PORT CANAVERAL — Martha Jackson was watching a wedding video with her nephew when she heard the splash.

Soon after, the Nashville, Tenn., woman heard a man yelling.

“You could hear him hollering for help,” said Jackson, who was on the last night of a four-night cruise to the Bahamas.

Authorities have not released the name of the 34-year-old Philadelphia man who jumped from his sixth-deck suite aboard the Carnival Sensation late Wednesday. The man, who was on the cruise celebrating his wedding anniversary, was rescued 1 1/2 hours later by the Disney cruise ship Wonder off the coast of southern St. Lucie County. (more…)

PALM BAY — Palm Bay High senior Tyler Laprade received a perfect score on the ACT, the only Florida student to do so this spring.

Laprade, 16, scored a 36 on the nationwide college entrance exam, which he took as a junior.

The average Florida student in the class of 2009 received a score of 19.5 on the test, but results for Laprade’s class aren’t available.

He also received a perfect score of 2400 on the SAT, the other nationwide college entrance exam.

“I was always raised to be the best,” said Laprade, who participates on the wrestling, swimming and track teams. “My parents expect me to be a high achiever.”

Laprade is enrolled in all Advanced Placement classes at Palm Bay High. He said he hopes to study mathematics next year and likely will become a computer programmer. He’s filling out applications to Harvard, MIT and the University of Florida.

He turns 17 Saturday and plans to go to Walt Disney World for his birthday.

By MEGAN DOWNS, Florida Today

PORT ST. LUCIE — It’s a 20-year-old dream come true.

Richard “Rick” Hartley and his wife, Ann, picked up the phone last week in their Maryland home and heard Robin Sutherland on the other end telling them they had just won the YMCA Easter House.

The drawing was on Thursday, but the family couldn’t be reached when Sutherland, the YMCA’s house planning consultant, called to let them know of their big win.
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VERO BEACH — A man who secretly buried his mother in their back yard to cover up her death will be serving 20 years in state prison for second-degree murder, court files show.

In mid-2008, Vero Lake Estates resident Kelly Smith, 38, argued with his mother, Lynn Schuler, 59, over his unemployment. (more…)

ORLANDO — Walt Disney Co. announced its first major hotel discounts in years to counter a “sobering” economic outlook for 2009, after reporting lower profit in its most recent quarter because of a decline in movie and theme-park earnings and losses from the bankruptcy of one of Wall Street’s giant investment firms.

Disney President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger said early hotel bookings for 2009 are down “considerably,” though he also said “it’s just too early to tell” whether that’s more the result of people delaying their vacation plans or canceling them altogether.

“Our brand and the experiences we offer have never been stronger. But consumer confidence is the lowest we’ve seen in over three decades,” Iger said, noting that retail spending is also down. “That could impact us possibly during the holiday season but almost certainly during 2009.”

Disney is bringing back a deal it last offered in 2003: For most of the first six months of next year, vacationers can get seven nights in Disney World hotels for the price of four. Those who book vacations for January, February or March will also get a voucher for $200 worth of food and souvenirs. For either deal, reservations must be made by Dec. 20. (more…)