From the editor: Help us continue our important journalism

Orlando Sentinel (Osceola County News) 11/29 11:58P Roger Simmons

Dear readers, On behalf of our newsroom staff, I want to express my gratitude to you for being an Orlando Sentinel reader and someone who supports a free press, which is vital for our democracy. While...

Orlando Museum of Art to open largest U.S. David LaChapelle exhibit

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 11/29 10:00P Matthew J. Palm

A retrospective of the work of acclaimed photographer-director David LaChapelle is coming to Orlando Museum of Art in the new year. And it will include a world-premiere creation the museum describes...

Plant Doctor: With proper care anthuriums provide colorful, long-lasting blooms

Orlando Sentinel (Osceola County News) 11/28 11:00P Tom MacCubbin

Question : Anthuriums are my favorite flowering foliage plants, but I have a hard time growing them — in planters or vases. Do you have any recommendations? Answer : Gardeners wanting long-lasting...

Orlando small businesses can count on local shoppers’ loyalty this season

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 11/28 10:30P Silas Morgan

As Americans feel their wallets tighten this Black Friday, Orlando s small businesses are counting on the loyalty of customers in their community to ensure steady business. Sarah Johnson-Markve is the...

Orlando theaters collect food for hungry students during holidays

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 11/28 10:00P Matthew J. Palm

Three Central Florida theaters are uniting once again this holiday season to aid local children who go hungry when not in school. After a brief hiatus, Orlando Family Stage , Orlando Shakes and Winter Park Playhouse are reviving their...

December in the Garden for Central Florida

Orlando Sentinel (Osceola County News) 11/28 10:00P Tom MacCubbin

The Almanac Average temperature: High 73, Low 53 | Winter arrives Dec. 21 Rainfall: 2.31 inches 1. Moon phases Full moon: Dec. 4 Last quarter: Dec. 11 New moon: Dec. 19 First quarter: Dec. 27 2. Moon sign planting dates Above-ground crops:  2, 3,...

Spirit, Frontier offer steep air travel discounts in Black Friday dogfight

Orlando Sentinel (Brinkmann On Business) 11/28 9:16A David Lyons

A Black Friday airfare dogfight appears to have broken out between rival discount carriers Spirit and Frontier airlines, as both announced Friday they are briefly selling one-way tickets for $30 or...

Snapchat is nearing 1 billion monthly users. Why can’t it turn a profit?

Orlando Sentinel (Brinkmann On Business) 11/28 8:54A Tribune News Service

By Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times Snapchat, an app whose disappearing messages and silly face filters made chatting with loved ones more casual, is close to a milestone that few social media platforms achieve: reaching 1 billion monthly users....

Shoppers are underwhelmed by deals and crowds on Black Friday

Orlando Sentinel (Brinkmann On Business) 11/28 7:20A Tribune News Service

By Jaewon Kang, Bloomberg News Underwhelmed and unimpressed are how shoppers are feeling about Black Friday deals so far. Related Articles Spirit, Frontier offer steep air travel discounts in Black Friday dogfight Snapchat is nearing 1 billion...

Eel populations are falling, and new protections were defeated. Japan and the US opposed them

Orlando Sentinel (Brinkmann On Business) 11/28 7:06A Associated Press

By PATRICK WHITTLE, Associated Press SCARBOROUGH, Maine (AP) — Eels are the stuff of nightmares — slimy, snakelike creatures that lay millions of eggs before dying so their offspring can return home...

Photos capture enduring enthusiasm for Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year

Orlando Sentinel (Brinkmann On Business) 11/28 5:30A Associated Press

By The Associated Press Black Friday kicked off the holiday shopping season with enthusiasm, despite consumer confidence in the U.S. economy falling this month in the aftermath of the federal...

Man charged with DUI manslaughter after 18-year-old killed in Osceola County crash

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 11/28 5:26A Elainie Barraza

An 18-year-old woman from Georgia is dead and several others are injured after a three-vehicle crash late Thanksgiving Day in Osceola County, the Florida Highway Patrol said. At approximately 11:41 p.m., 2004 Acura MDX, driven by 44-year-old Eddy...

US stocks rise for a fifth straight day to close out a volatile month

Orlando Sentinel (Brinkmann On Business) 11/28 3:16A Associated Press

Wall Street rose for a fifth straight day to put the wraps on a volatile month. The S&P 500 rose 0.5% in abbreviated trading Friday and closed out November with a slim gain of 0.1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 289 points, or 0.6%. The...

Very Orlando Gift Guide: Soothing houseplants, 150th-anniversary book, puppy training classes

Orlando Sentinel (Brinkmann On Business) 11/28 3:00A Cassie Armstrong

Do you have a loved one on your holiday list who sports a green thumb? Check out The Jungle Room in Orlando s College Park for plants and items sure to delight plant enthusiasts. Or how about a book...

Discussed on Reddit: How should I pay for my holiday purchases?

Orlando Sentinel (Brinkmann On Business) 11/28 3:00A Nerdwallet

A Reddit user recently posited that it’s better to use a credit card to make purchases than cash or debit cards. With a credit card, the poster wrote, you can enjoy cash back or rewards, which you don’t get with cash or debit cards. Related...