D23: Magic Kingdom set for Walt Disney animatronic, Tron overlay

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 8/30 11:17A Dewayne Bevil

An animatronic version of Walt Disney will be incorporated into the Carousel of Progress attraction at Magic Kingdom theme park, Imagineer Chris Beatty announced Saturday at the Destination D23 event...

First look: Halloween Horror Nights haunted houses for 2025

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 8/30 5:59A Dewayne Bevil

Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights is back in action. The 2025 edition of the after-hours fright fest remains intense and just may have gotten ickier. Among the trends spotted on Friday, opening...

How associates in Sheriff Lopez gambling operation made play in Lake County

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 8/30 4:07A Annie Martin, Cristóbal Reyes

As thrill-seekers emerged in 2021 from pandemic-induced isolation, the businessman at the center of the racketeering allegations against now-suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez extended his...

Storm chances higher Saturday for Central Florida

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 8/30 2:48A Richard Tribou

Central Florida has a high chance for rain Saturday, especially along the eastern counties, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS in Melbourne gave the the region a 55% to 70% chance for precipitation that increases in the afternoons...

DOGE audit makes GOP-controlled Florida county a test case for defying DeSantis and developers

Orlando Sentinel (Brinkmann On Business) 8/30 1:00A Ryan Ballogg, Carter Weinhofer,

Manatee County voters snubbed Tallahassee last fall when they rejected Gov. Ron DeSantis’ hand-picked, pro-development commission candidates and instead elected a slate of grassroots Republicans who promised to rein in runaway growth. True to...

Mystery permit: What does Universal plan for 53 acres near Epic Universe?

Orlando Sentinel (Brinkmann On Business) 8/30 1:00A Tyler Williams

Just a few months after opening Epic Universe, Universal may be eyeing a nearby property for a new project. However, the theme park operator has taken steps to ensure its plans for the site remain a...

September in the Garden for Central Florida

Orlando Sentinel (Osceola County News) 8/30 12:00A Tom MacCubbin

The Almanac Average temperature: High 90, Low 72 Rainfall: 5.76 inches 1. Moon phases Full moon: Sept. 1 Last quarter: Sept. 14 New moon: Sept. 21 First quarter: Sept. 29 2. Moon sign planting dates Above-ground crops: 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 24, 25, 26,...

Plant Doctor: Like many others, lychee trees sometimes take a break from bearing fruit

Orlando Sentinel (Osceola County News) 8/29 11:00P Tom MacCubbin

Question : My lychee tree has finished fruiting with only a few fruits this year. It has grown a bit large for the site in my yard. How do I get more fruit and when can I prune the tree? Answer : Like many fruiting trees, lychee take time off...

Spirit Airlines again files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 8/29 10:57A David Lyons

Discount carrier Spirit Airlines, overwhelmed with continuing financial difficulty, returned to bankruptcy court in a second bid to rehabilitate its business reorganization under Chapter 11 protection from creditors, the company announced Friday....

Florida AG: Seminole man arrested for petition fraud for pro-pot amendment

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 8/29 9:46A Silas Morgan

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Friday that a Seminole County man was recently arrested for petition fraud in collecting signatures for a pro-marijuana legalization group, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement....

Seminole, Osceola teachers secure raises as talks continue in Orange, Lake

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 8/29 7:47A Steven Walker

Teachers in Seminole and Osceola counties will get modest raises this year, after their unions recently reached agreements with their school districts. But instructors in Lake and Orange counties must still wait for any pay hikes as negotiations...

100 days of Epic Universe: Rave reviews, long waits, speculation

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 8/29 7:30A Dewayne Bevil

Orlando is marking the 100th day of the Epic Universe era. Universal Orlando’s new theme park , which debuted May 22, burst onto the scene during a very hot summer with positive reviews for its...

Dolphins assistant coach arrested in Broward on domestic battery accusation

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 8/29 4:49A Rafael Olmeda, David Furones

An assistant Miami Dolphins coach remained in jail late Friday, facing charges in a domestic violence incident. Outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow Ryan Crow slapped his live-in girlfriend and left her looking terrified and sounding as if she...

Supreme Court justices, superheroes, soccer players: There’s a lot to learn this season

Orlando Sentinel (Osceola County News) 8/29 3:30A Matthew J. Palm

IN THE SPOTLIGHT Scalia/Ginsburg: Harmony and Discourse WHAT: Scalia/Ginsburg is an opera that celebrates the unlikely friendship between Supreme Court justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia....

Central Florida special elections Tuesday to fill state House, Senate seats in Orange

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 8/29 3:17A Silas Morgan

Central Florida voters will choose from among several familiar faces Tuesday in two special elections for the state Legislature to fill the vacancies caused by the unexpected death of longtime state...