Two schools in Baker school system set to close on the last day of school
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The City of Baker School Board met Thursday evening to consider and approve the closure date of two F-rated schools.
Baker Heights Elementary and Baker Middle School are set to close after they were designated as failing schools. The school system was approached in August about the school being subjected to Recovery School District takeover.
Superintendent JT Stroder said in a letter that plans were prepared and sent as requested to make educational improvements. However, according to him, the school system got 'little to no feedback from the state regarding our proposed turnaround plan.'
The Baker school board decided to close the schools in a February meeting.
The school board agreed to close Baker Heights Elementary and Baker Middle School on Friday, May 23, 2025.
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Two schools in Baker school system set to close on the last day of school
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Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Opinion - After the Trump-Musk dustup, NASA has much to consider
The social media-driven feud between President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk may have simmered down a bit, with the rhetoric cooling and Musk even deleting some of his ill-considered posts about Trump from X and then apologizing for them. But the shockwaves generated by the tit-for-tat insults and threats still reverberate through NASA and the commercial space sector. When Trump threatened to pull all of SpaceX's government contracts and Musk responded by threatening to decommission the Dragon spacecraft, an apocalyptic scenario that would have cripped NASA loomed. Fortunately, both men have since backed off. Even so, according to the Washington Post, NASA and the Defense Department are quietly urging commercial space companies to hurry the development of hardware that can compete with what SpaceX has to offer. Encouraging competition with SpaceX is sound policy regardless of the relationship between Trump and Musk. However, that competition is months, if not years, in the future. The next flight of the Boeing Starliner, which failed so spectacularly in 2024, will be early next year at the earliest. The Blue Origin New Glenn, an answer to the SpaceX Falcon family of rockets, may launch once more this year and is a long way from achieving Falcon-level launch cadence. It is in Trump's and Musk's interests, and that of the American space effort, that both men repair their relationship and move on. One of the issues that drove Trump and Musk apart was Trump's abrupt and inexplicable withdrawal of the nomination of Jared Isaacman, a billionaire entrepreneur and private space traveler, for NASA administrator. Musk had championed Isaacman, who is well regarded in the aerospace community, and took it to heart when Trump changed his mind about his own nominee. The resulting leadership vacuum at NASA is being filled by Congress. The Senate Commerce Committee, chaired by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), has offered its own ideas for a NASA budget. The Senate Commerce document is at odds with the White House proposal in one important aspect. Whereas the Trump budget eliminates the Space Launch System after Artemis III and the Lunar Gateway, Senate Commerce would retain the massive, expensive rocket at least through Artemis V and would build the Gateway to support future Artemis missions. A NASA administrator such as Isaacman would be able to argue for the White House's approach. As for Isaacman, some people in the MAGA world, no doubt stung by the near-universal outrage sparked by his treatment at the hands of the White House, have started to trash the former nominee in the media. A recent Daily Caller story quoted unnamed White House officials accusing Isaacman of not only giving money to Democrats but of supporting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at his companies and in his private spaceflights. But both of these facts were known when Isaacman was nominated. According to the story, the officials said, 'Isaacman would have been a black spot on an administration otherwise filled with Republican Trump supporters or, at least, individuals like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who backed the president prior to the election.' To hear these unnamed sources talk, Isaacman is no better than left-wing House members Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and their Squad. It should be noted that even if Isaacman wanted to impose DEI policies at NASA, he couldn't because of Trump's executive order prohibiting it across the federal government. Isaacman posted to X in his own defense: 'I am a moderate and donated to both parties for different reasons … my largest contribution was to President Trump — because I support many of his policies. I definitely did not like the direction this country was going over the last 4 years.' He went on to state, 'I have never spoken against the President. I have never voted against him.' It sounds like Isaacman is very loyal to Trump, remarkable under the circumstances. The suggestion of disloyalty is spurious and against the White House's interests. Isaacman's situation could provide the basis of a rapprochement between Trump and Musk. Musk has already apologized to the president for some of his posts on X, particularly the one suggesting that Trump is named in the Department of Justice's files on Jeffrey Epstein. But the president should admit fault as well. He was deceived by some of his staff about Isaacman's character. If it is not too late, he should reverse himself a second time and send his fellow billionaire's name back into nomination. NASA, the U.S., and the Trump-Musk partnership would gain as a result. Mark R. Whittington, who writes frequently about space policy, has published a political study of space exploration entitled 'Why is It So Hard to Go Back to the Moon?' as well as 'The Moon, Mars and Beyond,' and, most recently, 'Why is America Going Back to the Moon?' He blogs at Curmudgeons Corner. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Digital Trends
14 hours ago
- Digital Trends
SpaceX's Starlink rival is about to launch more internet satellites — here's how to watch
Amazon is preparing to launch its second batch of Project Kuiper internet satellites to orbit as it seeks to build out a constellation to take on SpaceX's Starlink service. The KA-02 mission had been delayed due to inclement weather, but Amazon and rocket provider United Launch Alliance (ULA) appear confident that it can send the satellites skyward on Monday, June 16. An Atlas V 551 rocket, configured with five side-mounted solid rocket boosters and a medium-length payload fairing, will launch the Project Kuiper satellites from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Amazon launched its first batch of 27 Project Kuiper satellites a couple of months ago, and Monday's mission will also carry the same number. The company is hoping to launch a global high-speed, low-latency satellite-powered internet service with as few as 1,000 satellites by the end of this year. Building out the constellation to the targeted 3,200 satellites will help to boost network performance and reliability for paying customers. SpaceX's Starlink initiative began deploying internet satellites in 2019 and so has a major head start on Amazon, but over time, Project Kuiper hopes to differentiate itself by offering affordable user terminals as well as exploiting Amazon Web Services for advanced cloud integration. By focusing on seamless connectivity for remote and underserved regions, and integrating with existing telecom infrastructure, Project Kuiper is seeking to carve out a significant share in the rapidly growing internet satellite sector, though clearly it's going to take several years to before it has any chance of reaching its goal. How to watch Amazon and ULA are targeting 1:25 p.m. ET (10:25 a.m. PT) on Monday, June 16, for the launch the KA-02 mission from Cape Canaveral in Florida. You can watch a livestream of the launch via the player embedded at the top of this page. The broadcast will begin at about 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT). Additionally, if you live on the East Coast and the skies are clear, there's a chance you'll be able to see the rocket heading to orbit. This chart reveals how many seconds after launch it will take for the rocket to become visible, depending on your location.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
ULA rocket launch in Florida: Map shows visibility from Tennessee, Georgia, New Jersey, Massachusetts
Billionaire Jeff Bezos' Project Kuiper: Round two. United Launch Alliance will launch the second batch of Amazon satellites into space − and it's possible people can see the Atlas V rocket far outside of Florida. When ULA launches its massive rocket, depending on cloud cover, Floridians (and visitors) as far as Jacksonville, Cape Coral and Miami could see it light up the sky after liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Visibility from most of Florida is possible, according to ULA. What's on board ULA Atlas V? Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is launching Project Kuiper, a global network of satellites, to compete with SpaceX CEO-billionaire Elon Musk and Starlink satellites. It begins with the second-ever launch of the Amazon Project Kuiper production satellites, courtesy of the ULA Atlas V rocket. Online, the mission has been called the "Amazon rocket launch" or "the Amazon rocket launch from Florida,' but it's accurate to call it the Amazon satellite rocket launch or Amazon-ULA rocket launch. Business is booming: Florida's Space Coast is one of fastest-growing economies in U.S. In Florida, we can best see this moment in person, particularly if you're anywhere on the Space Coast (Melbourne, Florida area), the Fun Coast (Daytona Beach area) or the Treasure Coast (Vero Beach, Jensen Beach and Fort Pierce). The Amazon satellite rocket launch is extra special because of the potential to see it in other states. In the past, readers have submitted photos or posted on social platforms pictures of SpaceX Falcon Heavy, which is made up of three Falcon 9 rocket first stages, visible from Myrtle Beach. Other rocket launches have been spotted in New Jersey and Georgia. ULA's Atlas V rocket should be visible outside of Florida pending weather and clouds. Below is information on ULA's powerful rocket, the Atlas V, how to watch the Amazon satellite rocket launch and suggestions on where to watch it from Florida and beyond. Rocket launches in Florida (a big list): Here's a roundup of all 2025 missions from Cape Canaveral and NASA's Kennedy Space Center Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is launching Project Kuiper, a global constellation of 3,232 broadband satellites that will compete for customers with SpaceX founder Elon Musk's sprawling Starlink network. It began with the first-ever launch of Project Kuiper production satellites, courtesy of the massive United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, on April 28, 2025 (see photos above). Rocket launches from the Space Coast of Florida − either from NASA's Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station − have significantly increased within the past few years, with the bulk of launches from SpaceX and Starlink satellites. But Bezos' Amazon satellite rocket launch, the premiere was known as KA-01 mission, will "deploy all of the satellites safely in orbit, which means they can independently maneuver and communicate with our team on the ground," according to an Amazon news release. "Once the satellites have successfully separated from the rocket, they will begin a series of mostly automated steps to activate onboard systems and use their electric propulsion systems to gradually ascend to their assigned orbit of 392 miles (630 km)," the release said. "The satellites will travel at a speed of more than 17,000 miles per hour (27,359 km per hour) on orbit and circle the planet approximately every 90 minutes." All told, ULA will launch eight Atlas V and 38 Vulcan rockets on Project Kuiper missions. The Amazon initiative has also contracted with SpaceX, Blue Origin and Arianespace, upping the total to 80-plus pending launches. The Monday, June 16, 2025, Amazon satellite rocket launch from Cape Canaveral would be the second for Project Kuiper. A two-hour Amazon rocket launch window is scheduled for 1:25 p.m. EDT Monday, June 16, 2025, from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Equipped with five side-mounted rocket boosters, the Atlas V will lift the $10 billion internet constellation's second set of satellites (see above) into low-Earth orbit. In Florida, we can best see this historic moment in person if you're anywhere on the Space Coast (Brevard County) or certain spots in the First Coast or Fun Coast (Volusia County) or the Treasure Coast (Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County). However, people in Jacksonville, far north of Cape Canaveral, and West Palm Beach, far south of Cape Canaveral, have posted rocket launch photos and video on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter, and Instagram. Pro tip: If you do watch it in person, especially on Florida's Space Coast, get to your viewing destination early and prepare to stay later after the launch because of heavy traffic. A rocket launch can be a treat for the ears, too: On the Space Coast, a 'rumble' can be heard or window-shaking can be expected in some parts of Brevard County after liftoff. Where to watch Amazon satellite rocket launch in Daytona Beach area of Florida List of Brevard County cities to watch Amazon satellite rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida Where to watch Amazon satellite rocket launch from Treasure Coast of Florida Where to watch Amazon rocket launch from West Palm Beach area of Florida Where to watch Amazon satellite rocket launch in Jacksonville, Florida Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast, Brevard County, Orlando and other parts of Florida. The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache. ULA provided a helpful graphic (see above) that shows the Atlas V launch of Kuiper 2 for Amazon and its intended flight path and launch visibility. Note: Cities in the Space Coast of Florida, which is in Brevard County and measures 72 miles of coast, include Titusville, Mims, Port St. John, Merritt Island, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne, West Melbourne, Palm Bay, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach, Grant-Valkaria and Sebastian. Launch, Space Coast, east Orlando, near University of Central Florida, Bithlo, the northern part of the Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, parts of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill 1: Launch + 30 seconds, Space Coast, Orlando, the Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Sebastian, Vero Beach, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill, Volusia County, St. Augustine, Ocala, Lakeland area 2: Launch + 90 seconds, which includes PLF Jettison or separation and jettison of the payload fairing: Space Coast, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill, Port Orange, Volusia County, Treasure Coast, Indian River County, Martin County, St. Lucie County, Orlando, Sanford, Kissimmee, Central Florida, Ocala, Lakeland, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach 3: Launch + 150 seconds, which includes solid rocket booster jettison, visibility extends to Sebring, Winter Haven, Palatka, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Sarasota, Manatee County, Sarasota County, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Collier County, Lee County, Clearwater, West Palm Beach, Lake Worth Beach, Wellington, Jupiter, Mar-a-Lago, Palm Beach, southern Georgia, Savannah, Georgia, parts of the Caribbean, the Bahamas 4: Launch + 210 seconds, which includes booster separation, Tallahassee, Panama City, Panhandle, Big Bend area of Florida; visibility extends beyond Florida to Georgia, South Carolina, parts of North Carolina 5: Launch + 270 seconds, ULA Atlas V rocket launch visibility extends beyond Florida to these other states and cities: Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; Atlanta, Georgia; Columbus, Georgia Alabama; Dothan, Alabama; just outside Birmingham, Alabama Tennessee; Knoxville, Tennessee; just outside Huntsville, Tennessee; just outside Nashville, Tennessee Kentucky South Carolina; Spartanburg, South Carolina North Carolina; High Point, North Carolina; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Wilmington, North Carolina Virginia; Virginia Beach, Virginia; Richmond, Virginia West Virginia; Charleston, West Virginia Maryland; Washington, Maryland Delaware; Annapolis, Delaware; Dover, Delaware 6: Launch + 330 seconds, ULA Atlas V rocket launch visibility extends beyond Florida to these other states and cities: New Jersey: Trenton, New Jersey; New York, New Jersey Pennsylvania: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Erie, Pennsylvania Ohio: Cleveland, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Toledo, Ohio Indiana: just outside Indianapolis, Indiana; Fort Wayne, Indiana Michigan: Detroit, Michigan Kentucky: just outside Louisville, Kentucky Rhode Island: Providence, Rhode Island Connecticut: Hartford, Connecticut Massachusetts: Boston, Massachusetts New York: Binghamton, New York; Albany, New York 7: Launch + 390 seconds, visibility of Atlas V rocket may be possible in these states: Alabama Tennessee Kentucky Georgia South Carolina North Carolina Virginia West Virginia Ohio Indiana Michigan Delaware Maryland New Jersey Pennsylvania New York Rhode Island Connecticut Massachusetts New Hampshire Vermont Maine Toronto, Canada The above guidelines are estimates based on the graphic provided by ULA. When and where: Full coverage of the launch, including a live webcast with live tweets and updates, kicks off two hours before liftoff at (you can type this on your browser on your phone) and will feature in-depth coverage. Ask our FLORIDA TODAY space team reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards questions and strike up a conversation. You also can watch coverage via the FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play. You can download the free app for iPhone or Android or type into your browser. FLORIDA TODAY is part of the USA TODAY Network. Click here to download FLORIDA TODAY app on App Store Click here to download FLORIDA TODAY app on Google Play Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Amazon-ULA rocket launch in Florida after Father's Day: When is liftoff