Aerospace & Defense Expansion: Redwire will expand its Huntsville campus by 164,000 square feet, adding about 150 high-skilled jobs and about $8.5 million in state and local incentives, with construction targeted to finish by late 2027. Manufacturing Investment: Doncasters (DPC Holdings) plans a $50 million Auburn facility, expected to create about 70 jobs over three years, as the company ramps up demand for precision cast components and superalloys. Food Safety & Health: The FDA walked back a key cyclospora finding tied to Taylor Farms, saying a lettuce sample was a false positive, while the company’s 27-state recall remains in effect and investigators continue tracing the outbreak. Public Health: U.S. overdose deaths fell 13.2% year over year, but analysts warn policy and funding shifts could reverse gains. Workforce & Economy: Alabama hit a record 2,224,200 wage-and-salary jobs in June, while unemployment ticked up to 3.2%. Consumer Costs: Gas prices stayed a focus locally, with Elmore County’s lowest premium reported at $3.97 for the week ending July 11. Workforce Training: BluWorkz expanded VR forklift training across Alabama with Phase 2, adding 17 simulators to support high school career pathways. Education & Skills: Northwest Shoals Community College reported 90 graduates from its adult education program. Politics & Business Climate: A Jefferson County sheriff’s employee case is set for state settlement, tied to alleged COVID-era fraud and campaign-related money flows. Student Debt Pressure: Student loan defaults surged to record levels, with about 1 in 5 federal borrowers over nine months behind.