SpaceX Announces Launch Delay
(Cape Canaveral, FL) -- SpaceX is putting its next launch of Starlink broadband Internet satellites on hold. Liftoff of a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral was scrubbed yesterday to allow additional time for what the company called "mission assurance work." SpaceX CEO Elon Musk tweeted the issue was a problem with a camera on an upper stage of the rocket and crews were standing down to re-examine the entire vehicle. SpaceX has a backup launch potential no earlier than Saturday morning.
Florida Voters Turning Out In Droves
(Tallahassee, FL) -- People in the Sunshine State are not being shy about having their voices heard ahead of the presidential election. Nearly four-point-three-million Floridians have already cast ballots with less than two weeks until Election Day. The figure is about 30-percent of the state's 14-point-four-million registered voters. The latest update from the Florida Division of Elections shows about three-point-two million mail-in ballots have been returned. More than a million people have visited early voting centers since they opened on Monday.
Ballot Leads To Evacuation Of Government Building
(Orlando, FL) -- A ballot is to blame for a brief scare in Orange County. The building on Kaley Ave that houses the office of the county's elections supervisor was evacuated yesterday after someone found a suspicious package. Orlando firefighters determined the package was actually a ballot that was returned inside a sealed plastic bag. The building was emptied, and nearby streets were closed, but police say the situation was resolved just minutes later.
Souls To The Polls Events Planned In Brevard County
(Titusville, FL) -- Faith-based groups are making an effort to increase voter turnout in Brevard County. Some Souls to the Polls events are planned for tomorrow morning in Cocoa and Melbourne. Parishioners are giving free rides to early voting locations. A pastor involved in the effort tells Florida Today we're determined to ensure the voices of our communities are heard at the ballot box this year.
Pinellas County Deputies being stationed at Early Voting Sites
(Pinellas County, FL) -- Pinellas County Sheriff's deputies will now be stationed at all early voting sites. The new assignment comes one day after two armed security guards showed up at a polling site in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, prompting concerns of voter coercion or intimidation. After investigating the incident, Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says the two were licensed security guards that worked for a company in Crestview. However, the two originally identified themselves as being hired security for the Trump campaign. Gualtieri adds that the two did nothing illegal since they were outside the polling location.
Governor DeSantis Adjusting Restrictions at Long-Term Care Facilities
(Hillsborough County, FL) -- Governor Ron DeSantis is adjusting restrictions at long-term care facilities to make visitations easier for families. During a roundtable meeting on the issue, DeSantis says he is directing the Department of Emergency Management to update its current guidelines to allow children to be included in visitations. Outdoor visitations will be allowed to take place regardless of any positive Coronavirus cases at the facility. Social distancing will no longer be required for compassionate caregivers while facilities will now have control over the maximum number of visitors that will be allowed.
Super Bowl Could Be Postponed
(Tampa, FL) -- The coronavirus could disrupt plans for the Super Bowl in Tampa. The game is set to be played February 7th at Raymond James Stadium, but a Green Bay Packers executive told CheeseheadTV.com this week that the NFL could push the big game to March 7th. The president of Tampa Bay's Superbowl Host Committee said yesterday they're still planning for February, but they're flexible. Meanwhile, Sunday's Buccaneers-Raiders game was moved from Sunday night to Sunday afternoon after the Raiders reported a positive COVID-19 test.
Seattle Arcade Unveils 'Touchless' Pinball Machines
(Seattle, WA) -- A Seattle arcade is proving there's more than one way to play a pinball machine. It created one completely controlled by someone's feet instead of hands. A worker came up with the idea to add foot pedals while they were closed for eight months because of the pandemic. They hope it'll bring back customers concerned about spreading coronavirus.
Florida Man Attacks Girlfriend With Pumpkin
(Largo, FL) -- A Florida man is under arrest for allegedly attacking his girlfriend with a pumpkin. Largo Police say 26-year-old Nathan Gristo was arguing with the woman when she asked him to leave the house. Instead, he reportedly threw the pumpkin at her and then dumped the pulp and seeds on her. Responding officers found the girlfriend covered with pumpkin innards and arrested Gristo. He now faces a charge of domestic battery.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
1991, Clarence Thomas was sworn in as the nation's 106th Supreme Court Justice.
1983, 237 U.S. Marines stationed in Lebanon were killed when a suicide truck bomber crashed into the U.S. compound at Beirut International Airport.
1973, President Richard Nixon agreed to turn over White House tape recordings to Watergate judge John Sirica.
1915, 25-thousand women marched in New York City demanding the right to vote.