$1B Investment Planned for Okaloosa County

Williams International announced plans to invest $1 billion in Okaloosa County to build an aviation gas turbine engine manufacturing facility at Shoal River Industrial Park.

The project will be among the largest in the history of the Northwest Florida region and is expected to create more than 330 jobs.

The development will be completed in three phases, starting later this year with the construction of a 250,000-square-foot facility.

Okaloosa County has spent years developing the industrial park to attract major investment. “Essentially we had a property that was basically shovel ready,” said Nathan Sparks of One Okaloosa Economic Development Council.

Legislature Reaches Budget Deal

Florida legislative leaders said Friday that they had reached a budget deal. The session, originally set to end in early May, was extended due to a budget impasse.

“(Today’s deal) provides for a fiscally responsible, balanced budget that reduces state spending, lowers per capita spending, and reduces the growth of state bureaucracy,” Florida Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, said.

The plan ends the tax on commercial leases, adds $350 million in permanent sales-tax breaks for families, puts $250 million toward debt reduction, and boosts the rainy-day fund by $750 million.

Tampa Voted Most Relaxing City in U.S.

A recent study ranked Tampa as the most relaxing city in the United States thanks to its high number of daylight hours, low crime rate, and temperate climate.

On average, Tampa has over 10 hours and 37 minutes of daylight a day and an average temperature of 70 degrees. It did lose some points for traffic congestion, however.

Miami was voted the fourth most relaxing city, the only other Florida city to make it into the top 10.

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➤ Marion County: A funding shortfall may force the Ocala Salvation Army to close the county’s largest emergency shelter for up to a year. (More)

➤ Miami: Two PortMiami custodial workers were arrested for allegedly stealing $50,000 in artwork from the walls of the cruise port terminal. (More)

➤ Naples: The Collier Mosquito Control District passed out over 200 mosquitofish, each capable of consuming 100 mosquito larvae. Another event is planned for June. (Details)

➤ Jacksonville: Sixty vehicles remain trapped in a parking garage at Jacksonville International Airport two weeks after a fire caused a partial collapse of the structure. (More)

➤ Fort Lauderdale: A detective and public spokesperson for the police department has been fired after an internal probe found he abused his authority and lied about a GPS tracker found on his ex-girlfriend’s car. (Details)

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➤ Florida baseball staved off elimination from the men’s college world series with a 17-2 win over Fairfield, while Bethune-Cookman University saw their hopes of advancing come to an end after a tight 4-3 loss to Northeastern. (More)

➤ No. 9 Florida State baseball advanced to the Tallahassee regional championship due to a dominant 10-3 win over Mississippi State. Later, Miami punched their ticket to the Hattiesburg regional final, while Stetson was sent to an elimination game that will be played today after falling 8-5 to Auburn. (More)

➤ The Florida Panthers open as slight underdogs against the Edmonton Oilers in this year’s Stanley Cup Final, a rematch of last year’s Stanley Cup Final, which the Panthers won in seven games. (Preview)

Yesterday’s results: NBA | MLB | WNBA | PGA | LPGA | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | Tennis

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➤ A man put a ferret worth $650 in his pants to smuggle it out of a Jacksonville pet store on Tuesday. (See Video)

➤ Two Leon County children will represent North Florida in the 87th Annual FirstEnergy Soap Box Derby World Championships in July. (See Video)

➤ The St. Johns County Public Library System is hosting the Color Our World Summer Reading Program through Aug. 2 with more than 100 educational events planned. (More)

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Do you have a middle name?

1. Yes
2. No

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever been on a hot air balloon ride?

1. Yes: 26%
2. No: 74%

Where in Florida was The Beach Coaster, which operated from 1928 to 1949?

Show me the answer