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THE SKINNY

• Spring Bling Giveaway Reminder

• Artemis II is Ready for Lift Off

• Ask an Attorney with McBreen & Nowak

• What Upcoming Bills Mean For You

• This News isn’t so Sweet

• Water Filtration with Kuma Plumbing

Featured Story

It’s Go Time, Baby!

NASA’s Artemis II mission sends astronauts around the moon, marking humanity’s first deep-space journey in over 50 years

Buzz Lightyear, eat your heart out. Just kidding. We’re obviously back again for the first time, but for many folks, this is a true first. It’s been quite a while since we did anything cool in space. Actually, there was that time back in 2024 when we left those astronauts up there. If you don’t remember, you can watch all about it HERE.

But for the first time since 1969, we are heading back to the moon. It’s pretty big news. The video above is a live stream to the launch, so open a window and keep it running in the background so you don’t miss it.

Now, let’s talk about what all this means.

If everything goes as planned, NASA’s Artemis II mission is set to launch around 6:24 PM Eastern, sending four astronauts on a roughly 10-day journey around the moon and back. Not landing. Not yet.

This one is a flyby. A full loop around the moon before returning home. But that doesn’t make it small. It might actually be one of the most important space missions we’ve seen in decades. Because Artemis II isn’t about planting a flag. It’s about proving we can safely get humans there and back again.

This will be the first time humans leave low Earth orbit since the Apollo era. The first time in over 50 years that people have traveled that far into space. Four astronauts are making the trip: Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen. And history is coming with them.

Glover could become the first person of color to go beyond low Earth orbit. Koch could become the first woman to do it. Hansen will be the first non-American to make the trip that far. So yeah… this one matters.

But here’s the bigger picture. This isn’t the finish line. It’s step two. Artemis I proved we could send the spacecraft. Artemis II proves we can send people. Artemis III is expected to put boots back on the moon. Think of this like a dress rehearsal… just one that happens 240,000 miles away.

And if it works, it opens the door to something bigger. Not just going back to the moon, but staying there… and eventually using it as a stepping stone to Mars. This isn’t about reliving Apollo. It’s about starting something new.

Ask a Personal Injury Attorney

Common personal injury questions with McBreeen & Nowak

Today’s question: Should I speak with the other driver after a car accident?

Answer: Use your best judgment, but be careful of what you say to the other driver and make note of what they say to you. Statements you make about the accident can be used against you in court. Likewise, statements made by the other driver can be used against him/her in court, so make note of any statements made to you by the other driver or you hear the other driver make to others. Often, the full extent of your injuries are not realized until hours or even days after the crash. Therefore, you should avoid making statements about whether or not you are injured or to what extent you may be injured. Also, do not admit fault at the scene of the accident to the other driver. Immediately after the accident, all of the facts regarding fault for the accident may not be known to you or the other driver. Do not be frustrated if the other driver does not admit fault to you or suggests that you are at fault for the accident. Do your best to remain calm.

*The foregoing does not constitute legal advice, and this Q and A does not create an attorney-client relationship.  We recommend that you speak to an attorney ASAP if you think you may have been injured in an automobile collision.

New Rules Sailing to Southshore

Several new Florida bills could impact homeowners, neighborhoods, and everyday life across Southshore starting July 1

A wave of new bills is heading to the governor’s desk, and while a lot of them won’t change your day-to-day, a few could hit a little closer to home here in Southshore.

Here are the ones worth paying attention to.

1. No More Ignoring “No Soliciting” Signs

Ever had someone knock on your door right after you put up a “No Soliciting” sign? That could soon come with actual consequences.

A new bill would make it illegal for businesses or individuals to ignore clearly posted “no solicitation” signage, with penalties for those who do.

For Southshore residents, especially in fast-growing neighborhoods where door-to-door sales are common, this could bring a little more peace and control back to your front door. It could also impact local businesses that use door-to-door as their bread and butter.

2. Tougher Rules and Protections Around Contractors

Another part of the same legislation cracks down on contractors who don’t pay subcontractors or suppliers on time.

That might not sound like it affects homeowners directly, but it absolutely does. One word, lien.

When contractors don’t pay, projects stall, disputes happen, and homeowners can get caught in the middle. Stronger penalties could mean smoother projects and fewer headaches when you’re hiring for home work or renovations.

3. Domestic Violence Protections Expanded

One of the more serious changes increases protections for victims of domestic violence.

Relocation assistance is being increased from $1,500 to $2,500, with higher lifetime limits, and judges will have more factors to consider when issuing protective orders.

For families in Southshore, this is about safety and support when it’s needed most, especially in situations where leaving quickly can make all the difference.

4. Gas-Powered Equipment Isn’t Going Anywhere

If you’ve noticed more conversations around electric lawn equipment, this next one matters.

A new statewide rule would prevent local governments from banning gas-powered landscaping or farm equipment.

In a place like Southshore, where lawn care is basically a year-round activity, this keeps things the way they are for now. No sudden shifts or mandates forcing homeowners or landscaping companies to switch equipment. Although you might want to look into that with the current price of gas.

Most of these changes take effect July 1, and while they might not feel massive on their own, they touch on everyday life.

Who can knock on your door.
How smoothly your home projects go.
What kind of equipment gets used in your neighborhood.
And how the state supports people in difficult situations.

It’s one of those quiet reminders that even when things don’t feel political, policy still finds its way into your daily routine. And in a place growing as fast as Southshore, those small changes tend to add up.

Things to do

What’s Washing Up on The Shore This Week

Your Weekly What in the World

That “healthy” sweetener might not be so sweet after all

It’s in your protein bars, your diet drinks, your keto snacks. The thing that lets you enjoy something sweet without the sugar. But a new study is raising some serious questions about one of the most popular sugar substitutes out there.

Researchers are taking a closer look at erythritol, a widely used sweetener that’s often marketed as a healthier alternative to sugar. It’s commonly found in products labeled “sugar-free,” “keto,” or “low carb,” and is a key ingredient in many well-known brands like Truvia and other stevia blends.

In lab testing, erythritol appeared to affect the cells that line blood vessels in the brain. It made those cells less able to relax, increased oxidative stress, and interfered with the body’s ability to break down blood clots. That combination matters.

Because when blood vessels can’t function properly, and clots don’t break down the way they should, it creates the kind of environment that could increase the risk of stroke. What’s especially concerning is that these effects showed up at levels that reflect what people might actually consume in everyday diets. And that’s what makes this one hit a little different.

Erythritol isn’t some obscure ingredient. It’s everywhere. It’s been one of the go-to options for people trying to cut sugar, lose weight, or manage blood sugar levels. It’s often positioned as the “safe” middle ground. But this adds to a growing conversation.

More research in recent years has started to question whether sugar substitutes are as harmless as they’ve been marketed. Not definitively dangerous, but not completely neutral either. The kind of thing where the long-term effects may be more complicated than we thought.

To be clear, this doesn’t mean you need to panic and throw everything out of your pantry. The research is still evolving, and scientists are continuing to study how these sweeteners behave in the body over time.

But it does shift the perspective. Because once again, the “better option” might not be as simple as it seems. And in a world full of shortcuts to healthier choices, this is a reminder that sometimes the tradeoffs just aren’t obvious at first.

Southshore Spotlight

Donate This Recycle That

Donate This Recycle That is a simple idea with a real impact. Instead of tossing items you no longer need, they help connect those goods to people and organizations that can actually use them. The goal is to reduce waste while making sure usable items stay in circulation, helping both the environment and the community at the same time.

It’s about giving things a second life and making it easier to do the right thing without overthinking it.

Nominate your local hero by emailing us at [email protected]

Thinking About a Water Filtration System?

Read This First with Kuma Plumbing & Drain

Most people turn on the kitchen faucet and expect the liquid coming out to be perfectly clean because it looks clear to the eye. You use this water to boil pasta, wash your face, and fill up the dog’s bowl every morning without thinking about what might be hiding inside the stream.

The reality is that the path from the city treatment plant to your home is long and involves miles of old, buried pipes that often have cracks or buildup. Even if the water starts out clean, it picks up plenty of hitchhikers like rust and dirt before it ever reaches your glass.

Read More

We Know a Guy…or Girl

Southshore Services

Need a painter? A plumber? Someone brave enough to tackle that lightbulb orbiting 30 feet above your living room? We’ve got you. And the best part, they’re all right here in our community.

Our all-new service catalog is now live, connecting you with trusted local pros right here in the community. And we’re just getting started. The list is growing every day.

Check it Out!

Interested in joining the list? Shoot us an email to [email protected]

“Keep it Local!”

Foodies Only

Your Restaurant

New menu items, promos, specials, events- feature them here. This is the place to tell 30,000 readers in Southshore what you've got. Only 20 spots for the year. Claim yours today.

If you’ve got a restaurant, food truck, or even a lemonade stand, it could be featured here. Email us at [email protected]

Local Sports

Our area high schools boast state champions and multiple division titleists. Come out and show your support for these teams and for our community.

Got news, events, or press releases that the Southshore needs to know about? Submit them here. (We’ll do our best to add press releases in our regular rotation.) If you’re looking to run an actual ad, go here instead.

Until next time,

Keep It Local.