WATCH LIVE:ULA Atlas V Reschedules ViaSat-3 Mission Launch from Cape Canaveral for Thursday Night

BREVARD COUNTY • CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – The launch of a United Launch Alliance Atlas V carrying the ViaSat-3 F2 mission for Viasat is now planned for no earlier than Thursday, Nov. 13.

To ensure compliance with the recent FAA order regarding launch times, the launch is scheduled for 10:04 p.m. EST at the opening of a 44-minute window, from Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida.

Following the scrub last week due to a faulty booster liquid oxygen tank vent valve, the team at the Cape removed and replaced it with a new valve in preparation for this launch attempt.

Once in service, ViaSat-3 Flight 2 is expected to more than double the bandwidth capacity of Viasat’s entire existing satellite fleet.

The post ULA Atlas V Reschedules ViaSat-3 Mission Launch from Cape Canaveral for Thursday Night appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – A 27-acre prescribed burn is taking place today at the Malabar Scrub Sanctuary, according to local officials.

Prescribed burns, also known as controlled burns, are intentionally set and carefully managed fires conducted under specific environmental conditions. These burns are planned by land management professionals to achieve ecological, agricultural, or safety objectives.

Purpose of Prescribed Burns:

– Reduce Wildfire Risk:

By burning off excess vegetation, such as dry grass, leaves, and brush, prescribed burns reduce the amount of fuel available for wildfires.

– Promote Ecosystem Health:

Some ecosystems, like grasslands and certain forests, rely on periodic fires to thrive. Controlled burns help maintain biodiversity by encouraging the growth of fire-adapted plants and controlling invasive species.

– Restore Natural Fire Regimes:

In areas where fire suppression has disrupted natural fire cycles, prescribed burns mimic natural fires to restore balance.

– Enhance Wildlife Habitat:

Fires can rejuvenate habitats by promoting the growth of new plants that provide food and shelter for animals.

– Improve Land Use:

Farmers and ranchers use prescribed burns to clear fields, improve grazing lands, and prepare land for new crops.
Process of Conducting a Prescribed Burn:

– Planning:

A detailed plan, called a burn plan, outlines the burn objectives, timing, weather conditions, and safety measures.
Weather Monitoring:
Burns are conducted under specific conditions, such as low wind speeds, high humidity, and favorable temperatures, to ensure safety and control.

– Safety Measures:

Firebreaks (cleared or plowed strips of land) are established to contain the fire.
Fire crews are equipped with tools, water, and protective gear.
– Execution:
The fire is ignited in a controlled manner, often using drip torches or other specialized equipment.
Crews monitor the fire’s behavior and suppress any unexpected spread.

– Post-Burn Assessment:

After the fire is extinguished, the area is evaluated to ensure objectives were met and to assess the burn’s ecological impact.

When done correctly, prescribed burns are a powerful tool for land management and conservation. However, they require expertise, careful planning, and strict adherence to safety protocols to prevent unintended consequences.

Related Story:
HOT OFF THE PRESS! Dec. 23, 2024 Space Coast Daily News – Brevard County’s Best Newspaper

The post 27-Acre Prescribed Burn Happening Today at Malabar Scrub Sanctuary appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

ABOVE VIDEO: Second launch of Space Shuttle Columbia – 1981 CBS live broadcast

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Following a launch scrub a week earlier, space shuttle Columbia took to the skies on Nov. 12, 1981, for its second trip into space. Astronauts Joe H. Engle and Richard H. Truly rode the reusable, orbital, spacecraft on a pillar of fire from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida.

Their planned five-day mission had to be curtailed to just two days following the failure of one of Columbia’s three fuel cells.

Despite the shortened flight, Engle and Truly operated the first science payloads aboard a space shuttle and conducted the first tests of the Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System (RMS). They brought Columbia safely home to a landing at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Facility, now NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Facility, at Edwards Air Force Base in California, where ground crews began to prepare the ship for its next mission to space.

Following the Nov. 4, 1981 scrub caused by problems with two of Columbia’s Auxiliary Power Units, engineers flushed the gear boxes and replaced filters in the units, and managers reset the launch for Nov. 12. Engle and Truly arrived back at KSC on Nov. 10. The next day, ground crews found a problem with a Multiplexer De-Multiplexer (MDM), a data management device aboard Columbia. A spare MDM also failed, so a unit from space shuttle Challenger, then under construction in Palmdale, California, was flown in and installed in Columbia. This delayed the launch by nearly three hours.

The launch day coincided with Truly’s 44th birthday, and he became the first person ever to fly to space on his birthday. Ground crews helped him celebrate the occasion by decorating various rooms in KSC’s Operations and Checkout Building, and even the White Room at the launch pad, for the occasion as he and Engle prepared for the liftoff.

Launch managers held the final countdown for a few minutes at T-minus nine minutes to clear up some minor technical issues before issuing a “Go” for launch.

At 10:10 a.m. EST on Nov. 12, 1981, exactly seven months after the launch of STS-1, Columbia’s main engines roared to life and the world’s first reusable, orbital, spacecraft lived up to its name. As soon as the shuttle cleared the launch tower, control handed over to the Mission Control Center (MCC) at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston.

The Silver Team of flight controllers led by ascent Flight Director Neil B. Hutchinson monitored Columbia’s launch, with capsule communicator (capcom) astronaut Daniel C. Brandenstein relaying milestone events to Engle and Truly aboard the shuttle.

Nine minutes after liftoff, Columbia’s main engines cut off and the large external tankjettisoned away from the spacecraft. The space shuttle had reached space but was not yet in orbit, that job left for Columbia’s Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) engines to complete.

The next major task involved opening the orbiter’s payload bay doors to allow the radiators mounted inside them to cool the vehicle.

Mission Control gave Engle and Truly a go to stay in orbit. They could now remove their launch and entry pressure suits and change into more comfortable flight suits.

About five hours into the mission, one of Columbia’s three power-generating fuel cells began to act erratically and capcom Brandenstein instructed Engle and Truly to shut it off. Flight rules stated that with only two working fuel cells, only a so-called minimum mission was permissible, meaning that instead of five days in orbit, Engle and Truly would have to bring Columbia home after 54 hours. Many high-priority activities moved up to be completed during the mission’s two days. Engle and Truly conducted two OMS tests, one to shut it down and start it up again four minutes later. Then they deactivated the faulty fuel cell, taking it permanently offline. Flight Director Donald R. Puddy’s Crimson Team of controllers took over the consoles in Mission Control, with astronaut Frederick H. “Rick” Hauck serving as capcom. Shortly before Engle and Truly went to bed for their first sleep period in space, Mission Control played a taped birthday greeting sung by the high school chorus in Forest, Mississippi, the hometown of Truly’s father and stepmother. Truly replied to capcom Hauck, “That’s beautiful. Please thank them and tell them I couldn’t have had a nicer birthday than this one. Appreciate it.” Engle and Truly then went to sleep in their seats on the flight deck. The OSTA-1 payloads in the payload bay, activated earlier in the day, continued to gather data overnight.

While the crew slept, in Mission Control the Bronze Team led by Flight Director Charles R. “Chuck” Lewis took over the consoles, with astronauts James F. Buchli and Sally K. Ride serving as capcoms. Ride became the first woman to serve in the role of capcom. Mission Control began the crew’s day by playing “Pigs in Space” as a wake-up call, a comedy routine by The Muppets arranged by Ride. First-time space flyers Engle and Truly reported they had a comfortable first night’s sleep aboard Columbia, telling capcoms Buchli and Ride, “we did get plenty of sleep last night, but it’s hard to sleep with all the opportunities to watch things.” Their first task of the day involved activating the RMS for its first in-orbit workout. With Truly controlling the 50-foot-long arm from Columbia’s aft flight deck, he deployed and stowed it again as an initial test, reporting, “It’s running very smoothly.” Truly then unstowed the arm, with TV cameras in the payload bay and on the arm’s wrist and elbow joints providing flight controllers with a great view of its movements. During the testing, Ride informed the crew that mission managers had made the final decision that due to the fuel cell problem, the flight would be the 54-hour minimum mission. After both Truly and Engle had a chance to operate the arm, Truly guided it back into its cradle, its first inflight testing a success. Flight Director Hutchinson and his team resumed their console positions, with astronaut Terry J. “TJ” Hart now serving as capcom.

President Ronald W. Reagan became the first sitting Chief Executive to step onto the floor of the MCC during an actual mission when he visited JSC on Nov. 13, 1981, the crew’s second day aboard Columbia. Accompanied by NASA Administrator James M. Beggs, the President received a tour of the MCC provided by JSC Director Christopher C. Kraft, the man responsible for developing the concept of mission control. President Reagan chatted with Engle and Truly for a few minutes, jokingly asking them if they could stop by Washington, D.C., and pick him up on their way to California. The President added, “I’m sure you know how proud everyone down here is and how … America has got its eyes and its heart on you.” Following his chat with the astronauts, he spoke a few words with their wives, Mary Catherine Engle and Cody Truly, before leaving the MCC.

For the remainder of the day, Engle and Truly conducted additional evaluations of the orbiter, such as tests of the Reaction Control System (RCS) thrusters, and took photographs of the Earth below. Engle also replaced a failed cathode ray tube (CRT) display on the flight deck. The OSTA-1 payload experiments continued to gather data. After the successful CRT repair, Engle jokingly requested that he be allowed to go and fix the failed fuel cell as well, to allow a full-duration mission. Mission Control politely ignored his offer. After a very busy day, Engle and Truly settled down for their last night’s sleep in space. In MCC, Flight Director Lewis’ Bronze Team, with astronaut Henry W. “Hank” Hartsfield joining Buchli as capcom, replaced Hutchinson’s Silver Team on console.

The crew’s landing day wake up music began with a rendition of “Columbia, Gem of the Ocean,” performed by the Flight Operations Directorate group “Contraband,” followed by the second part of The Muppets’ “Pigs in Space” comedy routine. Flight Director Puddy’s Crimson Team of controllers, including capcoms Hauck and Steven R. Nagel, took their console positions to guide Engle and Truly through the reentry and landing of Columbia at what is now NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California. Early on entry day, Engle deactivated the OSTA-1 payloads in preparation for landing. They closed the payload bay doors, donned their pressure suits, maneuvered Columbia so it was flying tail first, and fired its OMS engines over the Indian Ocean for nearly three minutes to drop it out of orbit. Twenty-seven minutes later, Columbia encountered the first tendrils of the Earth’s upper atmosphere at an altitude of 400,000 feet. The heat of reentry caused a sheath of ionized plasma to form around the vehicle, blocking communications for 16 minutes.

Engle, together with the spacecraft’s computer, guided Columbia through a series of aerodynamic maneuvers in the hypersonic and supersonic phases of the entry to obtain information about the vehicle’s handling characteristics. Engle reported that the “maneuvers have been going very good [sic]. The bird is real solid.” Engle manually guided Columbia through a sweeping turn called the Heading Alignment Circle to line up with Dryden’s Runway 23. At about 400 feet, Truly lowered the landing gear and a few seconds later, Columbia’s main gear touched down on the dry lakebed runway, kicking up a cloud of dust. As Columbia continued to roll down the runway, Engle lowered the spacecraft’s nose, applied gentle brakes, and brought the vehicle to a stop after a 7,000-foot rollout. The STS-2 mission ended after 54 hours, 13 minutes. An estimated 200,000 people were on hand to watch Columbia’s second landing.

Flight controllers in Mission Control in Houston erupted in cheers following Columbia’s successful landing. Capcom Nagel helped Engle and Truly deactivate the vehicle’s systems as ground crews at Dryden arrived on the runway to safe it from hazardous materials so the crew could exit the spacecraft.

After being instructed that it was safe to exit the vehicle, Truly and Engle climbed out of Columbia and bounded down the stairs of the access vehicle. Director of Flight Crew Operations at JSC George W.S. Abbey greeted them at the bottom of the stairs and the trio conducted a walkaround inspection of Columbia, finding it in remarkably good condition. Ground teams drove Engle and Truly to Dryden facilities where they changed out of their pressure suits and boarded a jet for the trip back to Houston.

Hundreds of well-wishers greeted Engle and Truly when they arrived at Ellington Air Force Base near JSC. Reunited with their families, they returned to their homes for their first night’s sleep back on Earth. The next morning, they had breakfast with Vice President George H.W. Bush, who was visiting JSC – the first back-to-back visits to JSC of the nation’s top two executives. The STS-1 crew of John W. Young and Robert L. Crippen also attended the breakfast with the Vice President.

Ground crews at Dryden towed Columbia from the runway to a service area to begin preparing it for its cross-country trip back to KSC. After workers mounted it atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, a modified Boeing-747, Columbia left Dryden and arrived at KSC on Nov. 25, just 11 days after its landing in California. Workers towed it to the Orbiter Processing Facility to start preparing it for its next mission, STS-3, planned for March 1982.

The post THIS DAY IN HISTORY: Space Shuttle Columbia Lifts Off From NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in 1981 appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – With temperatures expected to dip to near-freezing levels Wednesday night, LifePointe Ministries in Titusville will open its doors as a cold weather shelter to provide warmth and safety for those in need.

Brevard County Emergency Management announced the activation as part of its cold weather response plan.

The shelter offers a safe overnight stay for individuals and families without adequate heating or shelter during cold conditions.

Residents seeking assistance or information about transportation to the shelter can call 2-1-1 Brevard. Officials are also encouraging the public to check on elderly neighbors, bring pets indoors, and take extra precautions to stay warm.

The post Cold Weather Shelter to Open Wednesday Night at LifePointe Ministries in Titusville appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

Planned Parenthood claims a chemical abortion is safer than medicine you'd take at home for a mild headache. This claim is a lie and violates Florida law.

Today, we filed a lawsuit to hold Planned Parenthood accountable. pic.twitter.com/zF8u03GY3l

— Attorney General James Uthmeier (@AGJamesUthmeier) November 6, 2025

ABOVE VIDEO: Attorney General James Uthmeier Brings Lawsuit Against Planned Parenthood for Deceptive Marketing Regarding Chemical Abortion Drugs

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that he filed a lawsuit against Planned Parenthood for misrepresenting the safety of chemical abortion drugs.

“It is vile that Planned Parenthood cares more about lining their pockets than providing women with factual information about the health risks of chemical abortion drugs,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “When it comes to health and safety in Florida, we won’t tolerate blatant lies using fabricated medical ‘facts’ that have no scientific basis.”

The lawsuit accuses Planned Parenthood of exploiting patient trust by making false claims about the safety of abortion drugs, including that abortion drugs, which are designed to kill an unborn baby, are “safer than Tylenol.”

Despite the claim being debunked by various studies and expert testimonies, Planned Parenthood continues to promote the claim across various platforms.

Chemical abortions are very profitable for Planned Parenthood, which provides motivation for the organization to continue peddling misleading information, as well as providing abortion pills via mail without even conducting an in-person consultation.

The filing explains that these deceptive practices present clear violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and the Florida RICO Act. Attorney General Uthmeier is seeking statutory penalties, punitive damages, and injunctive relief to protect consumers.

The post Attorney General James Uthmeier Brings Lawsuit Against Planned Parenthood for Deceptive Marketing Regarding Chemical Abortion Drugs appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – With temperatures expected to drop Tuesday night, several cold weather shelters will open across Brevard County to provide warmth and safety for those in need.

Shelters will be available in Titusville, Cocoa, and Melbourne, operated by local community partners dedicated to helping residents during the cold snap.

– Titusville: LifePointe Ministries

– Cocoa: Matthew’s Hope and the Sharing Center of Central Brevard

– Melbourne: Providence Connects at Melbourne First Church of the Nazarene

Each location will provide warm shelter, basic needs, and compassionate assistance to individuals and families seeking refuge from the cold.

Residents in need of transportation or additional details are encouraged to contact the shelter locations directly or reach out to local outreach organizations for guidance.

The post Cold Weather Shelters Open Across Brevard County on Tuesday, November 11 appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

WATCH LIVE: SpaceX Set to Launch 29 Starlink Satellites from Cape Canaveral Tonight

BREVARD COUNTY • CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – SpaceX is targeting a 10:21 p.m. EST liftoff tonight from Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, sending 29 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit aboard a Falcon 9 rocket.

The mission will expand SpaceX’s growing Starlink network, which provides global broadband internet service.

Tonight’s launch will mark the third flight for the Falcon 9 first-stage booster supporting the mission.

The booster previously launched the KF-01 and IMAP missions.

After stage separation, the first stage is expected to land on the Just Read the Instructions droneship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

The post WATCH LIVE: SpaceX Set to Launch 29 Starlink Satellites from Cape Canaveral Tonight appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

ABOVE VIDEO: Schumer faces party scrutiny after Dems cave on shutdown

WASHINGTON D.C. – The Senate ended its weeks-long shutdown standoff late Monday night by advancing a bipartisan funding package aimed at reopening the federal government.

The measure passed after eight Senate Democrats joined Republicans to support the plan, providing the votes needed to send the legislation to the House.

The agreement came on the 41st day of the shutdown and includes a continuing resolution combined with three separate spending bills in a single “minibus” package.

For much of last week — and even earlier Monday — it was unclear whether the Senate would reach this point. Lawmakers cleared an early procedural hurdle earlier in the day, but last-minute objections and procedural delays threatened to slow progress.

“I think everybody’s pretty united behind this bill,” said Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio. “We want to reopen the government.”

Throughout the shutdown, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and most Democrats had called for reopening the government only if an agreement was reached on extending certain health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. That deal did not come together, but the final package includes a commitment from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., to hold a future vote on the issue.

Thune said that a vote would come, “No later than the second week of December.” The subsidies are set to expire by the end of the year.

“We have senators, both Democrat and Republican, who are eager to get to work to address that crisis in a bipartisan way,” he said. “These senators are not interested in political games, they’re interested in finding real ways to address healthcare costs for American families. We also have a president who is willing to sit down and get to work on this issue.”

The post BREAKING: Senate Votes to End Government Shutdown After 41 Days, Sends Bipartisan Deal to House appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – With temperatures expected to drop across Central Florida, cold weather shelters will open Monday night, November 10, to provide warmth and safety for those in need.

Three locations throughout Brevard County will be available:

– Titusville: LifePointe Ministries

– Cocoa: Central Brevard Sharing Center

– Melbourne: Daily Bread at Melbourne First Church of the Nazarene

Each shelter will welcome individuals and families seeking refuge from the cold, offering a warm environment and support from local volunteers and community partners.

Residents are encouraged to check on neighbors, particularly seniors and those without adequate heat, and share shelter information with anyone who may need assistance.

Local officials remind the public that cold weather shelters play a crucial role in ensuring safety during temperature drops, especially for the homeless and vulnerable populations.

The post Cold Weather Shelters Open Across Brevard County on Monday, November 10 appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – Law enforcement’s finest four-legged heroes are gearing up to take center stage at the 2025 Space Coast Police K-9 Competition, where skill, precision, and teamwork will be on full display.

The event will take place on Friday, November 14, at 6 p.m. at USSS Space Coast Stadium, located at 5800 Stadium Parkway in Viera.

More than a dozen of the best civilian trainers in the country will also compete beginning at 4 p.m. Gates will open at 3 p.m.

This is the 7th annual event, which showcases the incredible abilities of police and military working dogs as they compete in a series of challenging obstacles designed to test obedience, agility, and apprehension skills; all things these K-9 teams could potentially face on a typical workday.

Spectators will witness firsthand the incredible bonds and discipline between K-9s and their handlers. This is the ultimate display of trust and training in law enforcement.

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey will co-MC the event with fan favorite retired Corporal Shawn Crook. Another fan favorite, Stan Smith, out of Texas, who has won the civilian competition for several years running, will be wearing the bite suit and serving as a decoy, while assisting with the field commentary.

Agencies from across Florida and beyond will participate, including teams from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Titusville Police, Rockledge Police, Palm Bay Police, Leesburg Police, Florida Highway Patrol, Orlando Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Pierce Police Department, Rock Hill Police Department South Carolina, and the 45th Security Forces Squadron at Patrick Space Force Base, among others, all vying for a Top Dog finish.

“This competition isn’t just about who wins. It’s about honoring the dedication and sacrifice of every K-9 team that serves our communities,” said Dan Rhoades, President of the Space Coast Police K-9 Foundation, the organization presenting the event.

“These dogs and handlers work tirelessly to protect lives, and this event allows the public to see their skills up close.”

All proceeds from the event benefit the Space Coast Police K-9 Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting law enforcement K-9 programs in Brevard County.

The Space Coast Police K-9 Competition is open to the public – Get Tickets Here.

Event Details:
• Location: USSSA Space Coast Stadium, 5800 Stadium Parkway
• Date: Friday, November 14, 2025
• Time: Gates open at 3 p.m. | Civilian Competition begins at 4 p.m. Law Enforcement/Military Teams Compete starting at 6 p.m.

SPONSORS:

• Ace K-9
• Al’s Trophy Shop – Cocoa
• Altered Woods
• American Muscle Car Museum
• Beef O’Brady’s Cocoa Commons
• Bluewater Create – Viera Voice
• Brevard County Sheriff’s Office
• Carroll Distributing
• ChemDry Space Coast
• City of Cocoa and the Cocoa Police Department Cocoa Village Main Street
• Community Credit Union
• Dignity Memorial
• East Coast Machine
• Eastern Florida State College
• Florida Bullet
• FPL
• Frogbones Family Shooting Center
• Holiday Builders
• Jon’s Jewelers
• Julius K-9
• K-9 Strong
• K9s Place
• Kabler School for Dogs/K9 Tribe
• Kel-Tec Weapons
• Kong
• McDonald’s- Rodriguez Family
• Mountain Fox K-9
• Orlando Magic
• Paws Unleashed
• Publix
• Ron Jon Surf Shop
• Southern Tape and Label
• Tails 3 Amigas
• Tails at the Barkery
• The Viera Company
• Triad Medical
• Urban K-9 Apparel
• Walmart Cocoa
• Wawa
• 1080 SVN Apparel
• 45th Security Forces Squadron

Related Story:
HOT OFF THE PRESS! October 27, 2025 Space Coast Daily News – Brevard County’s Best Newspaper

The post 7th Annual Space Coast Police K-9 ‘Top Dog’ Competition Set for Friday at USSSA Space Coast Stadium in Viera appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) formally submitted an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP) to U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick that, upon approval, will allow Florida to assume management of the recreational red snapper fishery in state and federal waters off the Atlantic Coast beginning in 2026.

“State management and expansion of Gulf snapper season have been a major boon for our Gulf of America communities, allowing so many Floridians and visitors to enjoy the Red Snapper our waters have to offer,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “I was proud to announce that Florida anglers will soon be able to enjoy more Atlantic Red Snapper fishing as well. The Trump Administration has taken action to rein in the bureaucracy and return this power to the states, where it belongs. To that end, Florida has submitted a formal request to the federal government for state management of the recreational red snapper fishery. Just as it has on the Gulf coast, Florida’s management of Atlantic Red Snapper fishing will boost local economies along our Atlantic coast, supporting tackle and bait shops, hotels, restaurants, and the entire recreational fishing community.”

Since January, the Trump Commerce Department, under the leadership of Secretary Lutnick, have stood firm for our angling community.

Earlier this year, Secretary Lutnick put fishermen first, rejecting the Biden Administration’s last-ditch attempt to force sweeping closures off our coast—a move to begin the path of finally reversing decades of failed federal control and to empower state-led management. Further, today’s announcement follows recent actions by the Governors, Attorneys General, and Congressional delegations of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

“Florida has proven it can effectively and efficiently manage the Atlantic recreational red snapper fishery,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Roger Young. “Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, the state has expanded access for and delivered greater opportunities for anglers in the Gulf year after year—demonstrating a strong commitment to both conservation and the fishing community. We are excited and ready to bring this level of expertise to manage the Atlantic recreational red snapper fishery.”

As submitted to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Florida would implement a 39-day Atlantic Red Snapper season, a dramatic expansion from the two-day federal season allowed in 2025, an 1850% increase in fishing. The proposed season includes:

Summer: From May 22 (Memorial Day Weekend) through June 20

Fall: Three-day weekends in October (Oct. 2–4, 9–11, and 16–18)

Florida’s application leverages the same process used in the Gulf, where state management has produced results that support the species and anglers. Since assuming management in the Gulf, the Red Snapper season has risen from 3 to 127 days, an over 4100% increase for Florida’s Gulf anglers and for-hire operators.

The expanded season is expected to drive major economic growth for coastal communities, benefiting tackle and bait shops, hotels, restaurants, and Florida’s robust boating and fishing industries. Florida remains the nation’s leader in recreational fishing and boating, home to over 4 million licensed anglers, 922,000 registered boats, and a $31.3 billion recreational boating industry supporting over 100,000 jobs statewide.

The Governor also reinforced the success of the ongoing Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday, which suspends collection of sales tax on the retail sale of items needed for hunting, fishing, or camping in Florida’s great outdoors

Anyone fishing for red snapper from a private recreational vessel—in state or federal waters—must be registered as a State Reef Fish Angler (with annual renewal), even if exempt from fishing license requirements. Registration is available at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.

For more on recreational snapper regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine.

The post Gov. Ron DeSantis Announces 2026 Proposal for Atlantic Red Snapper Season appeared first on Space Coast Daily.

POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA – The Merritt Island Mustangs’ incredible volleyball season ended just short of a championship Saturday, falling in a five-set thriller in the Class 4A State Final to North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek).

The Mustangs battled hard but came up short, 17-25, 25-22, 25-18, 10-25, 10-15.

Merritt Island fell in the first set, but battled back to win the next two sets. Their opponent responded in the next two sets, capitalizing on Mustang error.

The final set was tight, but North Broward Prep closed strong to claim the title 15-10 in the final set.

Despite the loss, Merritt Island’s season was one to remember. Under head coach Angie Patrick, the Mustangs captured district and regional championships and earned a spot among the best in Florida with a overall record of 29-3.

The post Merritt Island Mustangs Volleyball Finishes State Runner-Up, Falls to North Broward Prep 3-2 in State Championship appeared first on Space Coast Daily.