If you didn’t know, two NASA astronauts have officially been stranded in space for 282 days, as of Friday, March 14, 2025. And they’re scheduled to potentially return to earth next week, no earlier than Wednesday, March 19, 2025, according to NASA.
On June 5, 2024, NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida to co-pilot the Boeing Starliner for its first crewed spaceflight to orbit – they’d each been up to space twice before.
“Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft was plagued by a slew of helium leaks and propulsion issues when it reached the space station with its crew,” USA TODAY reported.
“After months of deliberations, NASA officials decided to send the Starliner back to Earth in September (2024) without Williams and Wilmore.”
Weather permitting and if all goes according to plan, a potential SpaceX crewed launch (Crew-10) is scheduled to lift off and dock at the International Space Station late-night on Saturday, March 15, 2025, according to NASA. Williams and Wilmore could be welcomed home with a water landing in Florida by this time next week.
A lot has happened in the nine months since Wilmore and Williams have been home. Here’s a timeline of a few significant events, in news, sports and pop culture, that have happened since they left earth.
Astronaut records: These 5 spacefarers were in orbit longer than Williams and Wilmore
Yes, a Floridian hockey team beat a Canadian team to take the 2024 Stanley Cup. On June 24, 2024, the Florida Panthers secured the franchise’s first Stanley Cup victory.
“After suffering through three straight losses to be forced into a Game 7, the Panthers were able to pull out a 2-1 victory on Monday (June 24, 2024) against the Edmonton Oilers to win the Stanley Cup,” USA TODAY’s For The Win reported the day after the game.
“The game started with two quick goals — one from each side — then settled into a tense back-and-forth game before Sam Reinhart scored the game winner in the second period.”
Florida Panthers claim Stanley Cup: The 14 most electric celebration photos from the Panthers’ victory
Floridian Jenn Tran is the first Asian-American Bachelorette
On July 8, 2024, the 21st season of ABC’s “The Bachelorette” aired, with the first ever Asian-American lead: Jenn Tran. At the time, Tran lived in Miami. Her season was historic and heartbreaking, with her engagement to winner Devin Strader ending messily and quickly — in between filming and the live finale.
Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber on “Disney Night” on “Dancing with the Stars,” which aired on Oct. 22, 2024 on ABC.
Some fans speculate that the ending of Tran’s season is one of the reasons why ABC is not releasing a new season of “The Bachelorette” this summer. After her time as Bachelorette, Tran quickly moved on to another ABC reality hit: “Dancing With the Stars.” She’s now in a relationship with her pro partner from the show, Sasha Farber.
Was Jenn Tran the last Bachelorette? ABC’s ‘Bachelorette’ is not returning this summer.
First attempted assassination of Donald Trump
Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with blood on his face surrounded by secret service agents as he is taken off the stage at a campaign event at Butler Farm Show Inc. in Butler, Pennsylvania, July 13, 2024. Donald Trump was hit in the ear in an apparent assassination attempt by a gunman at a campaign rally on Saturday, in a chaotic and shocking incident that will fuel fears of instability ahead of the 2024 US presidential election. The 78-year-old former president was rushed off stage with blood smeared across his face after the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania, while the gunman and a bystander were killed and two spectators critically injured.
On July 13, 2024, Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, climbed atop a nearby roof and fired off eight rounds at then-Former President Donald Trump during a July presidential campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
One of his bullets grazed Trump’s ear, bloodying the now-president. Crooks’ bullets killed one attendee and injured two others, before a Secret Service sniper fatally shot him.
“Bleeding from the ear, the former president walked off the stage with his fist raised, shouting ‘Fight!’ to the crowd,” USA TODAY reported the next day. “U.S. Secret Service agents assisted him into a black SUV.”
More: Nation outraged after assassination attempt on Trump
Joe Biden drops out of race, Kamala Harris begins campaign
On July 21, 2024, then-President Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the 2024 Presidential Election and choosing not to seek a second term. He endorsed then-Vice President Kamala Harris to become the Democratic Nominee. Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz was also introduced as Harris’s running mate on the same day.
In August, when Harris secured the Democratic nomination, she made history as the first Black woman and first Asian-American from a major party to win that designation.
“Harris secured the Democratic nomination on Friday (Aug. 2, 2024) afternoon, receiving the majority of votes − at least 2,350 − from her party’s delegates, just one day after voting opened,” USA TODAY reported in August.
“The Democratic National Committee held a livestream video hosted by Biden campaign aides and DNC chairman Jaime Harrison to mark the occasion.”
More: Harris makes history as first Black woman, Asian American presidential nominee
2024 Summer Olympics in Paris
From July 26, 2024, through August 11, 2024, the 2024 Summer Olympic Games were held in Paris, France. Team U.S.A brought home a total of 126 medals: 40 golds, 44 silvers and 42 bronzes.
“The U.S. led all nations with 257 medalists, and the total medal count of 126 is the most ever for a U.S. team in a non-boycotted Games outside the U.S., topping the previous high of 121 from Rio in 2016,” according to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
“The only Games where the U.S. exceeded this total were at home Games in 1984 (Los Angeles with 174 medals) and 1904 (St. Louis with 239).”
Paris Olympics highlights: Gabby Thomas, Cole Hocker golds lead USA’s banner day at track
Second assassination attempt on Trump
On Sept. 15, 2024, roughly two months after Trump’s first assassination attempt, Ryan Wayne Routh, 58, was arrested after Secret Service agents opened fire on him at a Trump golf course in West Palm Beach. USA TODAY reported the suspect had allegedly built a sniper’s nest on the tree-lined perimeter and was leveling a rifle at the green when he was spotted.
“Suspect Ryan Routh, who appeared in federal court Monday, never fired a shot, authorities said. He was being held on charges of possession of a firearm while a convicted felon and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number,” USA TODAY reported the next day.
On Dec. 18, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody announced the state had charged Routh with attempted felony murder, stemming from the near-death of a 6-year-old girl in a car crash. He already was charged with attempting to assassinate Trump.
Day-after report from USA TODAY: Police analyzing movements, DNA of Trump assassination attempt suspect
2024 hurricanes destruction from Florida to North Carolina
The 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season was more active than the historical average, with Florida taking some big hits from three hurricanes — two of them being major hurricanes, which is a Category 3 or higher, according to NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service.
There were 18 named storms, 11 of which became hurricanes and five of which became major hurricanes. Two of the worst storms for Floridians and Americans across the southeast were Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Hurricane Helene battered Florida’s Big Bend region, making landfall as a Category 4 storm on Sept. 26, 2024, near Perry, Florida. The storm then shockingly went on to devastate other southeastern states that weren’t anticipating such a direct, hard hit. Helene quickly became one of the deadliest storms to hit the U.S. in recent history.
“Arguably the worst-hit area was hundreds of miles north, across the southern Appalachian Mountains. A deluge of rainfall over a 4-day period, September 25 through September 28, 2024, turned trickling creeks into roaring rivers. Rivers overflowed their banks, and washed out entire mountain towns, neighborhoods, and roads,” NOAA’s November analysis said.
“The hurricane is the third-deadliest hurricane of the modern era (behind Maria and Katrina) with a death toll of over 200, according to NCEI data. Nearly half of those deaths were in North Carolina.”
On Oct. 9, 2024, Hurricane Milton made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast, near Siesta Key, as a Category 3 storm. The deadly storm led to tornadoes breaking out across the state and at least 24 storm-related deaths in Florida.
“Milton underwent explosive intensification in the Gulf of Mexico and became one of the fastest rapidly intensifying storms on record in the Atlantic Basin,” The Florida Climate Center’s post-storm summary report says. “The storm’s wind speeds increased by 95 mph over a 24-hour period from Sunday, October 6 to Monday, October 7.”
Helene heroes: Buncombe County community heroes during Helene are USA Today Women of Year honorees
Trump wins 2024 General Election, Sees second term
Surrounded by family members (Barron Trump, Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner) and supporters, Donald Trump makes his acceptance speech at his Election Night Watch Party at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in November 2024.
The last day to cast votes in the 2024 general election was on Tuesday, Nov. 5. On Nov. 6, 2024, Trump became the president-elect for the second (nonconsecutive) time.
“Former President Donald Trump, considered a political outcast after losing the presidency in 2020 and an attack by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol, was elected to another term on Wednesday (Nov. 6) in a decisive and astounding victory over Vice President Kamala Harris,” USA TODAY reported.
Day-after USA TODAY report: Donald Trump wins the election in stunning political comeback
Former President Jimmy Carter dies at 100
U.S. president Jimmy Carter smiling at a podium in front of an American flag, 1970s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
On Dec. 29, 2024, 39th president of the United States, 76th governor of Georgia and humanitarian Jimmy Carter at age 100. He was the oldest living ex-president in U.S. history.
“After serving a single term in the White House, Jimmy Carter became one of the most durable figures in modern American politics,” USA TODAY’s obituary said.
“Evicted from the White House at age 56, he would hold the status of former president longer than anyone in U.S. history, and in 2019 he surpassed George H. W. Bush as the nation’s oldest living ex-president.”
Former President Carter’s obituary: Jimmy Carter, 39th U.S. president and noted humanitarian, has died
Wildfires rage over Southern California in January
From Jan. 7, 2025, through early February, a series of deadly wildfires set the Los Angeles metropolitan area ablaze, killing at least 29 people and destroying or damaging more than 18,000 structures.
“Multiple wildfires ripped through Southern California Wednesday as a mix of powerful Santa Anna winds and dry vegetation created the perfect conditions for blazes to rage, destroying homes and causing thousands to evacuate,” USA TODAY reported on Jan. 8.
West of downtown Los Angeles, near the coast in Pacific Palisades, a fire has scorched nearly 3,000 acres. Inland 28 miles, above Altadena, another broke out in Eaton Canyon, in the San Gabriel Mountains. And in the suburb of Sylmar in the San Fernando Valley, a smaller blaze tore through roughly 500 acres.
More: 3 reasons California’s wildfires got so dangerous so fast
Trump sentenced to ‘unconditional discharge’ for 34 felonies
On Friday, Jan. 10, then-president-elect Donald Trump (who was 10 days away from his second inauguration at the time) became the first incoming U.S. President to receive a criminal sentence.
“President-elect Donald Trump received the first ever criminal sentence for a former or incoming U.S. president on Friday,” USA TODAY reported on Jan. 10.
“An ‘unconditional discharge’ that means Trump will get no prison time or probation as he prepares to enter the White House for a second time on Jan. 20… Trump was convicted May 30 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.”
President Trump didn’t physically attend the sentencing. He instead appeared via remote video feed from South Florida.
What happened: Trump becomes first ex-president sentenced for criminal conviction
Hamas-Israel ceasefire
On Jan. 17, 2025, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement to end the 15-month-long devastating war. The ceasefire agreement went into effect on Jan. 19, 2025.
“The agreement, which is expected to unfold in three phases beginning Sunday (Jan. 19), was mediated by the U.S., Qatar and Egypt,” USA TODAY reported.
“The truce is intended to halt fighting that has devastated Gaza and destabilized the Middle East. It comes just days before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in as 47th president of the United States.”
March update: Last living American hostage in Gaza may be released
President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance inauguration
U.S. President Donald Trump gestures while signing a series of executive actions in the Oval Office at the White House on Inauguration Day in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2025.
Due to freezing cold temperatures, President Donald Trump was the first president since Ronald Reagan (during his second term) to have his swearing-in ceremony indoors on Jan. 20, 2025.
President Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president of the United States shared the calendar with MLK Day 2025.
Trump returns to power: ‘America’s decline is over.’ 5 takeaways on the inauguration
Record snowfall in Florida, due to major winter storm
A person walks on snow after snowfall on Jan. 22, 2025, in Tallahassee, Florida. The National Weather Service has placed northern Florida under a winter storm warning and some are predicting the largest Gulf snow and ice storm in more than 100 years.
Yes, it snowed in Florida this winter! A freak winter storm that swept the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday, Jan. 21, brought more than seven inches of snow to Pensacola, doubling the previous record of three inches in 1895.
Cities in Florida’s western panhandle saw between five and 10 inches of snow, while the northeastern portion of the state saw freezing rain and ice that melted once it hit the ground (Jacksonville, for example).
The official total from the National Weather Service was 7.6 inches of snow in Pensacola, Jessica Chace, warning coordination meteorologist, told the USA TODAY Network-Florida the next morning.
Santa Rosa County saw even more snow than Pensacola and Tallahassee saw some sludgy snow that collected on the ground, but mostly sleet.
Pensacola saw 7.6 inches of snow between midnight Jan. 21 to midnight Jan. 22, Chace said. Snow started falling at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 21 and ended about 9 p.m. The Milton and Jay areas got nine to 10 inches of snow and some locations near the state line may have received closer to 11.
What parts of Florida got snow? Snowfall blankets Pensacola, doubling previous record
Beyonce wins Album of the Year for ‘Cowboy Carter’ at Grammys
Beyonce accepts the album of the year for “Cowboy Carter” onstage during the 67th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 2, 2025, in Los Angeles.
On Feb. 2, 2025, Beyonce became the second Black woman in history to win the Grammy Award for “Album of the Year,” for her country album “Cowboy Carter.”
“During her acceptance speech, Beyoncé took a moment to acknowledge and praise Los Angeles firefighters, some of whom announced the contenders and her win,” USA TODAY reported. “She said she (felt) ‘very full and very honored’ and that ‘it’s been very many years’ leading up to her win.”
Florida native Doechii also scored her first Grammy Award during Sunday’s ceremony, making history as the third woman ever to win “Best Rap Album.”
‘Tampa has so much talent.’ Rapper Doechii shouts out Florida fans after winning first Grammy
Eagles defeat Chiefs in Super Bowl, keeping Chiefs from three-peat win
On Feb. 9, 2025, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in a 40-22 blowout during Super Bowl 59 at Caesars Superdome, denying the Chiefs from becoming the NFL’s first-ever “three-peat” Super Bowl champions.
Best 2025 Super Bowl commercials: All 57 ranked according to USA TODAY Ad Meter
Kendrick Lamar, Drake beef makes it to Super Bowl Halftime Show stage
Recording artist Kendrick Lamar performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl 59 between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9, 2025.
Also on Feb. 9, 2025, Kendrick Lamar made history as the first solo rap artist to take the Super Bowl Halftime stage, joined by labelmate and co-collaborator SZA.
He also performed “They Not Like Us,” a diss track that he released in 2024 that directly insults rapper Drake, who he had a very public diss track battle with earlier that year.
At one point, Lamar brought out Serena Williams, who used to have a long-term, on-again-off-again relationship with Drake. She was seen dancing happily to the song about her ex.
The performance went viral on social media platforms for a variety of reasons. The show was laden with metaphors about societal and political issues in the U.S. and featured plenty of “shade” being obviously thrown at Drake, who Lamar mentioned by name while singing and staring straight into the camera with a grin on his face.
History in the making: Kendrick Lamar’s fierce Super Bowl halftime show elevates Drake feud
‘Anora’ wins big at the Oscars
Sean Baker, flanked by cast and crew, accepts the best picture Oscar for “Anora” in Los Angeles on March 2, 2025. On his right is his wife, actress and producer Samantha Quan. In pink on his left is Mikey Madison, who took home the Oscar for best actress.
Film director Sean Baker’s movie “Anora” clinched several Academy Awards, and he tied Walt Disney’s record for most Oscar wins in a single night (Baker took home four trophies).
During the 97th annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2025, Baker made Oscar history with his love story indie movie set in New York City. “Anora,” which has been described as a modern take on “Cinderella,” won:
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Writing: Best Original Screenplay
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Best Actress (first-time nominee Mikey Madison took home this Oscar)
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Astronauts on ISS missed Trump election, Beyoncé Grammy win: List
