SUMMARY: NASA has extended the mission of astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who will remain in orbit aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule until spring, nearly ten months after their June 5 launch. Originally slated for an eight-day mission, their return has been delayed due to issues with Starliner, prompting NASA to send it back empty in September. The pair’s homecoming is now pushed to late March or April, contingent on the launch of a replacement crew, which has been postponed for over a month. NASA chose to wait for a new SpaceX capsule rather than using an older model for crew transport.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will soon mandate that hotels, vacation rental platforms, and event promoters disclose all fees upfront in their pricing. This decision, motivated by consumer complaints about unexpected “junk fees,” aims to promote transparency and ensure consumers know the total costs before booking. The rule takes effect in 120 days and was approved by four of the five commissioners. It requires businesses to clearly disclose all mandatory fees in their advertised prices, potentially saving consumers 53 million hours annually. This initiative follows the FTC’s exploration of fee transparency, spurred by over 12,000 public comments.

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SUMMARY: Zephen Xavier has been sentenced to death by a Florida judge for the 2019 mass shooting at a Sebring bank, where he killed five women. Xavier pleaded guilty to five counts of first-degree murder, and a jury recommended the death penalty. The victims, four bank employees and a customer, were executed in a planned attack. Xavier showed no emotion during the sentencing. The judge noted the premeditated nature of the crime, citing evidence of Xavier’s intentions in the weeks before the murders. The victim’s families expressed satisfaction with the decision, with one stating they would “pull the switch” if allowed.

A Highlands County judge has sentenced Zephen Xaver to death for the shooting deaths of five people inside a Suntrust Bank in 2019 in Sebring. This comes after a jury recommended the death penalty earlier in 2024. In Xaver’s case, on all counts, the jury split by a 9-3 vote on recommending the death penalty. Earlier this year, jurors heard closing arguments from lawyers on both sides, starting with the state.

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