🌱 Patch AM: How a UAH grad student helped spot the fastest cosmic explosion

Hello Huntsville! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

• How a UAH grad student helped spot the fastest cosmic explosion
• What investigators say happened before shots rang out on Mastin Lake
• What NASA’s new chief means for Huntsville’s space future

Also on today's calendar: Sewing Studio and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Rain and a t-storm; breezy, with a high of 59 and low of 34 degrees.
• Friday: Mostly sunny and cooler, temps: high: 46, low: 28.
• Saturday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 61 and low of 44 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• UAH student leads groundbreaking gamma-ray discovery (hvilleblast.com) — A University of Alabama in Huntsville graduate student has led the discovery of the fastest gamma-ray burst ever recorded, using data from NASA’s Fermi telescope. Her work with the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor team, based at UAH and Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, highlights the city’s growing role in cutting-edge space science and offers a point of pride for local residents.
   

• Huntsville woman accused of tracking ex before deadly shooting, investigator testifies (waff.com) — Huntsville police testimony is revealing new details in a local murder case, including claims that the suspect tracked her ex-boyfriend’s phone before a deadly shooting in a church parking lot on Mastin Lake Road. Investigators say a witness in the car with the victim heard gunshots moments after he approached the suspect’s vehicle, and the accused remains free on bond.
   

• Entrepreneur who donated $15 million to Space Camp confirmed as NASA chief (al.com) — NASA’s newly confirmed chief Jared Isaacman has deep ties to Huntsville, from attending Space Camp to donating $25 million toward the U.S. Space & Rocket Center’s Inspiration4 training complex and new dorms. He highlighted Huntsville as home to Marshall Space Flight Center and pledged strong support for Artemis, the ISS, and future missions that keep Marshall central to America’s space efforts.
   

📸 Around Huntsville

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Huntsville

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Thursday December 18

• Sewing Studio
  Huntsville-Madison County Public Library , 915 Monroe St SW , Huntsville
  9:00 am
• Bridge Street Town Centre Hosts Santa Photos and Extended Hours for Last-Minute Gifting
  Bridge Street Town Centre , 365 The Brg St NW , Huntsville
  10:00 am
• Crafts & Laughs Movies
  Madison Public Library , 142 Plaza Blvd , Madison
  6:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• The Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner Show - Huntsville, AL
  DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Huntsville South , 6000 Memorial Pkwy SW , Huntsville
  6:00 pm

Sunday December 21

• Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings
  The Royal at Stovehouse Event Center 3414 Governors Drive Southwest Huntsville, Alabama 35805
  8:45 pm

Monday December 22

• Game Box Unplugged
  Monrovia Public Library , 254 Allen Drake Dr , Huntsville
  1:00 pm

Saturday December 27

• Yappy Hour Infodump Party
  Madison Public Library , 142 Plaza Blvd , Madison
  1:00 pm
• The Zooks @ The Fraternal Order of Eagles - Huntsville
  Fraternal Order of Eagles #3263 , 2500 10th St SW , Huntsville
  7:30 pm

📣 Huntsville Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Farm City Christmas Market
  Athens, AL Calendar , 409 W. Green St. , Athens
  12:00 pm
• Christmas Light Show
  Toyota Field , 500 Trash Panda Wy , Madison
  5:59 pm
• Shadracks Christmas Wonderland - Madison
  Toyota Field , 500 Trash Panda Wy , Madison
  5:59 pm
• JHES Christmas Program
  Julian Harris Elementary School Decatur, AL 35603
  6:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• My son's kitty got out Friday and we have searched day and night since then we have her blankets and food out and I've checked the shelter n other groups so far no luck so I'm gonna try here.
  Please if anyone sees beans ( beanie weenie she is almost a year old but she's tiny for a full grown cat. She is super missed and loved please let me… (Nextdoor Westfield)
• FOUND DOG: My neighbor found this sweet pup in the neighborhood behind Lee High School near the intersection of Vinyard Street and Belle Meade Drive.
  The pup showed up Friday afternoon, but wouldn't let anyone get near her. My neighbor put food/water and a warm bed in a box out for the pup. The pup… (Nextdoor Lee High)

• Huntsville Utilities will temporarily close the northbound lane of Slaughter Road at Eastview Drive beginning at 7:30. on Dec 16 to perform... (X: MadisonAlabama)
• SEATTLE (AP) — The extent of the damage in Washington state is profound but unclear after more than a week of heavy rains and record flooding, Gov... (X: whnt)

• Sam's Club posted a job opening for Baker and Packager Associate in Huntsville. Apply here.
• Domino's Pizza, Inc. posted a job opening for Assistant Manager(05871) - 401 Andrew Jackson Way in Huntsville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Huntsville here.

🗞 Nearby News

Redstone Arsenal

• Army orders nine new UH-60M and HH-60M helicopters, avionics, and sensors in $433.2 million deal (militaryaerospace.com)
• ALDOT Advances $143 Million I-65 Widening Project in Shelby County (speakinoutweeklynews.net)

Madison

• Nominations open for 2026 Madison Visionary Awards (themadisonrecord.com)
• Owens Cross Roads city attorney provides update on lawsuit against Pathway (whnt.com)
• Helena trucker involved in fatal 2-vehicle north Alabama crash (cbs42.com)

Ok Huntsville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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