Good morning, Melbourne.

Brevard hosts a vibrant weekend with the Bulls & Barrels rodeo on May 15-16, Burger Battle on May 16 at Wickham Park, Thunder on Cocoa Beach on May 17, theater and music shows in local venues, and afternoon tea at Field Manor on May 20 (some events require tickets).

A 2025 aerial mapping study shows seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon grew by 72% since 2023, covering about 7,000 hectares (roughly 13,000 football fields) along a 156-mile stretch.

Experts say water clarity improved (thanks to less runoff during drought) but coverage still lags behind past levels.

Decades of hurricane data show that strong El Niño usually causes far fewer hurricanes to hit Florida — only three made landfall in the 15 strongest El Niño years compared with 10 during La Niña.

The Climate Prediction Center will update the forecast on Thursday, May 14.

Scientists from three Florida universities studied piled-up sargassum on local beaches on May 12 and found that safe processing can extract valuable alginates for food+ medicine while cautioning against eating untreated seaweed due to dangerous contaminants.

NASA and SpaceX launched their 34th ISS resupply mission from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 7:16 p.m. Tuesday, carrying 6,500 lb of supplies — including five never-flown experiments.

The Dragon capsule will arrive Thursday morning for a one-month stay, and residents might hear sonic booms after liftoff.

Gov. DeSantis signed SB 1074 on May 11, which lets Florida retailers round cash transactions to the nearest nickel.

The law does not change sale prices or taxes and is optional for cash payments (retailers choose to round up or down based on final cents).

Florida has expanded red snapper fishing seasons for 2026 with a 39-day Atlantic period and a record 140-day Gulf season starting May 22, giving local anglers extended opportunities.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the change on May 11 (highlighting the new state management approach).

Floyd, a 9-year-old Masai giraffe at the Brevard Zoo, was euthanized on Tuesday after extensive tests found a severe foot fracture that left him unable to stand.

The zoo said his long-term health issues contributed to his condition (he was well-loved by staff).

At the University of North Florida, Holy Trinity won the FHSAA Class 1A state track meet with 68 points- finishing 12 ahead of its rival- while Evan Spreitzer won his second state title in the 1,600-meter run and placed second in the 3,200-meter run last week.

Tuesday night, Eau Gallie hosted Merritt Island in the Class 4A regional semifinal at Eau Gallie High School.

The Commodores, who advanced with a 10-0 quarterfinal win, joined Satellite and Melbourne (two other Brevard County teams) in competing for a state semifinal spot.

Shrek - The Musical

8-11 p.m. — Henegar Center For the Arts — Tickets start at $81 — Experience the laughter and fun of Shrek brought to life on stage.

Cake Social for Women

4-5:30 p.m. — Serenity Venue — Ticket required — Bring a cake and make new friends while sampling delicious desserts together.

Shrek - The Musical

2-5 p.m. — Henegar Center For the Arts — Tickets start at $105 — Enjoy a whimsical live adaptation of the beloved animated classic.

Beetlejuice Musical

7:30-10:30 p.m. — Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts — Ticket prices vary — Experience the ghost-with-the-most in this hilarious and touching musical adaptation of Tim Burton's classic film.

Nike Volleyball Camp at Cape Coast Volleyball Club

9 a.m. - 3 p.m. — Cape Coast Volleyball Club — $255 for a 2-day camp — Enhance your volleyball skills with expert coaching in a fun and competitive environment.

Viera Farmers and Artisan Market

4-8 p.m. — Viera Regional Park — Free entry — Discover local flavors and unique crafts from talented artisans and food vendors.

Sip Explore - Taste The World

2-5 p.m. — Total Wine & More — Free — Experience an exciting tasting journey with choose-your-own flavor adventures at interactive stations.

6th Annual Space Coast Women’s Day

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. — Melbourne Auditorium — Free entry — Celebrate women with pampering, shopping, activities, and community spirit.

Skyclub Live Performance

6:00 – 11:59 p.m. — Mainstreet Pub — Free entry — Enjoy classic rock and pop hits as Skyclub takes the stage with their original music.