Carnival To Build New Miami Headquarters

Carnival, which has called Miami-Dade home for over 50 years, is planning to consolidate most of its North America team members into a new headquarters to be built by 2028 at Miami’s Waterford Business District (Blue Lagoon), just south of Miami International Airport.

The campus will be customized to meet the needs of Carnival’s operating units. According to Carnival CEO Josh Weinstein, it will initially include 600,000 to 700,000 square feet of workspace for more than 2,000 employees and an onboard training and rehearsal facility to “foster even greater knowledge sharing, innovation, and efficiency.”

Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly said Carnival’s investment in a new headquarters in Miami is a win for the state, “reinforcing Florida’s position as number one in the global cruise industry.”

Desalination Plant Opens in the Keys

On Monday, Governor DeSantis announced that a $47 million state-of-the-art seawater desalination water treatment plant is now open on Stock Island in the Lower Keys. The plant will supply Key West and the Lower Keys with fresh water during emergencies.

The new facility replaces the previous plant damaged during Hurricane Irma and is fortified with storm-resilient materials, elevated construction, and a hardened structural design to withstand future disasters.

The Kermit H. Lewin Stock Island Reverse Osmosis Facility, named for a longtime Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority (FKAA) Board member, marks a significant step forward in the region’s resilience planning.

The project was funded through a $30.7 million Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery grant from FloridaCommerce, which was matched by local dollars from FKAA.

Lyttle Grows Harmony’s Mat Legacy

Harmony High School in Osceola County has a state wrestling champion for the third consecutive year. Junior Nathan Lyttle swept through the field to capture the Class 3A, 113-pound weight class.

Lyttle is the second Harmony wrestler to go undefeated through a season, despite battling a rib injury during his state title run. Former Harmony star Nelson Toro went undefeated in 2023, winning the state championship at 285 pounds.

Even though the high school season is over, Lyttle continues to train as a member of Puerto Rico’s national wrestling team. This summer, he’ll compete at the U17 Pan-American and World Championships.

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➤ Tallahassee: A Medicaid expansion group is suing the state over a new law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday that changes the state’s ballot initiative process. (More)

➤ Brevard County: The state attorney’s office is seeking the death penalty for David Barber, the former corrections deputy accused of killing his ex-girlfriend’s aunt. (More)

➤ Port Orange: A woman faces charges for impersonating a police officer and issuing a false traffic warning ticket at a neighborhood Walmart. (More)

➤ Martin County: Sheriff’s deputies apprehended a Russian national in a stolen yacht after chasing him down the Intracoastal Waterway near Hobe Sound. The man is accused of taking the yacht from the Blowing Rocks Marina. (See Photos)

➤ Deltona: The city commission decided Monday that its legal staff will represent the city in a newly filed lawsuit. A dozen property owners and developers are challenging the city’s controversial Keep Deltona Wild development restriction district. (More)

➤ Gainesville: The Florida Gators lead the nation in spring game attendance despite a national decline this year. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, known as the Swamp, was packed with 56,563 fans for the annual Orange and Blue Game. (More)

➤ Tampa Bay Rays’ rookie Chandler Simpson’s Major League career is starting off at a historic pace, logging 15 singles and six stolen bases in his first 14 games. (More)

➤ The Jacksonville Jaguars will play the sixth easiest schedule in the NFL next season, according to Vegas oddsmakers. (More)

➤ The Tampa Bay Lightning signed overseas defensemen Charle-Edouard D’Astous to a one-year contract following their playoff series loss to the Florida Panthers last week. (More)

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➤ Fort Lauderdale-based Silver Airways received a $5.775 million stalking horse bid—setting a minimum price for its assets—to take the regional carrier out of bankruptcy. (More)

➤Orlando’s tourist tax on area hotel rooms pulled in $40.1 million in March, the second-largest one-month total ever. (More)

➤The North Central Florida YMCA has disaffiliated from the national organization and will now operate as the North Central Florida Community Center, allowing the center to prioritize local needs and reduce bureaucratic obstacles. (More)

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Even neurologists were stunned…

They couldn’t believe the true impact a vertigo attack has on the brain… 

Or that dizzy spells might actually signal a deeper, hidden condition.

Discover the full story here:

Why You Should Never Ignore a Vertigo Attack

➤ A Collier County farm’s plans for opening a goat yoga business have been put on hold after the owner had to rescue Mojito the goat from an alligator. (See Photo)

➤ Walter, one of three endangered Florida panthers at ZooTampa, has died. Panthers are classified as critically endangered, as fewer than 250 remain in the wild. (More)

➤ Chamblin Bookmine, a store in Jacksonville with more than 2 million books, was named Florida’s favorite small business in a poll by Advance Funds Network. (More)

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Have you ever practiced goat yoga?

1. Yes
2. No

Tuesday’s Results:

Are you planning a trip to Universal Orlando after Epic Universe opens this month?

1. Not interested: 62%
2. Eventually: 17%
3. Considering it: 11%
4. Yes, can’t wait!: 10%

Which Islamorada roadside attraction offers visitors a photo op with a giant lobster?

Show me the answer