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Rick Neale on Muck Rack

Rick Neale

Verified
Melbourne
As seen in: Florida Today, MSN, Yahoo Entertainment, Yahoo Life, Celtics Wire, ColtsWire, DolphinsWire, Golfweek, MSN South Africa, Niners Wire, Raiders Wire - USA Today and
Space Reporter for @Florida_Today and @USAToday Network. @KentStateJMC product. Also wrote for @pcnewsherald, @fremontNM and the Barberton Herald.

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Rick Neale’s Biography

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South Brevard Watchdog Reporter for Florida Today, where I've worked the past 11 years. USA Today correspondent (2008-15). Also reported in Ohio for Gannett's Port Clinton News Herald and Fremont News-Messenger. Loves racquetball, running and reading.

Rick Neale’s Journalist Portfolio

The Shawshank Fugitive: The crime and escape

The Shawshank Fugitive: The crime and escape

AKRON, Ohio - Frank Freshwaters was a baby-faced 21-year-old newlywed - with no criminal record and a job in …

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Dragon Point will rise again in 2017

Dragon Point will rise again in 2017

Belching orange flames, Rojak the two-headed reptilian monster will soon lord over the Banana and Indian rive…

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Melbourne muscle car museum expected to open in October

Melbourne muscle car museum expected to open in October

MELBOURNE - The American Muscle Car Museum, a 90,000-square-foot solar-powered showroom under construction on…

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Merritt Island trapper saves manatees, captures critters

Merritt Island trapper saves manatees, captures critters

A rare breed, Leo Cross boasts one of Florida's odder outdoor occupations. The burly, bearded rugby player re…

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Santa goes postal in Christmas, Fla.

Santa goes postal in Christmas, Fla.

CHRISTMAS, Fla. - Santa Claus himself dropped by the Christmas Post Office last week. He sat in the lobby and…

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Articles

Florida rocket launches have slowed, but there's 1 launch this weekend Original

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By Lianna Norman Verified, Jennifer Sangalang Verified, Rick Neale Verified, Brooke Edwards, Eric Lagatta Verified
| Florida Today Verified
Florida's Space Coast set a new record with 109 orbital rocket launches in 2025. So far in 2026, 55 rockets have launched from Florida, a slower pace than the previous year. Upcoming launches include a SpaceX mission on Sept. 13 and NASA's Crew-13 mission later in the month. Florida's Space Coast hosted a record-shattering 109 orbital rocket launches in 2025, surpassing all previous annual records.
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Moody: Put US Space Academy in Florida amid thriving space ecosystem Original

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By Rick Neale Verified
| Florida Today Verified
Florida Sen. Ashley Moody is advocating for the newly proposed U.S. Space Academy to be located in Florida. President Donald Trump's executive order established the academy, with a commission to recommend its location and other details. Florida officials cite the state's university consortium and hands-on learning opportunities as key advantages. Florida Sen.
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Meet dogs Milo and Zip, the Melbourne airport's new TSA-trained K-9s

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By Rick Neale Verified
| Yahoo Verified
Tail wagging, Milo the yellow Labrador retriever sniffed the scene across the ticketing area inside the Melbourne Orlando International Airport passenger terminal, searching for scents on pawed patrol. Leading the pack for their species, Milo and Zip, a black German shorthaired pointer, are the first two K-9s to work for the Melbourne Airport Police Department.
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Interview

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Have you ever used a typewriter?

My mother is a retired librarian, and I used to type stacks of replacement cards to replace damaged, worn-out ones in her card catalog.

Who's your favorite fictional journalist?

Hunter S. Thompson, technically speaking.

Why did you become a journalist?

I knew journalism was my future career while stringing articles (for practically free!) for The Suburbanite in Akron, Ohio.