Covering All Things Florida
When the Florida legislature convenes in an extended regular session the week of May 12th, there will be a lot of hot-button budgetary issues on the table. Probably the closest watched will be the battle over tax relief for Floridians.
Approximately 60 residents were evacuated from the 12-story South Beach III condominium at 1460 Gulf Boulevard in Clearwater on Tuesday, May 6, after construction workers discovered a significant crack in a concrete support column within the building’s ground-level parking garage. The crack, reportedly over two feet wide, raised immediate concerns about the structural integrity of the building.
A woman was killed Tuesday afternoon after an alligator attacked her near the mouth of Tiger Creek, where it flows into Lake Kissimmee, according to Florida wildlife officials. At this point in time, her name has not been released.
A man and his dog were found dead early Monday morning in what wildlife officials are investigating as a suspected bear attack in rural Collier County, Florida. The incident occurred near the intersection of State Road 29 and U.S. 41, just south of the Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) .
Imagine a scam where you’re paid more for stalling, overspending, and underdelivering. That’s NASA’s cost-plus contracts, the rotten core of the Space Launch System (SLS), Orion capsule, and Lunar Gateway. These deals, guaranteeing contractors like Boeing and Lockheed Martin profits no matter how epically they flop, are a taxpayer-funded crime scene. The real enemy? Corporate CEOs and politicians, fattened on this bottomless trough of waste, raking in millions while NASA’s programs are kept on life support, eternally late and eternally over budget. The White House’s fiscal year 2026 budget is hacking these boondoggles to pieces: it’s a Johnny Cash size middle finger to their hustle. This isn’t just about saving cash—it’s about torching a fraudulent system that’s gifting China the Moon while US taxpayers bankroll bureaucratic bloat.
After more than five decades in orbit, a relic from the first space race is making an unexpected return. Kosmos 482, a Soviet spacecraft launched in 1972 on a failed mission to Venus, is projected to reenter Earth’s atmosphere between May 8 and May 11, 2025. Experts are closely monitoring its descent, as the probe’s durable construction raises the possibility that parts of it could survive reentry and reach the Earth’s surface.
The lander has a titanium shell and shielding that could allow it to withstand reentry through Earth’s atmosphere. That seems almost likely, given that the descent module of Kosmos 482 was made to travel through Venus’s atmosphere all the way to the surface of Earth’s “evil twin.” If it survives intact, it could slam into the ground at speeds up to 150 mph. While chances are rated as low as being struck by lightning, there is a higher than zero chance that the spacecraft could land on Florida.
Less is more – that’s the thinking of the Florida legislature when it comes to the use of cell phones in schools. Last week, Florida lawmakers passed legislation that expands restrictions on student cellphone use in public schools. The new measures, part of Senate Bill 1296, prohibit the use of cellphones throughout the entire school day for elementary and middle school students and initiate a pilot program to test similar restrictions in select high schools.
Florida is buzzing with activity this weekend, offering a diverse lineup of things to do across the state. From high-speed racing in Miami to craft beer tastings in St. Augustine, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Hard times for the Space Coast’s local economy might be ahead.
The Administration’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget includes a 24.3% reduction in NASA’s funding, decreasing the agency’s budget from $24.8 billion to $18.8 billion. This so-called “skinny” budget blueprint is a high level one short of full details, which will be forthcoming. After that, Congress will take up and begin debate on a budget bill.
This proposed significant cut threatens to eliminate key programs and could result in substantial job losses at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC), a cornerstone of the Space Coast’s economy, and that will have ripple effects that everyone who lives in the region will feel.
Florida boasts numerous serene and secluded beaches away from the typical tourist spots. If you want a memorable getaway, consider these five uncrowded beaches in Florida that offer tranquility and beautiful surroundings:
Since the October 7th 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas, members of Florida’s Jewish community have responded in a multitude of different ways. Some fight the battle here at home, facing stepped up antisemitic activities, while others are taking an even more direct approach to fighting terror.
