Raytheon delivers first anti-drone laser weapon to Air Force
Raytheon has announced that it delivered the first publicly acknowledged anti-drone laser weapon to the U.S. Air Force earlier this month. The military contractor said the Air Force will deploy the weapon in a year-long experiment overseas in order to train people how to use it and test its effectiveness in the real world. – Gizmodo
Rocket City represents at international space conference in D.C.
A Huntsville team including business leaders, economic development specialists and elected officials is representing Alabama’s “Rocket City” at this week’s International Astronautical Congress, a major conference focusing on space. Huntsville is the only community to participate among 170-plus corporate, state and national exhibitors at the 70th annual IAC, which has attracted agency heads and senior executives of the world’s space agencies. – Made In Alabama
Ignite! Alabama teaches hundreds about resources to start businesses
Wednesday, the upper area of Regions Field transformed into a gathering spot of experienced business owners and those thinking of diving in for the first time. This was part of the first Ignite! Alabama- a collaboration between the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs and the Alabama Black Womens Roundtable. – ABC3340
Alabama Power to pay $222K in penalties following fish kill
Alabama Power has agreed to pay more than $222,000 in penalties and other compensation following a fish kill that happened last March in Walker County. The fish died after a fire suppressant spilled into Baker Creek on the Black Warrior River. That’s after a fire protection system malfunctioned at Alabama Power’s Plant Gorgas. – ABC3340
Now that state has road money, it ponders concrete vs. asphalt
The state’s six-cent gas tax increase is now in effect and the money will go directly to road work projects. The question before lawmakers is whether to use concrete or asphalt to repair and maintain Alabama’s roads. Now that the gas tax increase is in effect, lawmakers say the debate over concrete or asphalt comes down to safety and cost. The Legislative Joint Transportation Committee met Wednesday to talk about roadwork in Alabama, while also seeking input from engineers. – WHNT
UAB gets $2.8 million grant for addiction care training
A grant awarded to UAB’s School of Nursing will aid recognizing and treating patients with substance abuse issues in rural and underserved communities. The four-year, $2.8 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration will help prepare 16 primary care nurse practitioners per year who want to work in areas where access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment is limited. – AL.com
Ford Q3 profits fall 57%, guidance lowered for the year
This is not shaping up to be quite the “year of execution” Ford Motor Co. CEO Jim Hackett promised. Amid a 57% slide in third-quarter net profits tied to its global restructuring, the automaker said Wednesday it is lowering its guidance for the year. The Blue Oval expects higher warranty charges, higher-than-planned incentives and struggling sales in China to drag on profits through the end of the year, Ford officials said Wednesday. – Detroit News
