Restaurant surcharges are changing the math for credit card rewards

Orlando Sentinel (Brinkmann On Business) 10/31 4:00A Nerdwallet

A few weeks ago, I was about to pay the HVAC technician who had repaired my home’s heat pump. Out of habit, I pulled a credit card from my wallet — I figured I’d earn rewards on this pricey transaction — but then the tech warned me that his...

Instacart, DoorDash, Gopuff among companies offering discounts to SNAP recipients

Orlando Sentinel (Brinkmann On Business) 10/31 3:38A Associated Press

By DEE-ANN DURBIN, Associated Press Business Writer Instacart said Friday it will offer customers who receive SNAP benefits 50% on their next grocery order to ease strain as the government prepares to cut off food aid payments . Related Articles...

After NASA pressure, SpaceX promises speedier timeline for Starship moon lander

Orlando Sentinel (Brinkmann On Business) 10/31 12:00A Richard Tribou

After acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy this month called out SpaceX for Starship delays, Elon Musk s company has come back with an update defending its progress and offering a speedier plan to get astronauts back on the moon as part of the...

Millions of Floridians slated to lose food stamp benefits Saturday

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 10/31 12:00A Michael Cuglietta

Desiree Torres relies on federal assistance to buy food for her two children. But come Saturday the single mother, along with nearly 3 million other Floridians, likely will lose that help due to the...

Christy Martin survived terrifying abuse. She hopes filming her story helps others

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 10/30 11:00P Matthew J. Palm

Christy Martin was used to making headlines. As a young athlete with knockout drive, she put women s boxing on the map as one of its first superstars, even making the cover of Sports Illustrated. But...

GOP ad decried as ‘homophobic’ urges voters to keep Orlando’s last Republican commissioner

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 10/30 10:02A Ryan Gillespie

Orlando s city council elections are officially nonpartisan. But an ad mailed to some District 1 voters in Orlando calls on them to re-elect Jim Gray, “the last Republican standing” on the city...

Orlando murder suspect gets short sentence after Florida AG intervenes

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 10/30 9:42A Cristóbal Reyes

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier s demand that murder charges be dropped in an alleged Orlando road rage shooting , a case of political intervention in the justice system so unusual it was criticized by both prosecutors and defense...

Reopening of Austin’s Coffee in Winter Park delayed due to septic issues

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 10/30 9:18A Brian Bell

Issues with the septic system at the new home of Austin s Coffee have forced the owners to delay reopening the Winter Park mainstay for local arts and entertainment. The shop located for decades at...

Comcast: Epic Universe gives boost to quarterly earnings report

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 10/30 4:35A Dewayne Bevil

Theme park revenue climbed 18.7% in the third quarter for Comcast Corp. , propelled by the early months of operation of Epic Universe , the company reported Thursday. The attractions segment, which...

Thursday has cool weather with very little chances of rain

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 10/30 2:48A Garfield Hylton

Thursday is sunny with a high near the mid-70s. Winds are blowing west-northwest at a speed of 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph, according to NWS Melbourne. There is a high risk for life-threatening rip currents at area beaches. Small...

Boo tube: Imagineering series scares up Haunted Mansion facts

Orlando Sentinel (Brinkmann On Business) 10/30 12:06A Dewayne Bevil

It takes a lot to make those grim, grinning ghosts come out to socialize. The latest installment of We Call It Imagineering, the Disney-produced YouTube series, dives into details of Haunted Mansion ,...

New College of Florida may be first to sign Trump’s university pledge

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 10/30 12:00A Lucy Marques

New College of Florida may soon be the first public university in the country to sign President Donald Trump’s higher education agreement. The compact offers preferential tax benefits and funding to schools that agree to follow the Trump...

Sanford approves church’s rezoning request for historic Mayfair Hotel

Orlando Sentinel (Brinkmann On Business) 10/30 12:00A Donovan Conaway

After an hour-long discussion on Monday, the Sanford City Commission voted 4-1 to approve a religious nonprofit s plan for a mixed-use development on the historic Mayfair Hotel property in downtown....

Project Overdose to launch AI drug-tracking tool ahead of Electric Daisy Carnival

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 10/30 12:00A Cristóbal Reyes

Standing at a podium facing reporters at the Seminole County Sheriff s Office, Project Overdose founder Andrae Bailey proposed a thought experiment: What would hurricane prep look like without Doppler radar? Without tools to gauge the strength of...

Doctors muffled as Florida moves to end decades of childhood vaccination mandates

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 10/30 12:00A Arthur Allen

SARASOTA, Fla. — Florida plans to end nearly a half-century of required childhood immunizations against diseases that have killed and maimed millions of children. Many critics of the decision, including doctors, are afraid to speak up against it....