ORLANDO, Fla. — Democratic congressional candidate Maxwell Frost confronted Gov. Ron DeSantis about gun violence at an event in Orlando Thursday night, but the governor said, “Nobody wants to hear from you” as security removed Frost. The confrontation …
Special Olympics drops COVID vaccine mandate after Florida threatens $27.5 million fine
ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida threatened to fine the Special Olympics $27.5 million for requiring 5,500 participants at this weekend’s USA Games in Orlando to be vaccinated against COVID, prompting the organization to drop the mandate. “There needs to be a c…
Work begins on fire-gutted Carnival Freedom funnel after passengers make it back to Port Canaveral
Carnival Cruise Line got to work on its Port Canaveral-based ship Carnival Freedom after fire gutted part of its funnel in a headline-grabbing incident in Grand Turk last week. The inferno destroyed the starboard side of the iconic red-white-and-blue f…
FAA’s SpaceX Starship environmental report coming in 2 weeks
The Federal Aviation Administration announced one more delay for the release of its environmental assessment of the SpaceX plans to launch its new Starship with Super Heavy rocket on an orbital test flight from Texas. In a release Tuesday, the FAA said…
Odds increase for first tropical storm in Atlantic Ocean this week
ORLANDO, Fla. — The National Hurricane Center in Miami on Monday increased the odds of tropical development in the Atlantic Ocean over the next five days to 40%. It’s because of Hurricane Agatha, a Category 2 Pacific hurricane due to hit Mexico on Mond…
Port Canaveral makes arrival plans for new Disney Wish cruise ship
ORLANDO, Fla. — Disney Cruise Line will be throwing a party for its new ship Disney Wish when it arrives to Port Canaveral next month even though it won’t begin sailing with customers until July 14. Port Canaveral is getting ready for the first new shi…
Deputies killing of Jayden Baez met with outrage at candlelight vigil
ORLANDO, Fla. — The fatal shooting of a 20-year-old man by Osceola County deputies ignited community members to hold a candlelight vigil Friday night, amid heightened scrutiny of the lack of transparency coming from Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and …
NASA targets June 5 for redo of Artemis moon rocket dress rehearsal
ORLANDO, Fla. — NASA discovered a bevy headaches in its first three tries to run through a dress rehearsal countdown of the Artemis I moon rocket at Kennedy Space Center earlier this year. Now it’s ready for attempt No. 4. The agency is targeting a cal…
In aftermath of Roe leak, Central Florida church leaders share range of abortion views
ORLANDO, Fla. — As a crowd gathered outside City Hall in downtown Orlando to rally a day after a draft of a Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked, Rev. Margalie Belizaire joined them to demand that the nation’s abortion rights rema…
Inside the Magic’s luck that landed Orlando No. 1 pick in NBA draft
CHICAGO — A few hours before their franchise-altering night, the Orlando Magic made a rare change. Jeff Weltman, president of basketball operations, was scheduled to be the Magic’s on-stage representative at Tuesday’s NBA draft lottery. Before it start…