Things To Do In SW Florida

SpaceX sent up a commercial satellite late Thursday morning from Kennedy Space Center completing three launches in just under 30 hours among its three active pads in Florida and California.

Liftoff of SXM-9! pic.twitter.com/buCmhClcFN

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 5, 2024

A Falcon 9 rocket on the SiriusXM SXM-9 mission took up the satellite radio company’s hardware built by Maxar Space Systems to geosynchronous transfer orbit with liftoff from KSC’s Launch Complex 39-A at 11:10 a.m. under mostly clear skies. This was the third satellite SpaceX has launched for SiriusXM.

The first-stage booster made its 19th launch with a recovery landing downrange in the Atlantic on the droneship Just Read the Instructions.

Falcon 9 landing confirmed, marking the 100th time a first stage booster has landed on the Just Read the Instructions droneship and our 380th successful recovery overall pic.twitter.com/yyoNjHXZfs

— SpaceX (@SpaceX) December 5, 2024

It marked the 380th successful booster landing for the company since 2015 and the 100th alone for Just Read the Instructions, one of three droneships SpaceX uses alongside A Shortfall of Gravitas based out of Port Canaveral and the West Coast-based Of Course I Still Love You. read more

Actor Josh Gad has been making the rounds at Walt Disney World, pulling Candlelight Processional duties at Epcot but otherwise working his way through the theme parks, interacting with cast members, having meta Olaf moments and making a suggestion or two to Imagineers.

Gad, a native of Hollywood, Florida, and an official Disney Legend, was the first narrator for this season’s Candlelight Processional, the long-running holiday event with mass choir, live orchestra and celebrity reader.

Before his first of six readings, he mentioned his Disney credits, including as Olaf the snowman in the “Frozen” franchise and before the first of his six readings, including as LeFou in 2017’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast” film. He also referenced his time playing Elder Cunningham in the Broadway musical “The Book of Mormon.”

“This show is going to be very, very different from that one,” Gad told the Candlelight audience. “The only thing those two have in common is the word ‘Hello.’” read more

Roger Simmons will become executive editor of the Orlando Sentinel, the news organization announced Wednesday, replacing Julie Anderson, who will retire this month.

“I’m just very humbled,” said Simmons, a Florida native and University of Central Florida graduate who grew up reading the Sentinel. “I’ve been in awe through the years of all the great reporting this newspaper has done.”

Anderson disclosed the news during an afternoon staff meeting. Simmons, 59, will move into his new role Dec. 14, the day after Anderson steps down.

“He’s a good leader,” Anderson said. “He loves our community. He loves the Sentinel. And I’m very happy that he’s going to continue what we started here, in terms of strong local journalism.”

Greg Mazanec, regional publisher of the Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel, also lauded Simmons. “As I’ve observed Roger these past three years, he has impressed me with his passion for journalism and his strong commitment to serving Central Florida,” he said. “I’m confident he will be a strong leader for the newsroom.” read more

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that the Federal Reserve’s ability to set interest rates free of political interference is necessary for it to make decisions to serve “all Americans” rather than a political party or a specific outcome.

Speaking at at New York Times’ DealBook summit, Powell spoke in response to a question about President-elect Donald Trump’s numerous public criticisms of the Fed and of Powell himself.

“We’re supposed to achieve maximum employment and price stability for the benefit of all Americans and keep out of politics completely,” Powell said.

Mia Taylor | (TNS) Bankrate.com

Before putting your home on the market, it’s important to make it look its best for prospective buyers. Getting a home in show-ready shape might involve decluttering the interiors, sprucing up the curb appeal and investing in key repairs around the residence.

But don’t get carried away. Pouring too much money into the home can be a losing investment: It won’t substantially improve your sale price, leaving you out-of-pocket for unnecessary expenses. So it’s important to know where to draw the line. Here are some of the things homeowners need not fix when listing a home for sale.

Why you don’t need to fix everything

As a general rule, it’s a good idea to focus on fixing items that may impact your home’s sale price. Beyond that, money spent on repairs and replacements may be wasted, as prospective buyers may not find the improvements necessary or even notice the work was done at all.

In addition, most major renovation projects do not recoup the money you spend on them at resale. “Many times a major kitchen renovation or room addition won’t give you the return on investment that you might expect,” says Jade Lee Duffy, a Realtor with Epique in San Diego, California. For example, spending thousands of dollars on fancy new kitchen tiles can backfire: Buyers have their own taste and don’t want to end up paying for new tile that they don’t like. Projects like extensive landscaping, high-end fixtures and new pools typically do not offer a dollar-for-dollar return either, she says. read more