Covering All Things Florida
Reprinted With Permission: Story by Jim Turner, News Service of Florida
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.
As Floridians gear up for Thanksgiving, they are greeted with a welcome relief at the gas pumps. The state is witnessing a significant drop in the average gas price, with prices now reaching a new low for the year 2023. As of Sunday, the average price per gallon stands at $3.04, marking a decrease of 15 cents from the previous week and the lowest since late December 2022. This figure is notably lower than the $3.41 per gallon drivers paid during last year’s Thanksgiving.
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.
In an event that captivated space enthusiasts worldwide, SpaceX’s latest Starship vehicle, hailed as the most powerful rocket ever manufactured, encountered an unexpected conclusion in its test flight early this morning. The day began with an air of excitement and anticipation as crowds gathered at Boca Chica, Texas, with the closure of Boca Chica Blvd. at midnight.
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”).
Boca Chica, TX -Starbase- After a disappointing launch delay yesterday, SpaceX crews remained busy throughout the night to correct an issue with the grid fin actuators on the Starship Super Heavy.
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.
Elon Musk just announced a one day delay to replace a grid fin actuator….
The FAA announced on Twitter at 4:15 ET today that it has granted a launch license to SpaceX for the second orbital launch attempt of the Starship SuperHeavy rocket.
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 (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.
