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Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1974, Discovery Island opened at Walt Disney World. The subtropical oasis welcomed guests for 25 years before closing in the late '90s.

If you're happy and you know it—do you live in Pembroke Pines? It's the happiest city in Florida, according to a recent report. Read more in today's Top Stories.

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Gators Win National Championship

In a game that came down to the final moments, the Florida Gators outlasted the Houston Cougars to win the NCAA men's basketball tournament 65-63 on Monday Night.

After falling behind 42-30 early in the second half, Florida tied the game at 48 following a staunch defensive stand and then a layup with a free throw by star guard Walter Clayton Jr. with just under eight minutes left.

Houston rallied, and the game remained close until the end when Houston was unable to get a three-point shot off with time running out.

The win made Florida coach Todd Golden, 39, the youngest coach to win a championship in the modern college basketball era. It marks the third national championship for the Gators.

Orlando To Bid for 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup

Orlando sports officials are preparing a bid to bring the world's top women's soccer event to Central Florida as the host city for the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup.

FIFA announced at the 2025 UEFA Congress that the U.S. and its partners in the Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football submitted the only bid for the 2031 tournament.

In 2024, the U.S. and Mexico bid to co-host the 2027 Women's World Cup but later withdrew. Brazil will instead host the 2027 tournament, which will feature 32 teams.

The upcoming FIFA Men's World Cup will be held in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, kicking off June 11, 2026.

Report: Floridians Have Average Happiness

No Florida cities rank in the top 30 "Happiest Cities in America" in Wallethub's recent report. No cities in the Sunshine State rank in the bottom 30, either.

The rankings of the 182 largest cities in the country are based on emotional and physical well-being, income and employment, community and environment—along with 29 additional metrics. Florida is the 14th happiest state, with Pembroke Pines (No. 39) being the happiest city in the state.

Fort Lauderdale (No. 46) and Cape Coral (No. 50) also made the top 50. Seven California cities dominate the top 20. Fremont, San Jose, and Irvine in California captured the top three spots. See the list of Florida cities here.

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➤ Melbourne: After 23 years, the state will vacate Jeff Abramowski's murder conviction based on new DNA testing results—thanks to the Murder on the Space Coast podcast, which investigated allegations of a wrongful conviction. (More)

➤ Seminole County: Commissioners will today consider whether to remove fluoride from city water. The county is the largest public water provider in the region to confront the issue. (More)

➤ Winter Springs: Multiple high school students were taken to the hospital from a school prom at SeaWorld on Saturday after consuming too much alcohol, which they had smuggled into the venue in small containers. (See Video)

➤ Walton County: Commissioners are in talks with the PGA Tour for a potential major golf tournament at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in the fall of 2026. (See Details)

➤ South Florida: Former Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book will walk from Naples to Bonita Springs on Wednesday, the next leg of her 10th annual 1500-mile Walk in My Shoes event to honor National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. (Register Here)

➤ Lake Butler: Jay North, who starred as the mischief maker on TV's Dennis the Menace for four seasons starting in 1959, died Sunday at age 73. (See Photos)

➤ No. 4 Florida State baseball lost its first weekend series of the year, dropping the final two games to Wake Forest by run rule after winning the opener on a walk-off. (More)

➤ The Tampa Bay Rays had their late comeback attempt thwarted on Sunday after the Texas Rangers scored in the bottom of the ninth, handing them a 4-3 loss. (More)

➤ The Tampa Bay Lightning clinched a playoff berth for their eighth consecutive season over the weekend. (More)

➤ Tocoi Creek High School basketball made history with both its boys' and girls' basketball teams reaching the state Final Four for the first time. The program is in its fourth year. (See Video)

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➤ Carnival Cruise Line announced a paid summer internship program for high school juniors and seniors interested in working as guest port services agents. (See Video)

➤ The Straz Center for the Performing Arts broke ground on an $80 million renovation project to add education space to the Patel Conservatory and an outdoor venue along Tampa's Riverwalk. (See Video)

➤ Naples-based Hoffmann Family of Companies is buying one of the nation's largest poinsettia and greenhouse growers, with the closing set for June. (More)

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➤ U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds stated that his campaign raised $12 million last month in the Naples Republican's run for governor. (More)

➤ Marsy's Law for Florida is turning the state purple to honor National Crime Victims' Rights Week, April 6-12. The Daytona International Speedway sign and the Capital Cascades Trail Crossing and Pedestrian Bridge in Tallahassee will be lit purple all week. (More)

➤ Two University of South Florida cheerleaders performed a daring 30-second stunt routine that went viral, with over 35 million views on social media. (See Video)

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