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5 Things To Know On Thursday, September 17, 2020

Posted at 6:44 AM, Sep 17, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-17 06:44:32-04

While you were sleeping, we compiled the biggest stories of the day in one place. Each story has a quick and easy summary, so you're prepared for whatever the day brings. Just click on the links if you want to know more!

1. Should we fall back this year? Florida senators say no.
Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott have teamed up to make a push to keep Daylight Saving Time across the country during the pandemic.

The senators say their bill will help provide stability for families dealing with enough change with virtual learning, working from home and other disruptions the COVID-19 pandemic has caused.

In 2018, Florida lawmakers approved a bill to keep Florida on Daylight Saving Time permanently. But it can't be enacted without congressional approval.

The fight for daylight: Why Florida lawmakers are leading the charge to change federal law

2. Pres. Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine, masks
Trump said Wednesday that a vaccine will be available as early as October and in mass distribution soon afterward — much sooner than was projected in congressional testimony earlier in the day by Dr. Robert Redfield.

Trump says Redfield “made a mistake” when he told lawmakers that any vaccine available in November or December would be in “very limited supply,” and reserved for first responders and people most vulnerable to COVID-19.

Redfield estimated the shot wouldn’t be broadly available until the spring or summer of 2021.

Pres. Trump contradicts CDC director on vaccine, masks

3. Will he stay or will he go? PBCSD Superintendent embattled
The Palm Beach County teachers union called for Dr. Fennoy's removal, saying union members "have lost all faith and now have zero confidence that a righting of this rudderless ship is possible without immediate change."

The Palm Beach County School Board offered their support to embattled superintendent.

District 3 School Board Member Karen Brill spoke about Fennoy's upcoming review, saying now was not the right time to evaluate his performance given the "heat of the moment" with "heavy emotions."

Palm Beach County School Board offers support to embattled superintendent following calls for his removal

4. Goodbye Paulette, Sally and Vicky! Keep an eye out for Teddy and possibly Wilfred
A section of the Three Mile Bridge in Pensacola is missing after Hurricane Sally battered the Gulf Coast Wednesday morning.

Paulette is no more. Vicky will die out in the next day or as it gets sheared by moisture coming off of Hurricane Teddy.

Hurricane Teddy could approach Bermuda over the weekend. The low in the Gulf of Mexico could form into a depression in the next day, then move towards the Gulf Coast states sometime next week. A couple of other systems out there, but no threats to Florida.

Tropical Update: Thursday 5 a.m.

5. Ready for blast-off? SpaceX launch this afternoon
SpaceX is set to launch a Falcon 9 rocket at 2:17 p.m. today from Kennedy Space Center. You'll be able to watch it live on the WPTV Facebook page.

This will be SpaceX's 13th batch of Starlink communication satellites atop its Falcon 9 rocket.

The ultimate goal is to have tens of thousands of Starlinks providing internet connection to those living in rural, underserved communities around the world, and to also help fund CEO Elon Musk's dream of sending humans to live on Mars.

SpaceX launch scheduled for Thursday afternoon

Today's Forecast
Hot and humid conditions over the next few days

Latest Weather Forecast: Thursday 5 a.m.

Get your complete hour-by-hour forecast here.

On This Day In History
On September 17, 1976, NASA publicly unveils its first space shuttle, the Enterprise, during a ceremony. Development of the aircraft-like spacecraft cost almost $10 billion and took nearly a decade. In 1977, the Enterprise became the first space shuttle to fly freely when it was lifted to a height of 25,000 feet by a Boeing 747 airplane and then released, gliding back to Edwards Air Force Base on its own accord.

Remember, you can join Mike Trim and Ashleigh Walters every weekday on WPTV NewsChannel 5 beginning at 4:30 a.m.