It's sea turtle nesting season in South Florida — that time of year when our beaches become runways for newborn hatchlings making their daring escapes into the sea.

Why it matters: This is a time for cautious curiosity.

• Local governments are enforcing rules against bright lights near the beach and protecting nests, while groups offer guided tours to view the turtles from a safe distance.

How it works: Nesting season for these endangered and threatened turtles typically begins in March across Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, but it begins April 1 in Miami Beach, per the city.

• Miami-Dade County's most common nester is the loggerhead sea turtle, but we're also popular among the green and leatherback sea turtles, per the county's website.
• During the season, biologists with the Miami-Dade County Sea Turtle Conservation Program survey for turtle nesting every day across over 19 miles of county land, including most of the county's beaches, seven municipalities and two county parks.
• Around 600 nests are laid every year on Miami-Dade County beaches, which are marked off with stakes, neon tape and a sign advising the public to stay away.

Stunning stat: Each nest will have about 100 hatchlings that make their way to the ocean. One out of 1,000 hatchlings survives to adulthood, underscoring the need for conservation efforts, the county says.

Threat level: Artificial light can disorient nesting adults and hatchlings, who may mistake it for the Moon's reflection on the ocean.

• The FWC encourages those living along or visiting the beach to turn off porch, parking or deck lights when not in use and close curtains after dark.
• Amber and yellowish long-wavelength lights that are mounted low and shielded are OK, per the FWC. (Many cities, including Miami Beach, have local ordinances requiring properties to reduce or eliminate any lighting visible from the beach.)
• If you ever see a nesting sea turtle or hatchling, keep your distance, keep all lights off and report any emergencies to FWC.

What's next: The season runs through Oct. 31.

Go deeper: How to watch

President Trump's foundation released the first images of his planned downtown Miami presidential library this week, depicting a skyscraper that includes a presidential plane and multiple golden statues of Trump.

Why it matters: The renderings offer a look at a project that would be Florida's first presidential library and a dramatic addition to Miami's skyline.

Zoom in: The 100-second video posted online and set to a "Game of Thrones"-esque soundtrack features one Trump statue at the building's entrance, overlooking Biscayne Boulevard, and another in a large auditorium.

• In addition to the presidential plane, multiple smaller fighter jets are also featured.
• The video also depicts many visitors, all dressed as if attending a gala, on a golden escalator, outdoors in the gardens, in a ballroom, and inside a replica of the Oval Office.
• The word "TRUMP" sits at the top of the tower.

Catch up quick: Miami Dade College's Board of Trustees voted in September to transfer the property, valued at $67 million, to the state.

• Immediately following the vote, Attorney General James Uthmeier said the state would dedicate the land to Trump's library.
• Historian and activist Marvin Dunn challenged the transfer, arguing it was done without proper notice or community input.
• A Miami judge dismissed the complaint in December.

Friction point: The project sits just south of the city's Freedom Tower, known as the Ellis Island of the South, which once served as a refugee center for Cuban asylum seekers and is now a museum.

• Cuban-Americans in Florida voted overwhelmingly for Trump in the 2024 election. The U.S. then repatriated more than 1,600 Cubans in 2025, double the number from 2024, according to the New York Times.

Meanwhile, critics of the project told multiple outlets during protests opposing it that the property belonged to Miami Dade College students and the community at large, not the president.

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😤 After back-to-back wins and numerous nominations, Miami chefs were left out of this year's James Beard Award Nominations. (James Beard Foundation)

• Last year, Nando Chang, of the now-closed Itamae AO in Midtown, won the Best Chef: South category, while his sister, Valerie, won the same award in 2024.

🥯 PopUp Bagels is opening its first Miami location in Aventura on April 10. (Miami New Times)

🤑 Ronaldo, the Brazilian soccer legend, bought a five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bathroom penthouse at Onda, a waterfront condo development in Bay Harbor Islands, for $7.8 million. (The Real Deal)

It's almost time for NASA's moon flight to lift off — and here in South Florida, you may be able to see it from your backyard.

Why it matters: Artemis II, set to carry four astronauts around the moon on a 10-day mission, marks the first time humans will travel around the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.

• The launch from Florida's Kennedy Space Center is set for no sooner than Wednesday at 6:24pm.

How to watch: If there are clear skies, look up! NASA published the following map that shows folks in Miami and Fort Lauderdale will need to wait between 50 and 60 seconds after launch to see the rocket ship.

• Meteorologist Phil Ferro of WSVN Fox 7 and ABC Miami posted on X that if it's not cloudy, mainland South Florida may see the ship about 4 minutes after blast-off.

Zoom in: NASA will provide live video coverage of prelaunch, launch, splashdown, and other activities for the Artemis II flight test.

• NASA broadcast coverage of tanking operations begins on launch day at 7:45am on YouTube. Full launch coverage begins at 12:50pm on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube.
• Follow a virtual tracker to see the Orion spacecraft's location.

Keep reading: Backup plan

Margie was at Knaus Berry Farm! It was her first visit to the new location.

• She had some hot buns and a strawberry milkshake — both delicious!

👏 Congrats to readers Jessica Niestzche, Manny Fuentes, Lizzie Pittinger, Ella Fies and a handful of others for guessing correctly!