Florida

Spectators are gathering at SpaceX's Starbase facility in Texas for a close look at the Starship rocket on the eve of its launch. The large turnout reflects strong public interest in the upcoming test flight of the vehicle that SpaceX hopes will eventually carry crews to the Moon and Mars. Florida Today reported the crowds flocking to the site ahead of the launch attempt.

SpaceX is preparing a Starship test launch from its facility in Texas on Monday. Florida Today published an explainer outlining everything to know ahead of the flight, including what the test will involve. Starship is the company's largest rocket, and each launch draws wide attention from space enthusiasts and industry watchers tracking progress toward future missions.

The Crew-13 astronauts have arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of their scheduled launch to the International Space Station on October 1. The crew's arrival marks the final stages of prelaunch preparations, including training reviews and rehearsals, as NASA and its commercial partner finalize the mission to rotate personnel aboard the orbiting laboratory.

CBS News reports, exclusively, that the U.S. military is laying the groundwork for potential action around Cuba. The report has been picked up by regional outlets including Florida's WINK News. No details on the nature or timing of any operation have been released, and the Pentagon has not announced any specific plans tied to the report.

A Florida district is using robotic rabbits to help control the growing population of Burmese pythons, an invasive species threatening local wildlife such as protected mammals and birds. The decoys mimic prey to lure the snakes into traps, offering a novel tool in the state's long-running effort to curb the pythons' spread in the Everglades region.

Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, will host a Sunday game between the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox, according to MLB.com. The matchup is unusual because the ballpark is the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, and neither visiting team plays there regularly. Fans are discussing why the venue was chosen and what it means for the schedule.

Florida Tech students are living like astronauts on a simulated 'Mars' mission, operating under the principle that, as the mission motto puts it, 'You're on your own'. Participants isolate themselves in a habitat-style setting to test how crews might handle communication delays, limited resources and self-sufficiency during a real trip to the Red Planet. The project highlights growing university involvement in preparing the next generation of space explorers.

An unauthorized civilian was taken into custody after breaching the perimeter at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, home to US Central Command and Special Operations Command. The incident is drawing attention to base security procedures, and further details about the individual's identity and motives have not yet been released.

Police in West Palm Beach, Florida, have publicly identified a murder suspect in connection with a fatal shooting that took place in the early morning hours. Authorities say the investigation remains active as detectives work to locate and charge the person responsible. Local residents have been following the case closely as more details about the victim and the circumstances of the killing are released.

A northwest Florida inmate has been found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and solicitation of murder, according to local reporting from Fox 10. The conviction means the inmate, already in custody, faces additional penalties for plotting to have someone killed while behind bars. Details about the intended victim and the inmate's identity were not included in the available report.

Chris Messina has announced he wants to bring a new vision to Orange County, according to Florida Politics. Details of his platform and what office he is seeking were not immediately clear, but the messaging suggests a campaign built around change and fresh leadership for the Florida county. Residents and local observers are watching to see what his proposals will include.