Good Morning! On this day in 1965, a month after flying in the first manned Gemini mission, astronaut John W. Young was honored by his home city, Orlando, with a parade, celebration, and the first John Young Award.
Maker Faire Miami returns April 25-26 at the Miami-Dade County Fair & Expo Center, bringing together engineers, artists, inventors, creators, tinkerers, educators, and families for a weekend of innovation and inspiration. Have you ever invented anything? Reply to let us know.
Today’s sponsor, Cytonics, is a pioneering biotech company developing a potential first-ever cure for osteoarthritis, offering investors a rare opportunity to get in early ahead of its next phase of clinical trials.
Daytona Beach 🌤️ 80/64° | Fort Myers 🌤️ 86/65° | Jacksonville 🌤️ 84/63° | Key West ⛈️ 80/75° | Miami ⛈️ 78/71° | Ocala 🌤️ 86/60° | Orlando 🌦️ 85/64° | Pensacola 🌤️ 78/68° | Port St. Lucie 🌤️ 81/64° | Tallahassee 🌤️ 85/59° | Tampa 🌤️ 86/65°
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New Laws Target DEI and Net Zero Energy
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed two bills into law on Wednesday that eliminate local diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and block carbon taxes in Florida. The signing took place in Jacksonville, where the governor framed the legislation as part of a broader effort to reshape how local governments operate.
The first law prohibits cities and counties from funding or promoting DEI programs. It also bars the creation of DEI offices and prohibits the use of public funds for DEI programs, with enforcement mechanisms that can include penalties or lawsuits.
DeSantis argued that these programs create unfair advantages and discriminate against certain groups, while critics contend they are essential tools for addressing longstanding inequalities. The law will take effect Jan. 1.
The governor signed a second bill aimed at climate and energy policy, specifically blocking local governments from implementing measures tied to carbon emissions, including carbon taxes or similar fees. The law will take effect July 1.
Miami Police Chief Faces Ethics Complaint
A formal complaint against Miami Police Chief Manuel Morales was sent on April 15 to Mayor Eileen Higgins, City Manager James Reyes, and other city leaders, alleging conflicts of interest, undisclosed business activity, and the use of public resources tied to a private entity.
The letter claims Morales, who is set to retire as chief in October, may have created a private entity, the Miami Police Foundation, using the Miami Police Department headquarters’ address and involving himself, his wife, and several business associates.
Violations of disclosure rules, the acceptance of gifts, and a conflict arising from a Motorola Solutions contract are also outlined. The allegations have not been independently verified, and the complaint was referred to an oversight body for possible review and further action.
In February, Commissioner Ralph Rosado asked the Miami city manager to remove Morales from his post because he is already running for a city commissioner seat in Rosado’s District Four in the November 2027 election.
Surfside Hotel Bar Named Best in the U.S.
The Champagne Bar at the Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club in Surfside was named the best hotel bar in the country by Food & Wine’s annual Global Tastemakers Awards.
The bar was praised for its style and substance. The “Amalfi Coast meets Miami Beach” with a “polished, palm tree-populated parlor where, behind a marble-clad bar, charismatic drinkmakers in white tuxedos assemble a tight list of classics.”
Two additional Florida hotel bars made the top 10: Broken Shaker (No. 4) at Freehand Miami, and HMF at The Breakers in Palm Beach. Sweet Liberty (No. 9), also in Miami Beach, was named to a sister list of the best bars in America.
To create the Tastemakers Awards, Food & Wine polled over 400 chefs, travel experts, writers, and wine professionals, then gave the results to its Global Advisory Board, which ranked the top nominees in each category.
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➤ Orange County: Over 350 acres of environmentally sensitive land in the southwest corner of the county were purchased by officials as a buffer zone against development and to create a wildlife corridor northwest of Disney World. (More)
➤ Kissimmee: The city commission voted to investigate two ethics complaints that allege conflicts of interest involving Mayor Jackie Espinosa and Commissioner Janette Martinez in separate situations. (More)
➤ Destin: A North Carolina man suspected of planning a mass shooting at a large New Orleans festival was arrested at a Florida hotel with a handgun and 200 rounds of ammunition. (More)
➤ Port St. Lucie: Officials approved a $1.5 million redesign project to address the intersection of Village Parkway and Tradition Parkway, which has seen 341 crashes so far this decade. (More)
➤ Tallahassee: Gov. DeSantis signed his eighth death warrant of 2026 on Wednesday for Richard Knight, 47, to be executed May 21 for the 2000 Broward County murder of Odessia Stephens and her 4-year-old daughter Hanessia Mullings. (More)
➤ Fort Lauderdale: City commissioners delayed a controversial plan to build a new $268 million city hall, delaying a key vote on signing the interim agreement between the city and the developer, and said they will examine other options. (More)
➤ Palmetto: The state is working to permanently close the Piney Point phosphate processing facility by the end of this year. The site is home to one of the state’s largest environmental disasters. (See Details)
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➤ The Miami Dolphins selected Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor with the No. 12 pick and SDSU cornerback Chris Johnson with No. 27 in last night’s NFL draft. (More)
➤ Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Miami Hurricanes edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. with the No. 15 pick. (See Full Draft)
➤ The Orlando Magic were held to a season-low 83 points in their Game 2 loss to the Detroit Pistons. The series is tied 1-1 and heading back to Orlando for Game 3. (More)
➤ The Tampa Bay Lightning visit Montreal tonight for Game 3 of their playoff series, which is knotted up 1-1. (More)
➤ Florida basketball coach Todd Golden said he plans to stay in Gainesville next season, dismissing a report he’d be the Golden State Warriors’ top choice if Steve Kerr left. (More)
➤ Why doctors are calling Berberine “Nature’s Weight Loss Secret”. In a 12-week study, participants taking berberine lost 5 pounds and 3.6% body fat. Research shows it reduces appetite, blocks new fat cell formation, and activates a key metabolism-regulating enzyme called AMPK—all without prescriptions or dangerous side effects. Learn More
➤ Dania Beach-based Spirit Airlines is in negotiations with the Trump administration for a $500 million rescue deal that could leave the federal government owning up to 90% of the company after it emerges from bankruptcy. (More)
➤ Southeast Toyota cut the ribbon on its new $170 million processing facility at JAXPORT’s Blount Island terminal on Wednesday. The new facility replaces an older, smaller one in Talleyrand and will be the company’s biggest processing facility by next March, when new rail lines are added. (More)
➤ A Buc-ee’s application was reviewed by multiple Leon County departments on Wednesday for a new mega-gas station on the city’s west side that is expected to open in mid-2027. (More)
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➤ Florida is launching a Cast for Cash program to pay recreational anglers for research data. Participants can earn up to $1,500 by recording their fishing excursions with a camera. The program is initially limited to the Tampa Bay area and focuses on 10 popular reef fish species. (More)
➤ Oldsmar resident Dawn Barker knitted a giant American flag, measuring 40 feet by 50 feet, which took more than four years and 400 reels of yarn to complete. Barker hopes to display it at a museum. (See Video)
➤ BTS is scheduled to kick off the North American leg of its Arirang world tour on Saturday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Officials expect 60,000 fans to attend each of the South Korean boy band’s three shows. (More)
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New Laws Target DEI and Net Zero Energy
