South Florida Local News

Today is Thursday, Feb. 5, the 36th day of 2026. There are 329 days left in the year.

Today in history:

On Feb. 5, 1994, white separatist Byron De La Beckwith was convicted in Jackson, Mississippi, of murdering civil rights leader Medgar Evers in 1963 and was sentenced to life in prison.

Also on this date:

In 1917, the U.S. Congress passed the Immigration Act of 1917 over President Woodrow Wilson’s veto, an act that severely curtailed Asian immigration and mandated immigrant literacy testing.

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In 1918, more than 200 people were killed during World War I when the Cunard liner SS Tuscania, which was transporting over 2,000 American troops to Europe, was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland.

In 1971, Apollo 14 astronauts Alan Shepard and Edgar Mitchell stepped onto the moon’s surface in the first of two lunar excursions.

In 1973, services were held at Arlington National Cemetery for U.S. Army Col. William B. Nolde, the last official American combat casualty in the Vietnam War before a ceasefire took effect.

In 1993, President Bill Clinton signed the Family and Medical Leave Act, granting workers up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for family emergencies.

In 2008, an outbreak of 87 tornadoes fired up across nine states, killing 57 people in Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama during a span of 12 hours. One Arkansas twister left a 122-mile path of damage along the ground.

In 2017, Tom Brady led one of the greatest comebacks in NFL history, highlighted by a spectacular Julian Edelman catch that helped lift New England from a 25-point deficit against the Atlanta Falcons to the Patriots’ fifth Super Bowl victory, 34-28; it was the first Super Bowl to end in overtime.

In 2020, the Senate voted to acquit President Donald Trump in his first impeachment trial. Most senators expressed unease with Trump’s pressure campaign on Ukraine that prompted the impeachment, but just one Republican, Mitt Romney of Utah, broke party ranks and voted to convict. In 2021, the Senate acquitted Trump in a second trial for allegedly inciting the violent Jan. 6 siege of the Capitol.

In 2023, Beyoncé won her 32nd Grammy to become the most decorated artist in the history of the award.

Today’s birthdays:

• Tony-winning playwright John Guare is 88.
• Football Hall of Famer Roger Staubach is 84.
• Film director Michael Mann is 83.
• Racing Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip is 79.
• Actor Barbara Hershey is 78.
• Actor-comedian Tim Meadows is 65.
• Actor Jennifer Jason Leigh is 64.
• Rock musician Duff McKagan (Guns N’ Roses) is 62.
• Golf Hall of Famer Jose Maria Olazabal is 60.
• Actor-comedian Chris Parnell is 59.
• Actor Michael Sheen is 57.
• Country singer Sara Evans is 55.
• Actor-singer Darren Criss is 39.
• Actor Henry Golding is 39.
• Soccer star Neymar is 34.

As a voter in Oakland Park in the 23rd congressional district, I am deeply concerned that Rep. Jared Moskowitz has not stated whether he supports impeaching Donald Trump. I’ve contacted his office multiple times without receiving a response. This silence, in the face of such a clear threat to our democracy, is unacceptable.

Trump’s threats to cling to power and his open contempt for the rule of law are not partisan opinions — they are facts. He told NBC News that he does not know whether a U.S. president is required to follow the Constitution.

If Congress fails to impeach, convict and remove a president who so plainly disregards constitutional limits, our democracy may not survive the damage.

I urge my fellow citizens to contact Rep. Moskowitz’s office and demand that he publicly support and cosponsor articles of impeachment.

Defending the Constitution from tyranny is not optional; it is the job he was elected to do.

The voters are watching.

Derek Manzella, Oakland Park

Editor’s Note: The Sun Sentinel invited Rep. Moskowitz to respond to his constituent’s concerns. His office declined to comment.

For energy security

As a Floridian, I have watched energy bills rise while extreme heat and storms put more strain on our power grid.

What’s frustrating is that solutions already exist but are stuck in red tape.

Across the U.S., more than 95% of projects waiting for approval are clean energy developments that could lower costs, strengthen grid reliability and create jobs. But outdated permit rules mean critical infrastructure like transmission lines take years to build. The delays keep families dependent on older, more expensive and more polluting energy sources.

Permitting reform isn’t about politics; it’s about common sense. Modernizing it would help communities access affordable power faster, improve resilience during extreme weather and keep the U.S. competitive with countries rapidly investing in clean energy.

I urge Sen. Rick Scott and Rep. Jared Moskowitz to prioritize bipartisan permitting reform that unlocks clean energy projects and delivers real savings and security for Florida families.

Sonia Socorro, Coral Springs

Hold Trump to account

I’ve delayed writing this letter, but I feel that it is overdue.

Trump will declare that he’s the dictator and will not relinquish the presidency in 2028. We can slow him down by voting one or both houses of Congress to the opposition (Democratic) party in November of this year, unless he somehow tries to void that election.

Alan B. Wackerling, Plantation

McCarthyism at its best

I never thought I would see the Sun Sentinel stoop to McCarthyism. Shame on you.

“Why is Trump compiling lists of Jews?” screamed an Opinion page headline.

The first two paragraphs recalled the Holocaust, and noted that compiling a list of Jews as precedent thereto. It then posits “a government encouraging antisemitism under the guise of opposing it.”

Simple question: Is the Sun Sentinel’s editorial position that the Trump administration is antisemitic, with evil designs on Jews and Israel?

Are you willing to come out from under the rock you have most disappointingly crawled under and say you truly believe that, or is this simply an effort to smear the administration by innuendo? Surely you have other ample areas of complaint based on reality, as opposed to this claptrap.

Such a position plainly cannot be sustained by the facts, wherein the Trump administration has been pilloried long and hard domestically and internationally for its steadfast support of Israel. But facts don’t stand in the way of the Sun Sentinel’s insinuation and whispering. McCarthyism at its best. Shameful. And sad.

Tom Bolf, Plantation

Please submit a letter to the editor by email to letterstotheeditor@sunsentinel.com or fill out the online form below. Letters may be up to 200 words and must be signed with your email address, city of residence and daytime phone number for verification. Letters will be edited for clarity and length.

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Here are the top stories for Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. Get the weather forecast for today here.

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South Florida lawmakers concerned about name change for Fort Lauderdale airport

Music teacher faces child pornography charges months after arrest on sex crimes against girl

5 p.m. dinner? A new wave of South Florida diners say yes to early meals

‘Today Show’ host Savannah Guthrie posts message to her mother‘s kidnapper asking to provide proof she is alive

Weekend things to do: Super Bowl commercials, Reverend Horton Heat, free Nutella pizza

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After 80 years, Minute Maid’s frozen canned juices are getting put on ice

HOUSTON — Kingston Flemings had 18 points and six assists while Chris Cenac Jr. added 14 points plus 10 rebounds as No. 8 Houston beat UCF 79-55 on Wednesday night.

Cenac and Flemings combined for 22 points on 10-of-17 shooting in the first half as Houston (20-2, 8-1 Big 12) took a 33-19 lead into halftime.

The duo finished 15 of 25 from the field.

Milos Uzan scored 12 points for the Cougars, who shot 55% from the floor despite going 3 for 19 from 3-point range.

Houston had a 40-29 advantage in rebounds and outscored the Knights 42-14 in the paint.

The Cougars won their 17th straight at home and have won 50 of their last 51 home games.

Houston also won its 11th straight over UCF.

“They’re a terrific team,” Knights coach Johnny Dawkins said. “They play at such a high level that you have to be prepared to match their intensity, match their physicality, and we were not able to do that this game.”

The victory gave the Cougars their 11th straight 20-win season under coach Kelvin Sampson.

Dr. Phillips alum Riley Kugel paced the scoring with 9 points for the Knights (17-5, 6-4), who had won three in a row.

The Knights shot 31% and were 6 of 21 on 3-pointers.

The Knights fell to 2-3 this season against ranked teams and 4-5 in Quad 1 games as they look to shore up their NCAA Tournament resume.

Leading by one, Houston went on an 18-5 run over an eight-minute span to open a 27-13 advantage on Cenac’s jumper with 3:50 left in the first half.

UCF shot 2 for 13 during the Cougars’ spurt.

Houston’s lead never dipped below double digits the rest of the way.

Up next

UCF visits Cincinnati on Sunday.

Houston plays at No. 16 BYU on Saturday.

SUNRISE — The Panthers got much-needed reinforcements from previously injured players, and those players helped Florida snap a four-game losing streak and pick up a crucial 5-4 shootout victory over Boston at Amerant Bank Arena on Wednesday night.

Despite surrendering a two-goal lead in the third period, the Panthers got the edge in the shootout with a winning goal from Brad Marchand. The win gives the Panthers two points, and they moved into a tie with Ottawa in the Atlantic Division. Florida is two points behind Toronto and eight behind the Bruins. Florida has one more game — a road contest against rival Tampa Bay on Thursday — before the Olympic break.

“It’d be good to finish on a good note here before the break, and it’d be great opportunity for the guys to have a really good rest,” Marchand said. “The last number of years has been tough on this team. Played a lot of hockey, a lot of injuries. And when we get back, we’re going to have pretty much everybody back. So it’ll be nice.”

Sam Bennett, Anton Lundell and Marchand all returned to the ice on Wednesday. Bennett left Monday’s loss to the Sabres with an injury, Lundell had missed two games with an upper-body injury and Marchand had missed two games with an undisclosed injury.

Bennett appeared to score early, but the goal was overturned on a coach’s challenge. The Panthers did get on the board with 15:38 left in the first period; Eetu Luostarinen corralled a turnover from Boston forward Morgan Geekie and fired it past goalie Joonas Korpisalo, who will be Luostarinen’s teammate on the Finnish Olympic team.

But Florida’s lead did not last long. Boston winger Michael Eyssimlont had a clear path to the goal when Brad Marchand and Uvis Balinskis collided on defense, and the Bruins forward buried his chance.

Even a power play came back to bite the Panthers. Florida could not convert on several chances with a man advantage, and when Eyssimlont came out of the penalty box, he found empty space behind the Panthers’ defense, received a pass and scored on a breakaway to put Boston ahead 2-1.

Florida found a tying goal at the start of the second period, as Balinskis scored on a power play.

Matthew Tkachuk put Florida in the lead with a power-play goal from the side of the goal that deflected off Korpisalo and into the net. Lundell, back from an upper-body injury, netted Florida’s fourth goal and put the Panthers ahead 4-2 late in the second period.

“(Lundell is) incredible,” Marchand said. “So far beyond his years and such an important piece to this team with (Aleksander Barkov) out right now. And this year, he’s really had a chance to take a big step and play a lot more minutes. He just shows that he’s ready to be a No. 1. This team is very lucky to have him.”

The Bruins cut their deficit to one as Boston forward Mark Kastelic deflected a shot from star defenseman Charlie McAvoy past Sergei Bobrovsky — who notched his 450th NHL win — 7:51 into the third period.

The Panthers survived five Bruins power-play opportunities, killing off each one and getting a short-handed goal from Lundell. But the sixth Boston power play was the charm for the Bruins, as Casey Mittelstadt scored to tie the game with just under 10 minutes left in the third period.

Both teams had opportunities in overtime, but neither could convert. The teams were knotted at one goal apiece through the first three rounds of the shootout before Marchand scored the go-ahead goal, and Bobrovsky ended it with a save on the shot by Mittelstadt.

Florida got three key players back on Wednesday, but the Panthers could not completely escape the injury bug. Fourth-line winger Sandis Vilamanis left the game in the first period with an upper-body injury and did not return, but Maurice said he thinks Vilamanis is “good” for Thursday against the Lightning. Maurice said reserve forward Tobias Bjornfot will likely miss the Tampa game.

“We’ve got really good leadership and we’ve got really good men that — they’ve been through it,” Maurice said. “This stretch that we’re on is asinine. To go into the Central Division, come back home for a game, go back into Central to come back home, go into back-to-back on the front and the back end. That’s why we have 10 guys out of our lineup. … You can’t sustain it. So we needed to win one of these last two games.”

 

TUCSON, Ariz. — NBC “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie sent a public message to her 84-year-old mother’s kidnapper on Wednesday saying that her family is ready to talk but wants proof that she is alive.

Guthrie said in a recorded video posted on social media that her family has heard media reports about a ransom letter for Nancy Guthrie, who authorities believe was taken from her home in Arizona against her will.

“We are ready to talk. However, we live in a world where voices and images are easily manipulated,” Savannah Guthrie said while reading from a prepared statement. “We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us.”

She was last seen Saturday around 9:45 p.m. when she was dropped off at home by family after having dinner with them, the sheriff’s department said. She was reported missing midday Sunday after she didn’t appear at a church.

The family posted the message after police conducted a search in and around Nancy Guthrie’s home for several hours Wednesday.

Kevin Adger, a spokesperson for the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, said investigators had been at the home earlier in the week for a couple of days and then turned it back over to the family with the understanding they could go back if they needed to.

“This is a follow up investigation,” he said in reference to officials returning Wednesday.

Adger said the sheriff’s department was not commenting on the video released by the family.

Multiple media organizations reported receiving purported ransom notes Tuesday that they handed over to investigators. The sheriff’s department had said it was taking the notes and other tips seriously but declined to comment further.

The family’s message for Nancy Guthrie
Savannah Guthrie was at times emotional during the recording, with her voice cracking. She smiled and looked into the camera when addressing her mother directly, saying that the family was praying for her and that people were looking for her.

“Mommy, if you are hearing this, you are a strong woman. You are God’s precious daughter,” she said.

Savannah Guthrie described her mother as a “kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light” and said she was funny, spunky and clever.

“Talk to her and you’ll see,” she said.

Guthrie was flanked by her sister Annie and her brother Camron who both also spoke. Annie called their mother their beacon and said they need her.

“Mamma, If you’re listening, we need you to come home. We miss you,” Annie Guthrie said.

Investigators work to piece together what happened before and after disappearance
Authorities on Wednesday offered no detailed update on their search. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos’ office said detectives still were speaking with anyone who had contact with Nancy Guthrie last weekend but that no suspect or person of interest had been identified.

Nanos suggested there was video from some cameras, though he didn’t elaborate, adding: “That’s all been submitted and we’re doing our best with the companies that own those cameras or built those cameras.”

There were signs of forced entry at the home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood. Guthrie has limited mobility, and officials do not believe she left on her own. A sheriff’s dispatcher talking to deputies during a search Sunday indicated that she has high blood pressure, a pacemaker and heart issues, according to audio from broadcastify.com.

Jim Mason, longtime commander of a search-and-rescue posse in Maricopa County, isn’t involved in the search for Guthrie but said desert terrain can make looking for missing people difficult. He said it can be hard to peer into areas that are dense with mesquite trees, cholla cactus and other desert brush.

“Some of it is so thick you can’t drive through it,” Mason said.

Supporters around the country
On the other side of the country, Victory Church in Albany, New York, said it’s offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to finding Nancy Guthrie.

“Me and my wife, we watch Savannah every single morning. We’ve heard of her faith. We’ve heard of her mom’s faith. And she’s got such a sweet spirit,” Pastor Charlie Muller said.

The White House said President Donald Trump called and spoke with Savannah Guthrie on Wednesday.

“I spoke with Savannah Guthrie, and let her know that I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family’s, and Local Law Enforcement’s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely.”

For a third day, “Today” opened with Guthrie’s disappearance, but Savannah Guthrie was not at the anchor’s desk. NBC Sports said Tuesday that she will not be covering the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics “as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time.”

The “Today” host grew up in Tucson, graduated from the University of Arizona and previously worked as a reporter and anchor at Tucson television station KVOA. Her parents settled in Tucson in the 1970s when she was a young child. The youngest of three siblings, she credits her mom with holding their family together after her father died of a heart attack at 49, when Savannah was just 16.

___

Sejal Govindarao reporting. Jacques Billeaud reported from Phoenix. Associated Press writers Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu, Hallie Golden in Seattle, Michael Hill in Albany, New York, Darlene Superville in Washington and Julie Walker in New York City contributed.

By DAVID KLEPPER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Close the cover on the CIA World Factbook: The spy agency announced Wednesday that after more than 60 years, it is shuttering the popular reference manual.

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The announcement posted to the CIA’s website offered no reason for the decision to end the Factbook, but it follows a vow from Director John Ratcliffe to end programs that don’t advance the agency’s core missions.

First launched in 1962 as a printed, classified reference manual for intelligence officers, the Factbook offered a detailed, by-the-numbers picture of foreign nations, their economies, militaries, resources and societies. The Factbook proved so useful that other federal agencies began using it, and within a decade, an unclassified version was released to the public.

After going online in 1997, the Factbook quickly became a popular reference site for journalists, trivia aficionados and the writers of college essays, racking up millions of visits per year.

The White House has moved to cut staffing at the CIA and the National Security Agency early in Trump’s second term, forcing the agency to do more with less.

The CIA did not return a message seeking comment Wednesday about the decision to cease publication of the Factbook.

By ALEXANDRA OLSON and CLAIRE SAVAGE

NEW YORK (AP) — The federal agency for protecting workers’ civil rights revealed Wednesday that it is investigating sportswear giant Nike for allegedly discriminating against white employees through its diversity policies.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission disclosed the investigation in a motion filed in Missouri federal court demanding that Nike fully comply with a subpoena for information.

The EEOC sought the company’s criteria for selecting employees for layoffs, how it tracks and uses worker race and ethnicity data, and information about programs which allegedly provided race-restricted mentoring, leadership, or career development opportunities, according to court documents.

In a statement, Nike said the company has worked to cooperate with the EEOC and the subpoena “feels like a surprising and unusual escalation.”

“We have shared thousands of pages of information and detailed written responses to the EEOC’s inquiry and are in the process of providing additional information,” Nike said in a statement sent to The Associated Press.”

EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas has moved swiftly to target diversity and inclusion policies that she has long criticized as potentially discriminatory, tightly aligning the agency with one of President Donald Trump’s top priorities.

Nike appears to be the highest profile company the EEOC has targeted with a publicly confirmed, formal anti-DEI investigation. In November, the EEOC issued a similar subpoena against financial services provider Northwestern Mutual.

“When there are compelling indications, including corporate admissions in extensive public materials, that an employer’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion-related programs may violate federal prohibitions against race discrimination or other forms of unlawful discrimination, the EEOC will take all necessary steps — including subpoena actions — to ensure the opportunity to fully and comprehensively investigate,” Lucas said in a statement.

FILE – Andrea Lucas, nominee to be a member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, testifies during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing, June 18, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

The disclosure comes two months after Lucas posted a social media call-out urging white men to come forward if they have experienced race or sex discrimination at work. The post urged eligible workers to reach out to the agency “as soon as possible” and referred users to the agency’s fact sheet on DEI-related discrimination.

The investigation against Nike, however, does not stem from any worker complaint against the company. Rather, Lucas filed her own complaint in May 2024 through a more rarely used tool known as a commissioner’s charge, according to the court documents. Her charge came just months after America First Legal, a conservative legal group founded by top Trump adviser Stephen Miller, sent the EEOC a letter outlining complaints against Nike and urging the agency to file a commissioner’s charge.

America First Legal has flooded the EEOC with similar letters in recent years urging investigations into the DEI practices of major U.S. companies. It is unclear how many other companies the EEOC may be targeting through such commissioner’s charges. The EEOC is prohibited from revealing any charge — by workers or commissioners — unless it results in fines, settlements, legal action or other such public actions.

Lucas’ charge, according to court filings, was based on Nike’s publicly shared information about its commitment to diversity, including statements from executives and proxy statements. The charge, for example, cited Nike’s publicly stated goal in 2021 of achieving 35% representation of racial and ethnic minorities in its corporate workforce by 2025.

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Many U.S. companies made similar commitments in the wake of the widespread 2020 racial justice protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man. Companies have said such commitments are not quotas but rather goals they hoped to achieve through methods such as widening recruitment efforts and rooting out any bias during hiring process.

Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, employers are prohibited from using race as a criteria for hiring or other employment decisions. Lucas has long warned that many companies risk crossing that line through DEI efforts that would pressure managers to make race-based decisions.

In its statement, Nike said it follows “all applicable laws, including those that prohibit discrimination. We believe our programs and practices are consistent with those obligations and take these matters seriously.”

The Associated Press’ women in the workforce and state government coverage receives financial support from Pivotal Ventures. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

By BERNARD CONDON and MATT O’BRIEN

NEW YORK (AP) — Elon Musk vowed this week to upend another industry just as he did with cars and rockets — and once again he’s taking on long odds.

The world’s richest man said he wants to put as many as a million satellites into orbit to form vast, solar-powered data centers in space — a move to allow expanded use of artificial intelligence and chatbots without triggering blackouts and sending utility bills soaring.

To finance that effort, Musk combined SpaceX with his AI business on Monday and plans a big initial public offering of the combined company.

“Space-based AI is obviously the only way to scale,” Musk wrote on SpaceX’s website Monday, adding about his solar ambitions, “It’s always sunny in space!”

But scientists and industry experts say even Musk — who outsmarted Detroit to turn Tesla into the world’s most valuable automaker — faces formidable technical, financial and environmental obstacles.

Here’s a look:

Feeling the heat

Capturing the sun’s energy from space to run chatbots and other AI tools would ease pressure on power grids and cut demand for sprawling computing warehouses that are consuming farms and forests and vast amounts of water to cool.

But space presents its own set of problems.

Data centers generate enormous heat. Space seems to offer a solution because it is cold. But it is also a vacuum, trapping heat inside objects in the same way that a Thermos keeps coffee hot using double walls with no air between them.

“An uncooled computer chip in space would overheat and melt much faster than one on Earth,” said Josep Jornet, a computer and electrical engineering professor at Northeastern University.

One fix is to build giant radiator panels that glow in infrared light to push the heat “out into the dark void,” says Jornet, noting that the technology has worked on a small scale, including on the International Space Station. But for Musk’s data centers, he says, it would require an array of “massive, fragile structures that have never been built before.”

Musk is undaunted.

“You can mark my words,” Musk said in a preview of a Cheeky Pint podcast episode airing Thursday. “In 36 months, but probably closer to 30 months, the most economically compelling place to put AI will be space. And then it will get ridiculously better to be in space.”

Floating debris

Then there is space junk.

A single malfunctioning satellite breaking down or losing orbit could trigger a cascade of collisions, potentially disrupting emergency communications, weather forecasting and other services.

FILE – A SpaceX logo is displayed on a building, May 26, 2020, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

Musk noted in a recent regulatory filing that he has had only one “low-velocity debris generating event” in seven years running Starlink, his satellite communications network. Starlink has operated about 10,000 satellites — but that’s a fraction of the million or so he now plans to put in space.

“We could reach a tipping point where the chance of collision is going to be too great,” said University at Buffalo’s John Crassidis, a former NASA engineer. “And these objects are going fast — 17,500 miles per hour. There could be very violent collisions.”

No repair crews

Even without collisions, satellites fail, chips degrade, parts break.

Special GPU graphics chips used by AI companies, for instance, can become damaged and need to be replaced.

“On Earth, what you would do is send someone down to the data center,” said Baiju Bhatt, CEO of Aetherflux, a space-based solar energy company. “You replace the server, you replace the GPU, you’d do some surgery on that thing and you’d slide it back in.”

But no such repair crew exists in orbit, and those GPUs in space could get damaged due to their exposure to high-energy particles from the sun.

Bhatt says one workaround is to overprovision the satellite with extra chips to replace the ones that fail. But that’s an expensive proposition given they are likely to cost tens of thousands of dollars each, and current Starlink satellites only have a lifespan of about five years.

Competition — and leverage

Musk is not alone trying to solve these problems.

A company in Redmond, Washington, called Starcloud, launched a satellite in November carrying a single Nvidia-made AI computer chip to test out how it would fare in space. Google is exploring orbital data centers in a venture it calls Project Suncatcher. And Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin announced plans in January for a constellation of more than 5,000 satellites to start launching late next year, though its focus has been more on communications than AI.

Still, Musk has an edge: He’s got rockets.

Starcloud had to use one of his Falcon rockets to put its chip in space last year. Aetherflux plans to send a set of chips it calls a Galactic Brain to space on a SpaceX rocket later this year. And Google may also need to turn to Musk to get its first two planned prototype satellites off the ground by early next year.

Pierre Lionnet, a research director at the trade association Eurospace, says Musk routinely charges rivals far more than he charges himself —- as much as $20,000 per kilo of payload versus $2,000 internally.

He said Musk’s announcements this week signal that he plans to use that advantage to win this new space race.

“When he says we are going to put these data centers in space, it’s a way of telling the others we will keep these low launch costs for myself,” said Lionnet. “It’s a kind of powerplay.”

General Daily Insight for February 05, 2026

It may be tough to stay on top of things today. Tension could spike with little warning, even with the Moon entering thoughtful Libra. This is due to Mercury squaring unpredictable Uranus at 7:13 am EST, putting diplomacy and change at odds with one another. We may wake seeking fairness, then face frustration that makes it hard to say anything nice. Potential conflict can be avoided by grounding innovative ideas with realistic goals. Today is meant for laying the foundation more than completing the project.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Pay attention to the ebb and flow of group energy. Your 11th House of Collaboration holds chatty Mercury, which squares sudden Uranus in your 2nd House of Supplies. Watch out — this means that big plans may collide with budget realities. Friendliness could tempt you to empty your wallet, so set clear limits before you commit. Clarify who pays for what, and suggest an option that fits your means, like hosting at home this time. Set terms kindly, because boundaries protect genuine camaraderie.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Today isn’t a race. Intellectual Mercury in your 10th House of Career squares radical Uranus in your committed sign, pressing you to explain your methods without letting anyone undercut your voice. Of course, everyone’s wrong sometimes, but you’re the only one who truly understands what works best for your life. Be prudent about your indulgences, but don’t feel the need to repress them for the sake of a wider audience who was never going to get it. Trust yourself and move deliberately.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

What could widen your world in this moment? Clever Mercury is in your 9th House of Progress, where it squares unconventional Uranus in your 12th House of Secrets, stirring restlessness and hidden doubts (especially if sleep has been a struggle lately). You may crave a short trip to stretch your mind, but be stuck at home. Try to let your mind travel in some way, perhaps by reading nonfiction or watching a foreign film. Journaling is also a great way to explore your deeper thoughts.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

The outside world is being temporarily muted. The nurturing Moon glides into your 4th House of Home and Family, heightening feelings about your past. Think of the places you’ve felt most comfortable — if your current residence doesn’t make the cut, how can you make it more like those places? This is a good time to meander down Nostalgia Lane or calmly discuss shared spaces. You could also create a small ritual that soothes your system, like lighting a scented candle before doing your chores.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

People watch how you handle competing demands. Mercury stretches from your bonded 7th house to shove shocking Uranus in your 10th House of Ambition. Be wary of neglecting your personal life for your professional one! This balance will naturally shift over time, but here and now, you’re at risk of going too far to one end of the spectrum. Don’t let anyone pressure you into neglecting either half of your life. Once you draw that line in the sand, you can move forward with honor.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Upcoming plot twists will reward flexibility. Your 6th House of Labor hosts mental Mercury, which squares rebellious Uranus in your 9th House of Journeys, stirring tension between tradition and modernization. You may face a surprise software update while you prepare a presentation under a tight training deadline at work. At home, a typically reliable appliance could crash out at any moment. In either scenario, simplifying your checklist should give you a buffer of extra time. Prioritize flow, because smart pacing safeguards quality.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Your mood sets the tone for others. The intuitive Moon is in your sign, lighting your 1st House of Identity and inviting you to show gentle leadership through presence rather than pressure. You might sense people mirroring your energy in various conversations throughout the day, so choose the tone you want echoed. Balance candor with kindness, and be willing to ask for help or information when you need it. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease! You can be calm without being a doormat.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Strong feelings may surface in unexpected circumstances. Your 4th House of Comfort and your 7th House of Affinity are hyped up by Mercury squaring Uranus — for better or for worse. Things that need to change at home could seem excruciatingly clear to you, yet a roommate may resist any change whatsoever. Even if you live alone, neighbors or friends could be vocally judgmental. Start by specifically naming the problem and proposing a trial period for your ideal solution (and hear out potential compromises).

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

Little signals cross wires around your plans. Your 3rd House of Transmissions carries mischievous Mercury, bouncing off of reactive Uranus in your 6th House of Everyday Effort, challenging your rhythm with a last-minute task. Your optimism may want to assist your peers, yet outside influences could entangle you in myriad complications. Ask for specifics and offer a doable window, then block out time to actually do the essential parts of your responsibilities. Guard your time in order to ensure you have enough of it.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

Resisting impulse purchases isn’t easy at present. Today’s Mercury-Uranus square energizes your money zone and your 5th House of Temptations, pinging you back and forth between budget plans and spontaneous delights. You might plan a fun outing when a bill reminder pops up, forcing you to consider window shopping rather than actually shopping. Look for ideas that support joy while respecting your goals, like visiting secondhand stores or seeing a matinee showing rather than a full-price one. Spend mindfully to forge long-term security.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Today could speed by in the blink of an eye! Mercury is in your sign, squaring breakthrough Uranus in your 4th House of Roots, challenging you to consider new ideas while guarding your foundations. You might want to announce a personal shift, yet an emergency may force you to delay your statements. Unless it’s a real emergency, make a point of finding space to speak up for yourself. You deserve to be heard (and you’re smart enough to know when you ought to wait).

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

People may not say what they mean at the moment. Mercury in your karmic 12th house is talking a lot but saying very little as it squares chaotic Uranus in your 3rd House of Conversations. You may rehearse a speech that gets canceled at the last minute, or a friend could swear they aren’t upset but refuse to answer your calls. Take a deep breath — this storm won’t last forever. Even if others aren’t reliable, you can speak your truth into existence.