When the Flames Rose, FSU Students Stepped Up: A 1969 Tale of Unity

When the Flames Rose, FSU Students Stepped Up: A 1969 Tale of Unity

The scene on college campuses over the last few years has been pretty chaotic, with student protests erupting over everything from Gaza to gay rights. Social media and news feeds are full of stories of protests, campus takeovers, and vandalism. But this wasn’t the first generation to resort to these tactics, and it certainly won’t be the last.

FSU Students protest last year. Photo: FSU News
FSU Students protest last year. Photo: FSU News
Off The Beaten Path – A Florida Hidden Gem

Off The Beaten Path – A Florida Hidden Gem

If you are looking for a unique, beautiful place to visit in Florida that’s off the beaten path, we may just have the answer. Nestled in the heart of Delray Beach lies a serene escape that offers a unique blend of culture, history, and natural beauty that’s unlike anything else you’re likely to see here.

Yamoto-Kan  Photo: Morikami Museum
Yamoto-Kan Photo: Morikami Museum
Dolphins

What Killed The Dolphins? There May Finally Be An Answer

dolphins

In 2013, Florida’s Indian River Lagoon witnessed a significant and alarming increase in bottlenose dolphin deaths, with 77 individual dolphins—approximately 8% of the local population—succumbing to what was classified as an Unusual Mortality Event (UME). The Indian River Lagoon is a shallow-water estuary located along Florida’s east coast, stretching approximately 156 miles from Ponce de Leon Inlet near New Smyrna Beach southward through Brevard County, and on to Jupiter Inlet in Palm Beach County. 

REAL ID sample

Planning To Fly or Cruise Soon? Make Sure You Have REAL ID.

Sample REAL ID for Florida
Sample REAL ID from Florida DMV

As of May 7, 2025- just one short month from now- significant changes will take effect regarding identification requirements for Americans. With the coming enforcement of the REAL ID Act, individuals who want to board US domestic flights or enter government facilities will need to possess a REAL ID-compliant form of identification (And yes, Florida’s cruise terminals count as a government facility). There are only a few exceptions, such as states that issue what is known as “Enhanced ID” – Enhanced Driver’s Licenses (EDLs) issued by Washington, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Vermont.  The government says REAL ID requirements will be strictly enforced. Here’s how to make sure you are ready.

τ Coronae Borealis

Astronomers Say Star Will Go Nova Soon

τ Coronae Borealis going nova.
Visualization courtesy NASA

Astronomers worldwide are eagerly anticipating a rare celestial event: a star exploding. Even better, the explosion and its remnants will be visible to the naked eye, and it will be visible from Florida.

The event centers around T Coronae Borealis (T CrB), a binary star system located approximately 3,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Corona Borealis. This system, comprising a white dwarf and a red giant, is expected to undergo a nova outburst in the very near future.

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.

Steinbrenner Field

Tampa Bay Rays Open Their Home Season Tonight In A Minor League Park

​The Tampa Bay Rays are poised to commence their 2025 season this afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, a temporary relocation necessitated by significant hurricane damage to their usual home, Tropicana Field. If the name Steinbrenner rings a bell, it is because the ballpark is owned by the New York Yankees and is named for their iconic former owner.

A Blues Odyssey: My Journey to Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea X 

A Blues Odyssey: My Journey to Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea X 

Muireann Bradley from Ballybofey in County Down singing Candy Man Blues. Image by Richard P Gallagher | FMN

Florida is full of things to do, and no doubt cruising is one of the most popular. FMN’s Richard Gallagher recently spent a week pursuing hidden gems in one of his passions: the Blues. Read Richard’s account of what he discovered on the Norwegian Gem during a “Blues Cruise” from Miami last week.

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
10 Things In Florida You Probably Didn’t Know About

10 Things In Florida You Probably Didn’t Know About

Woman in room at Jules Undersea Park Key Largo
Photo: Jules

Florida is famous for its sunshine, beaches, and theme parks – but it also hides some truly quirky stuff. Beyond the usual attractions, the Sunshine State boasts odd historical tales, unique geography, curious wildlife, and cultural surprises. Here are ten fun and little-known places and facts about Florida that might just amaze you. If you’re looking for things to do or see in Florida, here’s a good start.

Blackbeard

Pirates Once Ruled Florida’s Waves

Florida’s coastline has long been a magnet for treasure hunters, history buffs, and, let’s be honest, anyone who’s ever daydreamed about stumbling upon Pieces of Eight while digging in the sand. Central to these tales is the story of the 1715 Spanish Treasure Fleet, also known as the Plate Fleet. This fleet’s misadventures off Florida’s coast have left a legacy of sunken riches and countless stories. To this day, treasure hunters and metal detectorists alike search for lost gold and jewelry, and from time to time, they find it.

Blackbeard
Blackbeard