Blue Origin Lays Off Over A Thousand Employees
(Cape Canaveral, FL) -- The Space Coast is experiencing job cuts. Blue Origin laid off over 11-hundred employees yesterday. That amounts to about ten percent of its workforce. CEO Dave Limp says the company grew fast, became too bureaucratic and lost its focus. He says, going forward, Blue Origin will focus more on efficiency. Blue Origin has offices around the country. It's not clear how many employees in Cape Canaveral are losing their jobs.
Canadian Arrested For Using Drone To Take Photos Of Cape Canaveral Space Force Base
(Orlando, FL) -- A Canadian is facing charges for allegedly using a drone to take photos of Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The US Justice Department released details yesterday of the case involving the 71-year-old who's in the U.S. on a tourist visa. He's charged with using an unmanned aircraft to photograph vital defense installations and equipment without authorization. This allegedly happened over three days last month. Federal prosecutors say he took aerial photos of Space Launch complexes, a payload processing facility, a submarine wharf and munitions bunkers. There's no word on a motive. He's due in court today.
Titusville Police Chief Responds To 'Misinformation' About Deadly Police Shooting
(Titusville, FL)-- A police official in Brevard County is trying to counter what he says is misinformation about a deadly shooting. Titusville Police Chief John Lau posted a video on Facebook yesterday about the officer-involved shooting that killed Tri-Marea Charles last week. Lau says officers responded to a "shots fired" call at a home on South Robbins Ave and saw Charles leaving the home. As he tripped, a gun fell out of his waistband. Lau says Charles rushed at an officer, picked up his gun and was shot. Lau says the incident is truly a tragedy. The officers involved are on leave, and the FDLE is investigating.
Brevard County Lawmaker Cleared To Run For State Senate
(Tallahassee, FL)-- The Florida Supreme Court ruled yesterday Indialantic Republican State Rep. Debbie Mayfield can appear on the ballot in the special election for Senate District 19. That's the seat Randy Fine is vacating to run for Congress. It's also the seat Mayfield held for eight years before she was term-limited and ran for state rep. Secretary of State Cord Byrd had said she couldn't run because of the state's term-limits law. The court, though, ruled the term-limits law doesn't apply because it only refers to consecutive terms, and, if Mayfield wins a third term, it would not be her third consecutive term. The Republican primary is set for April First. Mayfield is one of four candidates on the ballot.
NHC Uses Gulf Of America Name
(Miami, FL) -- The National Hurricane Center is now using the name 'Gulf of America.' The Miami-based agency made the change yesterday, and it's currently reflected on its website. President Trump issued an executive order last month to change the name from the Gulf of Mexico. The National Weather Service says it's in the process of making the change, too.
Missing Broward County Woman Gives Birth On NYC Subway
(New York, NY)-- Not only is a missing Broward County woman still alive, but she's also a new mother. Hallandale Beach's Jenny Saint Pierre was reported missing in August, and family members say they found out this week she's alive in an unusual way. They heard on the news Wednesday that Saint Pierre gave birth to a girl on a New York City subway train. Her sister, Stephania, says she and her mother are going to New York today to reunite with Jenny and meet their new family member.
Today in History
2018, 17 people were killed and 17 more were injured in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The shooting sparked massive rallies calling for gun control.
1920, the League of Women Voters was founded.
1899, the U.S. Congress approved the use of voting machines for federal elections.