Good morning, Palm Bay.

The City of Palm Bay will host its Independence Day celebration at Eastern Florida State College on Saturday, July 5 from 5 to 9 p.m. with a Country Legends Concert featuring Alfie Silva and Thomas Tritt at 5 p.m.—the event continues with Earth to Mars at 7:30 p.m. and a fireworks display at 9:15 p.m., and admission is free.

New Life Mission invites community members to attend its red-carpet fundraiser Opening Doors for Women on October 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the American Muscle Car Museum to benefit homeless women with children in Brevard County—tickets cost $125 for individuals and $200 for couples, and the event will include a tour of a rare muscle car collection and auctions.

Authorities in Palm Bay arrested 32-year-old Anthony Pettrone—a Georgia man—after he made violent calls between May 26 and June 14 that threatened to bomb City Hall and kill officers, and he now faces charges for a second-degree felony and a first-degree misdemeanor.

Small businesses and private nonprofits in drought-hit counties, including Brevard, can apply for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million with low interest rates and repayment terms up to 30 years—applications for the March 11 disaster declaration covering Brevard are due by Jan. 5.

Brevard County School Board moved closer to finalizing the student code of conduct for the 2025 to 2026 school year during a Tuesday meeting that revised school rules to meet a new state law restricting cell phone use for elementary and middle school students.

The board is expected to review a proposed ban on cell phones during the school day for kindergarten to 12th grade students (a step beyond state rules) in a work session (set to follow soon).

Health First announced a $230 million expansion of Palm Bay Hospital with a new 5-floor patient tower—the schematic design starts in August and construction will begin in summer 2026, with completion planned for 2028.

Local providers stepped forward to ensure patients continued to receive care after the closure of Rockledge Hospital.

Comedy Night with Rauce Padgett

7:00 – 10:30 PM — Pineapples — 21+ event — Enjoy a night of laughter with the award-winning comedian Rauce Padgett as he returns to the stage.

Palm Bay Independence Day Celebration

5-9 p.m. — Eastern Florida State College - Palm Bay Campus — Free admission — Celebrate Independence Day with live music, food trucks, and a spectacular fireworks display.

Root Refresh! A Plant Repotting Workshop

1-4 p.m. — Ted Whitlock Community Center — $25 Registration Fee — Learn to repot plants and connect with fellow plant enthusiasts in this hands-on workshop.