Posted inOrlando Area News
Orange County commissioner Nicole Wilson launches youth leadership council
“Everything we do will affect them,” Wilson acknowledged in an interview. “They need to have a voice.”
News
Orlando Weekly News covers Central Florida politics, community issues, crime, education, and national stories that shape life in Orlando.
Posted inFlorida News
Florida gas average still over $4 ahead of busy Memorial Day weekend
The pump average in Florida is approaching its 50th consecutive day over the $4 mark
Posted inFlorida News
Florida school choice advocates push back against union’s ‘frivolous’ voucher suit
Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas called the statewide union a “special interest group” on a “never-ending quest to harm students and families in our great state.”
Posted inFlorida News
‘Alligator Alcatraz’ payments land at last: $58 million to hit Florida next week
It’ll be the first installment of the federal government’s promised $608 million reimbursements
Posted inFlorida News
DeSantis signs law to arm ‘guardians’ on Florida college campuses
The bill was crafted after a shooting at FSU during the 2025 legislative session
Posted inOrlando Area News
Sanford Main Street launches fundraiser for Central Florida Zoo sloth care
All proceeds go toward sloth conservation and care efforts at the Central Florida Zoo
Posted inOrlando Area News
Mr. Ginger is fourth Sloth World sloth to die after rescue
The green bean-loving sloth was the smallest and youngest of the rescues, estimated to be only about 4 to 6 months old
Posted inOrlando Area News
Seminole County makes lifesaving Narcan available at Orlando-Sanford International Airport
Ready access to Narcan is important for cases “where we can’t wait on medical personnel to respond,” says airport rep
Posted inOrlando Area News
Downtown parking rate hike advances despite public concern
A second vote of approval is needed for the rate hike to take effect. That vote is expected to occur at City Council’s June 8 meeting.
Posted inFlorida News
Florida’s AIDS drug program’s future remains unresolved
It faces an uncertain future amid ongoing budget talks between the House and Senate.
Posted inNews
Florida unemployment claims soar following Spirit Airlines layoffs
After the layoffs, jobless claims in Florida leapt to the highest total for a single week since last June
Posted inFlorida News
Uthmeier subpoenas the NFL over diversity hiring rule
The “Rooney Rule” was established decades ago to combat the historically low number of minorities hired to head coaching positions.
Posted inFlorida News
DeSantis (again) slams House Speaker Perez for his ‘personal agenda’
The governor went on a verbal tear for nearly 10 minutes (with one break) to express anger and frustration with the Miami Republican.
Posted inFlorida News
Court sanctions FWC supervisor for handling of Charlie Kirk-related firing
“There is a label for what Ms. Tucker did — making false statements.”
Posted inOrlando Area News
How would a Democratic governor work with a GOP-led Legislature in Florida?
Orange County mayor Jerry Demings and David Jolly are vying to become the first Democratic governor to lead Florida in nearly three decades
Posted inFlorida News
Opioid overdose deaths drop in Florida
Opioid-caused deaths fell by 42 percent from January 2025 to June 2025, and fentanyl-caused deaths fell 46 percent
Posted inOrlando Area News
Florida lawmakers consider cut to state aid for Central Florida Zoo as they care for rescued sloths
The Florida Senate has proposed a cut to a state appropriations request for the zoo to match a lower funding request approved by the Florida House.
Posted inOrlando Area News
Florida to pause sloth imports after 55 deaths tied to Sloth World
The move is in response to the deaths of 55 sloths from South America, which were tied to a scuttled Sloth World attraction in Orlando.
Posted inOrlando Area News
City commissioner Tony Ortiz launches bid for Orlando mayor
Ortiz will face off against progressive Democrat Anna Eskamani, who filed her own paperwork to run for mayor in late 2024.
Posted inOrlando Area News
Is Orlando’s homeless population declining, or just harder to find?
Local advocates warn that while the region’s annual count of homeless people remained steady this year, they suspect it’s an undercount.