Covering All Things Florida
After months of costly delays, the legendary SS United States, once the fastest ship to cross the Atlantic, finally left its longtime home in Philadelphia on February 19, 2025. Its ultimate destination? The warm waters off Florida’s Gulf Coast.
When one thinks of moonshining — making illegal liquor — more often than not an image of the Appalachian mountains is the first thing that comes to mind. While it’s true that the hollers and hilltops of North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky were hotbeds of moonshining, there was also a great deal of activity here in the Sunshine State, the effects of which can be felt even today.
Florida’s relationship with moonshine and bootlegging is as rich and complex as the state’s vast, varied landscape. From the early days of the Prohibition era to the modern revival of craft distilleries paying homage to illegal whiskey-making traditions, the Sunshine State has long been home to an underground economy of illicit liquor production. Florida’s dense swamps, rural backroads, and expansive coastline provided the perfect conditions for moonshiners and smugglers to thrive both then and now. While often romanticized in popular culture, the business of illegal alcohol in Florida was fraught with danger, ingenuity, and ongoing battles between outlaws and law enforcement, some of which continues even today.
February 21, 2025
NASA astronauts Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, now in their 261st day aboard the International Space Station (ISS), remain at the center of a prolonged mission saga sparked by Boeing’s troubled Starliner spacecraft. Their extended stay, originally planned as an eight-day test flight, has escalated into a public spectacle, fueled by technical setbacks, political rhetoric, and a fiery online spat between SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and former ISS commander Andreas Mogensen on February 20, 2025.
The second stage from SpaceX’s Falcon 9 used to launch Starlink 11-4 from Vandenberg on February 1st has apparently re-entered Earth’s atmosphere, with parts of the spacecraft’s debris reaching the ground in Poland. Initially entering over the Irish Sea, the reentering body broke apart, and the debris path of the spacecraft continued over the UK, western European countries including Poland and Ukraine.
Parts of the rocket body, including a suspected pressure vessel, were found near Poznan, Poland today, prompting local investigations into the incident and public safety concerns.
At the time of this writing, SpaceX has not confirmed that the debris is theirs, but according to the FAA, the company is investigating the matter.
From the “Things to Do in Florida” department – Crystal River, Florida, is known as one of the best places in the world to experience an up-close encounter with the gentle giants of the sea—manatees. Every year, thousands of visitors flock to this charming coastal town to witness the slow-moving, curious creatures that have captured the hearts of nature enthusiasts and marine conservationists alike. As the only place in the United States where it is legal to interact with manatees in the water, Crystal River offers a unique and unforgettable wildlife experience, and one suited for the whole family.
Whether you live here or are just thinking about moving to Florida, here’s an interesting bit of news: Florida State Senator Jonathan Martin, representing Fort Myers, has introduced a bill (SB 852) aimed at exploring the feasibility of eliminating property taxes in the state.
Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Roger B. Handberg announced yesterday the filing of a criminal information (indictment) charging 71-year-old Canadian citizen Xiao Guang Pan with three counts of using an unmanned aircraft to photograph vital defense installations and equipment without authorization.
Cape Canaveral, Florida — SpaceX is on the brink of setting a new milestone in spaceflight reusability with its Falcon 9 booster B1067 scheduled to launch for the 26th time on February 15, 2025, during the Starlink Group 12-8 mission. This mission, taking off from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, will further demonstrate SpaceX’s commitment to a sustainable present in space through reliable reuse of its booster fleet.
NASA is preparing for an evaluation by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal oversight body led by Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX. Acting NASA Administrator Janet Petro confirmed this development during a recent space industry conference in Washington, D.C., stating, “We are going to have DOGE come. They’re going to look—similarly to what they’ve done at other agencies—at our payments and what money has gone out.” Already deep in the Artemis Program, NASA has a lot on the line.
February 13, 2025 – Blue Origin, the commercial space company founded by Jeff Bezos, is preparing for significant layoffs as part of a strategic pivot aimed at reducing R&D costs and focusing on ramping up rocket launches. The announcement comes after years of extensive research and development, with the company now looking to streamline operations.
A Texas judge has officially signed off and approved a special election to decide if Starbase will be allowed to incorporate as a municipality. Starbase is, of course, the site of SpaceX’s Starship development, manufacturing and launch facilities.
