Things To Do In SW Florida

Charles Gorrivan | (TNS) Bloomberg News

A hacking group linked to the Iranian government tried to breach the email accounts of presidential campaign staffers as part of a wider effort to gather intelligence ahead of the U.S. election, Microsoft Corp. said Friday.

Attackers connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in June used a compromised email address from a former political adviser to try phishing another high-ranking presidential campaign official, according to findings from Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center. That group, which Microsoft calls Mint Sandstorm, also unsuccessfully attempted to log in to the account of a former presidential candidate. The report didn’t identify the individual targets by name.

Other Iranian groups are using artificial intelligence technology to publish content online insulting former president Donald Trump and create inflammatory posts about controversial issues such as gender reassignment surgery, according to the report.

Microsoft researchers also said that Iranian groups that have historically tried to undermine trust in the electoral system have since March been preparing to launch influence operations. Using websites with fabricated and plagiarized content, supposed media operations launched by Iranian groups also have sought to amplify polarizing political messaging about topics such as presidential candidates and Israel’s war against Hamas, researchers found. read more

Q. I inherited an IRA from my mother in 2021, and I have taken no required minimum distributions (RMDs) yet. I have not reached the age at which I have to take RMDs from my own account, but my mother had. So, do I have to take RMDs from my inheritance? If so, whose life expectancy do I use? Is it taxable? Is the 10-year rule in effect?

A. Starting in 2025, you do have to take RMDs. You do not have to take RMDs for prior years. Because your mother had reached her required beginning date (RBD), you do have to take yearly RMDs starting in the year after your mother passed. You can use your age to determine the amount you have to withdraw each year, and you do have to use the 10-year rule, which means that, in effect, you have to withdraw all the funds in the account by the end of 2031.

Q. My wife is 11 years older than me. We both have IRAs. We named each other as beneficiaries. If she predeceases me before I reach the age when I have to take RMDs from my account, will I be required to take RMDs from the inherited account? read more

Fireworks shows have colorful new neighbors in the skies above Central Florida’s attractions. Hundreds of drones, scurrying around for entertainment purposes, are increasingly common.

The devices, armed with flexible lighting capacities, are changing the look of nighttime spectaculars, sometimes as a supplement to traditional pyrotechnics, sometimes flying solo.

“Drones are a hot topic for sure, and unlike the VR [virtual reality] obsession of eight years ago, the drones have real experience power and are here to stay,” said Brian Morrow, owner of B Morrow Productions, a Kissimmee-based design studio that works on projects for theme parks, resorts and museums.

“This is the power of the drone show in established parks: a new storytelling device to add one more layer to night shows,” Morrow said.

This summer, Disney Springs became the site for “Disney Dreams That Soar,” a twice-nightly production featuring aerial maneuvers that form familiar characters, accompanied by Disney tunes. Universal Studios theme park incorporated 600 drones into its new “CineSational: A Symphonic Spectacular” show, and park-goers may now spy E.T.’s finger, the “Ghostbusters” symbol and a Minion hovering. read more

WEST PALM BEACH — Friday marked the start of the annual Florida Python Challenge, where hunters head into the Everglades to track down invasive Burmese pythons in hopes of grabbing a share of $30,000 in prizes.

The annual 10-day hunt, which started more than a decade ago, promotes public awareness of issues with invasive species in Florida while engaging the public in Everglades conversation, said Sarah Funck, the wildlife impact management section leader with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

“They are a well-established invasive species across much of South Florida, unfortunately, in our natural areas,” Funck said of Burmese pythons. “A huge part of this challenge is to make sure that people understand about this issue and understand that in general, when you have a non-native species present in the state for whatever purpose, don’t let it loose, that can be really detrimental to our environment.”

Over the past decade, the python challenge has grabbed headlines for its incentive-based, only-in-Florida style of hunting as well as celebrity participation. This year, more than 600 people registered for the event, with two coming from Canada and 108 from other states. read more

SpaceX scrubbed a Friday attempt to send up the first of two planned Starlink launches from the Space Coast this weekend. That could mean two rockets flying from two pads on Saturday morning.

A Falcon 9 carrying 21 of the company’s internet satellites was set to fly Friday morning from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station’s Space Launch Complex 40. Its next opportunity to fly is during a four-hour window Saturday morning from 7:50-11:50 a.m.

SpaceX said it scrubbed the attempt because of booster recovery weather conditions downrange in the Atlantic.

It also has a second Starlink launch slated for Saturday morning from neighboring Kennedy Space Center approved by the Space Force, but the details of which have yet to be announced by SpaceX as well. That Starlink mission is set to lift off from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39-A during a four-hour window that runs from 7:21-11:21 a.m. with a backup on Sunday from 6:59-10:59 a.m.

Space Launch Delta 45’s weather squadron has forecast a 90% chance for good conditions at the opening of Saturday’s windows that diminish to 80% by the end of the windows. Sunday’s weather forecast calls for a 90% chance for good conditions. read more