legally blind graduate Archives - The Space Coast Rocket

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Blind Man Gets PhD at Florida Tech After 10-Year Journey

May 13, 2026

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The Space Coast Rocket

4 days ago

SHOULD BREVARD COUNTY GO DRY?A Palm Bay city councilman floated the idea of making Brevard a dry or partially dry county. We want to know what you think.A DRY COUNTY bans the sale of alcohol entirely. No beer, no wine, no liquor at any grocery store, gas station, restaurant, bar, package store, or brewery anywhere in the county. Florida currently has only one fully dry county: Lafayette.A PARTIALLY DRY COUNTY allows some alcohol sales but not others. The most common version in Florida allows beer and wine but bans hard liquor. You could buy a six pack at Publix, but no bottle of vodka anywhere in the county and no cocktails at any bar or restaurant.HOW WOULD IT ACTUALLY HAPPEN? A city council, including Palm Bay's, cannot make the county dry on its own. Under Article VIII, Section 5 of the Florida Constitution and Chapter 567, Florida Statutes, only a countywide referendum can do it. The process requires a petition signed by at least 25 percent of registered voters in Brevard County, after which the question goes on the ballot for every voter in the county to decide.That means the County Commission cannot vote Brevard dry. The Palm Bay City Council cannot vote Brevard dry. Only Brevard voters can.So what do you think? Should Brevard County be:1. Stay as it is (fully wet)2. Partially dry (beer and wine only, no liquor)3. Fully dry (no alcohol sales at all)Drop your answer in the comments and tell us why. ... See MoreSee Less

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The Space Coast Rocket

4 days ago

NOROVIRUS OUTBREAK ON CRUISE SHIP HEADED TO PORT CANAVERALA Princess Cruises ship arriving at Port Canaveral on Monday is bringing more than just returning vacationers. The CDC confirms 115 people aboard the Caribbean Princess have been sickened in a norovirus outbreak during the ship’s 13-night Southern Caribbean voyage.The ship departed Fort Lauderdale on April 28 and is scheduled to dock here in Brevard County on May 11. As of Thursday, 102 of the 3,116 passengers and 13 of the 1,131 crew members had reported being ill, with diarrhea and vomiting as the predominant symptoms.Princess Cruises says it has implemented enhanced cleaning, isolated sick passengers and crew, and collected stool samples for testing. The cruise line told USA Today the ship will undergo “comprehensive cleaning and disinfection” upon arrival at Port Canaveral before departing on its next voyage.This is the fourth gastrointestinal outbreak on a cruise ship reported to the CDC in 2026 and the second on a Princess ship this year. The Star Princess saw a similar norovirus outbreak in March that affected more than 150 people.The CDC notes norovirus is highly contagious and spreads through contaminated food, water, surfaces, and direct contact with sick individuals. Most healthy people recover within one to three days, but the virus poses greater risk to elderly passengers and those with underlying conditions.Norovirus is unrelated to the separate hantavirus situation currently being monitored aboard the MV Hondius in the Atlantic. ... See MoreSee Less

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The Space Coast Rocket

4 days ago

🚨 BREAKING: YesCare Corp., the embattled prison healthcare contractor that provides medical services at the Brevard County Jail Complex, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy today in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida.The Space Coast Rocket has obtained the internal memo sent to YesCare staff at 11:07 AM today by CEO Jeff Sholey announcing the filing.In the memo, Sholey blames a $307.6 million federal jury verdict out of Michigan last month, calling it an "insurmountable obstacle to moving forward with a traditional restructuring." That verdict was awarded to a former Michigan inmate who was forced to live with a leaking colostomy bag for more than two years after the company refused to approve reversal surgery to cut costs.Sholey told staff the payroll scheduled for today, May 8, will not be processed until after the bankruptcy court approves the company's wage motions. He said the company expects approval Monday, May 11, with payroll processed Monday evening.Translation: medical staff at the Brevard County Jail were not paid today.The Rocket has independently confirmed through a source inside the jail medical unit that staff learned of the missed paycheck via email while on shift. The same source confirms YesCare has already lost its pharmacy contract, meaning no new medications are coming into the jail.The bankruptcy filing comes just over two weeks after the Alabama Department of Corrections terminated YesCare's $1.06 billion contract over the same payroll problems. Birmingham-based NaphCare took over Alabama's prison healthcare on May 3.The case is YesCare Corp., 2:26-bk-01089, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Florida. A separate filing was made by affiliate CHS FL, LLC, the Florida operating subsidiary.The Brevard County Sheriff's Office has not yet responded to a request for comment.A full report is in development. If you have information about conditions at the Brevard County Jail medical unit or YesCare's contract with BCSO, message this page directly. Sources are protected. ... See MoreSee Less

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The Space Coast Rocket

4 days ago

The Palm Bay City Council advanced Ordinance 2026-13 on Thursday, prohibiting new medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits. The final public hearing is set for May 21, 2026. Existing dispensaries would be grandfathered as nonconforming uses.Full article in the comments. ... See MoreSee Less

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The Space Coast Rocket

4 days ago

🇺🇸 BREAKING: USPS Could Soon Mail Handguns for First Time in Nearly 100 YearsThe Trump administration is pushing a proposed rule that would let everyday Americans ship pistols and revolvers through the U.S. Postal Service, ending a restriction that has stood since 1927.Here's what's on the table:✅ Anyone could sell and ship a handgun to another person within the same state✅ Across state lines, you could only mail a handgun to yourself in the care of another person, and you'd have to open it yourself✅ Same packaging and safety rules already used for rifles and shotguns would applyThe Department of Justice issued an opinion in January calling the 1927 ban unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, arguing that as long as Congress runs a parcel service, it cannot refuse to ship lawfully owned firearms for law-abiding citizens.The NRA is calling it a major win for gun owners. Democratic attorneys general in roughly two dozen states are pushing back hard, warning the change would bypass federal firearms license background checks and make it easier for felons and domestic abusers to obtain weapons. Everytown for Gun Safety says it would turn USPS into a "gun trafficking pipeline."The public comment period closed Monday, May 4. USPS says it is reviewing comments before issuing a final rule.What do you think? Common sense Second Amendment fix, or a loophole waiting to be exploited? Sound off in the comments. 👇#SpaceCoastRocket #SecondAmendment #USPS #BrevardCounty ... See MoreSee Less

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Blind Man Gets PhD at Florida Tech After 10-Year Journey