Things To Do In SW Florida

For the first time since 2016, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket experienced a catastrophic failure after a liquid oxygen leak developed on the spacecraft’s second stage – an incident that will delay SpaceX launches until investigations into the mishap are completed.

The Falcon 9 launched Thursday night from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and was on a mission to deliver 20 Starlink satellites into orbit when the problem occurred.

“Upper stage restart to raise perigee resulted in an engine RUD [rapid unscheduled disassembly] for reasons currently unknown,” SpaceX CEO Elon Musk posted on Twitter. “Team is reviewing data tonight to understand root cause.”

The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement Friday that it will investigate the accident and SpaceX will need its approve before resuming rocket launches.

“A return to flight is based on the FAA determining that any system, process or procedure related to the mishap does not affect public safety,” the agency said in a statement. “In addition, SpaceX may need to request and receive approval from the FAA to modify its license that incorporates any corrective actions and meet all other licensing requirements.” read more

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN

The data of nearly all customers of the telecommunications giant AT&T was downloaded to a third-party platform in a 2022 security breach, the company said Friday, as cyberattacks against businesses, schools and health systems continue to spread globally.

The breach hit customers of AT&T’s cellular customers, customers of mobile virtual network operators using AT&T’s wireless network, as well as its landline customers interacted with those cellular numbers.

AT&T said that it currently doesn’t believe that the data is publicly available.

A company investigation determined that compromised data includes files containing AT&T records of calls and texts between May 1, 2022 and Oct. 31, 2022.

AT&T s more than 100 million customers in the U.S. and almost 2.5 million business accounts.

The company said Friday that it has launched an investigation and engaged with cybersecurity experts to understand the nature and scope of the criminal activity.

“The data does not contain the content of calls or texts, personal information such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, or other personally identifiable information,” AT&T said Friday. read more

By Melissa Lambarena | NerdWallet

“Buy now, pay later” plans have become a common option at checkout when shopping in store or online. Some plans, like the pay-in-four option, are appealing since they typically don’t charge interest or require a hard credit check that impacts credit scores.

These plans may seem like another payment method next to debit or credit, but they are installment loans that divide your purchase into several payments, with the first one typically due at checkout. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s latest rule, as of May 2024, further clarifies that buy now, pay later lenders are credit card providers. They must provide some of the same legal protections and rights that apply to credit cards, such as the ability to get a refund after returning a product.

If you qualify for buy now, pay later, it can be easy to become overextended if you take on several plans, so using them frequently as a form of credit may be problematic.

Here’s how to use buy now, pay later the smart way. read more

Health care

Dr. Andrea Katz, hematologist and oncologist, has joined AdventHealth New Smyrna Beach as part of the hospital’s new comprehensive oncology program.

Dr. Andrew Weinfeld was appointed chief clinical officer for the AdventHealth East Florida Division, which includes hospitals in Daytona Beach, DeLand, Orange City, New Smyrna Beach, Palm Coast, and Tavares.

Awards

Bob O’Malley, president at Right Track Affairs, received the Roger Pynn Award for Career Excellence from the Orlando Area Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association.

Andy Wontor, public information division manager, Seminole County Government, received the ImPRess Award for Professional Achievement from the Orlando Area Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association.

Submit professional appointments, management-level promotions and significant awards for individuals, along with photos as .jpg attachments, to peopleonmove@orlandosentinel.com.

Chapter 7

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

FTI North America Inc., 5787 Vineland Road, Suite 202, Orlando. Filed: July 1. Assets: $100,001-$500,000. Liabilities: $1,000,001-$10 million. Major creditors: Not available. Creditors meeting: Aug. 20.

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:

In Phaze Electric Inc., 10139 Rivers Trail Drive Orlando. Filed: July 3. Assets: $100,001-$500,000. Liabilities: $1,000,001-$10 million. Major creditors: Internal Revenue Service Centralized Insolvency Ops, Philadelphia, $531,355; U.S. Small Business Administration, Nashville, $500,000; U.S. Small Business Administration, Birmingham, Ala., $60,790. Creditors meeting: Aug. 5.