had plans to hold a public meeting. We have not yet received any response. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
After 2 months, bookstore damaged by tornado is back in business
ATHENS, Ala. (WHNT) — Nearly three months after a tornado swept through the downtown Athens square and ripped apart the CEI Bookstore, the community staple is back in business. 'It was no doubt a disaster yet at the same time just an opportunity for us to sprout and grow again,' said Lance Taylor, the Director of Operations for the store. Alabama House passes grocery tax cut bill The new location is on Washington Street, just around the corner from its original location on Marion. 'Since 1955 CEI has been providing things for folks here in Athens, for Christians especially and we want to keep it going,' Taylor said. 'Here we are in 2025 and it's kind of a fresh start in some ways.' Taylor said it was almost midnight on December 28 when he was awakened by a shocking text message from a neighbor who informed him that the entire roof of the bookstore was lying in the middle of Marion Street. Thousands of books were thrown across the floor and its brick walls crumbled to the ground. Protesters call for more support for veterans on second day of Huntsville-area protest 'It was nearly a total loss on inventory, a near total loss on electronics and computers systems and things like that,' Taylor explained. Taylor told News 19 that there was an estimated more than $500,000 in damages to the interior contents of the store from the storm. After months of countless hours of repurchasing and restocking, a caring community is thankful for the store's return. 'It's very good that they are staying in business because they have been around for quite a while and it's just a part of this area,' said John Donavan, a regular customer at CEI. 'People have shown that they care about us, and they want to keep doing business with us and we really appreciate that,' Taylor said. Taylor is hopeful that the original building can be renovated for use. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
News 19 viewers want to know if Congressman Dale Strong is holding town hall meeting
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — As Congress prepared to hear from President Donald Trump Tuesday night, News 19 viewers are asking when they will hear from Huntsville-area Congressman Dale Strong. A number of viewers asked us about messages they received concerning a telephone town hall with U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, R-5th District, but they don't have a lot of details. Decatur man among 15 invited to sit with first lady during Trump's address With the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency looking to cut federal spending, it's an uncertain time for federal workers, including thousands who work in Huntsville and North Alabama. News 19 has reached out to Strong's office for his response to DOGE cuts and proposals regarding NASA and recently cuts to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — which includes the National Weather Service. News 19 received no response from Strong's office regarding the proposed and actual cuts. But this week a few viewers asked about messages they got about an apparent upcoming telephone town hall with Strong. News 19 asked Strong's office when the town hall was going to take place. We did get a reply, though nothing about a date and time for a town hall. Strong's office sent News 19 the following statement Tuesday: 'Representative Strong has prioritized making himself accessible to constituents since he came into office. He has had hundreds of public appearances and roundtables, over 40 mobile office hours across the district, and regularly conducts telephone town halls to hear directly from constituents. Outside of these engagements, he and his staff remain available either through the website or by calling the office.' 12 federally indicted for immigration crimes in North Alabama Over the past few weeks, some Republican members of Congress have faced town halls that included people expressing anger over federal job and spending cuts. The Associated Press reported Tuesday U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson is advising his Republican House colleagues to avoid town hall meetings, saying paid protesters are showing up — and there's no reason to give them a platform. News 19 will provide an update on this story if we get new information about Congressman Strong's town hall. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Threats to Valentina's Pizzeria owner over Trump pizza box
MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) — Pizza boxes with artwork of President Donald Trump and his cabinet are causing quite an uproar. And you may have never seen anything quite like it. Decatur couple celebrating 70 years worth of love Valentina's famous Pizzeria, ranked number 31 on the top 50 USA pizza list, is delivering pizza boxes with cartoon graphics featuring President Trump and his cabinet on the outside of the box, and one flip to the inside, depicts Trump and a likeness to Jesus and some are not happy. 'If people don't like the boxes, then they are going to have to go somewhere else to get their pizza,' said Joe Carlucci, the owner of Valentina's. 'Jesus is inside the box saying God bless our country, God bless our president whether its Biden, Harris, Trump, Obama whoever it is.' Carlucci created one box during the 2024 presidential election, but his political support has caused quite a stir The social media response Carlucci told News 19 has been mostly negative and divisive. So much so that Yelp, the review website, dropped Valentina's from the engagement platform. Huntsville-area legislator's bill expanding access to prenatal care approved by Alabama House As a result of the boxes, Carlucci said in the past few weeks, he has received countless false 1-star reviews on Facebook and Google 'Then there is the extremist who wants to attack me and wants to come burn my place down or attack a young innocent girl that I made her say we joked around,' he said. Carlucci says he can deal with the backlash from his political stance but what really sent him over the edge was a post directed towards his 17–year-old employee. Carlucci and the employee made a joke about the presidential election being stolen, but that did not go over well on social media. 'Like I said, they can attack me all day but it's not cool to attack a 17-year-old girl. I didn't put her up to it,' Carlucci explained. Whether it's the slogans on the boxes that read, 'Make Pizza Not War' or 'Eat Pizza Not Pets' Carlucci says his messages will remain until the pizza box inventory runs out 'I don't care what people think of me because I'm not here to win a noble prize. I'm here to try and make the best pizza and customer service with my staff and if that decision on a box makes you choose to not come in here and eat, then how the hell are we going to grow.' Carlucci says there are plans to make similar animated boxes for Easter, Memorial Day and other holidays. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
