In today’s Bulldog wrapup of science and technology news:

  • Jeff Bezos’ space outfit, Blue Origin, to bring hundreds of jobs to Alabama
  • Avis teams up with Waymo on self-driving car program
  • Super Nintendo gets the miniature console treatment
  • Germany’s Merkel doesn’t tweet, but checks Trump on Twitter

The details:

  • Jeff Bezos’ space outfit, Blue Origin, to bring hundreds of jobs to Alabama

Jeff Bezos is going to build rockets in Alabama.

Governor Kay Ivey said on Monday that Blue Origin, Bezos’ private spaceflight company, will build a facility in Huntsville to manufacture BE-4 rocket engines.

The decision “helps cement Alabama as the preferred destination for the aerospace industry,” Ivey said.

[VIDEO: Watch a video report about Bezos’ Blue Origin at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaqHzbhIfP0 ]

The 200,000 square foot plant will create up to 342 new manufacturing jobs. Blue Origin will make about $200 million in capital investments in Alabama, according to the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. Ivey said the new hires will make an average salary of $75,000 a year, plus benefits.

Related: Jeff Bezos’ new rocket has its first customer

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said the plant will hire engineers, designers, and advanced manufacturers among others, and that he expects the facility to generate approximately 700 other jobs at restaurants and stores near the facility.

Huntsville has been nicknamed “Rocket City,” because of its robust aerospace industry. It is home to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, as well as to 300 aerospace and defense contractors. Blue Origin President Robert Meyerson said his company picked Huntsville because of its “skilled workforce and leading role in rocket propulsion development.”

Construction on the facility will begin once Blue Origin receives a production contract from United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Lockheed Martin and Boeing that has partnered with Blue Origin to make the BE-4 engines. The deal also needs final government approval.

  • Avis teams up with Waymo on self-driving car program

Avis is teaming up with Waymo on a self-driving car program.

The partnership aims to support Waymo’s fleet and its early rider program, which has a public trial in Phoenix.

Avis Budget Group Inc. said Monday that it will provide fleet support and maintenance services for Waymo’s program at its Avis and Budget car rental locations. Under the multiyear deal, Waymo’s cars will receive automotive services such as cleanings and oil changes from Avis and be allowed to park at its locations.

Waymo, owned by Google parent company Alphabet Inc., will continue to own and run its self-driving cars and will continue with its existing partnerships.

  • Super Nintendo gets the miniature console treatment

Nintendo is once again packing nostalgia into a tiny package.

Following the success of the miniature-sized NES Classic Edition last year — which became one of the hottest gifts of the 2016 holiday shopping season — Nintendo announced on Monday another play on an old console: the Super NES Classic Edition.

The small version of the Super Nintendo gaming system will include 21 built-in games, including “Super Mario World,” “Yoshi’s Island” and new titles such as “Star Fox 2.”

The SNES Classic will launch on September 29 and cost $79.99.

It has the look and feel of the 90s home console but is packaged into a smaller, more portable body. The system includes two wired controllers that fit in the palm of your hand. The NES Classic only came with one.

Nintendo isn’t the only company playing up nostalgia. Earlier this month, gaming company AtGames announced mini versions of its retro consoles, the Atari Flashback 8 Gold and the Sega Genesis Flashback. Both will go on sale this fall.

  • Germany’s Merkel doesn’t tweet, but checks Trump on Twitter

German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she doesn’t really do Twitter, but sometimes visits the site to check out what U.S. President Donald Trump has to say.

The chancellor said during a talk with two journalists from German women’s magazine Brigitte on Monday, “I do not tweet.”

However, Merkel qualified that she does look on Twitter — especially when she’s interested in a specific topic.

Merkel said, “I use it sometimes … then I enter Donald Trump on Twitter and I have it all” — a remark that drew big laughs from the audience at a Berlin theater where the chancellor was interviewed.

Merkel added that she doesn’t need to see every one of the prolific president’s tweets herself because media outlets are doing a good job reporting on his newsworthy ones.