U.S. Steel Expansion in Fairfield: U.S. Steel approved about a $475M quench-and-temper line at its Fairfield Tubular Operations, aiming for full production by Q2 2029 and adding a VR-based training center. Defense & Aerospace Growth: Alabama earned Area Development’s 2026 Silver Shovel Award, citing Space Command and Eli Lilly’s Huntsville expansion as major job drivers. Manufacturing Supply Chain: Italian supplier Vulcaflex announced nearly $70M to build its first U.S. plant in Auburn, creating 130 jobs for synthetic leather components. Aviation & Public Safety: Neptune Aviation took delivery of its first Airbus A319 at a Dothan facility, with conversions for aerial firefighting planned for the 2028 wildfire season. Workforce & Training: ACCS Innovation Center promoted 20 no-cost/low-cost job training courses in construction and architecture, while Alabama also highlighted dozens of great job training options statewide. Aquaculture Milestone: An Alabama Gulf nearshore aquaculture project off Fort Morgan harvested its first fish after permits and agreements cleared. Policy & Courts (Alabama angle): Alabama joined a 17-state lawsuit challenging California’s plastics packaging law, arguing it violates the Commerce Clause and raises costs. SNAP Ruling: A federal judge blocked a SNAP rule that would have limited what recipients could buy, saying the USDA lacked authority. Local Governance: Lawrence County Republican primary runoffs set up new GOP nominees for two commission seats.