Huntsville gives $250k to space museum

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) - Huntsville officials have decided to give $250,000 in emergency funding to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center as it tries to get its finances in the black.
The City Council approved the 1-time funding Thursday.
Mayor Tommy Battle says the $250,000 is in addition to $75,000 earmarked for the Space Center in the city's 2012 budget. He calls it a wise investment of city money. The center drew about 550,000 visitors last year.
The funding comes after the Space Center's second round of layoffs this year. It owes about $19 million related to construction of the Davidson Center for Space Exploration, the Saturn V rocket and other projects. It must make a $500,000 debt service payment every six months.