Florida Weekly

NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 astronauts have arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of their upcoming mission to the International Space Station. The crew’s arrival marks a standard pre-launch milestone, as astronauts typically quarantine and complete final training at the Florida facility in the weeks before liftoff on a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.

The four astronauts assigned to NASA's SpaceX Crew-13 mission have arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of their launch to the International Space Station. Arrival at KSC roughly one to two weeks before liftoff is standard procedure, allowing the crew to complete final training, quarantine and preflight checks as SpaceX readies the Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket.

SpaceX is preparing two launches from Florida's Space Coast on the same day next week: a Falcon Heavy mission and a Crew-13 astronaut flight. Pulling off back-to-back launches within hours would be a demanding logistics test for the company's launch teams and range operations, and space watchers are following the schedule closely.

Week 5 of the college football season takes center stage tonight, with marquee matchups including Ohio State hosting Iowa and Florida taking on Missouri. Analysts at CBS Sports have released their picks for the slate, with Tom Fornelli highlighting his 'lock of the week'. Fans are weighing in with their own predictions as kickoff approaches.

Florida is holding a listening tour this week, giving residents a chance to weigh in on the state's newly drafted science education standards. The tour invites teachers, parents and community members to offer feedback before the standards are finalized, part of an ongoing public process over what students in Florida schools will be taught in science classes.

The Athletic's college football notebook leads with Oregon coach Dan Lanning outcoaching USC's Lincoln Riley, while Ole Miss suffered a humbling defeat. The roundup delivers 20 takeaways from the weekend's games, touching on the College Football Playoff picture and Florida's situation as the season's stakes come into focus.

The Florida Gators defeated Ole Miss decisively, knocking the Rebels out of the top five of the college football rankings just one week after they entered it. The result has reignited debate over whether Florida should be considered a genuine College Football Playoff contender as the season progresses.

Voter registration deadlines are falling this week in several US states ahead of the November election. October 4 is the cutoff in Alaska, Rhode Island and South Carolina, while Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas close registration on October 5. Voters are being urged to check their registration status now and remind friends and family to do the same before their state's deadline passes.

Jamaica's National Dance Theatre Company is set to bring its performances to two South Florida locations, Miramar and South Miami-Dade. The announcement, reported by Caribbean National Weekly, highlights the celebrated company's continued international touring and its connection with Caribbean diaspora communities in the region. Further details on dates and venues have not been widely reported.

A home in the Johns Lake Pointe community recorded the highest sale price among Winter Garden properties sold between September 21 and 27, according to local real estate reporting from Orange Observer News. The item highlights the week's strongest transaction in the west Orange County, Florida market, where Johns Lake Pointe remains one of the area's notable neighborhoods.

Florida residents can weigh in on the state's new science education standards during a listening tour being held this week. The tour gives parents, teachers and community members a chance to offer feedback before the standards are finalized. No further details on specific locations or proposed changes were available.

Demonstrators are holding weekly vigils outside the new Everglades immigration detention center in Florida, nicknamed 'Alligator Alcatraz'. The facility, built in remote swampland to hold detained migrants, has become a focal point for protests over immigration enforcement. The gatherings aim to keep public attention on conditions inside the camp and the treatment of those detained there.

A golf course in a Florida region known for rapid real estate growth and economic swings is hosting a PGA Tour Champions event. The venue is being highlighted for its striking design and setting as senior tour players compete there this week.

Florida Atlantic University Athletics has published its weekly feature tracking former FAU Owls players across NFL rosters in Week 3 of the 2026 season. The update recaps how FAU alumni performed in the latest round of professional games. Fans of the program follow these weekly installments to keep up with former players now in the league.

The FSView, Florida State University's student newspaper, has published its regular 'Bar(s) of the Week' feature in a special Family Weekend edition, spotlighting local bars for the weekend when students' families visit campus. The column continues the paper's lifestyle coverage of Tallahassee's bar scene, timed to the annual event that brings an influx of parents and relatives to the university area.

College football writers say parity in the Southeastern Conference is real and thrilling, recapping the conference landscape after Week 4 of the 2026 season. Coverage highlights Florida and Mississippi State among the teams reshaping expectations, with no dominant front-runner emerging. Fans and analysts are debating how wide open the SEC race now looks heading deeper into the season.

Tom Brady is set to headline the 2026 Eudemonia wellness summit, according to Florida Weekly. The former NFL quarterback has built a post-retirement profile around health, fitness and longevity, making him a prominent draw for the annual wellness event. Further details about the summit's dates, location or programme have not been reported.

A fast-growing church in Ponte Vedra, Florida, is reportedly exploring a major new site in the area, just weeks after proposing plans for a nearby campus. The move suggests the congregation's rapid growth is driving an expanded search for worship space in St. Johns County, though details of the locations and timelines have not been made public.

Florida Weekly has published its crossword puzzle for September 30, 2026, as part of its regular puzzle section. The paper runs a crossword in each edition, giving readers a daily-style brainteaser alongside its local news coverage. There is no indication yet of any notable event or controversy connected to this particular puzzle, and no broader discussion around it has emerged.

Eight restaurants in Central Florida were ordered to close following state health inspections conducted last week. The closures were reported by the Orlando Sentinel, which tracks inspection results in the region. Details on specific violations and the restaurants involved have not been provided in the available reporting.

The Florida Gators program is highlighting how its former players performed in Week 3 of the NFL season. The feature recaps notable stat lines and contributions from Gators alumni across the league, a regular feature during the professional season as fans track which ex-players are making an impact on Sundays.