Mixed-use development moves forward in downtown Huntsville
The Huntsville city council has taken steps to propel a $62 million mix of residential, office and retail on 25 long-vacant acres on Memorial Parkway at Clinton Avenue. Developer Scott McLain won $3 million in city incentives at the council meeting Thursday. — AL.com
Study looks for cause of rural South health issues
People who live in the rural South — in Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi — live shorter lives and are often burdened with heart, lung, blood and sleep disorders. A new study by University of Alabama at Birmingham researchers aims to discover why. — UAB
Watch out for highway workers
Nearly three-quarters of highway work zones in Alabama were hit by a passing motorist last year, according to a study by the Associated General Contractors of America. There were 25 fatal accidents in 2017, the most recent data available. The industry association has launched a campaign reminding drivers to be careful in work zones. — AGC
Looking for work? Try nursing or retail sales
The Alabama Department of Labor reports that the most job openings are in retail sales and for registered nurses, followed by truck driving, based on April data. Retails sales people earn on average $13.28 per hour, while registered nurses earn $29.09 and truck drivers $20.23. — Ala. Dept. of Labor
Via takes off from Alabama, permanently
Via Airlines announced yesterday that it’s pulling out of Birmingham. It pulled out of Mobile last month, just as the new Downtown Airport was opening. — AL.com
Austal protests loss of $931 million planning yard contract to HII
Austal USA, with a major shipyard in Mobile, filed a protest this week with the Government Accountability Office, seeking review of a $931 million Littoral Combat Ship planning yard services contract that was awarded to Huntington Ingalls Industries last month. Austal builds the LCS in Mobile. — Inside Defense
