🌱 Madison County Tourism Growth + Mike Pence Speaks On Space Command

Good morning, everybody. It's Tuesday in Huntsville and I'm back in your inbox with everything that's fit to print about what's happening in the community. Hope you all have a great day.

But first, today's weather:

Cloudy, heavy t-storms; humid. High: 77 Low: 67.

From our sponsor:

Today’s Huntsville Patch newsletter is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. T-Mobile has invested billions to light up their best network ever, covering 99% of people in America with LTE, which helps to keep communities like ours informed and connected. We thank T-Mobile for their support and for making today’s Huntsville Patch newsletter possible.

Here are the top three stories today in Huntsville:

1. According to the 2022 Alabama Tourism Economic Report, Madison County's tourism sector brought in $2.1 billion in revenue last year, a 20 percent increase from 2021. The report revealed that Madison County was the second most visited among Alabama counties, and the increase in tourism also saw the creation of 1,000 new jobs. Likewise, tourism from tax revenue saw an increase of almost 20 percent, totaling over $10 million last year. (Huntsville Business Journal)
2. A Huntsville man has been arrested and charged with attempted murder. Theodore Gaines, 43, has been accused of pointing an "AR-style pistol" at his brother while threatening to kill him. For this incident, the weapon was taken by investigators and Gaines was arrested and charged with certain persons forbidden to possess firearms. Officers were called back to the same address, and Gaines is accused of pointing a different pistol at his brother, which discharged inside the house during a struggle. Gaines was taken into custody and charged with attempted murder. (WAFF)
3. Former Vice President Mike Pence was in town over the weekend to speak at the Gridiron Men's Conference at the Von Braun Center. He spoke in support of Huntsville as the permanent location for U.S. Space Command's headquarters, noting the city's long history with space travel and innovation. He emphasized that the only place the headquarters should be is in the hub of the American space program. (AL.com)

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Today in Huntsville:

• Paint Night With Rocket City Roller Derby At Pinot's Palette Huntsville (6:30 PM)
• Tuesday Trivia Night At Urban Cookhouse (6:30 PM)
• An Evening With James Taylor & His All-Star Band At The Orion Amphitheater (7:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• On Monday evenings from 4:00-6:00 p.m. through August, you can walk your dog through the Huntsville Botanical Garden. Click here to learn more about Dog Nights at the Garden. (Huntsville Botanical Garden via Facebook)
• Legacy Park will have a grand opening celebration on Jun. 28 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. There will be free ice cream and Fitness Court demonstrations. (Huntsville Parks and Recreation via Facebook)
• There are lots of great events coming up at the Huntsville Madison County Public Library! There will be a magic show at Gurley Public Library on Jun. 21 at 12:00 p.m. and a Pen Friends program on Jun. 23 at 10:00 a.m. at Madison Public Library. (Huntsville Madison County Public Library via Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured events:

• T-Mobile Tuesdays: Fresh Perks Every Week (June 20)
• Social Security Seminar at South Huntsville Public Library (June 22)
• Breast Ultrasound Screening Coming Direct to You! (June 23)
• Add your event

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Tuesday. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— Joyce Nash

About me: Joyce is a freelance writer and poet whose work has appeared in the Hello Gloria newsletter and Nine Cloud Journal. Her background ranges from journalism to fitness instruction and spans the east coast to the West. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her husband and two cats.