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  • Catch the Highlights: Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Honors 2025 Class at Eastern Florida State College

    Catch the Highlights: Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Honors 2025 Class at Eastern Florida State College

    Brevard High School Breakfast of Champions will honor outstanding prep student-athletes

    Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Welcomes the 2025 Class

    Watch Replay: In a night that sparkled brighter than the Milky Way itself, the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame celebrated the inductees of the 2025 Class on May 24. The ceremony unfolded at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, turning the campus into a celebrity runway for unstoppable athletes.

    Event Snapshot

    • Location: Eastern Florida State College — where the campus vibes met a splash of sporting glory.
    • Date: May 24, 2025 — the day the community cheered louder than a packed stadium.
    • Theme: “From the Field to the Hall” — honoring those who made the skies feel a little closer.
    • Replay Availability: Available for anyone who missed the live buzz—simply click and watch the moment that was waiting to happen.

    Why the 2025 Class Matters

    Each inductee’s story is a chapter of perseverance, skill, and a touch of humor. Their journeys prove that with grit, every athlete can reach stellar heights—especially in a region known not only for its launchpads but also for its love of sports.

    Remember the Moment:
    • Ceremony Highlights: Fireside chats with legends, a toast to the future, and the unveiling of the new Hall of Fame tiles.
    • Community Love: Families, friends, and fans dancing through the halls—because what’s a celebration without a little dancing?
    • Memorable Shots: The “I’m on a Roll” selfie moment, where the inductees posed for a photo that many will keep in their memory vaults.
    Take a Look:

    Don’t miss the replay. Switch to it now and relive the moment where 2025’s champions were officially indelibly etched into the Hall of Fame’s bright future.

    Catch the Highlights: Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame Honors 2025 Class at Eastern Florida State College

    Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame: The Grand Return

    On Saturday, May 24, the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame rolled out the red carpet at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, finally letting people get a good old‑fashioned, in‑person celebration after the whole COVID ditch‑the‑mask era.

    What Makes This Day Stand Out

    • Live‑Action Not Virtual! No more PowerPoints or Zoom‑panics—just real faces and real applause.
    • Honorees got the chance to handshake, shake out, and share high‑fives with the cheering crowd.
    • Fans enjoyed classic snacks, live music, and that sweet, nostalgic buzz that only a day at the hall can create.

    Highlights of the Gala

    From heart‑warming acceptance speeches to insider crowd‑quizzes, the evening was a blockbuster blend of nostalgia and modern flair. It felt like a mix‑of‑retro jukebox and a live sports highlight reel—each honoree’s story dusted with a sprinkle of heart and a dash of humor.

    Why It Matters

    This marks the first in‑person induction since the pandemic, meaning it was more than just a ceremony—it was a reunion of teammates, fans, and a community that’s finally back to cheering together.

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    WATCH REPLAY: 17th Annual Brevard High School Breakfast of Champions to Honor Prep Sudent-Athletes Saturday at Eastern Florida State

    Missed the Breakfast of Champions? Catch the Replay!

    Last Saturday at Eastern Florida State, Brevard High School held its 17th Breakfast of Champions. The event was a heart‑warming tribute to the school’s top prep student‑athletes, and it had more sparkle than a coffee‑laden sunrise.

    What Happened?

    • Athletic accolades were handed out to the standout high‑school athletes.
    • Classmates cheered and high‑fived—some even tried to do a backflip, only to end up in the cafeteria.
    • A gourmet breakfast spread—donuts, pancakes, and coffee—kept everyone energized.
    • The crowd celebrated with chants like “Brevard, Brevard, you’re the champ!”

    Why Watch the Replay?

    If you’re asking yourself, “Did I miss something epic?”—you probably did, because the live stream was like a breakfast show gone wild! But it’s not too late:

    1. Catch the triumph moments that will make you feel like you’re cheering from the sidelines.
    2. Hear the inspiring words from athletes who proved that practice pays off—coffee though.
    3. Enjoy the fun behind‑the‑scenes glances that only the replay can give you.

    Take a break, press play, and enjoy the champions’ showcase.

    The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction dinner and ceremony is sponsored by Health First and presented by Tom and Suzie Wasdin.

    Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame kicks off with a bang!

    On Saturday, May 24, Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne became the hotspot for the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony – the first in‑person event since the COVID‑19 pause.

    Induction Dinner & Ceremony

    • Health First brought the crowd together, while Tom and Suzie Wasdin took the stage as gracious hosts.
    • Tom’s a NCAA Final Four coach and Brevard Sports Ambassador who was himself inducted back in 2015.
    • The night promised a chance to chat with local sports legends, followed by a sizzling dinner and a montage of video tributes honoring each inductee.

    Meet‑and‑Greet Highlights

    Picture this: students, alumni, and fans mingling with the very gents and dames who shaped the county’s athletic glory. Yep, that’s the vibe everyone was craving.

    Brevard County Breakfast of Champions

    • Held on the same evening, this award bash celebrated the top male and female high‑school athletes of the 2024‑2025 season.
    • More than 40 accolades were handed out across a rainbow of sports.

    Live Streaming

    Both the induction dinner and the Breakfast of Champions aired on Space Coast Daily TV, so fans who couldn’t attend could still feel the buzz.

    Shout‑Out to the Sponsors

    • Health First
    • Erdman Automotive
    • Eastern Florida State College
    • All Points
    • Clear Choice Health Care
    • Brevard Public Schools
    • Space Coast Office of Tourism
    • EDC of the Space Coast
    • 4Ever Young Merritt Island
    • Savings Safari

    All in all, it was a night of nostalgia, recognition, and community spirit—proof that when people rally around sports, Florida’s Space Coast truly shines!

    Melbourne Campus Brims with Sporting Glory

    Spotlight on the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame

    Imagine strolling down the main hallway of the Melbourne campus’s athletic building and being greeted by a wall that practically screams “Legends lived here!” Those portraits aren’t just pretty pictures—they’re the faces of the people who’ve made the Space Coast a sports hotspot. The hallway runs smoothly beside the gym, and right outside the athletic department offices, it’s a tribute wall that is hard to miss.

    Who Makes the Cut?

    Every year, a new batch of inductees gets the spotlight. They’re chosen from four distinct buckets:

    • Professional Sports – the big‑league stars who put the Space Coast on the national radar.
    • College Sports – athletes who dominated their campus and still set the bar high.
    • High School Sports – local youth who went from varsity to varsity legends.
    • Amateur Sports – hobbyists who transformed their passion into pure awesomeness.

    And if you thought that was the end of the story, think again. A special honorary spot goes to those individuals and groups who’ve donated their time, talent, or resources to lift the space of sport on the Coast. Think of community volunteers, coaches, or even local businesses that’ve made a lasting impact.

    Why It Matters

    When you walk past those framed faces, you’re not just seeing a list of names—you’re feeling the pulse of an entire community that got up, moved, played, and made history right here. It’s proof that the Space Coast isn’t just a stretch of shoreline; it’s a breeding ground for champions, both on and off the field.

    SPACE COAST SPORTS HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2025

    Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame

    The Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame was born in 2011 right here on our sparkling Brevard County shores. Since then, Space Coast Daily has honored more than 200 of the area’s finest athletes, coaches, and sports personalities. These legends now strut the halls of Titan Fieldhouse on the Melbourne Campus—every portrait a proclamation of past glory.

    Professional Category Inductees

    • Jamel Dean – Football legend
    • Hacksaw Jim Duggan – Wrestling icon
    • Chauncey Gardner‑Johnson – Football star
    • Randy Pobst – Auto racing ace
    • Jawaan Taylor – Football dynamo

    College Category Inductees

    • Paulette King – Basketball champion
    • Dylan Lewis – Soccer standout
    • Steve Freeman – Soccer star
    • Bryan Cook – Baseball prodigy

    Prep Category Inductees

    • Lexy Denaburg – Volleyball sensation
    • Andi Sellers – Soccer standout
    • Kaira Simmons – Track & Field virtuoso
    • Jayvan Boggs – Football powerhouse

    Amateur/Recreation Category Inductee

    • Alli Penovich – Free‑diving trailblazer
    • Peter Blount – Track & Field star
    • Caylor Williams – Wrestling enthusiast

    Coaching Category Inductees

    • Doug Butler – Cross Country & Track mentor
    • Gerald Hodgin – Football strategist
    • Jim Oler – Basketball coach
    • Don Smith – Basketball guru

    Sports Official Inductee

    • Ted Ruta – Officiating maestro

    Sports Journalism Inductee

    • Steve Vaughn – Sports writer extraordinaire

    Sports Development Inductee

    • Loren McClanahan – Development dynamo

    Lifetime Achievement Inductees

    • Larry Garrison – Awarded for lifelong contributions
    • Clint Hurdle – Celebrated for exceptional service

    Sports Ambassador Award Inductee

    • Rusty Buchanan – Spreading the love of sport

    Challenger Award Inductee

    • Joshua Dillon – Rising star

    Team of the Year

    • Cocoa Tigers Football – Their championship streak still echoes

    Legacy Champions

    • Merritt Island Baseball (1999-2000) – A golden era

    Community Sports Advancement

    • Justin Lauer and Dr. Bill Quinter – Community champions

    Special Tribute

    • Tim Wakefield – Remembering a legend

    All these incredible stories hang proudly in Titan Fieldhouse’s main hallway, right next to the gym and just outside the athletic department offices. If the company of these names is as compelling as it sounds, stop by the campus and meet the legends that have shaped Space Coast’s sporting legacy.

    HOT OFF THE PRESS! May 26, 2025 Space Coast Daily News – Brevard County’s Best Newspaper

    HOT OFF THE PRESS! – The Space Coast Daily News Makes a Splash

    A Fresh Look at Brevard County’s Go‑to Newspaper

  • New Editorial Vision – The editorial board is kicking things up a notch, focusing on more local stories and deeper coverage of space‑industry breakthroughs.
  • Bright New Design – The revamped layout means less scrolling and more eye‑catching graphics – perfect for quick reads on the go.
  • Community‑First Approach – Interviews with residents, school highlights, and volunteer spotlights are taking center stage, keeping the Pulse of the Coast alive.

    • Get the Inside Scoop

  • Weekly Robot‑Report – A dedicated section that breaks down NASA updates in plain English, so even your grandma can stay in the loop.
  • Internship Spotlight – The paper’s internship program is now open nationwide, offering real‑world journalism experience to budding reporters.
  • Digital-First Strategy – Online editions are now sync‑with‑platform, meaning you’ll never miss a story whether you’re on your phone or laptop.

    • What Readers Are Saying

    “Finally, a news source that’s both smart and relatable.”“The space updates feel like a conversation with my kid’s science teacher.”

    Why Space Coast Daily Matters

  • Local Voice – Brevard County thrives on innovation, and the newspaper mirrors that spirit by spotlighting regional achievements and challenges.
  • Reliable Source – With a 98% accuracy rating, readers trust the Space Coast Daily to deliver facts without fluff.

    • Stay tuned – The press is just getting warmed up, and the next edition has even more exciting stories lined up.Subscribe for daily updates directly to your inbox.

  • China and the EU:Partnersformutual success

    China and the EU:Partnersformutual success

    China and the EU have achieved mutual success with practical cooperation, delivering benefits to people on both sides. With deeper high-level opening-up, China places greater emphasis on meeting the growing needs of its people for a better life, Ambassador Cai Run writes in a Euronews exclusive.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union.
    Over the past half-century, China-EU relations have withstood the tests of global changes and maintained a stable momentum of development.

    This enduring partnership has strongly supported mutual progress and brought tangible benefits to nearly two billion people in China and Europe.
    The prospects for pragmatic China-EU cooperation remain broad. As China advances toward high-quality development and actively boosts domestic demand, European businesses are finding ample space to expand in the Chinese market. 
    A large number of EU companies have invested in China, witnessing the country’s reform and opening-up as well as the development of Chinese modernisation, while also reaping substantial returns.
    In the early 1980s, German automobile manufacturers were among the first to seize market opportunities by investing and building factories in China. Today, brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen derive over 30% of their global sales from the Chinese market, with profits in China reaching up to 30 times those earned in their domestic markets. 
    In sectors such as chemicals, optics, aerospace and aviation, European products account for more than 30% and in some cases over 50% of China’s total imports. In Europe, Chinese companies have leveraged their infrastructure strengths, utilising EU funds and complying with EU standards to deliver the 2,440-metre-long Pelješac Bridge in Croatia with high quality. 

    The Hungary-Serbia Railway, China’s first high-speed rail project in Europe, increased the local train speed from 50 km/h to 200 km/h, creating a fast track for improving the quality of life for local communities.

    New stage for China’s investment in Europe

    China’s investment in Europe has entered a new stage. Since the early 2000s and accelerating after 2009, China’s cumulative investment in Europe has exceeded $100 billion, and annual investment flows are now roughly on par with EU investment in China. 
    By the end of 2023, China had established over 2,800 directly invested businesses across all 27 EU member states, employing more than 270,000 local workers.
    Since the establishment of the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism in 2012, Chinese enterprises have shown strong interest in investing in Central and Eastern European countries across a wide range of sectors.

    According to incomplete statistics, total investment has exceeded $24 billion. For example, the acquisition of Volvo by a Chinese company revitalised the Swedish automaker and enabled its strong growth, with global sales rising from 374,000 units in 2010 to 763,400 in 2024.
    Similarly, the Piraeus Port in Greece, revitalised through Chinese investment, has emerged from crisis and decline to regain vitality. It now ranks as the fourth-largest port in Europe following Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg.
    The project has created 4,300 direct local jobs and generated €1.4 billion in economic output, accounting for approximately 1% of Greece’s GDP. It stands as a vivid example of China-EU solidarity in times of difficulty and a model project under the Belt and Road Initiative.
    China-EU green cooperation contributes to the economic transformation of both sides. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and the 20th anniversary of the China-EU Climate Change Partnership.
    The two sides have achieved fruitful results in cooperation in areas such as environment, energy, circular economy, and water resources, effectively advancing respective green and low-carbon development while making positive contributions to global sustainable development.
    In recent years, China’s electric vehicle and new energy battery industries have become key drivers of a new wave of investment in Europe, further strengthening the bonds of cooperation and injecting strong momentum into China-EU collaboration in the green and low-carbon sector.
    Companies such as CATL and Gotion High-Tech have established factories in Europe, providing localised support to European automakers and promoting joint progress toward a green transition. In Southern Europe, China and Portugal have deepened cooperation in the photovoltaic and lithium battery sectors, supporting Portugal’s goal of achieving 22 GW of solar installed capacity by 2030.
    In northern Europe, a China-Finland joint venture is set to launch Finland’s first lithium battery materials plant, expected to begin operations in 2027. China has built the world’s largest and most environmentally friendly car carrier, as well as the world’s first 7,500-cubic-meter liquid CO2transport ship for Norway.
    Meanwhile, Sinopec Green Energy Geothermal Development, a China-Iceland joint venture, has developed multiple “smoke-free cities” in China through geothermal heating. In central and eastern Europe, multiple Chinese electric vehicle and power battery companies, both upstream and downstream, have established manufacturing facilities. 
    A growing number of sustainable energy projects involving Chinese enterprises are increasingly delivering environmental benefits. Projects such as the Ivovik Wind Farm in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Korl at Solar Park — Croatia’s largest photovoltaic power project — and a solar power station in southeastern Romania are all helping reshape local energy mixes. 
    In China, Volkswagen Anhui has integrated the “zero-waste” concept across its entire production process, contributing to China’s pursuit of sustainable development and harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature.

    Scientific and technological cooperation steadily advancing

    China-EU scientific and technological cooperation is advancing steadily. The Chinese government remains committed to an open and innovation-driven policy, expanding international scientific and technological cooperation and prioritising the EU as a key partner. 
    China–France nuclear cooperation began in 1982 and has made notable progress in fusion research in recent years. China–Italy collaboration on SME innovation, China–Germany cooperation in smart manufacturing and autonomous driving have all produced concrete results. 
    The high-level dialogue established between China and the EU in the digital field aims to jointly promote digital transformation and economic growth. China is actively engaged in dialogue with the UK and France on artificial intelligence, working together to promote inclusive AI development for good and for all. 
    China–EU cooperation in aerospace has also been fruitful. In 2024, the Chang’e-6 mission successfully landed on the Moon carrying the European Space Agency’s lunar surface negative ion analyser, France’s radon gas detector, and Italy’s laser retroreflector, marking the first discovery of negative ions on the Moon.
    China has also approved requests from France and five other European countries to access lunar samples returned by Chinese lunar exploration missions for joint scientific research that benefits all humanity. 
    Furthermore, China and multiple EU countries, through platforms such as intergovernmental science and technology cooperation committees, are jointly supporting flagship research projects in diverse fields, including agriculture, food and biotechnology, climate change, and biodiversity. These initiatives continue to deliver outcomes that help contribute to sustainable development.

    Mutual success delivers benefits to people on both sides

    China and the EU have achieved mutual success with practical cooperation, delivering benefits to people on both sides. With deeper high-level opening-up, China places greater emphasis on meeting the growing needs of its people for a better life.
    European products such as dairy from Ireland and the Netherlands and olive oil from Spain have become part of the daily lives of Chinese consumers. 
    The “From French farms to Chinese tables” initiative has become a signature of China-France cooperation, enriching Chinese palates while delivering tangible benefits to French farmers. 

    Related

    Chinese economy grows at a 5.2% annual pace despite trade warPlanning a trip to China? Visa-free entry is now available for 74 nationalities

    The China-EU Geographical Indications (GI) Agreement is the first comprehensive and high-level bilateral agreement on GI protection that China has signed, marking a milestone in China-EU cooperation on intellectual property rights. 
    Since its entry into force, premium products like Anji white tea, Jinhua ham, Zhouzhi kiwifruit, and French champagne have entered each other’s markets, helping preserve cultural and natural heritage and injecting new momentum into deeper China-EU collaboration.
    As of June this year, the China-Europe Railway Express had operated over 110,000 trips, transporting goods worth more than $450 billion and connecting 229 cities across 26 European countries, significantly enhancing connectivity across the Eurasian continent.
    His Excellency Ambassador Cai Run is Head of the Chinese Mission to the EU.

  • DOGE-Led Audit To Put 400,000 Pentagon Contracts Under Scrutiny

    DOGE-Led Audit To Put 400,000 Pentagon Contracts Under Scrutiny

    Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson recently told reporters that a small team from the Department of Government Efficiency is moving quickly and continuing to influence major bureaucratic reforms.

    “DOGE work at the department is not going to stop — that is absolutely for certain,” Wilson recently told reporters.

    Even though other DOGE teams at various federal agencies have already been wound down or have completed their missions, cutting waste and fraud in the Department of Defense is paramount to overhauling that agency, which commands an annual budget of $850 billion.

    New details from Bloomberg suggest that the DoD DOGE team will review more than 400,000 open contracts and grants for “additional savings” in fiscal 2026 and later. The goal is simple: identify waste, cut costs, and redirect “savings” into other programs via congressional approval. 

    The DOGE.gov database indicates about 600 canceled or adjusted defense contracts, totaling more than $20 billion in claimed savings. 

    A Pentagon spokesperson told Bloomberg that DoD’s DOGE team has trimmed “over $15 billion in total contract spending to date.” 

    “Reforming the antiquated defense acquisition processes is a long-recognized problem that has received bipartisan support, and we are taking swift action to fix it at the President’s direction,” Wilson told Bloomberg.

    The Pentagon views DOGE as a multi-year, multi-layered strategy aimed at reforming defense acquisitions, which have long been criticized as bloated and inefficient. 

    Do we need to explain more? 

    By the way, we’ve pointed out how the Pentagon is shifting its priorities, including the defense firms Goldman says investors should own on the pivot.

    DOGE’s contract cancellations at the DoD spurred Goldman analyst Noah Poponak to “reiterate our cautious view of the Gov’t IT & Services sector, and are Sell rated on BAH, CACI, SAIC, and VVX; Neutral on LDOS and AMTM; Buy rated on PSN.” 

    Washington-based American Enterprise Institute analyst Todd Harrison pointed out, “The only way they will be able to get through reviewing 400,000 contracts over the next year is to use some sort of automated generic algorithm.”

    “A thoughtful review of each contract, the work it supports, and the alternatives available would require hours or days of work for each individual contract, and DOGE is not staffed for that,” Harrison said. 

    Wonder if DOGE DoD team will call up ‘Big Balls’ for this task… 

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