A flight attendant from Frontier is in the spotlight for helping deliver a baby mid-flight on the way to Orlando, Florida.The early and unexpected labor took place on a plane that was on its way to Orlando from Denver.Frontier says flight attendant Diana Giraldo helped the mother into the back lavatory and stayed with her as the baby arrived.The crew decided to land early in Pensacola so the mom could get to a hospital.According to the airline, the mom told them she chose the middle name "Sky" for her newborn daughter."The whole crew really did a great job. I transferred controls and flying duties to my First Officer as I coordinated the diversion," said Captain Chris Nye. "Dispatch did a great job as well by suggesting Pensacola Airport and getting a gate and paramedics ready for us. This was a job well done, and I was happy to see everyone working together to successfully deliver a newborn on an aircraft!"

it is with deep, heartfelt sorrow. I address you here this afternoon at 11:40 a.m. This morning Space program experienced a national tragedy with the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger. Approximately a minute, half after launch from here at the Kennedy Space Center. Shouldn't. And it has cleared the tower. A challenger Good roll program confirmed. Yeah. Challenger now heading down range. I've made nine wonderful friends over the last two weeks. It's a great pleasure for us to be here. We expect weather like this on Sunday when we launch, and you all do the best to keep it that way. If you would. Engines throttling up three inches and 104% Challenger, go with throttle up. Dr. Door Drama, We've had negative conduct. Lost dealing fight. How can we get any reports from recovery forces? That's trouble of some kind. Okay, Que Everybody stay off the telephones at 73.191 seconds. Ah, flash was observed between the e. T and orbiter. That was immediately followed by the start of total vehicle break up at 73.213 seconds. It took two minutes and 45 seconds for the crew cabin to hit the water. The impact speed was 207 miles an hour. I regret that I have to report that based on very preliminary searches of the ocean where the challenger impacted this morning. These searches have not revealed any evidence that the crew of Challenger survived. Ah, puff of black smoke. It lift off was the ominous sign that Boselli was right. The O rings had already failed. The smoke appeared when they burned. After a few seconds, a jet of flame appeared. Ah, post accident report by NASA described it with passionless precision. The plume is seen here in pinching directly onto the surface of the external tank and the lower aft strut. At 60.248 seconds, the sideways flame burned like a welder's torch through the gap left by the blown O rings. It pierced the giant orange fuel tank, and fuel began streaming out. Still, no one knew anything was wrong. Not until Challenger, its astronauts and it's teacher in space, had flown for 73 seconds before the event from information that was available. Understanding it was fully appreciated everywhere that this deal would become unsatisfactory at some temperature. And was there some sort of a suggestion of a temperature at which I saw I saw be? I guess you call. It shouldn't be run. Yes, sir. There was a question of that to answer the first question. First, the data that was presented. It was the judgment that under the conditions that we would see on Launch Day, given the configuration that we ran, the CIA would function at that temperature. That was the final judgment at the bottom of the ocean. Investigators found that some of the crew's emergency oxygen masks had been turned on. Who died when you hit the water? You know that? Think so. That zero controversial. I don't know, sir, because of the controversial about No, it's hard evidence. Yeah, he died when you hit the water, challenges fast, launches fast, it's bang. And then it's a two minute ride down on your conscious. We know that we come together today to mourn the loss of seven brave Americans to share the grief that we all feel, and perhaps in that sharing to find the strength to bear our sorrow and the courage to look for the seeds of hope. our nation's loss is first, a profound personal loss to the family, the friends and the loved ones of our shuttle astronauts. The best we can do is remember our seven astronauts, our challenger seven remember them as they lived, bringing life and love and joy so those who knew them and pride to a nation. They came from all parts of this great country from South Carolina Toe Washington State, Ohio two Mohawk, New York, Hawaii to North Carolina to Concord, New Hampshire. They were so different. Yet in their mission, their quest, they held so much in common. The future is not free. The story of all human progress is one of a struggle against all odds. We learned again that this America, which Abraham Lincoln called the last best hope of man on Earth, was built on heroism and noble sacrifice. It was built by men and women, like our seven star Voyager's who answered a call beyond duty who gave more than was expected to required and who gave it a little thought of worldly reward. Today, the frontier is space on the boundaries of human knowledge. Sometimes when we reach for the stars, we fall short, but we must pick ourselves up again and press on. Despite the pain, our nation is indeed fortunate that we can still draw on immense reservoirs of courage, character and fortitude. But we're still blessed with heroes like those of the space shuttle Challenger, Dick, Mike, Judy, L. Ron, Greg and Christian. Your families and your country mourn your passing. We bid you goodbye way will never forget you. May God bless you all and give you comfort in this difficult time.

This day in history: It's been 36 years since the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster

Updated: 12:46 AM EST Jan 28, 2022

Friday marks the 36th anniversary of the Challenger space shuttle explosion, a disaster that killed seven people 73 seconds after launch.An O-ring failure blamed on cold weather doomed the shuttle before it even left the launch pad.Just a few seconds into the mission, a flame was seen breaking through the solid rocket booster that would ultimately lead to the catastrophic explosion that claimed the lives of astronauts Dick Scobee, Michael Smith, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnick and teacher Christa McAuliffe. Their names were added to the Space Memorial Mirror at the NASA Kennedy Space Center.The incident resulted in a 32-month suspension of NASA's shuttle program and the creation of the Rogers Commission, a group created by Ronald Reagan to examine what went wrong.Here's a look at what you need to know about the 1986 space shuttle Challenger disaster. FactsSeven crew members died in the explosion, including Christa McAuliffe, who would have been the first teacher in space.The explosion was a result of a rocket booster failure which ignited the fuel tank.Some of the objectives of Mission STS-51L included the "Comet Halley Active Monitoring Program" (CHAMP), a fluid dynamics experiment and lesson plans and telecasts by Christa McAuliffe.TimelineApril 4, 1983 - The Challenger's maiden voyage, STS-6. The Challenger completed nine successful missions between 1983 and 1986.July 19, 1985 - New Hampshire teacher Christa McAuliffe is chosen to be the first teacher in space.Jan. 28, 1986 - The Space Shuttle Challenger explodes 73 seconds into flight at approximately 11:40 a.m. EST.Sept. 19, 2019 - The Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act of 2019 is passed by Congress. The act calls for the Department of Treasury to "issue not more than 350,000 $1 silver coins in commemoration of Christa McAuliffe." The act was signed by former President Donald Trump on Oct. 9, 2019. The coins were minted to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the tragedy.CrewFrancis R. (Dick) Scobee - Spacecraft Commander- Born - May 19, 1939- Birthplace - Cle Elum, Washington- Family - Wife, June, and two childrenMichael J. Smith - Pilot- Born on April 30, 1945- Birthplace - Beaufort, North CarolinaJudith A. Resnik - Mission Specialist- Born - April 5, 1949- Birthplace - Akron, OhioRonald E. McNair - Mission Specialist- Born - Oct. 21, 1950- Birthplace - Lake City, South Carolina- Family - Wife, Cheryl, and two childrenEllison S. Onizuka- Mission Specialist- Born - June 24, 1946- Birthplace - Kealakekua, Kona, HawaiiGregory B. Jarvis - Payload Specialist- Born - Aug. 24, 1944- Birthplace - Detroit, Michigan- An engineer who worked for Hughes Aircraft Corp.Christa McAuliffe- First teacher in space- Born - Sept. 2, 1948- Birthplace - Boston, MassachusettsWatch the video above to learn more about this story.

Friday marks the 36th anniversary of the Challenger space shuttle explosion, a disaster that killed seven people 73 seconds after launch.

An O-ring failure blamed on cold weather doomed the shuttle before it even left the launch pad.

Just a few seconds into the mission, a flame was seen breaking through the solid rocket booster that would ultimately lead to the catastrophic explosion that claimed the lives of astronauts Dick Scobee, Michael Smith, Ronald McNair, Ellison Onizuka, Gregory Jarvis, Judith Resnick and teacher Christa McAuliffe. Their names were added to the Space Memorial Mirror at the NASA Kennedy Space Center.

The incident resulted in a 32-month suspension of NASA's shuttle program and the creation of the Rogers Commission, a group created by Ronald Reagan to examine what went wrong.

Here's a look at what you need to know about the 1986 space shuttle Challenger disaster.

Facts

Seven crew members died in the explosion, including Christa McAuliffe, who would have been the first teacher in space.

The explosion was a result of a rocket booster failure which ignited the fuel tank.

Some of the objectives of Mission STS-51L included the "Comet Halley Active Monitoring Program" (CHAMP), a fluid dynamics experiment and lesson plans and telecasts by Christa McAuliffe.

Timeline

April 4, 1983 - The Challenger's maiden voyage, STS-6. The Challenger completed nine successful missions between 1983 and 1986.

July 19, 1985 - New Hampshire teacher Christa McAuliffe is chosen to be the first teacher in space.

Jan. 28, 1986 - The Space Shuttle Challenger explodes 73 seconds into flight at approximately 11:40 a.m. EST.

Sept. 19, 2019 - The Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act of 2019 is passed by Congress. The act calls for the Department of Treasury to "issue not more than 350,000 $1 silver coins in commemoration of Christa McAuliffe." The act was signed by former President Donald Trump on Oct. 9, 2019. The coins were minted to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the tragedy.

Bettmann via Getty Images

Crew

Francis R. (Dick) Scobee
- Spacecraft Commander
- Born - May 19, 1939
- Birthplace - Cle Elum, Washington
- Family - Wife, June, and two children

Michael J. Smith
- Pilot
- Born on April 30, 1945
- Birthplace - Beaufort, North Carolina

Judith A. Resnik
- Mission Specialist
- Born - April 5, 1949
- Birthplace - Akron, Ohio

Ronald E. McNair
- Mission Specialist
- Born - Oct. 21, 1950
- Birthplace - Lake City, South Carolina
- Family - Wife, Cheryl, and two children

Ellison S. Onizuka
- Mission Specialist
- Born - June 24, 1946
- Birthplace - Kealakekua, Kona, Hawaii

Gregory B. Jarvis
- Payload Specialist
- Born - Aug. 24, 1944
- Birthplace - Detroit, Michigan
- An engineer who worked for Hughes Aircraft Corp.

Christa McAuliffe
- First teacher in space
- Born - Sept. 2, 1948
- Birthplace - Boston, Massachusetts

Watch the video above to learn more about this story.

It's never easy to mourn the loss of a parent, but a Florida family says their grief was made worse by a graveyard mix-up.When they went to bury their mother, they learned there was already a body in her plot.Three sisters are heartbroken over the mix-up at her mother's grave in Eatonville, Florida. It's something that is hard for the Cobb family to accept."They deserved to be buried by each other. They loved each other," Joann Johnson said.Leroy and Bennie Lee Cobb were married for 68 years. He was a pastor and she was a much-beloved figure in their Florida community. "Because she was very wise, very loving and kind to everyone," Patricia Inniss said.The Cobb family says when their father died in 2009, their mother bought two plots in Eatonville Memorial Gardens cemetery. One plot was for her husband and the other was for her. Their mother sadly died on New Year's Day. As the family started making funeral arrangements, they were shocked to learn there was a body already buried in Bennie Lee's grave."I was thinking how could something like that happen? Her name is on the headstone," Johnson said.The organization now in charge of the cemetery was able to find a plot near their father. For now, Bennie Lee’s plot is at the foot of her husband’s grave. "We want our mother beside our dad, not to his feet," Leetta Cobb Arnold said. How did this happen? The nonprofit in charge of the cemetery says it's a century old and has changed hands many times. They believe the company that sold the Cobbs the two plots in 2009 didn't have the legal authority to do it.They say when the Cobb family bought the plots, there was already someone buried where her mother’s grave was supposed to be.The family hopes another family won't go through what they did.

A woman spoke to Orlando sister station WESH after being attacked by a black bear while walking her dog in Volusia County, Florida, Thursday night. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Volusia County Sheriff's Office responded to a call in DeBary, Florida, around 9 p.m., according to the state conservation commission.Neighbors helped save the woman, who identified herself as Aydee, from a mother bear protecting her three cubs. She recalled the bear tackling her as she was heading into her house."I took off running that way and then she was running behind me. And she grabbed me by my shoulders and, I mean, I fell to the ground," Aydee said.Aydee suffered scratches on her face, a concussion, and bites and scratches on her lower back that required a trip to the hospital and stitches.When the 911 operator asked if Aydee was injured, the caller responded: "In her hand, and her face, and her back. So she was attacked, actually."She had just stepped into her driveway with her dogs, Amaya and Hemmy, when the adult bear chased and tackled her by the street."The worst (experience) of my life... I never experienced this before. Like, you go through things in life but this is life the worst. Number one I would say," Aydee said. "I feel lucky to be alive."Before the attack, neighbors tell me a man and his wife were across the street when the adult bear came down from this pine tree and started coming at them.Austin Kennedy watched as the bear looked like it would charge the couple."The bear came down, because she had cubs and came down, went after her, he scared the bear, and then she eventually the bear ran that way and attacked the lady," Kennedy said.Finding the bear in this tree when they arrived, Fish and Wildlife officers tranquilized and euthanized it, while other neighbors watched, and wondered if it could have been spared."Unfortunately, the neighbor you know got scratched up by the bear, and she is fortunate to be alive I guess but as far as euthanizing it, why not relocate it?" neighbor David Mangham said.But FWC tells us, the woman's injuries prove the bear was a risk to people living here."We can't have bears living in neighborhoods that are willing to hurt somebody. We just can't allow it," David Telesco, FWC Bear Management Program Coordinator."FWC bear biologists darted the adult bear in the tree and humanely killed it per the FWC policy to protect public safety," the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a news release.The 100-pound "yearlings were determined to be old enough to survive on their own, so no attempt was made to capture them." Because the cubs are yearlings, they're able to care for themselves and were allowed to wander off. Bear attacks are extremely rare. This is just the 14th attack on a human since 2006. But keep this in mind, nine of those attacks have happened in just the last seven years.

"When we lost Nicole, Nicole did not just lose her life, a child lost his mother, a family lost their daughter, sister — friends lost someone dear to them and the community lost a very valuable member," Nicole’s twin brother Eddie Montalvo said.Investigators say Nicole Montalvo was dismembered and buried on a St. Cloud, Florida, property owned by her estranged husband, Christopher Otero-Rivera and his father, Angel Rivera, in 2019.The two were sentenced to life in prison."Nicole and I are twins. Growing up, we were best friends," Eddie Montalvo said.In an exclusive interview with Nicole's twin brother Eddie, he remembers some of his favorite things about her."Nicole had no concerns about what she enjoyed in life and what she liked. She was very stubborn, as many of us in the family are, but it was such a beautiful stubbornness the way she was," Eddie Montalvo said. "She was also a really good friend. To anybody who was friends with Nicole, how lucky you were and how lucky you are to have those memories with her."He also details how domestic violence became evident in her and Otero-Rivera's relationship."The murder and the egregious violence from it, it was so difficult to endure through, but we had been losing Nicole for some time as well too. That's domestic violence. That's what happens," Eddie Montalvo said. He says local resources were there to help."Organizations like Help Now of Osceola were there for Nicole and they were there to help her after the first incidents of violence, after she was kidnapped and assaulted," Eddie Montalvo said.Eddie Montalvo and his family have made it their mission to raise awareness of domestic violence by partnering with Help Now and sharing Nicole’s story. They're also raising awareness with the unveiling of a mural outside Nicole's former workplace in downtown Kissimmee.Her sister Christina Montalvo now works with Help Now and led the initiative to remember Nicole through artwork."I hope she's proud, I know she is, I know she's with me. I wish she was here, but this is a great way to honor her and have her close near me," Christina Montalvo said.The mural is covered with purple ribbons representing the color of domestic violence awareness and a variety of butterflies. It's something the family hopes serves as a reminder that love should not hurt."Whatever experience of abuse and violence you may be going through, it's not warranted. It's not deserved. Love should not hurt. You are a human being that deserves respect and consent and treatment of the fairest form. So, we will be there, waiting patiently, and waiting with open arms to make sure that you are safe and we will be there afterward, too," Eddie Montalvo said.Watch the video above to learn more about this story.

A tragic story has come to an incredible conclusion in Florida.The Clermont Police Department Detective Division said officials received a call on Sept. 2 from Angelica Vences-Salgado, who is the mother of the victim abducted from her home in 2007 at the age of 6. The girl was allegedly abducted by her father, Pablo Hernandez. A felony warrant for kidnapping was issued for Pablo on Dec. 27, 2007.Vences-Salgado told police she received a Facebook message from someone claiming to be her daughter. The person said she was in Mexico and asked Vences-Salgado to meet her at the Point of Entry located at the border in Texas on Sept. 10.Multiple law enforcement agencies investigated and, based on documentation provided, determined that the woman was in fact Vences-Salgado's missing child. " determined that the female was indeed Jacqueline Hernandez who was abducted from her mother in 2007. At approximately 4:55 p.m., Jacqueline, now 19 years old, was successfully reunited with her mother," a news release said.The Clermont Police Department thanked the Orange County Sheriff's Office, HSI in Orlando and Laredo, ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), US Customs and Border Protection as well as Laredo Police Department in Texas for their help in the case."This is a prime example of what can be accomplished when multiple law enforcement agencies and their respective communities work cooperatively together and maintain open lines of communication. In this case, several agencies in different counties and states across the nation were able to create a force multiplier and aid in reuniting the victim with her mother after 14 years," Clermont police Chief Charles Broadway said."A kidnapped daughter was reunited with her mother as a result of enforcement working together," said HSI Orlando Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Pezzutti. "This is a great example of how strong partnerships in law-enforcement can work to solve problems no matter the complexity or distance." Police have not released the details surrounding what happened to Jacqueline Hernandez after her abduction.

A Florida family took schooling — and living — during the pandemic into their own hands. The Clemons family has been living out of an RV and traveling the country. They've has been on the road for almost a year, turning their passion into a lifestyle. Like so many of us, they were stuck at home last year working and studying while wishing they were traveling. So they decided to make their dream a reality. "I lost my mom at the beginning of 2020 after being a caregiver for many years," Jenn Clemons said.Her husband, Mark, lost his father a month later. And then the pandemic hit. "So we were like, why not just sell everything, and I'll homeschool the kids. And we'll just travel," Jenn said. Clemons said he was not only on board, he could not wait to get their three kids on the road. The Clemons sold their house of nearly 20 years and moved into their new home on wheels. "We moved in on Oct. 1, and we’re coming up on our year and it's been fantastic," Mark said. This week, they are in Montana. But they are constantly changing locations. So far, they’ve visited 17 states and 18 national parks. Jenn and Mark are college sweethearts who met at the University of Central Florida and have three kids. Now, they are on their next great adventure and are not looking back. "The American dream doesn’t have to be overbooking your kids and working 60 hours a week," Jenn said. "It can mean taking the kids and showing them the world because reading it in the book is just not the same as seeing it in person."The Clemons plan to stay on the road indefinitely. Their original plan was actually to sail around the world. But since there was a run on catamarans last year, they ended up in an RV. So taking to the water is the next adventure. Watch the video above for the full story.

BREAK IT DN.OW TONY: IT MADE LANDFALL NEAR ST. VINCENT’S ISLAND, FLORIDAA, SHORT TIME AGO. THE FIRST BAND FROM THE STORM SYSTEM IS APPROACHING INTERSTATE 75 AND OTHER BANDS WLIL APPEAR LATER. HERE IS THE SECOND AND HERE IS THE THIRD ON THE OTHER SIDE OF MINDY. FORECAST CONE TAKES IT STJU NORTH OF JACKSONVILLE. WE HAVE TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS IN EFFECT. IT IS HEADED THROUGH JACKSONVILLE BY MIDMORNING AND EAT WILL PULL IN MORE MOISTURE -- BY MIDMORNING AND IT IS GOING TO PULL INOR ME MOISTEUR. WE HAVE HAD HEAVY DOWNPOURS NEAR NEW SMYRNA BEACH AND WE HAVE FLOOD ADVISORIES IN EFFECT FOR SAMSULA, NEW SMYRNA BEACH,ND A NEAR ORLANDO WE HAVE HAD OVER 7 INCHES OF RAIN.

Mindy, now a tropical depression, dumps rain over Georgia

Updated: 5:37 AM EDT Sep 9, 2021

Rain was pouring down on southeast Georgia and coastal South Carolina as Mindy, now a tropical depression, made its way across the state state early Thursday morning.The storm made landfall in St. Vincent Island, on Wednesday night. Mindy was expected to cause as much as 6 inches of rainfall across the Florida Panhandle and portions of southern Georgia and South Carolina through Thursday morning, the National Hurricane Center said. Scattered flash, urban, and small-stream floods are possible.The storm on Thursday morning was about 80 miles south southeast of Valdosta, Georgia, and moving northeast at 20 mph with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, forecasters said. A slower east-northeastward motion is forecast Thursday night through Saturday. The center of Mindy is expected to move across southeastern Georgia Thursday morning, and over the western Atlantic by later in the day. Little change in strength is forecast through Thursday night. Gradual weakening is expected on Friday and Mindy is forecast to become a remnant low by Saturday.The tropical storm warning in effect from Mexico Beach, Florida, to the Steinhatchee River have been canceled. That area is about 300 miles east of southern Louisiana, where Hurricane Ida made landfall late last month. The region is still recovering from the deadly and destructive Category 4 storm. Mindy is the 13th-named storm of what has been another busy Atlantic hurricane season. According to a tweet from Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach, the average date for the 13th-named storm from 1991-2020 was Oct. 24.

Rain was pouring down on southeast Georgia and coastal South Carolina as Mindy, now a tropical depression, made its way across the state state early Thursday morning.

The storm made landfall in St. Vincent Island, on Wednesday night. Mindy was expected to cause as much as 6 inches of rainfall across the Florida Panhandle and portions of southern Georgia and South Carolina through Thursday morning, the National Hurricane Center said. Scattered flash, urban, and small-stream floods are possible.

The storm on Thursday morning was about 80 miles south southeast of Valdosta, Georgia, and moving northeast at 20 mph with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph, forecasters said.

A slower east-northeastward motion is forecast Thursday night through Saturday. The center of Mindy is expected to move across southeastern Georgia Thursday morning, and over the western Atlantic by later in the day. Little change in strength is forecast through Thursday night. Gradual weakening is expected on Friday and Mindy is forecast to become a remnant low by Saturday.

The tropical storm warning in effect from Mexico Beach, Florida, to the Steinhatchee River have been canceled. That area is about 300 miles east of southern Louisiana, where Hurricane Ida made landfall late last month. The region is still recovering from the deadly and destructive Category 4 storm.

Mindy is the 13th-named storm of what has been another busy Atlantic hurricane season. According to a tweet from Colorado State University hurricane researcher Phil Klotzbach, the average date for the 13th-named storm from 1991-2020 was Oct. 24.

Source link

A Florida store posted a sign saying it's out of Ivermectin and isn't sure when it'll have any again. The calls asking for it have picked up in recent weeks."Questions that we knew weren't current customers, people requesting this specific product only," business owner Justin Horstmeyer said. Ivermectin, given to horses and other livestock, can reduce the risk of intestinal parasites. But the product sold at feed stores is not for human consumption.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration points out that this product is designed and made specifically for livestock, horses and cows. And that if a person uses it, it could be dangerous. In a tweet, the FDA wrote: "You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously y'all. Stop it.""People really need to talk to their doctor before they look to the internet to find some other kind of solution," Seminole County emergency manager Alan Harris said. Harris has consistently urged people to get medical advice from the doctor they trust."There have been lots of studies that show that Ivermectin does not work on the virus. Give it up," Dr. Todd Husty said. Seminole County's medical director says people should seek legitimate, tested solutions."We have things to use other than things that don't work like Ivermectin," Husty said. The FDA website points out: "Never use medications intended for animals on yourself."People have "required medical support and been hospitalized after self-medicating with Ivermectin intended for horses," the FDA wrote. "The toxicity level of a product like this has not been screened, not been approved, could be deadly," Horstmeyer said. Feed stores are being cautious before selling the product now, when they even have it, for the animal owners who legitimately need it.

Friday marks one year since an alligator nearly took off a Florida firefighter's arm.Orlando sister station WESH spoke to the doctor who saved his arm and life — and the patient who couldn't be more grateful.Carsten Kieffer and his friend were out hunting alligators when a 12-foot gator came close to their boat."We put a harpoon in the alligator, and all of sudden, it feels of pain. Just a defensive move of the alligator to go back and snap at whatever hit it, and that just happened to be me," Kieffer said.Then, he said, the gator began twisting. "I heard the skin rip and the bones break, and then, luckily, he let go at that point," Kieffer said. Once the gator let go, they called 911. It was Dr. Karan Desai's first day on the job at Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute."First I thought it was kind of a joke, because they were giving the new guy a hard time. They were serious and I rushed to ER to help Carsten,” Desai said.The firefighter went through months of numerous surgeries and skin grafts."Then I started the process of reconstructing his tendons, and stealing them from one part of the arm to the other part of the arm so that he could restore some of his wrist, finger and thumb motion," Desai said.The doctor set the broken bones with two metal plates and 17 screws."Going into surgery, I knew that I was going to lose my arm and I had already kind of made peace with that. So when I woke up the next day and I had my arm intact and I could move my fingers, that was a giant boost of motivation," Kieffer said.Kieffer worked hard in rehab and within eight months from the gator bite, the firefighter was back at work full time."Hard work and lot of faith, it's going to get you a long way," Kieffer said."Both teams gave 110%, and that's what led to a great result," Desai said.However, Kieffer promised his children there would be no more alligator hunting.

For Ruth Sintilus, finally, some relief came amid sadness and worry after the earthquake hit Haiti. The Central Florida woman was able to get in touch with family after days of uncertainty. "They told me they got a lot of losses, but thank God they're still alive," Sintilus said. "My grandmother's house has collapsed. She was in there and she got hurt."Osma Pierre, who also lives in Central Florida, remembers vividly the earthquake that hit Haiti more than a decade ago when he lived there. He's heartbroken seeing similar devastation again, knowing people he loves are hurting."I have some of my family hurt by this earthquake," Pierre said. "Even if someone is not part of my nation or people, we are all human beings. We are all created by God, yes, we are all concerned and hurt."Sintilus and Pierre both attend the Triumphant Baptist Church in Orlando where Oreste Saint Filus is the pastor. "Brothers and sisters, when somebody's crying, we're crying too," Saint Filus said. As the pastor consoles other members as well who are grieving people they lost or facing uncertainty still, he's also trying to find ways to be helpful for the people in Haiti. "All the Haitian pastors in the community we are all doing the same thing. We need some help to help those that are suffering right there in Haiti," he said.The pastor says he will work to make some kind of action plan in the coming days to send aid to Haiti.

ORLANDO, Fla. —

For Ruth Sintilus, finally, some relief came amid sadness and worry after the earthquake hit Haiti.

The Central Florida woman was able to get in touch with family after days of uncertainty.

"They told me they got a lot of losses, but thank God they're still alive," Sintilus said. "My grandmother's house has collapsed. She was in there and she got hurt."

Osma Pierre, who also lives in Central Florida, remembers vividly the earthquake that hit Haiti more than a decade ago when he lived there.

He's heartbroken seeing similar devastation again, knowing people he loves are hurting.

Joseph Odelyn

"I have some of my family hurt by this earthquake," Pierre said. "Even if someone is not part of my nation or people, we are all human beings. We are all created by God, yes, we are all concerned and hurt."

Sintilus and Pierre both attend the Triumphant Baptist Church in Orlando where Oreste Saint Filus is the pastor.

"Brothers and sisters, when somebody's crying, we're crying too," Saint Filus said.

As the pastor consoles other members as well who are grieving people they lost or facing uncertainty still, he's also trying to find ways to be helpful for the people in Haiti.

"All the Haitian pastors in the community we are all doing the same thing. We need some help to help those that are suffering right there in Haiti," he said.

The pastor says he will work to make some kind of action plan in the coming days to send aid to Haiti.

On the first day of Bike Week, the chief of police in Daytona Beach shared video of a motorcyclist driving over a drawbridge while it was going up. See the surveillance footage in the video player above. “Bike Week shenanigans have officially commenced,” Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said in a tweet sharing the video. Young said it happened on the Main Street drawbridge. He asked people to be safe during Bike Week and to be “smarter than this guy.” This year, for the first time in Bike Week history, Main Street is closed to everything except motorcycles for the duration of the event.Officials think it might help control the crowds. There seems to still be plenty of people at the event regardless. The crowd is swelling in the heart of Daytona Beach and at other venues including Destination Daytona.There are no limits on people outdoors though, some business owners are obligated to keep the indoor crowd at 60% occupancy.However, few people at the event seem concerned about coronavirus and not many were wearing masks. "We masked up for a year, followed what we were supposed to do for a year. I think most people have either had it or moved on by now," one person said.Officers are on patrol at the various locations though they say they are not the social distance police. Instead, they're just at Bike Week to keep the peace and keep an eye out for bad behavior.

Firing chain is armed, go for Main Engine Start T, -10987, All three engines up and burning 210 and lift. Get off the final lift off of Atlantis on the shoulders of the space shuttle. America will continue the dream roger Atlanta Houston, now controlling the flight of Atlantis. Space shuttle, spreads its wings one final time for the start of a sentimental journey into history. 24 seconds into the flight world program, complete Atlantis now heads down wings level on the proper alignment for it's 8.5 minute ride to orbit £4.5 million of hardware and humans taking aim on the International space Station 40.

A decade ago, Space Shuttle Atlantis lifted off for final mission in shuttle program

Updated: 11:56 PM EDT Jul 8, 2021

A decade ago this week, on July 8, 2011, Space Shuttle Atlantis took off from the Space Coast on the last mission of NASA's Space Shuttle Program. Nearly a million spectators gathered to watch the launch, despite a 70% chance that the rocket would not take off at the start of the day. "The space shuttle spreads its wings one final time for the start of a sentimental journey into history," Ascent Commentator Rob Navias said. "For the last time, the space shuttle's main engines have fallen silent as the shuttle slips into the final chapter of a storied 30-year adventure." Taking off with Atlantis was astronauts Chris Ferguson, Sandy Magnus, Rex Walheim and Doug Hurley. In 2020, crewed launches returned to the Space Coast, with Hurley being one of the two astronauts aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon in a new era of commercial flights.The Space Shuttle Program lasted 30 years, beginning in April 1981 and ending with the final landing of Atlantis in 2011."What was my big worry? My big worry was to make sure the landing looked pretty so the space shuttle program could go out on a really good note," Ferguson later said.Together Columbia, Challenger, Discovery Atlantis and Endeavour made up the fleet for the program, flying on 135 missions and helping construct the International Space Station.Atlantis rolled to a stop from its final mission, STS-135, on July 21, 2011, at Kennedy Space Center.The shuttle program carried people into orbit repeatedly and launched, recovered and repaired satellites and were the first reusable spacecraft.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. —

A decade ago this week, on July 8, 2011, Space Shuttle Atlantis took off from the Space Coast on the last mission of NASA's Space Shuttle Program.

Nearly a million spectators gathered to watch the launch, despite a 70% chance that the rocket would not take off at the start of the day.

"The space shuttle spreads its wings one final time for the start of a sentimental journey into history," Ascent Commentator Rob Navias said. "For the last time, the space shuttle's main engines have fallen silent as the shuttle slips into the final chapter of a storied 30-year adventure."

Taking off with Atlantis was astronauts Chris Ferguson, Sandy Magnus, Rex Walheim and Doug Hurley. In 2020, crewed launches returned to the Space Coast, with Hurley being one of the two astronauts aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon in a new era of commercial flights.

The Space Shuttle Program lasted 30 years, beginning in April 1981 and ending with the final landing of Atlantis in 2011.

"What was my big worry? My big worry was to make sure the landing looked pretty so the space shuttle program could go out on a really good note," Ferguson later said.

Together Columbia, Challenger, Discovery Atlantis and Endeavour made up the fleet for the program, flying on 135 missions and helping construct the International Space Station.

Atlantis rolled to a stop from its final mission, STS-135, on July 21, 2011, at Kennedy Space Center.

The shuttle program carried people into orbit repeatedly and launched, recovered and repaired satellites and were the first reusable spacecraft.

Police in Florida said one man was involved in a hit-and-run crash, a home break-in, and the theft of a car.He was arrested Tuesday while allegedly trying to commit another crime: stealing a helicopter, officials said.In Kissimmee, what started with a crash spiraled further out of control. Brandon Marti faces a long list of charges, from carjacking to burglary, battery, assault on an officer, and others.Investigators at the Kissimmee Police Department say it all started just before 8 a.m.After two cars collided, one man involved ran away from the scene and right into someone's home, officials said.The people who live in that home were there as he broke in, stole their car keys and took off, according to the report. He allegedly continued on a mile or so from the neighborhood and then tore right through a gate at Kissimmee Gateway Airport.The stolen car couldn't drive any further, so police say he ran toward a helicopter. Security couldn't keep him from continuing on to steal yet another car that police say he allegedly crashed outside city limits. Osceola County deputies caught up with the suspect who was believed to be behind it all. They arrested Marti and took him to the hospital.He remains in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said.Once Marti is released from the hospital, police say he will be booked into the Osceola County Jail on at least 11 charges.