New Headquarters For Melbourne Defense Contractor.
A fast growing Melbourne defense contractor has conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new headquarters near the airport. Critical Frequency Design contracts with Northrop Grumman and the all three branches of the armed forces. The company is developing communication by laser which cannot be monitored like radio communications. The new 20-thousand square foot headquarters is in the NASA Commerce Center business park. The company made almost 7 million dollars in revenue last year.
It’s a Confederate Holiday.
This is Confederate Memorial Day in Florida, one of three confederate holidays on the state’s books. The other two are the birthdays of Robert E. Lee and Confederate States President Jefferson Davis. Supporters say the holidays honor bravery and sacrifice, not what the confederates fought for. The holidays were created across southern states as part of the “Lost Cause,” an effort to portray the rebellion as an independence movement and not something to expand slavery. Confederate Memorial Day was started in Georgia in April 1866. It marks the surrender of the Army of Tennessee to General William Tecumseh Sherman in North Carolina. Two weeks earlier Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysses S. Grant.
State Claims Insurance Crisis Improvement.
After years of crisis the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation claims the property insurance market is beginning to improve. However prices are still expected to increase and more people could be dropped by their insurer. In recent years prices have soared. For example, one Orlando area couple paid about 2-thousand dollars a year in 2020. In 2023 their renewal offer was nearly 10-thousand dollars. Florida homeowners faced 42 percent rate hikes in 2023. Nationwide the average US premium was 17-hundred dollars, an 11 percent increase over 2022. So what’s improved? The state says six new insurers have moved into the state and that increases competition.
Meanwhile, Progressive is dropping 100-thousand Florida homeowner policies. Those are homes with older roofs or policies covering investment property. 53-thousand homes affected are in high-risk areas, and the remaining 47-thousand are seasonal homes. The good news is that Progressive has partnered with another company to take on those policies if the homeowner agrees.
Casey DeSantis for Governor?
A Florida Atlantic University poll finds that 38 percent of Florida registered Republican voters would choose Casey DeSantis, the governor’s wife, as their nominee for governor. 16 percent selected Trump disciple Congressman Matt Gaetz. He has said he has no interest in running for governor but it’s believed that if Trump asked him to he would. The poll also finds that governor Ron remains popular among Florida republican voters and Casey would be well positioned to be the party’s nominee.
No Tolerance for Campus Anti-Israel Protests.
Governor DeSantis says anti Israel protesters on Florida campuses could be expelled. DeSantis says protesters have no right to block roads and bridges. He notes that a group that tried that in Miami was dragged off the road in 10 minutes. Says DeSantis - "If you try that at a Florida university, you are going to be expelled.”
SpaceX Double Header.
Two SpaceX launches are planned over the weekend, one Saturday and one Sunday. Check Florida Today for launch times.
For more information www.floridatoday.com
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