Things To Do In SW Florida

By PAUL WISEMAN and CHRISTOPHER RUGABER

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Labor Department will release its numbers on September hiring and unemployment next Thursday, a month and a half late, marking the beginning of the end of a data drought caused by the 43-day federal government shutdown.

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The statistical blackout meant that the Federal Reserve, businesses, policymakers and investors have largely been in the dark about inflation, job creation, GDP growth and other measures of the U.S. economic health since late summer. read more

By JACK DURA, Associated Press

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A fatigue crack in the Keystone Pipeline led to an oil spill in North Dakota earlier this year that released thousands of barrels of oil onto farmland, according to the pipeline operator.

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In a quarterly report released Thursday, South Bow said initial findings show, “the failure resulted from a fatigue crack that originated along the pipe’s manufactured long-seam weld.” A fatigue crack develops from stress over time. A mechanical and metallurgical analysis found the pipe and welds met industry standards, the company said. read more

News that NASA federal employees had been called back to work at Maryland’s Goddard Space Flight Center to dismantle and move laboratories during the government shutdown drew a strong rebuke from members of Congress and a denial from NASA officials.

This is false,” NASA Press Secretary Bethany Stevens told The Baltimore Sun. “None of this is true.”

She said that a congressional letter giving Acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy seven days to account for closing laboratories and mission-critical capabilities at Goddard during the shutdown was based on inaccurate information.

Sen. Zoey Lofgren, a California Democrat, and other members of the Committee on Science, Space and Technology signed the Nov. 10 letter accusing NASA of “haphazardly uprooting employees and millions (at least) of dollars of equipment without a destination or technical justification.”

Lofgren called for an investigation by NASA’s Office of the Inspector General into the center’s actions during the shutdown and demanded a full accounting of any damage done to Goddard facilities. read more

Princess Cruises sailed its 17th ship Star Princess into Port Everglades to begin its first Caribbean sailing season.

The vessel is the second in Princess’ Sphere class, and sister ship to 2024’s Sun Princess.

The impending return of IAAPA Expo means a surge of attraction vendors, suppliers and theme park operators that are meeting, greeting and taking care of business at the Orange County Convention Center.

The event is known for its sprawling trade floor, featuring more than 1,100 exhibitors and their wares, from stuffed animals and snack foods to enormous themed inflatables and on-the-move thrill rides.

Some Central Florida attractions exercise their home-court advantages to benefit beyond the booths by hosting tours, educational sessions, awards announcements and parties during the weeklong event. Some companies rent out venues along International Drive for networking opportunities.

“Those parties are client-driven, celebration-driven, and a lot of times the events, those in particular, are actually more impactful than the trade show, which is a blitz,” said Phil Wilson, chief development officer of Orlando-based Extreme Legacy, a design and manufacturing firm.

“I feel like where I’ve gained so much value — on a personal and a developmental perspective in my career — is parties, is networking events,” said Wilson, who marks his 33rd IAAPA Expo this year. read more