BREVARD COUNTY

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — For years communities along the Indian River Lagoon have worked to find ways to restore one of Brevard’s most precious resources. Read: DeSantis asks for $3 billion toward environmental projects in Everglades, Indian River LagoonOne plan calls for installing 48,000 square foot floating wetlands near the North Fiske stormwater pond. The city will then install an underground filtration system that, when combined with the wetlands, should prevent about 2500 pounds of nitrogen and 450 pounds of phosphorus from contaminating the Indian river lagoon yearly. Read: DeSantis reups Florida environment pledge made 4 years agoThanks to the nearly 20 million dollars recently earmarked by the state, dozens of other projects by communities along the Indian River Lagoon will help to support water quality improvement. Senger said that’s not only good for the lagoon but good for business.

Another Cocoa High School football alum has made it to the Super Bowl.

If you still need to apply for FEMA disaster assistance, the deadline is approaching fast.

A man has filed a defamation lawsuit against a Florida sheriff who posts weekly “Wheel of Fugitive” videos on social media.

The signs show a toilet draining directly into the lagoon, with a dead manatee, a sea turtle and a few fish.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Brevard County man filed a lawsuit against Sheriff Wayne Ivey, saying he was wrongly featured on the sheriff’s eye-catching Facebook segment “Wheel of Fugitive,” costing him his job. For the first three, he was even sitting in the Brevard County Jail. The next day, the lawsuit said Ivey featured Gay on “Wheel of Fugitive” for the first time, even though Gay was incarcerated. The day after, though, Ivey featured Gay on “Wheel of Fugitive” for a fourth and final time, the lawsuit states. A message left for the Brevard County Sheriff Office’s spokesman was not immediately returned.

The interim superintendent, the Brevard County's teachers union and school principals made up the first meeting of the district's new committee on student discipline.

A U.S. Marine was arrested after he traveled to Florida and had sex with a 14-year-old girl he met on social media, according to the West Melbourne Police Department.

A man and woman were arrested after a an elderly woman in a Brevard County senior living facility was found with bruises on Christmas, according to arrest warrants.

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office identified the man who was shot and killed by the county's SWAT Team as they served a narcotics warrant on Wednesday.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Thursday marked a day of special significance for NASA. Day of Remembrance, a time to honor astronauts who lost their lives to expand our knowledge. The day also serves as a reminder not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 16 NASA Day of Remembrance NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy hugs NASA Associate Administrator Bob Cabana during the NASA Day of Remembrance Employee Safety Town Hall, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, at the Mary W. Jackson NASA Headquarters building in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber) (NASA/Keegan Barber/(NASA/Keegan Barber))PHOTOS: NASA Day of Remembrance honors lost astronautsClick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Fla. — The man involved in an armed standoff with Brevard County deputies near Melbourne Beach Wednesday afternoon who was found dead inside the home has been identified as 59-year-olf Kenneth Lassiter, Brevard County deputies announced Thursday. Brevard Sheriff Wayne Ivey said deputies were in the process of serving a drug warrant when a man armed with a shotgun, later identified as Lassiter, opened fire on deputies. According to the sheriff’s office, deputies then returned fire. The sheriff’s office has not released the name of the man killed or the woman who was injured. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 7 Sheriff: Deputies, suspect involved in standoff after shots fired while serving warrant (WFTV)Download the WFTV news app and watch Channel 9 Eyewitness News for live updates on this developing story, or click here to have updates sent straight to your inbox.

The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 19-year-old man for a shooting near a Cocoa-area gas station over the weekend.

A crowd gathered Thursday morning at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center visitor complex to observe the agency’s annual Day of Remembrance.

SpaceX is planning to launch another batch of Starlink satellites early Thursday morning.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center celebrated its 200th turtle release Wednesday. The green sea turtle, named Hope, was released at Lori Wilson Park in Cocoa Beach following two months of rehabilitation at the Healing Center. Hope - Brevard Zoo set to celebrate the release of its 200th turtle releaseHope was found stranded in Indian River County by volunteers with Coastal Connections and was brought to the Healing Center on Nov. 19 with the help of the Sea Turtle Preservation Society. More information about Hope the Brevard Zoo Sea Turtle Healing Center can be found here. Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 13 Brevard Zoo celebrates 200th sea turtle release (Brevard Zoo)Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Next month, SpaceX will fly two NASA astronauts, a Russian cosmonaut and a United Arab Emirates astronaut to the International Space Station for a six-month science mission. The Crew-6 team will be arriving at one of the busiest times ever for the space station. The plan is for a quick handover between Crew-5 and Crew-6, before Crew-5 splashes down in early March. READ: SpaceX to launch Falcon 9 rocket tomorrowCrew-6 will now launch to the ISS from the Kennedy Space Center no sooner than Feb. 26, less than a week after the planned launch of an uncrewed Soyuz that will replace a damaged Soyuz docked at the space station. Crew-6 will spend roughly 180 days at the ISS where they’ll conduct some 250 experiments and work on technology development for future exploration.

A man was killed and a woman was injured after they were both shot on Wednesday when deputies tried to execute a search warrant for drugs, according to Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — During a work session Tuesday, interim superintendent Dr. Robert Schiller brought up the status of the school discipline policy. Read: School board discusses student discipline policy in Brevard CountySchiller said he hopes the district will have the results of an audit with input from surveys and interviews in the next four to five weeks. READ: ‘Most prolific school discipline policy’ coming to Brevard County, but few specifics announced“I appreciate Dr. Schiller saying these policies already exist, that these procedures already exist. The school board, which is now amidst a new superintendent search, has been discussing school discipline for weeks. READ: ‘Students are out of control’: Brevard County school discipline plan gains support from teachersSchool board chair Matt Susin said the process would take time.

Brevard County’s school board is within a few months of selecting its next superintendent.

Team members at the zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center are getting ready to release Hope, a sub-adult green sea turtle, back into the ocean this week, marking its 200th release to date.

The Brevard County School Board held a work session Tuesday to discuss further changes that should be addressed in the district’s disciplinary policy.

Boeing is a step closer to an April crew flight test for its Starliner capsule.

With approximately $3 million in federal funding administered through the HUD Home American Rescue Plan Act, the county is now asking for the public’s input on best to use the money locally.

A crash in Brevard County closed the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 Monday night, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

Is it fast, filled with epic twists and turns, sport an epic storyline all while still taking you on a smooth ride that doesn't make you want to puke? If so, it likely made the Florida's Fourth Estate top rollercoaster list.

A 32-year-old Brevard County woman faces charges of DUI and DUI manslaughter after being involved in a Palm Bay crash that killed a motorcyclist Friday, according to a probable cause affidavit.

NASA and SpaceX announced a date for the upcoming Crew-6 launch from Kennedy Space Center.

The case of Crosley Green, a Brevard County man who spent 32 years in prison for a murder he says he didn’t commit, could now go to the U.S. Supreme Court.

A custodian with Brevard County Schools was arrested after threatening to cut a 14-year-old student “into pieces” with a razor scraper, according to the sheriff’s office.

A pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle in Orange County, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

New video shows a fiery scene of a plane crash along a busy highway.

DELAND, Fla. — Police in DeLand are investigating after a pedestrian was hit and killed by a driver over the weekend. Officers said a pedestrian was struck by a vehicle Sunday evening near the intersection of North Woodland Boulevard and Wisconsin Avenue. Read: 2 stabbed during fight in Orange County, deputies sayNo other details were released by law enforcement. Read: Suspect identified in connection to Orlando apartment complex shooting, police sayChannel 9 is working to gather more information and will provide updates on Eyewitness News. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A local teacher who has spent decades in the classroom has been arrested for allegedly trying to meet with a minor student for sex, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. Officials said 64-year-old, Timothy Liscum of Melbourne, was arrested Sunday afternoon after he tried to meet a student in Brevard County to have “sexual relations.”Deputies said Liscum is a teacher at Satellite High School and has been employed with Brevard County Schools for the last 30 years. Watch: Woman accused of shooting husband at Daytona Beach hospital held without bondDeputies said Liscum asked the student to meet at a location for sex and he was arrested at that location when he arrived. Officials said investigators are looking to find if Liscum may have victimized other children. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

A high school teacher was arrested after deputies said the man tried to lure a student for sex, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center is getting ready to celebrate its 200th turtle releaseOn Wednesday, Hope a sub-adult green sea turtle, will be sent back home to the ocean. A sea turtle who is unable to dive may find it difficult to avoid predators, boats and other hazards. Hope - Brevard Zoo set to celebrate the release of its 200th turtle releaseAfter a series of tests, Hope was treated for an inflammation of the digestive tract. To celebrate Hope’s release, a special presentation of Brevard Zoo’s Turtle Tech initiative will take place just before the release at 10:30 a.m. This event is open to the public and attendees are encouraged to wear blue or green to celebrate Hope’s return.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — An investigation is underway in Brevard County after a pickup truck crashed, killing the driver, troopers said. The crash happened Sunday at around 1:55 a.m. near the intersection of Pine Street and Coconut Avenue. The pickup truck went airborne, then hit a ditch, according to a news release. Read: Cloudy and cool, with rain chances increasing Saturday eveningThe 30-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Read: Pedestrian killed crossing Volusia County road, troopers sayThis crash remains under investigation.

A single-vehicle crash early Saturday in Brevard County killed a 30-year-old Cocoa man and left his passenger badly hurt, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

From a beach access 6 miles north of Sebastian Inlet, News 6 watched Brevard County's largest beach renourishment project in two decades being put into action.

Rep. Randy Fine, a self-described “conservative firebrand” from southern Brevard County, announced Thursday he will run in 2024 for a Florida Senate seat.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — According to a report that the state’s auditor general released, Brevard Public Schools has a lot of work regarding youth mental health awareness and assistance training. As of last summer, just 24% of school personnel had completed the required training. Read: 2 Osceola County schools exceeding standards for maximum classroom sizesVanessa Skipper is the vice president of the Brevard Federation of Teachers. She is also one of the Brevard Public Schools personnel who has taken Florida’s required youth mental health awareness and assistance training. “This training is not for teachers or our normal school staff to be able to solve the student’s issues,” Skipper said.

Friends and family members of two teens found shot to death in Palm Bay on Christmas marched for justice ahead of a city council meeting.

A Cocoa police officer arrested in December after an hourslong standoff with Brevard County law enforcement at a Viera home was denied bond Thursday.

Florida manatees are showing signs of improvement in the third winter of what state wildlife officials are calling an unusual mortality event.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A manatee has a new chance for survival. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission said their staff rescued a small manatee Wednesday near Desoto. FWC said the manatee was swimming alone in a ditch canal. FWC recently announced they will investigate the high level of manatee deaths. Read: FWC investigating high level of manatee deathsWatch this video below:VIDEO: FWC investigating high level of manatee deaths Florida’s struggling manatee population is already off to a rough start this year.

COCOA, Fla. — Time is running out for Brevard County residents still in need of Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance from the impacts of Nicole. The FEMA disaster recovery center at the UF/IFAS Extension Service at 3695 Lake Dr. in Cocoa will permanently close on Sunday, Jan. 22. Read: Woman killed after being hit by train in Brevard CountyFEMA says residents needing help after Jan. 22 can still register for assistance online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling the FEMA helpline at 800-621-3362 from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. Registration for Hurricane Nicole assistance will be open through Feb. 13. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A woman was killed Tuesday evening after being struck by a train in Brevard County, Florida Highway Patrol said. It happened near Malabar Road, east of U.S. Highway 1, FHP said. A northbound Florida East Coast Railway train struck the woman, who sustained fatal injuries on scene. READ: Osceola County deputies search pond for possible missing personThe train is stopped and blocking Malabar Road. See a map of the scene below:READ: Deputies investigate deadly shooting in KissimmeeVIDEO: Osceola County deputies search pond for possible missing person According to Sheriff Marcos Lopez, two different witnesses called saying they saw someone go into the water and never come out.

A female pedestrian was killed Tuesday after a train struck her along State Route 514, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

SpaceX is set to launch a GPS satellite aboard its Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral on Wednesday.

A man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend after shooting her 15 times over unanswered text messages had been indicted on a first-degree murder charge.

A list of rocket launches to look out for in the coming weeks and months.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The Brevard Symphony Orchestra finds musical inspiration in comedy for its 2022-2023 season POPS concert, Comedy Tonight. In its 69th season, the Brevard Symphony Orchestra is ready to give comedy fans of all ages a musical treat filled with laughs and a new take on a classic tale. Read: Orlando Museum of Art announces new exhibition featuring NFT’s“The art of musical wit and satire will be on full display with a performance of musical satirist Peter Schickele’s Sneaky ‘Pete and the Wolf’ - a hilarious script that gives us a VERY different take on Prokofiev’s classic tale of ‘Peter and the Wolf’ without changing a single note of music,” said Brevard Symphony Orchestra music director and conductor Christopher Confessore. Read: Enter for a chance to win 2023 Rolex 24 at Daytona passesOther upcoming Brevard Symphony Orchestra concerts include the annual free Family Concert, Mendelssohn & Beethoven and American Dream. For more information, CLICK HERE.

A cruise ship returning to Port Canaveral from Mexico rescues 24 migrants.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Meteorologist George Waldenberger said for one more time this weekend, we have a chilly night ahead. And although it will not be as cold as Saturday night, frost will be possible in many neighborhoods by Monday morning. Read: Man, 73, dies in Orange County crash on State Road 429, troopers sayFrost advisories are up for the metro Orlando area, and a freeze warning is up for Sumter, Marion and inland Flagler County. Read: Orange County Public Library System debuts new services, escape room for 100-year celebrationThe one area without a cold advisory is coastal Brevard County because the beach communities may bottom out around 40 degrees. Read: Rooting for you: 9 tips to help your outdoor plants survive the coldIf you miss the warmth, don’t worry.

With a spectacular sunset launch, SpaceX sent its Falcon Heavy on a mission for the U.S. military, carrying a pair of communications satellites into orbit.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — SpaceX plans to launch the USSF-67 mission using the Falcon Heavy rocket Sunday evening. The launch is scheduled for liftoff at 5:56 p.m. from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A. According to a release, this will be the fifth SpaceX Falcon Heavy mission. WATCH: SpaceX launches 1st rocket of 2023, lands booster at Florida’s Space CoastThe rocket will carry two communication satellites for military data and other experimental equipment for the U.S. Space Force. After booster separation, two side boosters from the Falcon Heavy will land on landing zones 1 and 2.

Falcon Heavy is now vertical on Launch Complex 39A in Florida. Targeting Sunday, January 15 for launch of the USSF-67 mission → https://t.co/bJFjLCiTbK pic.twitter.com/2tlJjDQ5R4 — SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 14, 2023Original story:SpaceX plans to launch the next U.S. Space Force mission using the Falcon Heavy rocket this weekend. The launch is scheduled for liftoff at 5:56 p.m. Saturday from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A. According to a release, this will be the fifth SpaceX Falcon Heavy mission. Two side boosters from the Falcon Heavy will land on landing zones 1 and 2, and you may be able to see the boosters return.

Two state leaders are energizing efforts to clean the waters of the Indian River Lagoon in an attempt to save dying marine life.

What sets apart those along the Gulf Coast from those along the Atlantic?

SpaceX is set to launch its Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center Sunday evening.

A 16-year-old is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, after shooting multiple times at another teen at a Palm Bay park, according to the police department.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — SpaceX is planning to launch a Falcon Heavy rocket this weekend. The Kennedy Space Center is preparing for its next rocket launch on Saturday. Watch: SpaceX Dragon seen burning through the sky over Central Florida before splashdownSpaceX is set to launch around 5 p.m. from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Watch: SpaceX launches Falcon Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force StationPeople in the area will hear two sonic booms after the launch as two of the rocket’s boosters are set to land near Cape Canaveral Space Force station. WATCH: SpaceX successfully launches OneWeb Launch 16 mission aboard Falcon 9 rocket WATCH: SpaceX successfully launches OneWeb Launch 16 mission aboard Falcon 9 rocketChannel 9 will have live coverage of the launch on Eyewitness News.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Rain and a few gusty storms are expected in the area early Friday morning, Channel 9 certified chief meteorologist Tom Terry said. The weather will hit Marion County beginning around 2 a.m., between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. in metro Orlando and before noon in Brevard County, Terry said. READ: Natural disasters costing the U.S. billions every yearWind gusts reaching between 40 mph and 50 mph are possible, especially west, along with a quarter to half-inch of rain, Terry said. After the rain clears, it will clear up rapidly, Terry said, and be windy and much colder in the weekend with wind chills dropping to the 20s on Saturday morning. READ: Sheriff: Remains of woman, 82, missing since Hurricane Ian found in mangrovesVIDEO: Natural disasters costing the U.S. billions every year New federal data shows nearly 20 extreme weather events last year each caused more than $1 billion in destruction.

There are any number of nonprofits that can help treat injured wildlife, but few are able to go out and get them.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard County is on track to open up its first medical school. Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine is heading to Florida Tech campus in Melbourne, and has been in the planning stages for quite some time. READ: James Webb Space Telescope finds Earth-sized planetThe president of the school told Channel 9 the accreditation process started more than a year ago. Burrell has some of its third- and fourth-year students in Florida for clinical rotations. READ: Rare ringtail evades capture for 3 weeks in shoe department at Kohl’s in ColoradoThe plans are to open the Space Coast location on the Florida Tech campus right behind L3Harris Commons.

After more than 50 years, this Merritt Island Dairy Queen is set to close its doors for good this February.

When most people think of rainbows they think of colorful displays in the sky, but people in Brevard County were recently treated to a different kind of weather phenomenon.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Next month, Russia plans to launch an empty Soyuz to the International Space Station to bring back two cosmonauts and a NASA astronaut who don’t have a safe ride home. The empty Soyuz being used for their rescue was originally supposed to launch with a replacement crew in March. No new crew means those cosmonauts and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio will spend several more months aboard the ISS. RAED: Soyuz astronauts, cosmonauts may need another ride back to Earth after spacecraft springs a leakOfficials said the Soyuz is set to be deployed on Feb. 20. The damaged spacecraft won’t return to Kazakhstan until the new Soyuz arrives because the Soyuz spacecraft and the SpaceX Crew Dragon docked at the space station also serves as lifeboats for the astronauts and cosmonauts living aboard the ISS.

Before Jonathan Hosmer was pepper sprayed and restrained by his ankles, Cocoa Beach police say Officer Matt LaFleur was right to check on the 30-year-old after he fell asleep on a bench in front of the Tropics bar last summer.

After months of being slammed with hurricanes and cold weather, this Mims sunflower maze is finally reopening.

Florida wildlife officials say manatees are showing good signs at the temporary feeding station in Brevard County so far.

An out-of-this-world experience is coming to Brevard County.

A Brevard County technician is accused of trying to sexually force himself onto a woman in her home during a service call on Monday.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Newly proposed legislation would protect data from Florida gun and ammo purchases from being collected by credit card companies. Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, State Senator Danny Burgess, and State Representative John Snyder announced the proposed legislation at a press conference in Titusville Tuesday. The “Florida Arms and Ammo Act” would prohibit the collection of Floridians’ financial data from firearm and ammunition purchases and impose fines on credit card companies that collect data on those purchases. Commissioner Simpson said the yet-to-be-drafted bill seeks to stop Florida gun owners from being penalized for exercising a constitutional right. State Senator Danny Burgess and State Representative John Snyder said the plan is to introduce the legislation this year.

The show will explore comedy, satire and wit, according to a news release. Click here for more information. READ: Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin released from hospitalAction 9′s Todd Ulrich retires after 38 years Action 9 consumer investigator reporter Todd Ulrich retired Saturday from WFTV Channel 9 after spending 38 years at the station. (WFTV)Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. ©2022 Cox Media Group

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — SpaceX is scheduled to launch the OneWeb Launch 16 mission at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Monday evening. The launch will happen at 11:50 p.m. Monday. The Falcon 9 rocket will liftoff from Space Launch Complex 40. Read: Brazil’s ex-president hospitalized in Central Florida during the country’s political riotsFalcon 9′s first stage will land on SpaceX’s Landing Zone 1 at the Space Force Station. ©2022 Cox Media Group

COCOA, Fla. — Police say a Brevard County man may have been living in a home with his dead mother for weeks. Robert Ruhlander is facing a neglect charge after his 80-year-old mother was found dead inside their shared Cocoa home on Otterbein Avenue near Clearlake Road. But they said Robert Ruhlander first told them his mother wasn’t there, and later police say they were told she was napping. Cocoa police say she was dead. Robert Ruhlander was charged with neglect and failure to report a death.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Florida wildlife officials have released new details about the manatee population in Florida. State wildlife leaders said they saw an uptick in calls for distressed or dead manatees around Christmas time. Read: Manatee with watercraft wound rescued, transported to SeaWorld for careThe big cold snap we saw around that time is being blamed for the issues on the manatee population. Officials said nearly 800 manatees died in Florida in 2022. Watch: Manatee viewing at Blue Spring has visitors lined up for milesData shows a record 1,101 manatees died in 2021, mostly due to starvation.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard Zoo is getting inspiration from a galaxy far, far away for an event this weekend. Going Galactic Weekend will run at the zoo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Jan. 13 to 16. During the event, the zoo’s Nyami Nyami River Lodge will be transformed into scenes from space for guests to enjoy. Guests can take photos with characters throughout the zoo, make special arts and crafts, and enjoy animal enrichment. Read: Turtle named ‘Spicy Hawaiian’ first Sea Turtle Healing Center patient of the yearAll activities are included with regular zoo admission.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — The Brevard Zoo’s Sea Turtle Healing Center welcomed its first patient of the year: a juvenile green sea turtle named “Spicy Hawaiian.”Zoo officials said a boater found the turtle floating in the ocean near Port Canaveral. The care team said it is working to determine what is causing Spicy Hawaiian’s symptoms, which include lethargy, stiffness and a lack of appetite. Spicy Hawaiian is on fluids and medications to make them more comfortable. Read: 15 sea turtles released after rehabbing in the Florida KeysThe Sea Turtle Healing Center cares for around 70 turtles a year. Video: Brevard Zoo to release 2 rescued sea turtles Wednesday in Cocoa Beach Brevard Zoo to release 2 rescued sea turtles Wednesday in Cocoa Beach (James Tutten, WFTV.com/WFTV)Read: Brevard Zoo sea turtles will be released back into the oceanClick here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

SpaceX is set to launch its first rocket in the new year on Tuesday. The company is aiming to send a Falcon 9 rocket to orbit from Space Launch Complex 40 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Read: Here are 9 space stories that made history in 2022The launch is set for 9:56 a.m. with a 90% favorable weather forecast. SpaceX said the same rocket booster as previously launch GPS III-3, Turksat 5A, Transporter-2, Intelsat G-33/G-34 and 10 Starlink missions. Watch: SpaceX launches Falcon Heavy rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force StationChannel 9 will have live coverage of the launch on Eyewitness News.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Have you ever heard of a “fog bow”? According to the U.S. National Weather Service in Melbourne, someone recently spotted one in Viera. Forecasters said the cloudlike arch is similar to a rainbow, but the smaller water droplet size means the color separation is weaker and more smeared. That means the fog bow appears mostly white – like a rainbow zapped of its color. Read: Mount Dora police investigate suspicious death of couple at senior living communityCentral Florida started the New Year with foggy conditions, making the conditions prime for the fog bow.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Brevard County beach will reopen next week after a destructive hurricane season. Hurricanes Ian and Nicole forced the beach to close because of the heavy winds and rain damaging the dunes. Read: Hurricane Ian insured losses near $12.6 billion in FloridaSince then, workers have been cleaning up the mess for people to visit. Read: These were Central Florida’s biggest stories in 2022Several areas will remain closed as workers continue to pick up debris. Read: Brevard County leaders consider $20 million plan to restore beaches damaged by hurricanesThe beach plans to reopen on Tuesday.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A unique program at the Brevard County Jail is changing the lives of inmates and dogs. The Paws and Stripes program helps abandoned dogs make a difference nationwide. Claire Mutter, a Paws and Stripes trainer, has seen a lot of faces, stories and paws. Therapy dogs work with investigators, support those at funerals and help with the interview process for adult and child victims. She said 80% of the program inmates never return to jail.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A law enforcement officer is accused of firing shots outside of a Viera home after a domestic incident Thursday, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office said. According to an arrest report, suspect Patrick Michael Kelly, 39, a member of the Cocoa Police Department, was taken into custody by Brevard County deputies on charges of aggravated assault and domestic violence with a deadly weapon. Kelly had fired multiple rounds in the home, but no injuries were reported during the standoff, Brevard County deputies said. Read: Hurricane Ian insured losses near $12.6 billion in FloridaA video provided to Channel 9 from The Space Coast Rocket blog shows Kelly firing at law enforcement. Video shows law enforcement officer firing weapon during standoff, deputies say (The Space Coast Rocket)Kelly was transported to the Brevard County Jail on a no-bond status.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Wildlife crews are making sure Florida’s manatee population is safe after the recent cold snap. In South Florida, some “sea cows” were seen gathered in warm water near a power plant in West Palm Beach. Read: Manatees huddle together as the cold weather moves through FloridaWarm water is crucial for the creatures to survive and thrive. The manatee protections include “no-entry” zones to keep boats out of the warm waters that attract manatees in the winter. Read: Florida manatee feeding program restarts to help ease starvation crisis, wildlife officials sayThe protections come after the state partnered with the U.S.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — This time of year, in Central Florida, Santa Claus doesn’t just ride atop a sleigh. Surfing Santas, a tradition that began in 2009, returns this year, once again drawing thousands of surfing and Christmas enthusiasts from across the planet to the end of Minutemen Causeway in Cocoa Beach. Surfers will don their best Santa gear as they catch some waves. Saturday morning is set to be one of the coldest Surfing Santa events in recent memory, with temperatures in the mid-30s when things get started. Click here for more information about the event.

ORLANDO, Fla. — A cold front has just passed through most Central Florida neighborhoods. A Weather Alert Day is issued for Saturday and Sunday as freezing temperatures settle in. If you did, it’s because temperatures began cooling off after a front moved into Central Florida earlier Friday. By Saturday morning, freezing temperatures will sweep across Central Florida. Tonight: Hard freeze warning (<28°) Marion, Sumter, Flagler Counties - Freeze warning (<32°) for most of the rest of Central Florida.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — NASA astronauts Frank Rubio and two Russian cosmonauts may need another ride home after their Soyuz spacecraft sprang a leak. During a teleconference Thursday, NASA and Roscosmos said the agencies are still working to determine what’s next. The Soyuz MS-22 carried two cosmonauts and an astronaut to the ISS, but it’s unclear if it will not be able to bring them home. “But, if it’s decided that it’s an uncrewed Soyuz, Roscosmos would plan the return of the current Soyuz on orbit and collect data so they can use that for future evaluations.”Officials said the coolant burned off quickly and there are no contamination concerns. READ: Florida repair tech accused of saving copy of explicit video from customer’s phoneVideo: NASA cancels spacewalk after leak discovered from docked Russian spacecraft NASA is investigating after a leak was detected on a spacecraft docket at the International Space Station.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Saturday is the last day you can adopt a pet from SPCA of Brevard Adoption Center and receive a full year’s worth of pet food along with them. The offer was good from Dec. 5 to 24 thanks to a gift from Dr. Jeffrey and Melissa Williamson. Shelter officials said offer details will be provided to families at the time of adoption. You can visit the shelter at 6035 Sisson Rd. SATURDAY is the last day you can adopt to be able to receive ONE YEAR of food for your newly adopted pet!