Above-Normal Hurricane Season Continues

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) updated its prediction for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, saying this season could “rank among the busiest on record” with a 90% chance of an above-normal season.

According to the NHC, another tropical disturbance in the Atlantic Ocean, Invest 98-L, has a 90% chance of developing.

As the system forms within the next couple of days, it will move near or over the Leeward Islands and has a high chance of developing into our next storm, to be named Ernesto.

Meteorologists say it’s too early to make definitive calls on the system’s path or intensity. Early models show it on the east side of Florida.

SpaceX To Build Rocket Landing Zones

SpaceX will construct three new rocket landing zones on Florida’s Space Coast, upping the number of missions the company can launch in the coming years.

On Thursday, the Space Florida board of directors discussed the $27 million SpaceX undertaking, listed on the agenda as Project Liftoff.

Construction will occur at the company’s two rocket sites: Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

SpaceX attempted to launch its most recent Falcon 9 rocket containing 23 Starlink satellites from Kennedy Space Center on Sunday but aborted the mission at T-46 seconds. The launch is reset for this morning. See attempted launch here.

Disney Sets Major Expansions

Disney is adding a Villains Land, a Monsters Inc. Land, two new attractions based on the movie Cars, and a ride based on the movie Encanto to its Walt Disney World theme park in Orlando.

At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, the entertainment giant unveiled 10 new projects, including  new attractions, lands, and cruise ships for its worldwide holdings. See the full list here.

Disney Cruise Line, one of the company’s strongest growth areas, announced a fleet expansion of four more ships for delivery between 2027 and 2031, bringing the total fleet size to 13.

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Nobody likes getting older. One of the biggest reasons why is because our muscles become weaker, making the activities we used to enjoy more difficult to do…and less enjoyable.

But what if you didn’t have to get weaker as you got older? What if you could actually become stronger?

Celebrity fitness trainer Tony Horton says he’s found a way to turn the impossible into a reality – his reality, which he is now using to help thousands of Americans remain healthy and active as they hit middle age and beyond.

➤ Plant City: The South Florida Baptist Hospital, part of BayCare Health System, opened on Saturday. The 424,000-square-foot facility replaces the original hospital on Alexander Street. (See Photo)

➤ Key West: The head of a tourism firm hired to represent the area faces 28 criminal charges for payments to a non-existent company in the wake of an audit. (See Details)

➤ Miami Beach: Authorities are issuing $1,000 fines to non-residents who live on boats in Sunset Harbour for using the resident-only boat ramp at Maurice Gibb Park. (See Details)

➤ Bradenton: Officials say that more than three million gallons of partially treated sewage spilled into the Manatee River following rains brought to the area by Debby. (Watch Video)

➤ New Port Richey: Council members voted to amend the city land development code, requiring that manufactured homes be elevated to at least one foot above the base flood elevation. (Watch Video)

➤  Jacksonville: Citizens Property Insurance, one of downtown Jacksonville’s biggest employers, is considering a move to the Southside suburbs. (More)

➤ The Gainesville Regional Utilities Authority approved new General Manager Ed Bielarski’s contract last week with a $332,000 salary. (More)

➤ Panama City Beach: Council members voted last week to move power lines underground, making the city less susceptible to outages during storms. (Watch Video)

➤ Tallahassee: The state university system has launched a review of public university courses for “antisemitism or anti-Israeli bias” following controversy over a textbook and quiz questions used at Florida International University. (More)

➤ Check out this incredible diving play by Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Brandon Lowe to get the Rays out of the sixth inning. (Watch Video)

➤ The Jacksonville Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers both stand at 1-0 after playing in their first preseason games on Saturday. (More)

➤ Kissimmee’s Victor Montalvo won a bronze medal in men’s breakdancing at the Paris Olympics on Saturday. (More)

Yesterday’s results: MLB | NFL | PGA 

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➤ Lakeland-based Publix grocery chain will open 22 new stores in Florida, adding to its 900 locations in the state. (See List)

➤ Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin tested its New Glenn rocket’s 375-foot-tall recovery crane at Port Canaveral last week, with the first launch of the massive rocket set for before the end of the year. (More)

➤ Billionaire Larry Ellison purchased the luxury hotel Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa for an undisclosed amount in the same enclave where he dropped $173 million on a residential compound two years ago. (See Details)

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“It’s actually a lot simpler than you might think,” Horton, who is 65, told us. “It’s a method anyone can do that takes about one or two minutes a day. And within a very short period of time, you’re going to feel stronger, and probably healthier, than you have in years.“

Health experts have long believed age-related muscle loss is simply an inevitable aspect of getting older, with the only way to slow it down being to increase dietary protein and do more exercise.

But Tony Horton says he’s found a much more effective way to fight age-related muscle loss – and even build new muscle – that has nothing to do with exercise.

In fact, the results have been so remarkable, Horton is now the subject of a short documentary detailing exactly how his body-strengthening method works. It is online and free for the public to view and share.

➤ Hurricane Debby damage is expected to be ‘manageable’ for insurers at a likely total of $1 billion to $2 billion, according to an analysis by the global reinsurance broker Gallagher Re. (More) 

➤ Meanwhile, an on-duty firefighter in Parrish lost his home from Hurricane Debby storm surge while working to help others. (Watch Video)

➤ A Florida woman found a WWII-era message in a bottle in Tampa while cleaning up from Debby. (Watch Video)

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Which is your favorite “Message in a Bottle” of those listed?

1. The song by The Police
2. The song by Taylor Swift
3. The 1999 Kevin Costner movie
4. The Nicholas Sparks novel
5. Paul Brown’s book Messages from the Sea
6. Hallmark Channel’s Bottled with Love movie
7. The musical, featuring music by Sting
8. Other

Friday’s Results:

Do you listen to music daily?

1. Yes: 62%
2. No: 38%

Eighty-five years ago this week the movie The Wizard of Oz premiered. Where in Florida is there a museum honoring the movie?

Show me the answer