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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Last night, the King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne became a sanctuary for blues-rock aficionados as Joe Bonamassa delivered a sold-out performance that capped his US Spring Tour 2025 with electrifying finesse. The three-time Grammy-nominated guitarist, backed by a stellar ensemble of veteran musicians, reaffirmed his status as a titan of the genre, blending fresh tracks from his latest album Time Clocks with timeless favorites that spanned his prolific career.
With auto races in Miami and Pensacola, and a major golf event in between, there’s no shortage of things to do in Florida this weekend. And then there’s the circus, an arts festival, a boat show, a tennis match, and…well you get the picture!
A few weeks back, FMN’s Charles Boyer reported on Florida’s trial of a new State Park reservation system for day users. How did it go? The results are coming in….
Joe Bonamassa on KTBAS lX. Image by Richard P Gallagher | FMN
March 18, 2025
MELBOURNE, FLORIDA — The humid air of Melbourne, Florida, will buzz with anticipation as blues-rock titan Joe Bonamassa takes the stage at the King Center for the Performing Arts March 19th at 8pm.
