From Glamour to Gravity: The Controversy Surrounding NS-31 And The Future of Blue Origin

From Glamour to Gravity: The Controversy Surrounding NS-31 And The Future of Blue Origin

Crew of Blue Origin’s NS-31 mission, clockwise from left: Lauren Sánchez, Amanda Nguyen, Katy Perry, Gayle King, Aisha Bowe and Kerrianne Flynn.

I wasn’t going to even write an article on this because, like many others, I didn’t view the NS-31 flight as newsworthy, at least from a scientific or technological standpoint. But there is a deeper story here – why does Blue Origin seem to be squandering time, money, and resources on this particular program? The real money is in launch contracts, and SpaceX appears to be leaving Blue Origin (aka Blue) behind on the proverbial pad.

EV Boom Leaves Florida’s Transportation Budget Running on Empty

EV Boom Leaves Florida’s Transportation Budget Running on Empty

Florida TaxWatch Report on EV's
Florida TaxWatch Report on Electric Vehicle Usage in the state.

Florida’s roads are getting busier, but the gas tax revenue that pays for their upkeep is heading in the opposite direction—and electric vehicles are at the center of it. According to a new report by Florida TaxWatch, the Sunshine State is losing as much as $78 million a year in fuel tax revenue thanks to the rising popularity of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. And with more Floridians plugging in instead of filling up, lawmakers are grappling with how to replace that lost income.

Atlas V to Launch Heaviest Payload Yet with Amazon’s Project Kuiper Satellites on April 9

Atlas V to Launch Heaviest Payload Yet with Amazon’s Project Kuiper Satellites on April 9

Amazon is set to launch its first 27 production satellites for Project Kuiper aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket on April 9, 2025. The launch is scheduled for noon EDT from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, with a three-hour launch window.

Atlas V lifts off. Credit: United Launch Alliance/Ben Cooper
Credit: United Launch Alliance / Ben Cooper
Hooters in New port Richey

Back to its Roots: Clearwater Founders Step in as Hooters Files for Bankruptcy

Original Hooters 
The Original Hooters in Clearwater, Florida   Photo: Hooters / Facebook
The Original Hooters in Clearwater, Florida Photo: Hooters / Facebook

Hooters, the iconic Clearwater-founded restaurant chain known for its chicken wings and distinctive “Hooters Girls,” has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The filing comes as part of a strategic plan to restructure the company and facilitate a sale to a group of franchisees, including some of the original Clearwater, Florida founders.

Drones often carry cameras, raising privacy concerns.

Privacy or Public Interest? Drone Dispute In The Villages May Shape Florida Law

Generic Drone Photo / File

In The Villages, Florida, a legal dispute has emerged between local drone operators and the community’s developer over the use of drones to document construction projects. Don Wiley, a Sumter County Commissioner and licensed commercial drone pilot, has been at the center of this controversy. A law firm says Wiley’s use of his drone runs afoul of Florida’s drone law. Wiley vehemently disagrees, citing both legal precedent and his First Amendment rights.

Welcome to Sun N' Fun T-33 on pole

Florida’s Biggest Airshow Kicks Off Next Week

As the calendar flips to April, aviation enthusiasts of all ages are gearing up for a week at the second largest airshow in the United States. The SUN ‘n FUN Aerospace Expo 2025 is set to kick off on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Lakeland, Florida.

An F-35 Lightning II makes a high-speed pass, appearing to take the control tower with it. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN
An F-35 Lightning II makes a high-speed pass, appearing to take the control tower with it. Photo: Mark Stone/FMN
Florida Builders Offering Strong Incentives For Buyers

Florida Builders Offering Strong Incentives For Buyers

If you are looking to buy a house in Florida, homebuilders want to talk to you! Amid a rapidly softening market, one builder is offering some of the best incentives yet for prospective buyers. The current Florida market conditions and incentives may make it easier for first-time homebuyers, who are traditionally required to come up with large down payments and closing costs.

New home under construction - Wikimedia Commons
Mystery Animal Caught On South Florida Trailcam

Mystery Animal Caught On South Florida Trailcam

A recent trail camera photograph taken on public lands in Southwest Florida has sparked widespread curiosity and debate among Florida wildlife enthusiasts and experts. The image, shared by the South Florida Wildlands Association (SFWA) on Facebook, features a nocturnal creature with a long tail, dark fur, and glowing eyes, prompting a flurry of online speculation regarding its identity.​

This image of a large-eared animal was captured recently on public lands in South Florida. The internet is abuzz with speculation about what it is. Photo: South Florida Wildlands Assoc. trail cam / Facebook.
This image of a large-eared animal was captured recently on public lands in South Florida. The internet is abuzz with speculation about what it is. Photo: South Florida Wildlands Assoc. trail cam / Facebook.
Blackened Grouper – The Taste Of Florida Perfection

Blackened Grouper – The Taste Of Florida Perfection

Blackened Grouper - Photo

Florida is renowned for its stunning beaches, diverse wildlife, and vibrant culture—but equally as important is its rich culinary tradition, brimming with fresh seafood and local flavors. Among these is a distinctly Floridian delicacy: Blackened Grouper. Popular along Florida’s Gulf Coast, this flavorful Florida dish can turn any home kitchen into a seaside eatery. Here’s how to create your own exclusive Blackened Grouper right at home.