A fire aboard Carnival Freedom has left many passengers dissatisfied, not only with the incident itself but with how the cruise line handled it afterward.

Local public health officials in Rio de Janeiro have been scouring the city's neighborhoods and even its junkyards for signs of standing water where mosquitoes can lay their eggs.

To thunderous applause, Rio de Janeiro’s mayor coronated King Momo, marking the beginning of the symbolic Carnival monarch’s five-day reign over the revelry.

Carnival season 2024 is entering its final days in New Orleans with big parades on the city's main thoroughfares and smaller, offbeat walking clubs strolling the old French Quarter.

Rio de Janeiro city authorities have declared a public health emergency in the city because of an outbreak of mosquito-borne dengue fever.

New Orleans’ annual Carnival celebration has entered its high-intensity home stretch with a beefed-up police presence and a weather-scrambled parade schedule.

It’s Carnival season in New Orleans and that means the morning lines outside popular bakeries are long and the pace inside is brisk to meet customer demand for king cake.

With their purple, gold and green colors and toy babies hidden inside, king cakes are staples of Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans.

The countdown to Mardi Gras has begun in New Orleans.

If you’re going anywhere near Port Canaveral, get ready for a whole lot of company.

A cruise operator that failed to cancel a voyage from Sydney that led to a COVID-19 outbreak has been ruled negligent in an Australian class-action case.

A 35-year-old man is missing off the coast of Florida after going overboard from a Carnival cruise ship, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

As Carnival approaches in Rio de Janeiro, members of samba schools perfect their minutely-timed dances and rhythms.

Crew members on the Carnival Mardi Gras cruise ship spotted a small vessel in distress near Cuba Friday morning and took aboard the stranded people who were inside it, according to a news release.

Beginning June 1, guests at the resort hotels can enjoy delicious hand-crafted cocktails and mocktails.

This alligator wanted to take a cool dip on Memorial Day.

President Joe Biden is marking the Memorial Day holiday by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before delivering a speech at Arlington National Cemetery.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is investigating an outbreak of Hepatitis A possibly linked to organic strawberries.

Carnival is a celebration of emancipation in Caribbean cultures, and Orlando Carnival Downtown is seeking to bring that spirit to Florida with a weekend-long festival at Dezerland Park.

Rio de Janeiro’s samba schools have begun putting on this year's delayed Carnival parades, the first after a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19-pandemic.

The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a man who allegedly jumped from the Carnival Mardi Gras cruise ship early Saturday morning on its approach to Port Canaveral, the cruise line said in a statement.

Party-minded people dressed in traditional purple, green and gold filled New Orleans' streets for the city's first full-dress Mardi Gras since the coronavirus pandemic began.

The pandemic has disrupted Carnival in Rio de Janeiro for a second straight year.

Artists, florists, actors, technicians and drivers are putting the final touches on their costumes, lavish flower arrangements and giant floats for the Carnival in the French Riviera city of Nice.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell helped usher in the city's Carnival season by sampling a city delicacy — king cake — at a morning event.

A COVID-19 outbreak has taken place on a South Florida-based cruise ship for the third time this week.

The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a woman who fell from a Carnival cruise ship over the weekend.

Mayors across Brazil are divided on whether to maintain end-of-year festivities and February’s legendary Carnival in spite of the ongoing pandemic.

A Carnival cruise on which 27 people tested positive for COVID-19 just before the ship made a stop in Belize City this week is headed back to Galveston, Texas.

Carnival's Mardi Gras returned one week after the first cruise ship with paying passengers on board departed from Port Canaveral.

Major cruise lines are starting to become more active in the United States as many are either returning from a first voyage this weekend or resuming service.

Carnival Corp. is still losing billions while it waits for cruising to recover from the pandemic.

Customers and employees of several Carnival Corp. cruise lines might have had personal information stolen.

Carnival Cruise Line plans to resume sailing from Port Canaveral on July 31, with its new ship, the Mardi Gras, beginning seven-night cruises to the eastern and western Caribbean.

Carnival Cruise Line announced Tuesday it’s canceling all operations from U.S. ports through June 30.

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – Port Canaveral welcomed a new tug and barge system this week that will provide a cleaner burning fuel source for cruise ships including Carnival’s Mardi Gras scheduled to set sail later this year from Florida. The Port will become the first in the U.S. to become a liquified natural gas, or LNG, cruise port. With the fueling system, Mardi Gras can sail for two weeks between refueling. Port Canaveral Chief Financial Officer Michael Poole is projecting $32.59 million in operating revenue and a $43.12 million loss for the port in the current budget year that ends Sept. 30, reports Florida Today. “There is unanimous and overwhelming support for Port Canaveral,” Diane Luensmann of Port Canaveral Communications told Port commissioners Wednesday.

A reveller stands in front of a political carnival float depicting Russia's President Vladimir Putin fighting with opposition leader Alexei Navalny in the streets of Duesseldorf, Germany, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. Because of the coronavirus pandemic the traditional 'Rosenmontag' carnival parade are canceled but eight floats are pulled through the empty streets in Duesseldorf, where normally hundreds of thousands of people would celebrate the street carnival. But organizers in Duesseldorf, one of the German Rhineland's main Carnival strongholds, didn't want to let Rose Monday in 2021 go completely without the traditional caricatures of current events. “It's a small signal that we're alive,” float builder Jacques Tilly told the German news agency dpa. Another depicted the brain flying out of the head of an activist against coronavirus restrictions.

A woman dressed as a superhero and wearing a mask to curb the spread of the new coronavirus performs in the "Desliga da Justica" street band in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. Their performance was broadcast live on social media for those who were unable to participate in the carnival due to COVID restrictions after the city's government officially suspended Carnival and banned street parades or clandestine parties. “When everyone is immunized, we are going to have the biggest Carnival that Brazil has ever seen. One of the biggest street party associations, Blocos da Sebastiana, this year organized workshops on Carnival makeup and instruments and offered playlists of their music. “We would like to be partying on the street but we can’t.” said Rita Fernandes, president of Blocos da Sebastian.

A carnival reveler is watched by public order guards at the "Alter Markt" where normally tens of thousands of revelers dressed in carnival costumes would celebrate the start of the street carnival in Cologne, Germany, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. This year all carnival celebrations are banned due to the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)BERLIN – Germany’s renowned Carnival celebrations got underway Thursday but without any of their usual raucous revelry. One of Germany’s first superspreader events stemmed from a Carnival celebration in a town west of Cologne last February where many people came in contact with an infected man. Cologne festival committee President Christoph Kuckelkorn told Germany’s dpa news agency that Carnival could emerge from this year purified, returning closer to its roots from the increasingly commercial, excessive celebration it had become.

In a normal year, Rios Sambadrome would be preparing for its great moment of the year: the worlds most famous Carnival parade. But a week before what should be the start of Carnival, the pandemic has replaced pageantry. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)RIO DE JANEIRO – In a normal year, Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome would be preparing for its great moment of the year: the world’s most famous Carnival parade. Rio’s hotel occupancy rate normally reaches about 80% in the hot summer months and 100% during Carnival. It's now at roughly 50-60%, according to Alfredo Lopes, the president of Rio’s Hospitality Workers Union.

PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. – Disney, Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean all announced this month the companies will wait even longer to restart, Port Canaveral officials now predict cruises might return in July. Port Canaveral commissioners approved a revised port budget to update its losses to $43 million. Fortunately, with savings built up from record years before coronavirus, Port Canaveral CEO Captain John Murray is confident the port will outlast the pandemic even all the way into next year. Port officials said it is most likely the beginning of the restart will feature one ship per cruise line and each ship will operate at 50% capacity. The first cruises will be crew members only, the next set of cruises will be volunteers, all before regular passengers can get a ticket.

LAKE MARY, Fla. – Two people have been detained in Lake Mary for a double fatal shooting on the 1900 block of Americana Boulevard in Orlando, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Orange County deputies are investigating a deadly shooting that happened here along Americana Blvd around 2pm. Authorities were able to detain two people on Ronald Reagan Boulevard in the area of U.S. 17-92 in Lake Mary. The photo featured above shows investigators from Orange County and Seminole County responding to the scene by Lake Mary. Two people have been detained in Lake Mary for a double fatal shooting on the 1900 block of Americana Boulevard in Orlando, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

ORLANDO, Fla. – With more than 30 years of selling guns under his gun belt, John Lassiter, of Addison’s Gun Shop in Kissimmee, has seen his industry revolve between gun-lows and gun-highs. “I call this a ‘gun run.’ We have been through gun runs before,” Lassiter said. Using data from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the agency responsible for running firearm background checks for those purchasing guns, shows that in the first 10 days of 2021, background checks were up 71%. Industry leaders said the boost is driven by many first-timers: people buying guns for the first time. “A lot of people in the firearms business say 2021 is going to make 2020 look like a normal year,” Lassiter said.

DNA testing has shown three newborn babies found abandoned years apart at an Orlando, Florida apartment complex are all siblings. ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando police say they have found the biological mother of the three newborns left at apartment complexes across a span of three years. A note found with the baby said the mother left him because she was in fear of the child’s father, according to police. Officials said Wednesday they’ve been in contact with their biological mother since late November and were able to track her down with a DNA match. Authorities add that it is an open criminal investigation and the biological mother is also cooperating with detectives.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The SpaceX Cargo Dragon undocked from the space station Tuesday morning and completed the splashdown off Florida’s west coast. A day after the weather postponed the undocking, Dragon got the green light to undock around 9:05 a.m. Tuesday. 🐉 The upgraded @SpaceX cargo Dragon successfully undocked from the @Space_Station at 9:05am ET & is on its way back to Earth for splashdown on Jan. 13, west of Tampa off the coast of Florida. @ISS_Research will be delivered to researchers at @NASAKennedy: https://t.co/Dqltf5ME8X pic.twitter.com/esYxtUmBfH — NASA (@NASA) January 12, 2021Back at the space station, the crew onboard is preparing for upcoming spacewalks planned for Jan. 19 and 25. Commander Mike Hopkins and pilot Victor Glover, who both flew aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon in November, will conduct both spacewalks.

Ron DeSantis announced that more Florida Publix pharmacies will soon begin offering the COVID-19 vaccine to residents 65 and older. He said registration will open Wednesday for seven Publix stores in Okaloosa County, five in Santa Rosa County and six in Escambia County. He emphasized that the Publix locations are only open to elderly Florida residents and anyone without an appointment will be turned away. A full list of Publix locations offering the shots is available here. Last week, DeSantis announced that select Publix locations in Marion, Citrus and Hernando counties would begin inoculating seniors.

An Animal Enforcement Officer rescued a dog trapped from a marsh area known to have gators, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – An Animal Enforcement Officer rescued a dog trapped from a marsh area known to have gators, according to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said Officer Amy Riccio responded to an area in Bassville Park in Leesburg to a call for a service on a dog trapped on an island swamp area. Officer Riccio was able to get the dog’s trust and carry the pup across the makeshift bridge to safety. Deputies said the dog was taken to the Lake County Animal Shelter until the owner can be located.

SANFORD, Fla. – A Sanford firefighter who was pictured inside the Capitol building during a large-scale riot last week has been arrested on federal charges, records show. Andrew Williams was taken into custody Tuesday on charges of disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and knowingly entering the temporary residence of the president without authority to do so. The picture sent to News 6 shows Williams wearing a Trump 2020 hat and pointing at a placard for Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. I ask for the public’s patience as we move through this process,” Sanford Fire Chief Craig Radzak said in a news release. Now, ahead of next week’s inauguration, authorities nationwide are preparing for potentially violent protests and demonstrations.

Much to his surprise, he said he was unable to get unemployment benefits approved because of a denial for benefits dating back to 2008. “I haven’t seen any back-pay,” a frustrated Brulotte told News 6 from his home. News 6 contacted the DEO’s outgoing press scretary Paige Landrum, who was able to get Brulotte’s account updated in 24 hours. On Saturday, Brulotte told News 6 his bank account had a $5,000 deposit from the DEO just in time for his 51st birthday. “You were my last hope .”The DEO is working to update cases as quickly as possible.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Adding mid-block crossings with flashing-yellow lights along State Road A1A poses “an unreasonable safety risk” for pedestrians — because some drivers fail to stop when the lights are activated, the Cocoa Beach City Commission argues. The address is 900 N. Atlantic Ave. in Cocoa Beach. Cocoa Beach — S.R. It’s remarkable that FDOT doesn’t do anything about this,” Cocoa Beach City Commissioner Ed Martinez said during last week’s meeting. It’s remarkable that FDOT doesn’t do anything about this,” Cocoa Beach City Commissioner Ed Martinez said during last week’s meeting.

Doug Gray of Melbourne brought his 87-year-old dad to the health department drive-through site in Vero Beach rather than the Brevard County site in Viera. News 6 also met people Tuesday from Palm Beach County, an hour and a half away. And also like the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County, Indian River County advised people to sign up for its text-alerts to know immediately when new appointments open up. “I can’t say enough about Indian River County and the whole nine yards. In Indian River, the county Tuesday afternoon said it does not know when its next shipment is coming.

ORLANDO, Fla. – There has been a rise in opioid use and overdoses during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the founder of the Opioid Project, Andrae Bailey, and the issue has caught the attention of Florida Rep. Geraldine Thompson. Thompson hosted a virtual forum Tuesday morning to discuss the opioid epidemic with doctors and organizations a part of the conversation. “The COVID-19 pandemic has absolutely, definitively, no question about it, exacerbated the opioid crisis,” said Dr. Aaron Wohl, an emergency medicine physician with the Veterans Administration Hospital in Orlando. He said during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, the largest increase in overdose deaths of any demographic was in the African American community. The conversation also offered up resources like Aspire Health Partners, who offers services to those with opioid addiction.

ORLANDO, Fla. – More than 1,500 people 65 or older or health care workers with affiliations to AdventHealth pulled into an empty economy parking lot at the Orlando International Airport Tuesday to get their first dose of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine through AdventHealth. It’s the first community vaccination site provided by the health care system. “We set this up to be able to give as many shots as our community needs as we are able to get them,” said Dr. Scott Brady, CEO of AdventHealth Centra Care. Last week, AdventHealth sent an email to patients and employees saying they were going to open up 7,000 appointments. AdventHealth saying they have no extras left.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla – Florida’s famous high-wire acrobat Nik Wallenda walked the plank at the Legoland Florida Resort on Friday. The performer, originally from Sarasota, performed the epic high-wire walk nearly 600 feet cross the skies of the theme park. Legoland Florida also started a new show, Brickbeard’s Watersports Stunt Show and PirateFest Weekends. During the new PirateFest Weekends, guests can meet the famous Lego Pirate characters and participate in all-new shows and activities. Pirate Weekends runs Feb. 12-14, 20-21, 27-28.

MARION COUNTY, Fla. – A Marion County man and woman accused of killing a criminal information were indicted Tuesday on federal charges, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. [TRENDING: Manatee found with ‘Trump’ etched into skin | Carnival says 2020 bookings are strong | Here’s how to register for COVID-19 vaccine]“On April 6, 2016, K.B. was found deceased in her parked vehicle near a cemetery in Oxford, Florida, the victim of an apparent drug overdose. They’re both facing charges of murder of a government witness, conspiracy to murder a government witness and conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. The Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating the case with support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Unified Drug Enforcement Strike Team, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.

A Hillsborough County lunch room worker holds up food while parents wait in a line Wednesday, April 15, 2020, at the Brandon High School in Brandon, Fla. Hillsborough County Schools have stopped daily breakfast and lunch pickups for students and are distributing a week's worth of food one day a week. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Osceola County Public Schools announced Tuesday it’s consolidating its curbside meal program to fewer schools. The school district says it intends to provide free breakfast and lunch to virtual learning students through the rest of the semester but will be adjusting its curbside meal program next month. Elementary schools and Zenith Accelerated Learning Academy serving times are 9-9:30 a.m., middle school serving times are 10-10:30 a.m. and high school serving times are 3:30-4:30 p.m.District officials say Tuesday meals will be bundled with two breakfasts and two lunches per child. Current student ID card, birth certificate or any state-issued ID or passport are acceptable, OCPS officials said.

Past winners of the "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike contest in Key West. KEY WEST, Fla. – Ernest Hemingway look-alikes are being used by the Florida Keys tourism council to encourage visitors and residents to wear masks to protect against COVID-19. Play It Safe in the Florida Keys What would Ernest "Papa" Hemingway say? Posted by The Florida Keys & Key West on Monday, January 11, 2021The video is part of the Keys tourism council’s ongoing “Play It Safe” video series promoting personal responsibility and health protective measures to combat the global pandemic. COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the 40th annual “Papa” Hemingway Look-Alike Contest at Sloppy Joe’s last July.

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A state representative from Central Florida is putting pressure on the governor to make COVID-19 vaccines available to teachers. State Rep. Carlos Smith sent a letter to Florida Gov. We’ve just sent a letter urging @GovRonDeSantis to make #COVID19 vaccines IMMEDIATELY available to K-12 essential FL teachers and school district personnel 65+ currently in direct contact with students. Smith represents the 49th congressional district, which covers a large portion of Orange County, including the University of Central Florida. Several school leaders in Central Florida have sent similar letters to the governor, urging him to give educators and school staff priority when it comes to vaccinations.

You know about brownies and you’ve heard of Oreos. Now introducing the Brookie-o, the love child of an Oreo and a brownie. The tasty treat features Oreo’s original chocolate wafers with a three-layered filling of brownie cream, original cream and cookie dough cream. [TRENDING: Manatee found with ‘Trump’ etched into skin | Carnival says 2020 bookings are strong | Here’s how to register for COVID-19 vaccine]They’re on sale now but only for a limited time. The cookie company hit the market in 1912 and about 100 years later, it got big into the new flavor game.

Florida is taking part in the Emergency Rental Assistance program to help Floridians impacted financially by the coronavirus. Ron DeSantis announced Monday that the state would take part in the program, which was established by the COVID-19 relief legislation that was passed in December. [TRENDING: Manatee found with ‘Trump’ etched into skin | Carnival says 2020 bookings are strong | Here’s how to register for COVID-19 vaccine]The program would provide $1.4 billion in emergency rental assistance to Floridians who qualify, with more than $850 million administered by the state. Today I announced the state of Florida’s participation in the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which will provide $1.4 billion in critical rental assistance funding to Floridians. More info here – https://t.co/Iv1yQuFo3R — Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 12, 2021Household qualifications for assistance:.

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. – Starting Tuesday, Lake County will now offer shots of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine via appointment. The Florida Department of Health in Lake County has a limited number of vaccines to be distributed to Florida’s priority groups including long-term care facility residents and staff, persons 65 years of age and older and health care workers with direct patient contact. Registration opened at 2 p.m. and the appointments were filled within minutes. [TRENDING: Manatee found with ‘Trump’ etched into skin | Carnival says 2020 bookings are strong | Here’s how to register for COVID-19 vaccine]“We have been listening to concerns from our community and wanted to expedite appointment-based immunization for our residents and vulnerable seniors,” Lake County Board Commission Chairman Sean Parks said in a news release. The Florida Department of Health will also continue first come, first serve vaccinations.

ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – Volusia County deputies are investigating the fatal shooting of a man whose friend said he opened fire on him because the victim came at him with a pitchfork, according to a report. According to a news release from Volusia County deputies, the alleged shooter reported that he and his friend were outside the home when his friend pointed the pitchfork at him in a threatening manner. The shooter, who was armed with a handgun, told his friend to put down the pitchfork, and he did, according to deputies. The man, a lifelong friend of the victim, told deputies he was in fear for his life and his wife’s, who was also home at the time of the shooting. The shooting is still under investigation, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A sixth grade math teacher who was found passed out behind the wheel of a car is now facing drug possession charges, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. That is completely unacceptable,” Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said in a news release. Ramos is facing charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Polk County Public Schools said Ramos has no prior disciplinary action on her file. She’s also taught at Wendell Watson Elementary, Socrum Elementary and Oscar J. Pope Elementary.

According to an internal FBI bulletin, nationwide protests at state capitols and courthouses are being planned from Jan. 16 until Jan. 20. Montiero said when law enforcement receives a warning like this one, it’s important for agencies to act quickly. So, the FBI has issued their information, you have the FDLE (Florida Department of Law Enforcement) that gathers their own and then the sheriff’s offices,” he said. “Of course, they share information and then they begin to put action to prevent anything from happening.”A likely part of the security plans would be to put officers in places where they can be seen. “You’re going to get an obvious response (and) there’s going to be visual deterrents” Montiero said.

Royal Caribbean is pushing back its plans to resume sailing. The company posted a statement on its website and social media accounts Monday announcing the suspension of sailing through April 30. Royal Caribbean is offering refunds or credits for a future cruise to customers affected by this suspension. 🔗 bit.ly/RCIOperationsUpdate Posted by Royal Caribbean International on Tuesday, January 12, 2021This comes despite the CDC lifting its no sail order at the end of October. [RELATED: Port Canaveral reports $18 million loss in budget year as cruise operations remain idled]Florida Today reports the biggest factor in the loss was the suspension of sailings.

ORLANDO, Fla – Walt Disney World officials on Tuesday said that a new exhibit, The Soul of Jazz: An American Adventure will debut at EPCOT beginning next month. The exhibit will be located inside the American Adventure and will introduce and allow guests to explore the colorful and surprising history of jazz. Officials said the exhibit will feature Joe Gardner, the music teacher from the new animated Disney-Pixar film, “Soul.”Guests will experience the musical history of jazz in the cities of New Orleans, Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles and Puerto Rico. [TRENDING: Manatee found with ‘Trump’ etched into skin | Carnival says 2020 bookings are strong | Here’s how to register for COVID-19 vaccine]“Jazz is the story of America. It unites people from every walk of life, and it’s a living breathing art form that is always evolving and always changing,” said Carmen Smith, creative executive with Walt Disney Imagineering “We’re working with top jazz museums across this country from New Orleans to New York and we’re excited to have their participation in this project.”An official opening date has not been announced, but Disney officials said they look forward to welcoming guests soon.

ORLANDO, Fla. – A 54-year-old Orlando woman was struck and killed by two vehicles and may have been run over by others Monday night in Orange County, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The fatal crash happened at 9:10 p.m. on Sand Lake Road near Voltaire Drive. [TRENDING: Manatee found with ‘Trump’ etched into skin | Carnival says 2020 bookings are strong | Here’s how to register for COVID-19 vaccine]The FHP said a car driven by a 17-year-old Orlando girl and another vehicle driven by a 60-year-old Florida man struck the woman, who was crossing Sand Lake Road. The victim then may have been run over by other cars, with the drivers unaware of the incident, troopers said. Anyone who might have been involved is asked to call the FHP at 407-737-2213.

THE VILLAGES, Fla. – People in Sumter County now have a new opportunity to get a coronavirus vaccine. Through a partnership with the Florida Department of Health and Global Medical Response, those who are 65 and older can receive a vaccine free of charge at a new outdoor site. Steve and Gene Uhrick found out about the new site on Monday and right away signed up online for an appointment. As you register for the vaccine, you will also be asked how you want to receive your special PIN number. The governor assured Tuesday the site has the capabilities of administering around 800 shots a day to start.

CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. – A manatee was recently spotted swimming along the Homosassa River with the word “Trump” scraped onto its skin and now, a federal investigation is underway. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating. Fish & Wildlife Service is investigating the harassment of a manatee...reported to federal authorities over the weekend discovered w/ words "Trump" scraped in its back ...discovered in Blue Hole on the Homosassa River” (via @CitrusChronicle )-Insurrectioning wildlife? Fish and Wildlife Service. Fish and Wildlife Service is aware of this incident and is working closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

FILE - In this Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, file photo, Mondo Kayo parades down Chartres Street during Mardi Gras, in New Orleans. The Mardi Gras season always starts on Jan. 6 and ends on Fat Tuesday, which this year falls on Feb. 16. The Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc is a club that annually pays homage to the fallen French hero with a parade through the French Quarter on the official start of the Carnival season. In Mobile, Alabama, dozens of parades, balls and other events also have been canceled. The city on the Gulf of Mexico calls itself the birthplace of Mardi Gras since celebrations began there a few years earlier than in New Orleans.

The benchmark S&P 500 index finished with a gain of 16.3% for the year, or a total return of about 18.4%, including dividends. And the S&P 500 rose or fell by at least 1% on twice as many days in 2020 than it did, on average, since 1950. The electric car maker jumped 743.4% in 2020 for the biggest gain in the S&P 500. All told, the S&P 500 set 33 record highs in 2020. The S&P 500 rose 24.03 points, or 0.6%, to 3,756.07, an all-time high.

Coronavirus: Carnival cancels early 2021 cruisesPublished: November 18, 2020, 12:37 pmCarnival said Wednesday that as it continues to outline plans to sail with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, it has notified guests that is has canceled cruises planned for early next year.

A "quadra" or court, which this time of year is usually filled with Carnival performers practicing their dance moves, sits empty in the Unidos de Padre Miguel samba school, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, Sept. 21, 2020. Rio de Janeiro on Thursday, Sept. 24, said it has delayed its annual Carnival parade, saying the global spectacle cannot go ahead in February because of Brazils continued vulnerability to the new coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

The samba schools are community institutions, and the parades are just one detail of all that,” Luiz Antonio Simas, a historian who specializes in Rio’s Carnival, said in an interview. As the number of infections grew, the samba schools that participate in the glitzy annual parade halted preparations for the 2021 event. Nearly all of Rio’s samba schools are closely linked to working class communities. “Carnival is our life.”The last year Rio’s Carnival was suspended was 1912, following the death of the foreign relations minister. A statement from the agency Thursday provided no further clarity on the fate of the Carnival street parties.

MIAMI – Carnival Corp. says it was the victim of a ransomware attack that likely got some personal information about the cruise company's guests and employees. Carnival operates Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and other lines, but the company didn't say in the filing which cruise line was affected. The SEC filing also didn't say how many people's personal information may have been accessed, and spokesman Roger Frizzell said in an email that the company wasn't releasing any information other than what was in the securities filing. Carnival says it has launched an investigation into the ransomware attack and notified law enforcement. The Miami-based company also has reinforced the security of its information systems, Carnival said.

The cruise industry hopes to set sail later this summer.

MIAMI, Fla. – Carnival Corp. will implement layoffs, furloughs, reduced workweeks and salary reductions across the company, the Miami-based company announced Thursday. It’s the latest move in hopes of keeping the cruise industry financially afloat after it was rocked by the coronavirus pandemic, and it follows similar announcements by other lines. The report says that Carnival had about 120,000 workers worldwide before the start of the coronavirus outbreak and that furloughed employees could potentially return when cruising resumes. “Taking these extremely difficult employee actions involving our highly dedicated workforce is a very tough thing to do. Norwegian Cruise Line has furloughed 20% of its staff and has warned that it could face bankruptcy.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – The plan to get back to business beachside starts as a step-by-step approach for one of Brevard County’s most recognizable attractions. On Monday, the Cocoa Beach Pier, which has been closed since March 19, reopened its parking lot, a hot dog stand and a souvenir shop. Erika Miele, with Park Place Behavioral Health care, said she was happy to see reopening underway. [MORE: Carnival announces plan to resume cruises amid coronavirus pandemic]Also on Monday, Carnival announced it will cruise again from Port Canaveral starting the first of August. “We applaud Carnival for this realistic plan to move forward with cruise sailings," Murray said.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Carnival Cruise Line officials have announced plans to resume travel amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The cruise line plans to have eight cruises resume service in North America starting Aug. 1, according to a news release. Beginning Aug. 1, Carnival plans to resume cruises on the following ships: Galveston: Carnival Dream, Carnival Freedom and Carnival Vista Miami: Carnival Horizon, Carnival Magic and Carnival Sensation Port Canaveral: Carnival Breeze and Carnival ElationOther than the ships referenced above from Galveston, Miami, and Port Canaveral, all other North American and Australian homeport cruises will be canceled through Aug. 31, cruise line officials said. All Carnival Splendor cruises in Australia from June 19 to Aug. 31 will also be canceled. Travelers whose plans are impacted by the cruise line’s announcement will be notified via email about refunds or credit for future Carnival cruises.

ORLANDO, Fla. – As the coronavirus outbreak continues to be a global health concern, Carnival announced Monday it is pausing operations through May 11. The cruise line said customers impacted by the extension will receive an email from Carnival or their travel advisor. [RELATED: Carnival cruise ships could be used as floating hospitals amid coronavirus pandemic]Carnival officials note its call centers are experiencing a high volume of calls. Carnival says sailings have not been impacted for those who have planned trips after May 11. To keep up with the latest news on the pandemic, subscribe to News 6′s coronavirus newsletter or go to ClickOrlando.com/coronavirus.

Carnival’s Princess Cruises announced Thursday that it is suspending all operations for two months due to concerns over the coronavirus. The announcement impacts 18 ships and will affect cruises through May 10. [CORONAVIRUS BRIEFING: Daily ClickOrlando.com newsletter delivered to your inbox]CNBC reported that Princess Cruises President Jan Swartz said the company is taking the “bold action” to reassure stakeholders of its commitment to the well-being of its passengers.