Covering All Things Florida
On December 4th, word began leaking out that President-elect Trump may be considering Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for a cabinet post. While the move is far from certain as of this writing, what would happen if he did appoint DeSantis? That would leave some big shoes to fill in the Governor’s office.
In an announcement that has sparked widespread interest in both political and aerospace circles, former President Donald Trump has nominated billionaire entrepreneur and SpaceX partner Jared Isaacman as the next NASA Administrator. The announcement was made during a press conference today at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, where Trump praised Isaacman’s leadership in private space exploration and innovation.
The plan to develop some of Florida’s state parks with new amenities such as golf courses and pickleball courts has not yet been cancelled, but after overwhelmingly negative feedback from the public and pushback from Florida’s two US Senators, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection has rescheduled public meetings and created a web page for the public to offer their feedback.
Members of the Sarasota County School Board voted on Tuesday night in favor of a resolution calling for the resignation of board member Bridget Ziegler. The vote comes in the wake of a criminal sexual assault investigation involving her husband, Christian Ziegler, the chairman of the state Republican Party.
NASA is working to resume science operations of the agency’s Hubble Space Telescope after it entered safe mode November 23rd due to an ongoing gyroscope issue. The agency is also saying that the venerable spacecraft is stable and that otherwise the instrument is “in good health.”
NASA has received a “clean” opinion from an external auditor on its fiscal year 2023 financial statements.
Washington, D.C. – In a decision handed down on Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a lower court’s injunction against a Florida law aimed at restricting drag shows, a move that is seen as a win for LGBTQ+ First Amendment advocates.
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.
In a contentious and emotionally charged Special Session, the Florida House of Representatives became an arena of intense debate over a resolution introduced by Rep. Angie Nixon, a Democrat from Jacksonville. The resolution, which pleaded for a cease-fire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, swiftly ignited controversy and drew criticism from within her party as well as across the aisle.
Rashida Talib speaks to supporters Photo: Screenshot, Michigan Radio
In a dramatic session that extended into late Tuesday, the US House of Representatives voted 234-188 to censure Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan for her remarks about the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The resolution marks a rare rebuke for Tlaib. Tlaib is the only Palestinian American in Congress, and underscores the current deep divisions over Middle East policy.
The 2023 Florida Freedom Summit, hosted by the Republican Party of Florida, was a high energy showcase of the GOP presidential candidates and their visions for the future of the country. The event, held at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee, Florida, on November 4th, attracted more than 3,000 attendees who cheered and booed the speakers throughout the day.
Something new! SpaceX will launch a Falcon9 rocket carrying a Dragon cargo capsule. The mission, labeled CRS-2 SpX-29 (Commercial Resupply Service), is filled with supplies going to the International Space Station (ISS). It is scheduled for lift-off on November 9, 2023. The launch window is from 8:28pm to 1:28am Friday morning. It will launch from LC39A at KSC in Florida. The first stage booster will perform a boost back maneuver and return to land zone 1 at CCAFS in Florida. A sonic boom will be heard about 8 minutes after launch, depending on how far the viewing location is from LZ1.
