ReportWire

Tag: Orlando

  • USF introduces Brian Hartline as new coach

    [ad_1]

    TAMPA, Fla. – The University of South Florida introduced Brian Hartline as its seventh coach in program history on Monday.

    Hartline made his way to Tampa this weekend amid Ohio State’s preparation for its College Football Playoff run. 

    What You Need To Know

    • USF introduced Brian Hartline as its new head football coach Monday

    • Hartline, 39, comes to USF from Ohio, were he has been the Buckeyes’ WR coach and offensive coordinator. He will take over fully at USF once the Ohio State plyaoff run concludes

    • More on Brian Hartline and USF football

    “We want to build on this impressive foundation. Things have been going really well here,” Hartline said during his introductory news conference. “We’re not here to change things, we’re here to enhance.

    “Time is now for USF football and we can’t wait to get started.”

    The Bulls new coach will balance beginning his Bulls’ tenure with duties as the Buckeye’s offensive coordinator through the college postseason.

     

    USF CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins, making his first major hire in his relatively new role, said Hartline will bring grit and passion in replacing former coach Alex Golesh, who left USF last week to accept the coaching job at Auburn.

     

    “Brian Hartline was our clear-cut first choice to lead our football program into the most exciting era in program history, and I am so fired up to have him leading the Bulls,” Higgins said. “A relentless recruiter, outstanding developer of talent and a gritty competitor, he comes from a championship background and is obsessed with instilling championship excellence in his players and teams.

    “He is ready to lead our program to the next level.”

    Hartline, 39, said he was excited for the opportunity at USF and emphasized his past connections with the Bay area, Central Florida and South Florida as a NFL player and college recruiter. He added that the location and his history in the region makes USF a good fit. 

    “Our culture will be built on relentless effort. Built on it,” Hartline said. “Effort is a choice and we know that. Our program will be disciplined and accountable. Every detail will matter.”

    HARTLINE AT OHIO STATE

    As offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach, Hartline has led the 2025 Ohio State offense to rank No. 13 in the nation in scoring (37.0 ppg), No. 24 in total offense (438.5 ypg) and No. 24 in passing (267.0 ypg) with Heisman Trophy candidate Julian Sayin posting 3,065 passing yards and 30 touchdowns and Biletnikoff Trophy finalist Jeremiah Smith posting 55 catches for 725 yards and nine touchdowns. Pro Football Focus has Ohio State as the highest graded offense in the nation at the end of the 2025 regular season.

    Serving as co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach in 2024, Hartline led the Buckeye offense to rank No. 14 nationally in scoring (35.7 ppg) and No. 3 in pass efficiency (171.55) with quarterback Will Howard ranking No. 6 in passing yards (4,010) and No. 4 in passing touchdowns (35) and Smith standing No. 4 in receiving yards (1,315) and No. 2 in receiving touchdowns (15) nationally.

    A major part of Ohio State’s recruiting success, Hartline has helped the Buckeyes’ current 2026 signing class rank No. 5 in the nation according to 247Sports. Ohio State has ranked among the top five recruiting classes in the nation in each of the last seven seasons. He was named 247Sports national recruiter of the year in 2020.  

     

    WHAT’S NEXT FOR USF

    The Bulls will face Old Dominion Dec. 17 in the Care Bowl in Orlando. USF Defensive Line Coach Kevin Patrick will guide the squad as the interim coach during the bowl week.

    USF will be looking to post a 10-win season for just the third time in program history and the first since going 10-2 in 2017. 

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff

    Source link

  • Indiana no. 1 in CFP. Alabama and Miami in, Notre Dame out

    [ad_1]

    Nobody paying attention over the past 24 months would be surprised to see Indiana leading the way into this year’s College Football Playoff.

    But anyone paying attention over the last 24 hours knew the only sure thing beyond the Hoosiers was that the playoff selection committee was destined to get picked apart when it released the pairings for this season’s 12-team bracket on Sunday.

    What You Need To Know

    • Indiana earns top seed in CFP 

    • Alabama and Miami included in playoffs, Notre Dame out 

    • First round games begin on campuses, Friday, Dec. 19 
    • Bracket, matchups below

    Most of that second-guessing came from Notre Dame, which was passed over in favor of Alabama and Miami for two of the bracket’s bubble spots. The Fighting Irish dropped two notches in the CFP rankings over the last two weeks, to No. 11, despite a 10-game winning streak, winning their finale by 29 points and simply sitting on the couch Saturday.

    “There is no explanation that could possibly be given to explain the outcome,” Irish athletic director Pete Bevacqua told Yahoo Sports, hours after the bracket was revealed and Notre Dame said it would skip bowl season altogether. “We feel like the playoff was stolen from our student-athletes.”

    Notre Dame’s loss was Alabama’s gain. The Crimson Tide didn’t move an inch the CFP rankings despite a 28-7 loss to No. 3 Georgia that looked worse than that.

    No. 10 Miami didn’t play, either, but the Hurricanes’ 27-24 win over Notre Dame in Week 1 played a role once the teams were grouped right next to each other after BYU lost its game on Saturday and dropped one spot.

    “Everyone can spin the metrics in favor of the team or teams they support,” committee chairman Hunter Yurachek said. “You’re always going to have controversy. That’s why we debated for so long, 9, 10 and 11, into the early-morning hours, and woke up at sunrise to do the same thing — make sure we got it right.”

    The committee’s other key decision was choosing James Madison over Duke for the final spot. The selection left the Atlantic Coast Conference champion out of the mix, but didn’t fully exclude the ACC because Miami made it. 

    REST OF THE BRACKET 

    The rest of the field includes No. 2 seed Ohio State, No. 3 Georgia and No. 4 Texas Tech, all of which joined Indiana in getting first-round byes.

    The Hoosiers moved up to No. 1 with their 13-10 win over the Buckeyes on Saturday — their first Big Ten title since 1967 — and the teams’ 1-2 positioning sets up a possible rematch in the national title game Jan. 19.

    Then it was No. 5 seed Oregon, followed by Mississippi, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Alabama, Miami, American champion Tulane and James Madison of the Sun Belt.

    The playoffs start Dec. 19 with No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Oklahoma. On Dec. 20, it’s No. 10 Miami at No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 11 Tulane at No. 6 Ole Miss and No. 12 James Madison at No. 5 Oregon.

    The winners move to the quarterfinals, which will feature Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Eve, then Texas Tech in the Orange Bowl, Indiana in the Rose Bowl and Georgia in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.

    [ad_2]

    Associated Press

    Source link

  • SpaceX launches another batch of Starlink satellites

    [ad_1]

    KENNEDY SPACE CENTER — SpaceX launched another batch of Starlink satellites Monday evening from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

    The Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at 5:26 p.m. EST, carrying over two dozen satellites. 

    The 32nd launch

    SpaceX said the Starlink Group 6-92 mission was the 32nd flight for the first-stage booster, B1067, which had previously launched:

    1. CRS-22
    2. Crew-3
    3. Turksat 5B
    4. Crew-4
    5. CRS-25
    6. Eutelsat HOTBIRD 13G
    7. SES O3B mPOWER-A
    8. PSN SATRIA
    9. Telkomsat Merah Putih 2
    10. Galileo L13
    11. Koreasat-6A
    12. 20 Starlink missions

    Following the stage separation, the first stage landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, which is stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

    About the mission

    The 29 satellites will head to low-Earth orbit to join the thousands already there once deployed.

    SpaceX owns the Starlink company, where the satellites provide internet service to many areas on Earth.

    Dr. Jonathan McDowell, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, has been recording Starlink satellites.

    Before this launch, McDowell documented the following:

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff

    Source link

  • Florida Polytechnic turns to Lakeland Police Department after staffing losses

    [ad_1]

    LAKELAND, Fla. — As state leaders push to keep public university campuses safe, Florida Polytechnic University is now leaning on local law enforcement for help.

    The university started using the Lakeland Police Department for security after a major staffing shortage in its campus police force.

    At least eight officers have left the department since May, including the chief and deputy chief.

    What You Need To Know

    • Florida Polytechnic University’s campus police force has seen significant turnover, with at least eight officers — including the chief and deputy chief — leaving since May

    • The university is relying on the Lakeland Police Department for security support as it works to rebuild
    • Former leadership accuses the university of budget cuts, while university officials deny defunding


    Retired Deputy Chief Danny Houser was with the department from the very beginning. Starting in 2014, Houser says he and former Chief Rickard Holland helped build the police force from the ground up. They hired staff, brought in gear and equipment, and wrote the policies the department still uses today.

    “We prided ourselves on providing professional police service to our community, and our job was to give the best service to our students because they really were our customer base. That and the parents,” Houser said.

    But Houser says the dynamic shifted under new leadership, which he says led to resignations and early retirements.

    “They cut our funding by $84,000. Then they started talking about the officers, taking their take-home cars away from them,” he said. “And they wanted to cut out my position as the assistant chief, and they wanted to cut out the accreditation department.”

    Holland, who put in his two weeks’ notice in July, backed Houser’s claims in an email to Bay News 9.

    However, Florida Poly’s chief information officer, Cole Allen, denies any defunding. He says that while the university is relying on Lakeland Police for support, they’ve increased starting pay, boosted the police department’s budget, and invested in the school’s new public safety center.

    “This is going to give our officers the space they need, the facility they need, and everything they’re going to need to move into the next phase of our growing campus,” Allen said.

    Allen says the university has already begun hiring new officers and is looking to fill even more positions. As for Houser, he says he’s concerned about the department’s future without the people who helped build it.

    “It hurts. This wasn’t the way I wanted to go out,” Houser said.

    [ad_2]

    Alexis Jones

    Source link

  • Bowl games announced for Orlando and Tampa

    [ad_1]

    A few teams will be making their way to Florida to cap off their seasons.

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff

    Source link

  • Florida state parks need nearly $760 million in repairs, state report says

    [ad_1]

    DUNEDIN, Fla. — A new report says Florida state parks are in need of nearly $760 million in repairs over the next decade. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Report said Florida state parks are in need of hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs

    • Two-thirds of the money is recommended for repairing visitor centers, cabins, pavilions, restrooms and more

    • Other needed money would go to repairing roads, upgrading wastewater infrastructure and stabilizing shorelines


    The report comes from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and lays out areas of need.

    For those who visit our state parks, like Dustin Patrick, he said he wouldn’t mind some improvements.

    “Fixing the roads coming in would be good,” he said. “The parking lots during the summer, they just fill with water.”

    Republican State Senator Gayle Harrell said this report is a good first step toward funding outdated infrastructure.

    “I think it’s critical needs first, and then you face things, and you say OK, next step,” she said. “What are the next most serious things?”

    The report recommends two-thirds of the money for repairing visitor centers, cabins, pavilions, restrooms and more.

    Around a quarter of the money is recommended for repairing roads running through the parks, and another 10% toward replacing and upgrading wastewater infrastructure and stabilizing shorelines.

    The report also touches on other needs as well.

    Andrew Harris with the Sierra Club is hopeful the legislature will move forward with these repairs, and that Honeymoon Island will see improvements.

    “I think a lot of parks, especially North Florida, Central Florida, are going to need the majority of those funds, but some of it will come here too,” he said.

    The legislature previously approved $15 million for state park improvements for this year.

    Compared to the 2024 fiscal year, $59 million was spent on maintenance.

    [ad_2]

    Matt Lackritz

    Source link

  • December’s ‘Cold Moon’ will be the final supermoon of the year

    [ad_1]

    December’s full moon will appear in the sky this week. It’s the final full moon and third supermoon of the year, also known as the ‘Cold Moon.’ The Cold Moon gets its name from being closest to the winter solstice. It is also known as the ‘Moon Before Yule’ and the ‘Long Night Moon.’

    It reached its peak illumination at 6:14 p.m. EST on Thursday, Dec. 4, but it will be visible and appear full to the naked eye during the next couple nights.

    What You Need To Know

    • December’s full moon peaks Thursday evening

    • It’s the final full moon and third supermoon of 2025

    • The next full moon will be the ‘Wolf Moon’ on Jan. 3, 2026


    The Cold Moon will notably be the highest full moon of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The sun will be at its lowest point in the sky, which means that the moon will be at the opposite. That means that you will be able to see the bright Cold Moon for a longer period in the night sky.

    What is a supermoon?

    A supermoon is when the full moon happens at the same time the moon’s orbit is at its closest to Earth. The moon will appear brighter and larger than normal. This year’s Cold Moon will be the third supermoon of 2025, joining October’s ‘Harvest Moon’ and November’s ‘Beaver Moon’.

    Moon phases

    There are eight different phases of the moon. What phase follows a full moon?

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    [ad_2]

    Meteorologist Reid Lybarger

    Source link

  • December’s ‘Cold Moon’ will be the final supermoon of the year

    [ad_1]

    December’s full moon will appear in the sky this week. It’s the final full moon and third supermoon of the year, also known as the ‘Cold Moon.’ The Cold Moon gets its name from being closest to the winter solstice. It is also known as the ‘Moon Before Yule’ and the ‘Long Night Moon.’

    It reached its peak illumination at 6:14 p.m. EST on Thursday, Dec. 4, but it will be visible and appear full to the naked eye during the next couple nights.

    What You Need To Know

    • December’s full moon peaks Thursday evening

    • It’s the final full moon and third supermoon of 2025

    • The next full moon will be the ‘Wolf Moon’ on Jan. 3, 2026


    The Cold Moon will notably be the highest full moon of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The sun will be at its lowest point in the sky, which means that the moon will be at the opposite. That means that you will be able to see the bright Cold Moon for a longer period in the night sky.

    What is a supermoon?

    A supermoon is when the full moon happens at the same time the moon’s orbit is at its closest to Earth. The moon will appear brighter and larger than normal. This year’s Cold Moon will be the third supermoon of 2025, joining October’s ‘Harvest Moon’ and November’s ‘Beaver Moon’.

    Moon phases

    There are eight different phases of the moon. What phase follows a full moon?

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    [ad_2]

    Meteorologist Reid Lybarger

    Source link

  • Online holiday sales surge as local malls create new ways to draw foot traffic

    [ad_1]

    WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. — Online spending surged to more than $14 billion on Cyber Monday, a 7% increase over last year, according to new data from Adobe Analytics. 

    But despite the jump in e-commerce activity, overall holiday spending is expected to soften as many families navigate tighter budgets.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Shops at Wiregrass is hosting its annual Symphony in Lights nightly through New Years Eve

    • Special events are helping local malls draw foot traffic, even as online sales surge

    • Retailers are taking advantage of a new sale called BOPIS – Buy Online, Pickup in Store to offer shoppers special sales and deeper discounts for entering the store

    • For a complete breakdown of holiday shopping sales to date, visit https://business.adobe.com/resources/holiday-shopping-report.html


    That shift has brick-and-mortar stores — especially shopping malls — searching for new ways to bring people through their doors.

    At The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, efforts to boost foot traffic include festive events and in-person shopping incentives. 

    One of the biggest draws is the Symphony in Lights presented by AdventHealth, a choreographed light show set to music and capped off with artificial snowfall. 

    The event runs hourly from 6–9 p.m. each night through New Year’s Eve and has become a popular holiday tradition for families in the area.

    Also, retailers at the mall are also rolling out exclusive in-store pickup promotions to encourage shoppers to visit in person.

    Alexis Muellner, editor of the Tampa Bay Business Journal, said many retailers are now leaning into a strategy known as BOPIS — Buy Online, Pick Up In Store.

    “The notion that we will shop online and then go pick it up — there are opportunities for retailers in that situation to activate people on site with special deals, deep discounting, and experiences, which they are really leaning into,” Muellner said.

    He expects these types of hybrid shopping incentives to expand in the near future.

    Even with creative strategies, malls continue to face steep competition from online retailers. 

    Adobe Analytics reports that shoppers spent more than $40 billion online in just the first week of the holiday shopping season, and over half of those purchases were made on mobile devices.

    As retailers balance tightening consumer budgets with the convenience of online shopping, many brick-and-mortar stores are betting that unique experiences — and a few special deals — will help keep customers coming through their doors this holiday season.

    [ad_2]

    Jason Lanning

    Source link

  • USF to face Old Dominion in Cure Bowl in Orlando

    [ad_1]

    TAMPA, Fla. — The University of South Florida will stay in Florida for its bowl game.

    USF is set to take on Old Dominion in the StaffDNA Cure Bowl on Dec. 17 at 5 p.m. in Orlando.


    The Bulls (9-3; 6-2 in the American) will face off against the ODU (9-3, 6-2 in the Sun Belt) at Camping World Stadium.

    The game will be televised on ESPN.

    “The Cure Bowl supports a tremendous cause that we are excited to champion, and we look forward to our Bulls taking on a very talented Old Dominion team on Dec. 17,” CEO of USF Athletics Rob Higgins said. “It’s a short drive for Bulls Nation to Camping World Stadium, and I look forward to a great turnout in Green and Gold as we pursue a third straight bowl win for just the second time in program history.”

    Orlando will mark the Bulls’ 10th different bowl location as South Florida makes the 13th bowl appearance in program history, which is tied for the third-most in the first 25 seasons of a program’s bowl eligibility. South Florida’s 8-4 mark in bowl games ranks fourth nationally in winning percentage among programs with 10 or more bowl appearances.

    It will mark South Florida’s first meeting with ODU.

    USF will be looking to post a 10-win season for just the third time in program history and the first since going 10-2 in 2017. The Bulls will also be pursuing a third straight bowl win to go alongside victories in the 2023 Boca Bowl (45-0 vs. Syracuse) and 2024 Hawaii Bowl (41-39 5OT vs. San Jose State). It would be just the second run of three straight bowl game wins in program history and the first since the Bulls won the 2008 St. Petersburg Bowl (41-14 vs. Memphis), 2009 International Bowl (27-3 vs. Northern Illinois) and 2010 Meineke Car Care Bowl (31-26 vs. Clemson).

    ODU posted a 9-3 record on the year and went 6-2 in the Sun Belt Conference, and finished second in the East Division to James Madison.

    USF will formally introduce Brian Hartline as the seventh head coach in program history on Monday, Dec. 8 at 11 a.m. at the Sam and Martha Gibbons Alumni Center on the Tampa campus.

    Tickets start at $25 plus fees and are currently on sale.

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff

    Source link

  • Florida Holocaust Museum honors the past while planning for its future

    [ad_1]

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — There’s additional security, new artifacts and plans for upgraded renovations at the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg.

    As museum head Eric Stillman stands in the building’s new lobby, newly installed security protocols are keeping people and artifacts safer.

    What You Need To Know

    • There’s new artifacts and plans for new renovations at the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg

    • The institution’s mission is to honor the millions who suffered or died in the Holocaust and to now teach the inherent worth and dignity of human life

    • Eli Wiesel Experience will fill top floor of Florida Holocaust Museum 
    • New Danish fishing boat instillation tells story of hope as non-Jews saved their neighbors after Nazi invasion of Denmark 
    • GO INSIDE THE MUSEUM: The Florida Holocaust Museum

    New artifacts like Thor — a Danish fishing boat that served as a rescue vessel, secreting Jews to Sweden after the Nazis invaded Denmark.

    “The fisherman, he was a true upstander,” Stillman said. “And even though he wasn’t Jewish, and he was risking his own life and his family’s lives, and his livelihood, he risked it to help his neighbors to help his fellow country people.”

    The boat sits next to the Nazi-era boxcar that transported Jews to death camps during World War II.

    “And so that boxcar, which is huge, it towers over everybody, represents fear and death,” Stillman said. “And here it is, right next to the fishing boat, where it’s hope and future.”

    The institution’s mission is to honor the millions who suffered or died in the Holocaust and to teach the inherent worth and dignity of human life.

    New Danish fishing boat instillation tells story of hope as non-Jews saved their neighbors after Nazi invasion of Denmark. (Spectrum News/Virginia Johnson)

    Part of the museum’s plans include a new Eli Wiesel Experience, which will fill the museum’s top floor.

    Holocaust survivor and “Night” author Wiesel spent his life as a human rights activist and witness to human atrocities

    In 2024, his foundation chose this museum to house his private collection. Already on display, the jacket his wife Marion wore when meeting world leaders and dignitaries.

    Weisel’s work mirrors the museums: witness the past of death and hope during World War II and beyond, and use the lessons to make the world a better place.

    “And so the contrast is pretty clear, I think, for just about anybody to see and understand,” said Stillman. “It only takes one person, just an average everyday citizen being an upstander to make a difference.”

    [ad_2]

    Virginia Johnson

    Source link

  • 2025 Atlantic hurricane wrap-up; no hurricane made landfall in the U.S.

    [ad_1]

    For the first time in a decade, there was no direct landfall on the U.S. from a hurricane. Despite no landfalls, it was still an active season overall with 13 named storms and three Category 5 hurricanes.

    What You Need To Know

    • NOAA and Colorado State University forecasted above normal activity this year

    • First year since 2015 that no hurricane made a direct landfall on the United States

    • Hurricane Melissa was the most intense hurricane of the 2025 season, with winds of 185 mph and a pressure of 892 mbar


    Both the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Colorado State University (CSU) predicted 2025 would have above-normal activity during their pre-season forecasts. With the latter predicting 16 named storms. 

    Total storms

    In the end, the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season was slightly above average with 13 named storms, five hurricanes and four major storms.

    However, the season didn’t feel all that busy, and that’s because most of the storms stayed out to sea, with no direct landfalling hurricanes this year. Thanks to a persistent weaker Bermuda High, many storms came close to the coast but curved northward out to sea before making direct landfall.

    Notable storms

    Even though storms did not make landfall, that doesn’t mean they didn’t cause damage to the United States. Hurricanes Erin and Imelda came close to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, causing coastal erosion. In the past five years, at least 11 homes have toppled into the surf in Rodanthe, N.C.

    Both storms ended up curving northward and then northeast out to sea.

    Two houses sit out in the heavy surf as Hurricane Erin passes offshore at Rodanthe, N.C., on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)

    Although no hurricanes made landfall in the U.S. this year, one tropical storm did—Chantal. It made landfall just one day after forming, moving inland near Litchfield Beach, South Carolina, as a tropical storm with winds of 60 mph on July 6.

    Flooding from Chantal in Saxapahaw. (Spectrum News 1/Jordan Kudisch)

    Heavy rainfall and flash flooding were the biggest impacts from Chantal. Radar-estimated rainfall totals up 9 to 12 inches were recorded in parts of North Carolina between Raleigh and Greensboro, causing significant flooding around Chapel Hill and nearby rivers.

    Fujiwhara Effect

    As Hurricane Imelda was churning off the coast of North Carolina, it was also about 400 miles from Hurricane Humberto, creating a semi-rare phenomenon called the Fujiwhara Effect. With the two hurricanes so close to each other, it looked as if a mega-hurricane was going to develop, but Bay News 9’s Chief Meteorologist Mike Clay said back in September, we should not be concerned about these storms colliding and forming a mega-hurricane.

    “In the Atlantic, if two tropical systems are close enough, they can ruin the environment for both, just like we are seeing right now with Humberto and Imelda. There just isn’t enough ocean space.”

    Hurricanes Imelda and Humberto are located about 400 miles from each other in the Atlantic. (NOAA)

    The smaller or weaker storm will usually circle around the bigger one, as the larger storm will eventually dominate or potentially even fully absorb the smaller system. In this case, Imelda was the larger storm and fully absorbed Humberto.

    Category 5 storms

    Three hurricanes this year reached Category 5 status with wind speeds over 155 mph. Those storms include Hurricane Erin, Humberto and Melissa.

    Erin formed in the western Atlantic on Aug. 11 and rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane on Aug. 16 with winds of 160 mph. It brushed past the northern Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola before moving past the U.S., bringing life-threatening surf and dangerous rip currents up the East Coast.

    Coastal flooding was worse along the Outer Banks of North Carolina, especially during high tide, forcing thousands to evacuate and closing Highway 12 on Hatteras Island, and tidal flooding led to rescues in Margate City, New Jersey.

    A section of N.C. 12 at the north end of Buxton is flooding before the Tuesday afternoon high tide as Hurricane Erin continues moving northwest across the Atlantic Ocean. (N.C. Department of Transportation)

    Hurricane Humberto became a hurricane two days after forming into a tropical storm. It rapidly intensified into a Category 4 storm and then, 24 hours later, it reached peak intensity as a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 160 mph. It moved between the United States and Bermuda and brought large swells and dangerous rip currents to the U.S. East Coast and squally weather to Bermuda.

    Melissa was a late-season Category 5 hurricane and the most intense storm of the season. It became a tropical storm on Oct. 21 and by Oct. 25 it had undergone rapid intensification, becoming a Category 4 hurricane. Melissa nearly stalled in the Caribbean Sea and, thanks to favorable conditions, it achieved Category 5 status on Oct. 27.

    The church of Lacovia Tombstone, Jamaica, sits damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

    It reached peak intensity with winds of 185 mph and is now tied for third for the most intense Atlantic hurricanes on record (since 1851) with a pressure of 892 mbar. It made landfall near New Hope, Jamaica, on Oct. 28. Over 100 fatalities were reported due to Melissa.

    Forecast models

    The forecast for Melissa was notably a challenge. Weather models were showing inconsistent tracks run-to-run.

    The National Hurricane Center, surprisingly, relied on Google’s DeepMind, a new AI weather model-over more traditional models. Data showed the AI model outperformed traditional physics-based models and aligned with the National Hurricane Center’s forecasts when came to track error.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

     

    [ad_2]

    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn, Spectrum News Weather Staff

    Source link

  • Jared Isaacman back before the Senate seeking NASA’s top job

    [ad_1]

    CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — Billionaire spacewalker Jared Isaacman urged senators on Wednesday to take swift action on his bid to lead NASA, after being yanked and then renominated by President Donald Trump.


    Isaacman appeared before the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee in Washington eight months after his first nomination hearing. The tech entrepreneur who’s rocketed into orbit twice with SpaceX stressed the need for “full-time leadership” at NASA as the space agency prepares to send astronauts back to the moon early next year.

    Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been filling in as NASA’s acting administrator since summer.

    Returning astronauts to the moon for the first time in more than 50 years will be “a challenging endeavor to say the least,” Isaacman told the committee led by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

    NASA is targeting early next year for a lunar flyaround by four astronauts. They won’t land on the moon; that would happen in another mission. The goal is to beat the Chinese there by the end of the decade.

    “This is not the time for delay but a time for action because if we fall behind — if we make a mistake — we may never catch up, and the consequences could shift the balance of power here on Earth,” Isaacman told the committee.

    Cruz agreed. “NASA cannot take its eyes off the ball,” he said, referring to China’s looming moon plans. “The United States must remain the unquestioned leader in space exploration.”

    Isaacman was within days of being confirmed by the Senate as NASA’s 15th administrator when Trump pulled his nomination in May. The move came soon after Trump’s falling out with SpaceX’s Elon Musk. The president renominated Isaacman last month.

    Cruz said Isaacman’s second appearance “feels a bit like Groundhog Day” and hopes to have him confirmed by the end of the year.

    In response to questioning by senators, Issacman described both the moon and Mars as priorities for exploration by U.S. crews, with parallel efforts underway. He said he supports Duffy’s recent move to reopen the contract for the lunar lander needed for the first touchdown by astronauts under NASA’s Artemis program.

    Elon Musk’s SpaceX won the original crew lunar lander contract with Starship, but the mega rocket remains in flight testing. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is hustling to gain the lead with its Blue Moon landers; a prototype is due to launch early next year.

    Isaacman assured the senators that NASA will go with the first company capable of delivering U.S. astronauts to the lunar surface.

    “The best thing for SpaceX is a Blue Origin right on their heels, and vice versa,” he said. He also supports competition among world powers — “just as long as we don’t lose.”

    The 42-year-old founder of the payment processing company Shift4 performed the world’s first private spacewalk last fall. He bankrolled both of his spaceflights. Several astronauts were present for the hearing, including some of Isaacman’s own crewmates.

    [ad_2]

    Associated Press

    Source link

  • USF hires Ohio State OC Brian Hartline as head coach

    [ad_1]

    TAMPA, Fla. — The University of South Florida is hiring Brian Hartline as its new head coach. The school made the announcement just before noon Wednesday.

    Hartline, 39, is the Ohio State offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. 

    What You Need To Know

    • USF is hiring Ohio State OC Brian Hartline as its new head coach

    • Hartline, 39, is the Ohio State offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach

    • Hartline replacing Alex Golesh, who accepted Auburn’s head coaching job on Sunday 
    • THE LATEST: USF Bulls football

    • ABOVE: Spectrum Sports 360’s Mike Cairns talks about the hire of Brian Hartline

    According to a Sports Illustrated report, it will be a six-year deal for Hartline, who is expected to remain with the Buckeyes through the school’s playoff run. 

    “Brian Hartline was our clear-cut first choice to lead our football program into the most exciting era in program history, and I am so fired up to have him leading the Bulls,” Higgins said. “A relentless recruiter, outstanding developer of talent and a gritty competitor, he comes from a championship background and is obsessed with instilling championship excellence in his players and teams.

    “He is ready to lead our program to the next level. He knows the state of Florida, having spent six seasons of his professional playing career in Miami, and has successfully recruited the state and the Bay area for a long time. We are so excited to welcome Brian, his wife Kara and their children Brayden, Kameron and Brooklyn to the Bulls family.”

    Hartline will replace Alex Golesh, who accepted the head coaching job at Auburn on Sunday. Golesh, who took over USF’s program in 2023, went 23-15 in three seasons, leading the Bulls to a bowl game each season and to a listing in the College Football Playoff bracket during the 2025 season. 

    Hartline has been the Buckeyes’ full-time receivers coach since 2019. He has had the title of offensive coordinator for the past two years, but this is the first season he is calling plays.  

    Hartline helped Ohio State to a 37-4 record the past four seasons and one national championship. Along the way, Hartline has worked with some of college football best receivers in recent years, creating a pipeline of WRs to the NFL that has included first-round picks Emeka Egbuka (Bucs), Chris Olave (Saints), Marvin Harrison Jr. (Cardinals), Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks), Garrett Wilson (Jets) and Terry McLaurin (Commanders).

    A 2009 Ohio State graduate, Hartline, a wide receiver, was a fourth-round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins. He played seven seasons in the NFL, spending six with the Dolphins before one season with Cleveland. He caught 344 passes as a pro and scored 14 touchdowns.

    He played for Ohio State from 2005-08 and was part of four Big Ten championship teams – meaning he has been part of eight Big Ten titles as a player and coach, including a record four consecutive outright Big Ten championships in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020On the eve of this season’s college football playoffs, Hartline spoke to the Associated Press about his journey as an assistant coach, offensive coordinator and play caller.

    “I think that every chance you’re in that situation or you get an opportunity to call a game, there’s an opportunity to learn and grow,” Hartline said. “And frankly, I do it daily with (OSU coach Ryan) Day, but to be out there doing it live, there’s nothing like those kind of reps.”

    “I’m honored and excited to join the University of South Florida as its new head football coach,” Hartline said. “Becoming a first-time head coach at a place like USF is a dream come true for me and my family. I look forward to leading the team to new heights, both on and off the field.

    “Bulls Nation, we’re going to need your support and commitment to help us get to where we all want to be: never-ending championship excellence, building something that lasts, and serving our university, our community, and our fan base with integrity and passion. I can’t wait to get to work with our team and the entire USF community. Go Bulls!”

    He and his wife, Kara, have three young children: sons Brayden and Kameron, and a daughter, Brooklyn.

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff

    Source link

  • Shrimp and Scallop Genovese at Villa Sorrento in Bradenton

    [ad_1]

    BRADENTON, Fla. — This week’s recipe in the Chef’s Kitchen comes courtesy of Chef Eugenio Rizzo’s father.

    “When my father came over from Palermo, Sicily, he created this dish when he opened up our restaurants,” said Rizzo.

    Chef Eugenio Rizzo hails from Villa Sorrento in Bradenton.

    And he offers this dish “Shrimp and Scallop Genovese.”

    Once prepped, Chef’s Italian dish is ready in less than 10 minutes.

    Ingredients

    3 tbs crushed garlic and olive oil

    5-6 shrimp

    5-6 scallops

    1 tbsp Italian seasoning

    1/2 cup white wine

    3 heaping teaspoons crushed Roma tomatoes

    1/2 cup heavy cream

    1/3 cup mushrooms

    3 tbsp parmesan cheese

    2 pinches green onions

    2 servings linguine pasta


    Method

    On a medium-high to high heat, add olive oil and crushed garlic.

    Make sure you don’t overcook your garlic.

    Add shrimp and scallops.

    After approximately two minutes, flip the seafood over and cook for another minute.

    The shrimp will become stiffer and opaque, and the scallops will develop color on the edges.

    Add Italian seasoning.

    Add wine to slow the cooking down.

    Add the heavy cream and bring it back up in temperature.

    Add the crushed Roma tomatoes.

    Add in mushrooms.

    Top with green onions.

    Mix in pan while retaining high heat.

    Add parmesan cheese and stir.

    Sauce sticks to back of spoon when ready, with Alfredo-like texture.

    Add in boiled linguine.

    Mix well.

    [ad_2]

    Virginia Johnson

    Source link

  • Florida’s colleges begin restocking football rosters with early signings

    [ad_1]

    FLORIDA — College football programs throughout Florida announced written commitments for 2026 on Wednesday, the first of the three-day early signing period for high school players.

    On his first early signing day since returning to UCF, coach Scott Frost announced 13 commitments, including two quarterbacks, two running backs and six in-state prospects.

    “Today went off without a hitch. I really like the group that we got. It was a no-drama day. Everything was in and done early,” Frost said. “Recruiting high school kids is a really important way to build the foundation of your team and get guys in the program who can help now or be developed into guys that you hope you can keep for a long time.  But it’s not the only way to build and improve a team anymore.”

    Frost said investing in high school players, from a money standpoint, means they need to have a good chance of playing.

    “I want to make sure we have a team that has the best chance possible to compete next year,” Frost said.

    Last year, UCF had to bring in 60-70 new players after the graduation of many seniors and the departure of then-coach Gus Malzahn.

    Frost said that he hopes to bring back a lot of players who they want to build around.

    “That’s going to mean that we can fill in holes rather than build an entire team,” he said. “That’s definitely a better position to be approaching this from.”

    Frost said he and his staff looked at high school players who have the traits that will help them develop soon into players who will improve the team.

    “There’s a lot of size and length,” Frost said. “I think we can get bigger. We certainly need to get a little tougher as a football team. But I really like the size and length of a lot of these guys. I like the elite speed of a lot of guys. And overall, I just like the upside of the class.”

    He said he and his staff are in a better position to know the players already on the roster and the holes that need to be filled.

    Frost said the program should be in an even better recruiting position next season. He said it takes more than a year to recruit a player and he got back to UCF so late last year that it put the team behind in recruiting for this year’s class.

    He said he expects to leave a couple positions open for the late signing period to maybe add some quality players who fell through cracks.

    • Running back Kaj Baker out of Miami and Somerset Academy
    • Quarterback Dante Carr out of Minersville (Pa.) High
    • Offensive lineman Kasiyah Charlton out of Brunswick (Ga.) High
    • Tight end Brooks Hall out of Platte County (Mo.) High
    • Linebacker Preston Hall out of Missouri City, Texas and Ridge Point High
    • Edge rusher Alhassan Iddrissu out of Oakdale, Conn., and St. Thomas More High
    • Defensive back Elijah Keys out of Jacksonville Duncan U. Fletcher High
    • Running back Arthur Lewis IV out of Palatka Bartram Trail High
    • Quarterback Rocco Marriott out of Platte County (Mo.) High
    • Defensive tackle Noah Mercer out of Key West High
    • Linebacker Matthew Occhipinti out of Saddle Brook, N.J., and Don Bosco Prep
    • Defensive back Amarion Queen out of Martin County High
    • Offensive lineman Amahn Williams out of Randolph, Mass., and Tabor Academy

    While Frost has been busy recruiting, he said he has been looking for an offensive line coach, too. Coach Shawn Clark died early in the season. Frost said he doesn’t expect to make any other changes to his staff.

    USF Bulls

    The biggest news out of USF on Wednesday was the hiring of former Ohio State offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline as their new head coach. He replaces Alex Golesh, who was hired as Auburn’s coach after the regular season.

    That did not slow recruiting at USF, which announced 17 players made official commitments on early signing day. Fourteen of those players are from Florida high schools. The Bulls loaded up in the defensive backfield, with four cornerbacks and two safeties. They also signed four defensive linemen.

    • Linebacker Lorenzo Barnes from Marianna
    • Running back Jayson Franklin out of Fayetteville, N.C.      
    • Defensive lineman Iverson Garcia-Ponce out of Knoxville, Tenn.
    • Defensive end Demetrius Geathers Jr. out of Deerfield Beach
    • Kicker Gaston Gramatica from Tampa
    • Offensive lineman Jordan Harrison out of Clinton, Md.
    • Wide receiver Gabe Legrand out of Lake Wales
    • Defensive lineman Sager Quinn out of Cahutta, Ga.
    • Defensive end Peter Ramil out of Binghamton, N.Y.
    • Wide receiver Dmari Roberts out of St. Petersburg
    • Cornerback Derrick Nichols III out of Miami
    • Linebacker Dennis King III out of Daytona Beach
    • Safety CJ Cresser out of Brooksville
    • Cornerback Ja’Kyri Watson out of Kissimmee
    • Cornerback Masiyah Limehouse out of Plant City
    • Cornerback Keyshaun Birks out of St. Petersburg, Fla.

    Florida Gators

    The University of Florida, which earlier this week announced it had hired Jon Sumrall to replace Billy Napier as coach, announced the signings of 16 high school players, including six offensive linemen and two edge rushers. All but seven signees are from Florida.

    • Cornerback CJ Bronaugh out of Orlando Windermere
    • Offensive lineman Corey Brown out of Gainesville and Jones
    • Offensive lineman Chancellor Campbell out of St. Petersburgh Lakewood
    • Offensive lineman G’Nivre out of Ocala and IMG Academy
    • Offensive lineman Tyler Chukuyem out of Douglasville, Ga., and South Paulding High
    • Wide receiver Marquez “Quez” Daniel out of Tuskegee, Ala., and Booker T. Washington High
    • Edge rusher KJ Ford out of Dallas, Texas Duncanville High
    • Offensive lineman Desmond Green out of Alvin, S.C., and Timberland High
    • Quarterback Will Griffin out of Treasure Island and Tampa Jesuit
    • Wide receiver Davian Groce out of Frisco, Texas Lone Star High
    • Defensive lineman Kendall “KG” Guervil out of Fort Myers High
    • Tight end Heze Kent out of Brunswick (Ga.) High
    • Offensive lineman Javarii Luckas out of Belle Glade Glades Central
    • Edge rusher Jareylan “Reylan” McCoy out of Tupelo, Miss., High
    • Inside linebacker Malik Morris out of Lakeland High           
    • Wide receiver Justin Williams out of Gainesville Buchholz  

    Florida State Seminoles

    Florida State signed the largest class of the state programs that Spectrum Sports regularly follows — 30 players, including some from NFL Academy and junior colleges. The class, which has 14 from Florida schools, includes nine defensive linemen, seven offensive linemen and five wide receivers.

    • Defensive lineman Jalen Anderson out of Slidell, La., High School and Pearl River Community College in Mississippi
    • Defensive back Tre Bell III out of Westview, Fla., and Barbara Goleman Senior High
    • Wide receiver Brandon Bennett out of Miramar American Heritage School
    • Defensive lineman Wihtley Cadeau out of Atlanta and Booker T. Washington High
    • Defensive lineman Chris Carbin out of Powder Springs, Ga., and Hillgrove High
    • Wide receiver Devin Carter out of Evans, Ga., and Douglas County High
    • Defensive back Jordan Crutchfield out of Fort Pierce and Vero Beach High
    • Defensive lineman Judah Daniels out of Lehigh Acres and Fort Myers High School
    • Tight end Corbyn Fordham out of Ponte Vedra Beach and The Bolles School
    • Offensive lineman Luke Francis Jr., out of the NFL Academy in London, United Kingdom
    • Linebacker Daylen Green out of Bainbridge, Ga., and Gadsden County High
    • Offensive lineman Jakobe Green out of Quincy, Fla., and Gadsden County High
    • Offensive lineman Nikau Hepi out of Auckland, New Zealand and the NFL Academy
    • Offensive lineman Mike Ionata out of Tarpon Springs and Calvary Christian High
    • Defensive back Chuck Kennon out of Bradenton and Booker High
    • Linebacker Noah Lavallee out of Marietta, Ga., and Walton High School
    • Defensive lineman Damaad Lewis out of Charlotte N.C., Myers Park High School
    • Linebacker Karon Maycock out of Miami Central High School
    • Offensive lineman Steven Moore out of Memphis, Tenn., Barlett High School and Garden City (Kan.) Community College
    • Quarterback Jaden O’Neal out of Mustang, Okla., High School
    • Offensive lineman Steven Pickard Jr. out of Charleston, S.C. and IMG Academy
    • Defensive lineman Jaemin Pinckney out of Dorchester, S.C., Woodland High
    • Defensive lineman Earnest Rankins out of Scottsdale, Ga., and Southwest DeKalb High
    • Running back Amari Thomas out of Marianna and Blountstown High
    • Tight end Xavier Tiller out of Atlanta and Langston Hughes High
    • Wide receiver E.J. White out of Vero Beach High
    • Defensive lineman Franklin Whitley out Greenville (S.C.) Senior High
    • Wide receiver Darryon Williams out of Tampa Plant High
    • Linebacker Izayia Williams out of Tavares High School
    • Wide receiver Jonah Winston out of Hoover (Ala.) High School

     

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum Sports Staff

    Source link

  • Chad Davis wins runoff election for Winter Haven City Council seat

    [ad_1]

    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Chad Davis won Tuesday’s runoff election for Winter Haven’s City Council Seat 4.  

    Chad Davis got 53.4 percent of the vote while Matthew Crowley garnered 46.6 percent. Of the 3,211 votes cast, Davis received 1,714 while Crowley got 1,497.


    Crowley is a lifelong Winter Haven resident, small business owner and community advocate. According to his campaign website, he is focused on transparency, public safety, affordable housing and economic opportunity for all.

    “Winter Haven deserves honesty and accountability, not backroom self-dealing,” Crowley said in a previous statement.

    Meanwhile, Davis is a fourth-generation Winter Haven resident and he holds a master’s of public policy and a law degree from Pepperdine University in California and is a staff attorney for Polk County Public Schools.

    On his Facebook page, Davis expressed a platform of infrastructure for development, support and protection for law enforcement and government efficiency and transparency.

    “Winter Haven is my home,” Davis said in a campaign post. “I love this city and every decision I make will be based on what’s best for our residents and our city’s long-term future. I believe we can maintain what’s special about Winter Haven while wisely managing the growth around us.”

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff

    Source link

  • Evans’ late 3 helps No. 4 Duke top No. 15 Florida 67-66 in ACC/SEC Challenge

    [ad_1]

    By  AARON BEARD

    DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Isaiah Evans hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 19.7 seconds left, and No. 4 Duke held on to beat No. 15 Florida 67-66 on Tuesday night in the ACC/SEC Challenge.

    The slim sophomore was sitting at 0 for 7 from behind the arc when Florida’s Boogie Fland hit a 3 with 34.6 seconds left for a 66-64 lead, coming on a night the reigning national champions had trailed by 15. But Evans calmly sunk the shot that helped Duke (9-0) stay unbeaten in a thrilling finish.

    Florida (5-3) had a final desperation possession down one with 1.4 seconds left, but Maliq Brown tipped Thomas Haugh’s heave at the inbounds point to run the final time off and send Cameron Indoor Stadium into an ear-ringing frenzy.

    Star freshman Cameron Boozer scored 29 points for the Blue Devils. Evans had 13 points and a career-high five of Duke’s 11 blocks.

    Haugh scored 24 points for the Gators, who trailed 36-24 at the break but absolutely worked Duke on the glass in the second half to climb back in it. Florida finished with a 44-33 rebounding advantage, including 20-11 on the offensive glass for the game while finishing with 13 second-chance points after halftime.

    This marked the first time the Blue Devils had hosted a reigning national champion in nonconference play at Cameron Indoor Stadium since beating UCLA in February 1996, and this one came with the unusual sight of Duke wearing black uniforms at home tied to a fan blackout.

    Up next

    Florida: The Gators face No. 5 UConn next Tuesday in New York’s Madison Square Garden, a matchup of teams that have won the past three NCAA titles.

    Duke: The Blue Devils visit No. 7 Michigan State on Saturday.

    ___

    Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

     

    [ad_2]

    Associated Press

    Source link

  • Air Force clears SpaceX to build Starship launch pad at Cape Canaveral

    [ad_1]

    CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — The U.S. Department of the Air Force gave SpaceX approval to build a launch and landing pad for its Starship at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 37.

    What You Need To Know

    • SpaceX is one step closer to bringing Starship launches from Texas to Brevard County
    • Starship could launch up to 76 missions annually and conduct up to 152 booster landings
    • Super Heavy is the rocket booster part of the vehicle; the spacecraft is called Starship
    • When they are joined together, they are called Starship

    After months of input from the community, the decision was posted on the Air Force’s website, and it is the official green light SpaceX needed to bring its Starship to Brevard County.

    The rocket booster is called Super Heavy and the spacecraft is called Starship. When they are joined together, they are collectively called Starship.

    SpaceX confirmed on X that construction for the launch pad is already underway for Starship, which will return humans to the moon in NASA’s Artemis missions.

    Once that work is complete, the plan is for SpaceX to have three launch pads on the Space Coast.

    The company said the goal is to conduct both national security and future missions under the Artemis banner.

    There was some concern about Starship coming to Florida, with public meetings being held that included discussions on environmental impacts.

    The Department of the Air Force says it plans on implementing mitigation measures to account for environmental impacts associated with these new plans.

    In this case, mitigation requires habitat restoration.

    This decision still requires an additional analysis of the impact that Starship could have on aviation in Florida.

    Pending that analysis, Starship could launch up to 76 missions annually and conduct up to 152 booster landings.

    Space Launch Complex 37’s history

    The Space Launch Complex 37 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station has a long history, with the original plan being to support the Apollo program.

    Originally named Launch Complex 37, it was built during the Apollo era where Launch Pad 37A was never used, but it was Launch Pad 37B that saw all the action: From Saturn 1 and Saturn 1B launches to Delta IV and Delta IV Heavy takeoffs from 2002 to 2024.

    For more than 20 years, Space Launch Complex 37 was also home to Boeing’s Delta rockets until about six months ago.

    In June 2025, the blockhouse where the Delta rockets were stored at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station came tumbling down.

    At the time, Emre Kelly, media operations chief for Space Launch Delta 45, explained that once United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) lease of Space Launch Complex 37 expired, the infrastructure at the launch site was turned over to the U.S. Air Force.

    Kelly said the demolition of Space Launch Complex 37 was authorized by the U.S. Air Force “as being in the best interest of the government.”

    [ad_2]

    Sasha Teman, Anthony Leone

    Source link

  • SpaceX skirts the weather to launch 29 Starlink satellites

    [ad_1]

    CAPE CANAVERAL SPACE FORCE STATION — SpaceX found a window to launch nearly 30 Starlink satellites on Tuesday afternoon, despite some winds trying to change those plans.

    What You Need To Know

    • SpaceX sent off Starlink 6-95 mission on Tuesday at 5:18 p.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
    • The 29 satellites will head to low-Earth orbit to join the thousands already there once deployed

    The Falcon 9 rocket sent up the Starlink 6-95 mission from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 5:18 p.m.

    The launch window ran from 3:16 p.m. ET to 7:16 p.m. ET, meaning the California-based company had during this time slot to send up its Falcon 9 rocket.

    The 45th Weather Squadron gave a 70% chance at the start of the window and up to an 80% chance of good liftoff conditions near the end.

    The concerns against the launch included cumulus cloud, disturbed weather and thick cloud layers rules.

    Besides showers and a possible isolated thunderstorm, winds were another concern, according to the squadron.

    “Breezy winds are expected in stronger storms, with gusts near 30 mph possible. Weather conditions currently look worse at the beginning of the primary launch window, then improve towards the end of the window as the front shifts south of the area,” the squadron stated.

    Find out more about the weather criteria for a Falcon 9 launch.

    The 25th launch

    This will be the 25th mission for the Falcon 9’s first-stage booster B1077.

    Its previous missions included a crew launch and a boatload of Starlink ones.

    1. Crew-5
    2. GPS III Space Vehicle 06
    3. Inmarsat I-6 F2
    4. CRS-28
    5. Intelsat G-37
    6. NG-20
    7. Optus-X
    8. Starlink 5-10 mission
    9. Starlink 6-13 mission
    10. Starlink 6-25 mission
    11. Starlink 6-33 mission
    12. Starlink 6-43 mission
    13. Starlink 6-51 mission
    14. Starlink 6-63 mission
    15. Starlink 10-4 mission
    16. Starlink 8-11 mission
    17. Starlink 6-71 mission
    18. Starlink 12-8 mission

    19. Starlink 12-25 mission
    20. Starlink 12-23 mission
    21. Starlink 12-19 mission
    22. Starlink 10-28 mission
    23. Starlink 10-14 mission
    24. Starlink 10-21 mission

    After the stage separation, the first-stage rocket should land on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas that should be in the Atlantic Ocean.

    About the mission

    The 29 satellites will head to low-Earth orbit to join the thousands already there once deployed.

    SpaceX owns the Starlink company, where the satellites provide internet service to many areas of the round Earth.

    Dr. Jonathan McDowell, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, has been recording Starlink satellites.

    Before this launch, McDowell documented the following:

    • 9,093 are in orbit
    • 7,867 are in operational orbit

    [ad_2]

    Anthony Leone

    Source link