Things To Do In SW Florida

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has left the building, and while President Trump’s nominee awaits a confirmation hearing, the head of Kennedy Space Center will keep things afloat.

Nelson, who flew to space on board Space Shuttle Columbia while a member of the House of Representatives, later served in the U.S. Senate for Florida. He was nominated by President Biden and confirmed as the agency’s 14th administrator. His likely replacement is billionaire Jared Isaacman, who flew twice to space partnering up with Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

Until Isaacman is confirmed, though, KSC Director Janet Petro was named interim administrator as Trump took office, becoming the first woman to ever lead the agency, even if temporarily. NASA’s Associate Administrator Jim Free was notably passed over for the role, even though he is the lead civil employee.

My letter to the next NASA Administrator: pic.twitter.com/NCgIqQ7olH

— Bill Nelson (@SenBillNelson) January 21, 2025

Just how NASA’s leadership structure may change under Isaacman’s potential confirmation remains to be seen, but Nelson in a farewell letter to whoever gets the job highlights the benefits of an agency that crosses party lines for support. read more

Spirit Airlines lenders have committed another $300 million in financing for the Dania Beach-based airline — money intended to fuel the discount carrier’s operations after it departs from bankruptcy court.

The airline “has secured a commitment from certain of its prepetition debtholders” to lend more money for working capital and “other corporate needs of the company” after it exits Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, management said in a filing late last week with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The commitments came as Spirit put the finishing touches on a cost-cutting program that has resulted in workforce cutbacks that affect several hundred pilots and 200 support workers. After the furloughs of 186 cockpit crew members last September, some 330 pilots are scheduled to leave Jan. 31. Another 120 are scheduled for demotions.

Under heavy financial and competitive pressures, Spirit filed a pre-arranged Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in New York last November as it sought to reduce debt, slash costs and reorganize its business. The company says it intends to exit bankruptcy proceedings at some point toward the end of March. read more

Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, again will be among the speakers at SXSW, the entertainment conference out of Austin, Texas.

His topic — presented alongside Disney Entertainment co-chairman Alan Bergan and other unannounced guests — is “The Future of World-Building at Disney.” They will “show the convergence of imagination, innovation and the future of experiential storytelling,” according to a listing provided by SXSW.

D’Amaro memorably spoke at SXSW in 2023, when he revealed a retractable lightsaber and proclaimed it to be “real.” This was during the brief Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser era.

Disney’s 12 theme parks, Disney Cruise Line, Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Consumer Products are among the company divisions that fall under the leadership of D’Amaro. He previously was president of Walt Disney World.

Discover Disney ticket returns with theme park discounts for Florida residents

SXSW is scheduled for March 7-15. Keynote speakers will be John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival fame and Jay Graber, CEO of Bluesky social media platform. A precise schedule has not been released. read more

By Courtney Frazer, Bankrate.com (TNS)

Food costs represent a significant portion of household budgets, and rising grocery prices make strategic shopping essential. While cutting back isn’t the only solution, smartphone apps can provide substantial grocery savings through cash-back rewards, digital coupons, discounts and loyalty programs.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to 10 effective food savings apps for both grocery shopping and dining out.

Top food savings apps

1. Ibotta

Ibotta is one of the most popular cash back apps available. It’s known for offering cash-back rewards on everyday purchases at major retailers. The app allows users to select offers before shopping and earn rewards by scanning receipts afterward.

Its browser extension enables cash back on online grocery purchases, and partnerships with retailers provide exclusive deals on essential household items.

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Multiple redemption options, including PayPal and gift cards
• Wide acceptance at major retailers
• Bonus rewards for reaching specific goals, such as trying new products or completing a certain number of offers in a month

Cons

• Requires pre-selecting offers
• The cash-out minimum takes time to reach
• The interface can be overwhelming with numerous offers

2. Fetch Rewards

Fetch Rewards allows users to earn points on any receipt from grocery stores, pharmacies and even gas stations, making it a versatile option for shoppers. read more

By Sara Rathner, NerdWallet

Last year was dominated by a dramatic presidential election and an economy that, while strong on paper, didn’t feel that way for many Americans. Here’s what we saw in 2024 when it came to credit cards and debt:

• Interest rates began to fall, but credit card APRs are still catching up: The Federal Reserve lowered interest rates three times toward the end of 2024, but it took a few months for average credit card interest rates to follow suit and come down slightly from a record high.
• Debt and delinquencies rose, but things could be stabilizing: According to NerdWallet’s 2024 American Household Credit Card Debt study, revolving credit card debt increased just 1.5% from September 2023 to September 2024. But when you look at that same timeframe for the year prior, debt levels increased by 15%. Credit card delinquency rates rose steadily since the latter half of 2021, but they leveled off a bit between the third and fourth quarters of 2024.
• Attempts at certain industry changes stalled. The Credit Card Competition Act — first introduced in 2022, but still hotly debated in 2024 — aims to indirectly lower the credit card swipe fees merchants pay, by allowing them more choice among payment processing networks. Opponents, though, argue that any savings are unlikely to trickle down to shoppers, and they note that history suggests the plan could also negatively affect credit card rewards programs. Regardless, the legislation hasn’t meaningfully advanced in Congress. Separately, attempts by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in 2024 to cap credit card late fees stalled out when a federal judge blocked the new rule.

And just like that, we’re a quarter of the way through the 21st century. Here’s what’s coming in 2025 that could have unexpected impacts on credit cards.

1. A new presidential administration

The second Trump administration is here. While that news seems more political than financial, decisions made in Washington can affect banks, financial technology companies and, of course, consumers.

One big unknown at this point is the fate of the CFPB, as the new Department of Government Efficiency — co-led by businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy — takes aim at federal spending deemed to be wasteful. Musk has called for the elimination of the CFPB, which was originally created to enforce federal consumer financial laws.

But if the CFPB’s future is at risk, it’s going out with a bang. Since December alone, the CFPB has been busy: read more