Consumer Confidence Hits 3-Year High

Consumer sentiment among Floridians surged in November to 81.1, its highest level in more than three years. The index is up 3.7 points from a revised figure of 77.4 in October.

National consumer sentiment increased by just over one point for the same period. You can see the full report here.

The most significant changes involved Floridians’ expectations about personal finances over the next year, along with expectations about the national economy over the next five years.

Trump Picks Isaacman to Head NASA

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Jared Isaacman to lead NASA. Isaacman is the billionaire CEO of Shift4, a payment processing company, and one of the world’s first private astronauts.

Isaacman led two private spaceflights through Elon Musk’s SpaceX in 2021 and 2024, commanding crews on multiday trips around the Earth.

If confirmed to the post by the Senate, Isaacman would bring a private-sector perspective to NASA, which operates with a budget of approximately $25 billion. 

“Jared will drive NASA’s mission of discovery and inspiration, paving the way for groundbreaking achievements in Space science, technology, and exploration,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Tampa to Open Hi-Tech Planetarium

Tampa’s landmark Museum of Science and Industry’s (MOSI) shuttered IMAX theater will reopen in 2025 as the state-of-the-art Digital Dome Theatre and Saunders Planetarium.

MOSI will feature the second-largest planetarium in the nation, just behind the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium in Jersey City, NJ. The dome will measure 82 feet in diameter and accommodate 300 seats.

The facility will once again screen movies, now on a 10,000-square-foot screen, equipped with a state-of-the-art digital system capable of producing 8K images and an immersive 360-degree experience.

Local leaders said the new facility will make the Bay Area a national destination for STEM education.

➤ Tampa: A Hillsborough County judge has issued a verbal ruling against the city that strips the council of its rezoning authority. This landmark decision could potentially upend land-use laws and procedures throughout Florida. (More)

➤ North Miami: On Tuesday, Mayor Alix Desulme won a runoff race with nearly 68% of the vote, outpacing opponent Héctor Medina by 2,010 votes to keep the job his city council colleagues appointed him to two years ago. (More)

➤ Tallahassee: Sen. Gayle Harrell, representing the district that includes Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Martin County, proposed legislation Wednesday prohibiting sporting amenities on state park lands. (See Why)

➤ Indian River County: School Superintendent David Moore was named Florida Superintendent of the Year on Wednesday. Moore is the county’s first superintendent to achieve the award. (See Photos)

➤ Ft. Lauderdale: The Broward Sheriff’s Office held its 20th annual Shop with the Sheriff event, giving 200 students $200 each to buy Christmas gifts for themselves and their loved ones. (More)

➤ Hollywood: On Dec. 8, Boots on the Boulevard, a free country-music block party, will showcase streetscape upgrades that have added outdoor seating space to the city’s most popular restaurants and bars along Hollywood Boulevard. (More)

➤ Miami Heat star Tyler Herro nailed seven consecutive three-pointers to lead the team to a 134-93 blowout win over Lebron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. (Watch Video)

➤ The NFL has announced each team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, including Jacksonville Jaguars pass rusher Arik Armstead, Miami Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans. (See Full List)

➤ Sporting JAX, Jacksonville’s first professional major league women’s soccer franchise, will take the field in August with home games at Hodges Stadium at the University of North Florida. (See Photos)

➤ Florida freshman Oliver Rioux, who is 7′ 9″, is going viral for his pregame layup routine. (Watch Video)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | PGA

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➤ Boeing announced it will be laying off 141 employees across Florida beginning in January 2025, including jobs in the aerospace sector in Titusville and at Kennedy Space Center. (More)

➤ Space Florida and the Israel Innovation Authority are offering $2 million in funding to boost research efforts and expand the state’s aerospace ecosystem. (See Details)

➤ Miami-Dade County, in collaboration with Wells Fargo, launched a site Monday to support small business owners. The Strive305 portal was developed to serve as a one-stop resource for training opportunities, mentorship connections, and loan information. (More)

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➤ A woman struck in the face with a rubber bullet fired by police during a 2020 protest was awarded a $2 million settlement from the City of Fort Lauderdale this week. (See Video)

➤ The Boy Scouts specialty license plate and others were discontinued by Florida officials this week due to insufficient sales. (See Details)

➤ The glowing lights in Central Florida captured in photos shared widely on social media this week were not the Northern Lights but “glowing clouds” created by morning rocket launches. (See Photo)

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Have you visited Everglades National Park?

1. Yes
2. No

Thursday’s Results:

Do you put up Christmas lights?

1. Brightest on the block: 32.5%
2. Yes: 28.9%
3. Nope: 23.1%
4. I don’t Christmas: 15.5%

In 1906, what were the first Florida license plates made of?

Show me the answer