Things To Do In SW Florida

By DAN MERICA AND JESSE BEDAYN

ALEXANDRIA, VA. (AP) — The sprawling, windowless warehouses that hold rows of high-speed servers powering almost everything the world does on phones and computers are increasingly becoming fixtures of the American landscape, popping up in towns, cities and suburbs across the United States.

Demand for data centers ballooned in recent years due to the rapid growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence, and urban and rural governments alike are competing for lucrative deals with big tech companies.

But as data centers begin to move into more densely populated areas, abutting homes and schools, parks and recreation centers, some residents are pushing back against the world’s most powerful corporations over concerns about the economic, social and environmental health of their communities.

In Northern Virginia, more than 300 data centers dot the rolling hills of the area’s westernmost counties and butt up against wooded bike trails winding through the suburbs. But one of the latest proposals in the area, Plaza 500, would see a 466,000-square-foot facility and adjacent electrical substation built a few hundred feet from townhomes, playgrounds and a community center. read more

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announced another delay to the first human spaceflight planned for the Artemis moon program and its planned follow-up mission that aims to return humans to the moon’s surface for the first time since 1972.

Artemis II, which was already pushed from 2024 to late 2025, now won’t fly until at least April 2026, with Artemis III planned now for mid-2027.

“The endeavor like Artemis over a half a century after Apollo is hard,” Nelson said Thursday. “It’s the pinnacle of new possibilities. It’s the most daring, technologically challenging, collaborative, international endeavor that humanity has ever set out to do.”

The delay is primarily due to damage found to the heat shield of the uncrewed Orion capsule that flew in 2022 on the Artemis I mission.

“The heat shield performed in unexpected ways, and since then we have been studying the data to determine the best path forward,” Nelson said about understanding the safety risks facing the Artemis II astronauts. read more

By DAVID KOENIG

DALLAS (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday rejected a deal that would have allowed Boeing to plead guilty to a felony conspiracy charge and pay a fine for misleading U.S. regulators about the 737 Max jetliner before two of the planes crashed, killing 346 people.

The ruling by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Texas creates uncertainty around the criminal prosecution of the aerospace giant in connection with the development of its bestselling airline plane. Boeing and the Justice Department could try to negotiate a new plea agreement.

The Justice Department and Boeing did not comment immediately.

Paul Cassell, an attorney for families of passengers who died in the crashes, called the ruling an important victory for the rights of crime victims.

“No longer can federal prosecutors and high-powered defense attorney craft backroom deals and just expect judges to approve them,” Cassell said. “Judge O’Connor has recognized that this was a cozy deal between the government and Boeing that failed to focus on the overriding concerns — holding Boeing accountable for its deadly crime and ensuring that nothing like this happens again in the future.” read more

Chapter 7

Central Florida individuals and businesses that have filed for liquidation under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code include:

Fasst Trucking LLC, 5225 Ganhill Court, Orlando. Filed: Nov. 29. Assets: $0. Liabilities: $289,208. Major creditors: North Mill Equipment Finance LLC, Norwalk, Conn., $70,040; Westlake Financial Services, Los Angeles, $45,650; Pawnee Leasing Corp., Fort Collins, Colo., $35,268. Creditors meeting: Jan. 6.

Chapter 11

Central Florida individuals and businesses that have filed for reorganization and protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code include:

MTL Partners LLC doing business as Collier’s Furniture Expo, 101 Towne Center Blvd., Sanford. Filed: Nov. 27. Assets: $97,460. Liabilities: $2,244,021. Major creditors: Google, Mountain View, Calif., $270,000; Itria Ventures LLC, New York City, $263,943; Natuzzi, High Point, N.C., $185,000. Creditors meeting: Dec. 23.

Restaurant Corp. Unlimited LLC, 1000 Savage Court, Suite 200, Longwood. Filed: Dec. 4. Assets: $1,000,001-$10 million. Liabilities: $1,000,001-$10 million. Major creditors: Not available. Creditors meeting: Not available. read more

By DAVID KOENIG

The Biden administration said Thursday it will take steps toward requiring airlines to pay cash compensation and cover lodging and meals for passengers who are stranded when an airline causes flights to be canceled or changed.

Such a rule would go far beyond the current requirement for airlines to pay ticket refunds. It would make U.S. policy more closely resemble airline consumer protections in Europe.

But with less than seven weeks until President Joe Biden leaves office, the fate of additional regulations on airlines will be left in the hands of President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.

The industry trade group Airlines for America said the Biden administration’s proposal would drive up ticket prices.

“In this highly competitive industry, carriers don’t need further incentive to provide quality service,” the group said in a statement. “This proposal is simply one in a long string of ill-conceived and rushed rules from an administration intent on reregulating the U.S. airline industry.” read more