Private Aerospace Firms Want Port Canaveral Expansion

Reprinted With Permission: Story by Jim Turner, News Service of Florida

Falcon 9 on crane
A SpaceX Falcon 9 booster is lifted onto a transport cradle at Port Canaveral. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN

Private aerospace leaders want Florida lawmakers to consider steps to streamline local regulations, expand a pool of workers such as machinists and welders and provide more dock space for the industry at Port Canaveral.

Florida’s Tourism Surge Signals Economic Boost Amidst Global Travel Revival

Tourists on Beach
Photo: UCF.edu

Florida tourism is experiencing a significant resurgence, hinting at a potentially record-breaking year. The state’s tourism marketing agency, Visit Florida, reported that around 35.066 million visitors traveled to Florida during the third quarter of 2023. This marks a 1.4 percent increase over the same period in 2022 and a 7.9 percent rise from 2019, the year before the pandemic. The new numbers set a record high for 3rd quarter tourism in the state.

SpaceX’s Starship Had a Spectacular Liftoff, But Then …

Starship launches
Starship OFT -2 Launces from Space X’s Starbase in Boca Chica, TX at 7:02 AM This morning. Photo: Richard Gallagher/FMN

SpaceX’s new Starship Superheavy launch vehicle experienced it’s second Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly (RUD) in as many test flights Saturday morning. (That’s space geek talk for “it blew up”).

Flood Watch Issued for Southeast Florida Coast as Heavy Rain Looms

NWS Radar Miami
National Weather Service Radar Miami 11/15/23 11:33AM

Wednesday, November 15, 2023 – Over seven million residents along Florida’s eastern coast, from Cape Canaveral to Miami, are bracing for potentially severe flooding. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch effective from Wednesday to Thursday, encompassing major urban areas such as Melbourne, West Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale.

Tampa International Airport Anticipates Record Crowds For Thanksgiving Travel

Thanksgiving travel period could top 80,000 passengers
SWA jet taxis out at TPA
A Southwest Airlines Flight Taxis Out At TPA. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN

Tampa International Airport (TPA) is bracing for a record-breaking Thanksgiving travel period, with daily passenger volumes anticipated to average around 80,000 during the 11-day holiday stretch from November 16 to November 26. This surge in traffic is expected to peak on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the subsequent Sunday, with estimates suggesting as many as 84,000 to 87,000 passengers on each of these days.

Tampa Teacher Turned Soldier: Jesse Davidson’s Journey to the Front Lines of Israel-Hamas Conflict

Jesse Davidson fights in the IDF
Tampa Teacher Jesse Davidson serves in the Israeli Defense Force Reserves. He was called to active duty following the October 7th massacre by Hamas. Photo: Jesse Davidson/Facebook

Since the October 7th 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.

Florida House Bill Seeks to Protect Historical Monuments, Impose Penalties for Removal

An African-American Man ponders confederate monuments
Getty Images

Tallahassee, FL – A new bill introduced in the Florida House of Representatives for the 2024 session has sparked a heated debate over the protection and preservation of historical monuments in the state. House Bill 395, proposed by Representative Dean Black (R) of Jacksonville, aims to enforce stringent measures against the removal or alteration of historical monuments and memorials, including those commemorating Confederate figures.

Federal Judge Upholds Florida Law Barring Transgender Athletes from Women’s Sports Teams

Law

Tallahassee, FL – In a decision last week, U.S. District Judge Roy Altman upheld a controversial Florida law prohibiting student transgender athletes who are biological males from participating in women’s and girls’ sports teams. This ruling came on Monday as part of a 39-page decision in response to a lawsuit challenging the 2021 law.