Things To Do In SW Florida

Now officially seven months on board the International Space Station, the two NASA astronauts who flew up on Boeing’s Starliner last June have a busy schedule in the new year while awaiting their flight home in the spring.

Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams arrived to the ISS on June 5 on board Starliner, but remained on board after NASA decided to send the spacecraft home without crew because of safety reasons. The duo joined fellow NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Don Pettit for a call from the ISS with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy on Wednesday.

“I want to ask Butch and Suni if you will put to rest, what reporters still keep asking me about how you’re stranded, that they’re concerned that you don’t have any clothes, that you don’t have any food,” Nelson said. “Would you put to rest for the final time, and I hope you never have to answer it again, just how you all are doing?”

Wilmore jumped in to confirm that when the duo first flew up on Starliner for what was originally planned to be as short as an eight-day visit, that there were some clothing issues. Starliner had made a late cargo switch to bring up some emergency hardware needed to make the bathroom work on the station, and because of that, the two crew had to leave behind some personal belongings. read more

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, AP Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials at their meeting Dec. 17-18 expected to dial back the pace of interest rate cuts this year in the face of persistently elevated inflation and the threat of widespread tariffs and other potential policy changes.

Minutes from the meeting, released after the typical three-week lag, also showed clear division among the Fed’s 19 policymakers. Some expressed support for keeping the central bank’s key rate unchanged, the minutes said. And a majority of the officials said the decision to cut rates was a close call.

Ultimately, the Fed choose to cut its key rate by a quarter-point to about 4.3%. One official, Cleveland Fed President Beth Hammack, dissented in favor of keeping rates unchanged.

Still, there was widespread agreement that after reducing rates for three straight meetings, it was time to undertake a more deliberate approach to their key rate.

Fewer rate cuts will likely mean that borrowing costs for consumers and businesses — including for homes, cars, and credit cards — will remain elevated this year. read more

By Ava Benny-Morrison and Rachel Metz, Bloomberg News (TNS)

The sister of Sam Altman accused the OpenAI chief executive officer of sexually abusing her for almost a decade, in a lawsuit filed in federal court.

Ann Altman, 30, alleged that Sam Altman abused and manipulated her while they were growing up in Missouri in the late 1990s to early 2000s. According to the lawsuit filed Monday, the alleged abuse began when she was 3 years old and the last instance allegedly occurred when he was an adult but she was still a minor. Ann Altman has previously claimed on social media that Sam Altman abused her.

Sam Altman, 39, posted a statement on behalf of himself, his mother and brothers on X on Tuesday, calling the claims “utterly untrue.”

“This situation causes immense pain to our entire family,” the statement read.

Sam Altman, a longtime Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor, gained a global profile with the massive success of artificial intelligence startup OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot, which sparked an AI frenzy upon its release in late 2022. read more

In recent weeks, Mike Smith, owner of The Current Seafood Counter inside Henry’s Depot in Sanford and its fast-casual sister in Orlando’s College Park neighborhood, announced big news: he’d taken the reins at two other Sanford staples, purchasing both The Sullivan Public House and its neighboring craft-cocktail haven, The Imperial.

But wait, Orlando. There’s more. 

Just days after this bold move, a friend called Smith with an offer he couldn’t refuse. Look for yet another version of his growing New England seafood brand — The Current Seafood Station — to open in the next couple of months in an all-new area of town: Orlando’s Milk District neighborhood.

Located in a gas station at 3025. E Colonial Drive at the corner of Maguire Boulevard, the spot will soon boast a cute patio out back along with plenty of pre-order and go options, a smaller menu that brings some of the Henry’s Depot favorites (including that stellar blackened mahi sandwich) along with lots of fried-to-order goodies, to what Smith projects will be a whole, new audience. read more

Two Central Florida restaurants shut down the week of Dec. 29-Jan. 4, according to data from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Orange

K-Jumak Restaurant at 5075 Edgewater Dr. in Orlando shut down on Jan. 2. Inspectors found 19 violations, three of which were high priorities. Those violations included roach activity and an employee working with food and utensils before washing their hands. A second inspection occurred on Jan. 3. There were eight violations, but none was a high priority. The restaurant requires a follow-up inspection but poses no threat to the public.

Brevard

Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings at 3688 N. Atlantic Ave. in Cocoa Beach shut down on Dec. 30. Inspectors found three violations, two of which were high priorities for not being able to properly sanitize food contact surfaces and wastewater backing up in the sinks. A second inspection the same day found no violations. The restaurant complied with the emergency order.

Complaints and warnings

Volusia County had the top spot for most warnings and other complaints in Central Florida, with 15. read more