Bloggytown

Israel's moon rover touches down in Orlando ahead of February launch

by Joey Roulette on January 18, 2019 at 8:17PM

Now, SpaceIL will watch SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket carry Beresheet into space next month. SpaceX maintains a "mid-February" timeframe and hasn't set a specific launch date.

Trump tried to withhold federal disaster relief funds from Puerto Rico, report says

by Monivette Cordeiro on January 18, 2019 at 4:40PM

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Florida ranks as the 'most dangerous state' for seniors, says report

by Elizabeth Gondar on January 18, 2019 at 3:31PM

Many retirees move to Florida to relax and enjoy the eternal summer weather, what they may not know is those characteristics paint a red target on their backs. A study by The Senior List showed that Florida ranks as the most dangerous state for senior citizens because of its high rates of fraud, violence against seniors and seniors living in poverty.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried bans discrimination against LGBTQ employees in her office

by Monivette Cordeiro on January 18, 2019 at 3:13PM

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is banning discrimination against LGBTQ state employees in her office. The recently elected Democrat announced Friday that she's revising the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services' list of workplace protections against discrimination to include "sexual orientation" and "gender identity."

Here's where furloughed government workers can score free stuff in Orlando

by Sarah Cavacini on January 18, 2019 at 3:01PM

As long as this completely asinine federal shutdown continues over a fake border crisis, many Orlandoans are paying the price. Since there is no sign of a settlement, if you're affected by this crisis here's where you can take advantage of some local freebies:

3D printed rocket startup Relativity Space gets the green light to launch from Cape Canaveral

by Joey Roulette on January 18, 2019 at 2:55PM

Terran 1, which is still in production, will be able to carry up to 2,755 pounds of small satellites 114 miles into orbit for around $10 million — a price tailored for the small satellite industry. To compare, SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket ferries much larger payloads into deeper orbits for around $62 million.

There's now a push to repeal the Florida Constitution Revision Commission

by News Service of Florida on January 18, 2019 at 2:55PM

A Senate Republican on Thursday filed a proposal aimed at abolishing the Florida Constitution Revision Commission, a panel that meets every 20 years and has unique power to place proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot. Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, filed the proposal (SJR 362) for consideration during the legislative session that starts March 5.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis taps Chris Anderson to lead Seminole County elections

by Xander Peters on January 18, 2019 at 2:26PM

On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his decision to name Chris Anderson, the chief investigations officer for the Seminole County Tax Collector's Office, the county's latest supervisor of elections. Anderson, a former deputy sheriff for Seminole and Indian River counties, will fill the shoes of Michael Ertel, who was elevated to serve as Florida secretary of state following a 13-year stint in the elections supervisor role.

Verizon customers report massive outages in Orlando

by Colin Wolf on January 18, 2019 at 1:14PM

Due to a massive outage, many Verizon customers have reportedly been unable to use their phones Friday, and the worst-hit area is Orlando. According to the site DownDetector, outages have been reported all over the country, beginning at approximately noon ET.

Florida lawmakers could add $25 million to Bright Futures scholarship program

by News Service of Florida on January 18, 2019 at 10:53AM

Florida lawmakers next week will consider pumping an additional $25.3 million into the Bright Futures scholarship program amid higher-than-expected student participation this year. The Joint Legislative Budget Commission, which is made up of House and Senate leaders and can make mid-year budget changes, is scheduled to take up the issue Jan. 24, according to an agenda posted online Thursday.

Hearing set in state appeals court for Florida's 24-hour abortion waiting period

by News Service of Florida on January 18, 2019 at 10:49AM

A state appeals court will hear arguments in March about the constitutionality of a 2015 law that would require women to wait 24 hours before having abortions. The 1st District Court of Appeal last week scheduled arguments March 26 in the case, according to an online docket.

Researchers at University of Florida have developed a new, stronger and tastier strawberry

by Xander Peters on January 17, 2019 at 3:47PM

One of the problems with strawberry farming in Florida is that the lowest yield comes in November and December, but scientists at the University of Florida think they've come up with a solution to that problem: the "Florida Brilliance." "Our farmers need to produce more strawberries during this period in order to remain profitable," says Vance Whitaker, an associate professor of horticultural sciences at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, in a university blog.

Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida should change law and allow patients to smoke medical marijuana

by Colin Wolf on January 17, 2019 at 2:38PM

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Cleaning crew at Florida governor's mansion tosses out holy water from DeSantis' son's baptism

by Jim Turner, the News Service of Florida on January 17, 2019 at 1:23PM

When Gov. Ron DeSantis makes his first international trip to Israel, he plans to tout Florida but also will have a chance to get a new supply of water — and probably will do a better labeling job. Water from the Sea of Galilee that DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis saved from a past trip to Israel and used last week to baptize their 9-month-old son Mason was tossed out by a cleaning crew at the governor’s mansion.

Florida Reps. Soto, Díaz-Balart propose bill to give Venezuelans temporary immigration protections

by Monivette Cordeiro on January 17, 2019 at 10:38AM

U.S. Reps. Darren Soto and Mario Díaz-Balart have proposed a bipartisan bill to allow Venezuelans fleeing their country's humanitarian crisis to become eligible for the Temporary Protected Status program, also known as TPS. Both Florida lawmakers say the regime of President Nicolás Maduro has "perpetrated egregious human rights abuses and corrupted Venezuela’s once democratic institutions, leading to an economic, humanitarian, and security crisis and forcing millions of Venezuelans to seek refuge abroad," according to a news release.

Florida Power & Light plans major solar energy expansion by 2030

by Jim Saunders, News Service of Florida on January 17, 2019 at 9:37AM

Florida Power & Light said Wednesday it plans a major expansion of solar-energy projects during the next decade, as the state’s utilities move forward with generating more renewable energy. FPL said it will install more than 30 million solar panels by 2030, with solar facilities expected to be built across the state.

Florida commissioner under fire after saying Muslim congresswoman might 'blow up' Capitol Hill

by Monivette Cordeiro on January 16, 2019 at 5:41PM

Lima-Taub. Her un-American, xenophobic statements establish that she is unfit to hold the commissioner’s seat.

Florida Rep. Stephanie Murphy introduces bill to raise federal minimum wage to $15 an hour

by Colin Wolf on January 16, 2019 at 4:43PM

Murphy is a representative of Florida's District 7, which covers all of Seminole County and much of northern Orange County, including downtown Orlando, Maitland, Winter Park and the University of Central Florida. Stay on top of Orlando news and views.

Orlando is now painting parking boxes for its new 'dockless' bikeshare system

by Xander Peters on January 16, 2019 at 12:24PM

In a moment of utter self-defiance, the City of Orlando has begun painting parking boxes across downtown to remind citizens where to park their "dockless" Lime bikes – yes, dockless – when they're finished riding. Kind of defeats the point, right?

Osceola County among top Airbnb vacation rental markets in Florida

by Monivette Cordeiro on January 16, 2019 at 11:50AM

Airbnb hosts in Florida welcomed more than 4.5 million guests to the state in 2018, and a good portion of those visitors stayed in Osceola County. The vacation rental platform announced Tuesday that Osceola County homeowners hosted 640,000 guests last year and earned $82.6 million.

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