Good Morning! On this day in 1967, Florida lawmakers declared orange juice the official state beverage.
A meteor shower is set to peak this week, with up to six shooting stars per hour expected Tuesday night—so get ready to make those wishes. Find out more in Et Cetera.
In an ode to clipping coupons out of your Sunday Paper, be sure to check out our online Sunday Deals offering the best deals for seniors from around the web.
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Florida Restaurants Earn Michelin Stars
Florida’s culinary scene reached new heights Thursday night as five restaurants earned coveted Michelin stars for the first time. Sorekara, a Japanese restaurant in Orlando, led the honors with two Michelin stars.
Four restaurants earned one star: Chef’s Counter at MAASS in Fort Lauderdale, Itamae Ao in Miami, Konro in West Palm Beach, and Ômo by Jônt in Winter Park.
Konro made history as West Palm Beach’s first Michelin-starred restaurant. The guide praised its inventive dishes, noting: “Meals begin with snacks; the foie gras mousse in a chicken-skin cone is a highlight.”
MAAS, which serves contemporary cuisine, was the first Fort Lauderdale restaurant honored. The guide highlighted its use of “contemporary cooking with French techniques, Japanese ingredients and a few Florida highlights.“
Lakeland Suffers Foreclosure Crisis
The Lakeland region has the highest foreclosure rate in the nation among metro areas with more than 200,000 residents, according to real estate data firm ATTOM.
Both the area’s growing population and rising insurance costs could be contributing to the issue.
“When those insurance premiums start kicking in, they can’t make the payments…so a lot of them, for lack of a better term, they curl up in a little bit of a ball and they wait in a corner for someone to knock on the door,” said Bob Miller, real estate broker at MillShire Realty.
One in every 172 housing units in Lakeland saw foreclosure filings last year; however, a foreclosure filing doesn’t always mean a foreclosed home. Residents still have the opportunity to catch up on payments.
School Sells Stadium Naming Rights
The Martin County School District is selling naming rights to the high school football stadium and possibly other district properties to offset budget constraints from decreased enrollment.
According to a spokesman, the district seeks $2,700 a week, or $140,400 annually, for naming rights to proactively increase available revenues.
The banners often seen hanging on fences to advertise the parent-teacher associations will still be utilized, while digital ads on all the school websites have been added and are for sale.
Any future stadium sponsor will receive the final approval from the Martin County School Board. The district hopes to have an advertiser secured for the Martin County High School stadium by the start of the next school year.
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➤Hillsborough County: Health officials issued a rabies alert after four people were bitten by a rabid cat on the same day. The alert is in effect for 60 days. (More)
➤Palm Beach: Police are warning ParkMobile users that multiple scam websites are targeting residents and visitors when parking in the area. (Details)
➤Orange County: Orange County Public Schools reached a two-year deal with several towns to continue to provide school resource officers at each site. (More)
➤Jacksonville: Sheriff T.K. Waters announced a new initiative to “empower members of the public to identify the signs of human trafficking.” (See Video)
➤Tallahassee: Florida A&M University is planning a campus safety town hall after the shooting that occurred at Florida State University last week. (Details)
➤ The Tampa Bay Rays have called up outfield prospect Chandler Simpson, who will make his MLB debut. The 24-year-old Simpson has stolen 198 bases over the last two seasons. (More)
➤The Orlando Magicwill play Game 1 of their playoff series against the defending champion Boston Celtics at 3:30 p.m. today. (More)
➤Miami Marlinsoutfielder Kyle Stowers went into a full-extension dive to rob a hit from Philadelphia Phillies All-Star shortstop Trea Turner during the team’s 7-2 loss on Friday. (Watch Video)
➤Enjoy mosquito-free nights with Zappify 2.0! This portable, rechargeable bug zapper uses 3-band UV light and a 2,000V electric grid to eliminate pests safely—no chemicals needed. With up to 13 hours of battery life and a 30m² coverage area, it’s perfect for indoor and outdoor use. Now 50% off—order today!
➤ Furry caterpillars have descended on the University of Florida campus, covering trees and even crawling into dorms. (See Photos)
➤A Port St. Lucie bride running late to her own wedding, was pulled over after her driver was clocked going 105 miles per hour. (See Video)
➤The Lyrid meteor shower will reach its peak this Tuesday, though shooting stars can be viewed through April 26. (Details)
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St. Augustine is home to the only Capybara Cafe in the nation, allowing patrons to cuddle with giant rodents.
Florida Restaurants Earn Michelin Stars
