When Amira Chowdhury joined a protest in Philadelphia against police violence on Monday, she wore a mask to protect herself and others against the coronavirus. But when officers launched tear gas into the crowd, Chowdhury pulled off her mask as she gasped for air. “I couldn’t breathe,” she said. “I felt like I was choking…
The climb out of the economic downturn is just beginning, but new data shows Orlando is recovering more slowly than nearly any major city in the state – though faster than most other tourist destinations around the nation. Location intelligence research company Ubimo has created a dashboard monitoring movement within a 264-foot radius of more…
Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill C.S./S.B. 1082 into state law, and its good news for domestic violence survivors and their pets. This new law ensures that family pets are included in restraining orders filed against abusers, both protecting pets from harm and ensuring that these pets and their owners will be…
The city of Miami will now host the second of three U.S. presidential debates in October. The original venue was to be the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, but UM President Mark Schlissel on Tuesday asked that the event move elsewhere, wisely taking into consideration health concerts amid the coronavirus pandemic. The Commission on…
Updated June 28 | This post has been updated with new information. A note is at the bottom. A tidal wave of lien filings over the past few weeks has many questioning the future of SeaWorld, and noteworthy experts think bankruptcy could be in the cards. Public documents published in April showed that SeaWorld had…
Visit Florida intends to use marketing dollars unspent from late winter and spring, as the coronavirus took hold, to get people to again explore the state. In addition to a more-traditional $39.8 million marketing plan that will go before the Visit Florida Board of Directors on Wednesday, the tourism agency is looking to roll over…
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference on Tuesday afternoon at Orlando Health to discuss the coronavirus pandemic, as the Florida Department of Health reported 3,289 new cases and 65 more deaths statewide since yesterday, putting Florida well above 100,000 cases. DeSantis did not announce any new statewide measures to mitigate the spread of…
The “new normal” continues to develop as much of the nation begins to reopen, and nowhere are the changes more noticeable than in restaurants. From fine dining to fast food, the entire industry is facing a renewed focus on hygiene and uncertainties regarding the future. But few restaurants face a heavier impact than buffets. From…
Get your GPS apps ready, Orlando drivers. The continuing grind that is the I-4 Ultimate expansion is about to involve several road closures and reroutings around the downtown Orlando area. Some of these changes started as early as … over the weekend. Here’s a rundown of the recent closures impacting downtown, straight from the Florida…
State forests are moving to a cash-free system to protect workers and visitors from the coronavirus. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Forest Service announced the change on Monday. “Cash will no longer be accepted for Florida State Forest recreation sales,” said a forest service release, which noted that checks and money orders will still…
Amid national debate about symbols of the Confederacy, a federal appeals court Monday rejected a challenge to a decision by Lakeland officials to move a Confederate monument. A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that opponents did not have legal standing to challenge the monument’s move, saying they did not…
A giant plume of Saharan dust has been slowly drifting across the Atlantic, and will this week finish its 5,000-mile journey to reach the U.S. Gulf Coast – and its effects will soon be felt in Florida. These massive clouds of Saharan dust, or Saharan air layers (SAL), are an annual summer occurrence, but this…
After four hours of arguments Monday, a Leon County circuit judge will decide whether to move forward with a potential class-action lawsuit stemming from massive problems in Florida’s unemployment-compensation system. Attorneys for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and Deloitte Consulting, a contractor that helped put the online system in place in 2013, argued that…
Seminole County Tax Collector Joel Greenberg has been indicted on a federal charge of stalking, according to a statement released by United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez on Tuesday. This indictment lays out disturbing charges of stalking and “unlawful use of a means of identification of another person,” in this case a political opponent who…
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott took to CNBC Monday morning to talk about planning the Republican National Convention – which is now moving most activities from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Jacksonville amid the coronavirus pandemic – when he seemed to dispute a reason given by Gov. Ron DeSantis for recent record-high new cases. “Big thing is, everybody’s got…
Today, Disney hits another milestone on their gradual reopening process with a number of Disney Vacation Club resorts throwing their doors open, but with new safety regimens in place. The following resorts are back in business today: Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Copper Creek Villas &…
In a statement released Monday, Carnival Cruise Line says it’s voluntarily canceling all cruises through Sept. 30, 2020, amid concerns over the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “Please continue to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Your health and safety are important to us whether you are on land or one of our ships,” said…
A baby reticulated giraffe was recently born at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay. After a 15-month long pregnancy, Bea, a 14-year old reticulated giraffe, gave birth to the yet-to-be-named male calf on Friday, June 19, and will bond with the baby over the next few months before they join the herd in the park’s Serengeti Plain.…
A recent video shows an angry man trying to fight his way into an Orlando Walmart, after employees told him he couldn’t enter without a face mask. The video, which was posted to Twitter on June 20 by user @CaliCoCo3, shows the unnamed, mask-less man attempting to enter the store and aggressively pushing an employee…
Florida reached a grim milestone Monday, passing 100,000 total COVID-19 cases, according to data released by the state Department of Health. Since Sunday, Florida added 2,926 new infections, bringing the total to 100,217. There were 12 new deaths during that time, with one apiece for Orange, Seminole and Lake counties. The total official statewide death toll…
Local designers and artists Evan and Christie Miga have launched a new YouTube program, Miga Made, that’s a delightful throwback to classic PBS-style programming like The Electric Company and Sesame Street, with some Photon, Pee Wee’s Playhouse, and MST3K aesthetics thrown in for good measure. The Migas are best known on the local performance and arts…
On Monday, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity released local unemployment numbers for May – and Central Florida leads the state. In fact Osceola, Orange, Lake, Seminole and Volusia counties are all in the top ten: Osceola County: 31.1 percent Orange County: 23.2 percent Lake County: 20.6 percent Polk County: 19.1 percent Monroe County: 17.7…
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. So How Has COVID-19 Affected Our Shark Population? There’s been very little “good news” coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, until now. At least there are fewer sharks…
Even as the spike in COVID-19 cases forces restaurants to (re)shut their doors, some eating and drinking establishments are opening during these turbulent times. Hoi Nguyen, the man behind such Mills 50 hotspots as Poke Hana and Chi-Kin, is poised to open Matcha House Tea & Creamery next door to his Korean fried chicken joint.…
It’s been two and a half years in the making, but Bovine Steakhouse is finally firing up filets and chops on Park Avenue. After a significant renovation, JM Hospitality, the same group behind the 310 restaurants in Winter Park, Lake Eola and Lake Nona as well as Blu on the Avenue, have opened their high-end…
Milk District venue and bar Iron Cow has announced this weekend that they are closing voluntarily, as Florida’s coronavirus numbers continue to surge dangerously high. “We had a team meeting and decided to close after this weekend voluntarily. We have now decided to close effective immediately. God speed to all who have tested positive, or…
Confronted by yet another record day of new coronavirus infections, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday said the state would begin cracking down on restaurants and bars that don’t follow guidelines limiting the number of people inside the establishments but stood by his decision not to mandate that people wear masks. Florida added more than 4,000…
The number of Floridians relying on the state’s health care safety-net program continues to push higher amid the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Newly released figures show that enrollment in Florida’s Medicaid program grew by nearly 7.7 percent between February and May, but at least one analysis puts the growth rate even higher. Florida…
Continuing to gradually finish the work of this year’s legislative session, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday signed 21 bills, including measures aimed at improving school-bus safety and preventing bear poaching. The school-bus safety bill (HB 37) will increase penalties for motorists who drive improperly when buses are stopped to load and unload children. In part,…
Mills 50’s Tori Tori Japanese gastropub has closed again on Saturday, a safety precaution following several sustained days of record-high new coronavirus cases in Florida. “Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases and local law, we will be closing temporarily to restructure our operations,” wrote the restaurant on Facebook. “To date, none of our working…
New same-day cases of coronavirus across Florida reached a sickening new record of 4,049 on Friday, according to data released on Saturday (updated to source from DOH, see editor’s note below). The Florida Department of Heath reports the state has had 93,797 total patients testing positive since the pandemic began, with 73,493 cases currently active. There…
The Florida Department of Transportation announced Saturday that it will temporarily close State Road 50 (a.k.a. Colonial Drive) under Interstate 4, each night from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The closures will start Monday, June 22, through Friday the 26th. FDOT released a handout about the nightly closure, but the gist is, if you’re traveling eastbound…
While calls to require residents to wear face masks grow louder amid rising COVID-19 cases, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis continues to maintain his position that mask-wearing should be voluntary. At a news conference in Miami Friday, DeSantis said people need to abide by local mask-wearing requirements. But that’s as far as the governor was willing…
The mad wizards at Orlando Meats will ditch the flesh in exchange for two nights of plant-based fantasy. Eliot Hillis, Orlando Meats’ culinary director, along with head chef Seth Parker, will take over the kitchen at Eola General on Friday and Saturday, June 26 and 27, from 5:30 p.m. until close, for a vegan pop-up dinner…
After rescheduling and years of construction, the St. Pete Pier is now set to open Monday, July 6. “It’s been a long and winding road, but we’ve arrived at our destination: A dynamic, 26-acre waterfront playground that will serve residents and visitors for generations to come,” St. Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman said in a press…
Florida’s tourism-reliant economy saw its unemployment rate go up to 14.5 percent in May, even while businesses started reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic. The state Department of Economic Opportunity on Friday announced the 14.5 percent rate, which represents an estimated 1.412 million Floridians out of work from a labor force of nearly 9.71 million. The…
Editor’s note: This story will be updated soon to include new information. Will’s Pub, the Orlando music staple and de facto capitol of the Mills 50 neighborhood, temporarily closed again on Friday due to a patron testing positive for COVID-19, the owner said in a Facebook statement. Bar owner Will Walker said in the post,…
When you think about record-high new COVID-19 cases in Florida, you probably also think: Water parks! That’s why SeaWorld is here to quench your thirst for poolside fun by reopening Aquatica Orlando, a place filled with water and children. Beginning Thursday, July 2, the park will resume operation seven days a week. Naturally, many will be…
Gov. Ron DeSantis is asking a federal appeals court to put on hold a ruling that would pave the way for hundreds of thousands of Floridians who have been convicted of felonies to register and vote in November, arguing the decision could “corrupt” the integrity of the state’s elections. The Republican governor Wednesday requested that…
Here’s a last-minute addition to your Juneteenth celebration plans: a socially distant way to get together to celebrate Blackness, with a renewed focus on fighting racism. The Organize Florida Education Fund is teaming up with Orlando’s the Grand Collab to host a “Juneteenth Virtual Jubilee” live on Twitch tonight, Friday, starting at 8. The evening…
While Florida is breaking new COVID-19 records almost every day, it’s important to note the good things, like how we’re not getting chewed on by sharks as much. Following months of closed beaches and limited public activity, Florida’s shark bite numbers have dwindled dramatically, according to the International Shark Attack File, housed at the Florida…
Once again Florida breaks its previous one day record of single-day coronavirus cases, adding 3,822 on Friday. In addition, 197 Floridians were hospitalized in the 24-hour period, bringing the hospitalization count to 12,774. A total of at least 43 deaths were added as well, which raises Floria’s death toll to at least 3,197. With today’s…
Though most Orlando cineplexes are still dark, a couple of theaters have taken advantage of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Phase Two reopening plans. As of last Friday, June 12, Enzian Theater and Aloma Cinema Grill have begun screening films again. Enzian assured in a press release, “Our comfortable seating you’ve all come to love will be…
Before George Floyd was killed, Val Demings was already being vetted to be Joe Biden’s vice presidential nominee. Afterward, her political stock soared. And why not? Demings is an African American woman from Central Florida, a representative of a key Democratic Party constituency from a vital part of a vital swing state. She’s smart, youngish…
For those seeking to vacation in the midst of a pandemic, your options at Walt Disney World will be severely limited when the Magic Kingdom and three other parks reopen next month. One day after Florida posted its highest ever one-day total of new coronavirus cases (3,208 announced on Thursday), the “most magical place on earth”…
A split U.S. Supreme Court ruling Thursday that upheld federal protections for young undocumented immigrants reverberated throughout Florida, a state that roughly 32,000 “Dreamers” call home. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, shields undocumented immigrants who were brought to the country as children from deportation and allows them to work in…
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. Masks Now Mandatory in Orange County Orange County Mayor Jerry Demmings makes it official. Masks are now mandatory. – LINK Today we honor Juneteenth, a celebration of the emancipation…
The state of Florida hit yet another milestone today with 3,207 new cases of coronavirus and 43 new deaths reported today by the Florida Department of Health, bringing the state’s new total to 85, 906 cases and 3,061 deaths of Florida residents. This beats Tuesday’s record of 2,783 new cases in a single day. The…
Rep. Matt Gaetz, the bombastic Republican congressman for Florida’s 1st District, disclosed on Thursday he has a “son” who emigrated from Cuba and was taken in by Gaetz’s family when the boy lost his mother at age 12. “For all those wondering, this is my son Nestor. We share no blood but he is my…
The holiday Juneteenth, a celebration of the emancipation of Black Americans from slavery in the United States, is Friday and there are a large number of demonstrations, remembrances, events and protests set for Orlando to celebrate the day. Here are a few of the gatherings set for tomorrow: A Juneteenth Freedom Day March starts at…
Economic reopening efforts across Florida were reflected Thursday in a report on initial unemployment claims, which fell last week below six figures for the first time since the coronavirus shuttered businesses in March. The U.S. Department of Labor reported 1.5 million new claims nationally during the week that ended June 13, including an estimated 86,298…
The saga of Orlando’s Road Rave fest, a drive-in rave that was the brainchild of famed EDM DJ Carnage, has come to an end, and it’s a rain-out. Road Rave, hyped as North America’s first drive-in music festival, was announced with much fanfare in May. Set for June 6 and featuring Riot Ten, Blunts & Blondes…
The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office released the arrest photo and report of a man charged in a machete attack that took place on Saturday. Though Orlando Weekly usually declines to publish mugshots of people who have been arrested, the booking photo of 25-year-old defendant Justin Arthur Allen Couch reveals that a machete is tattooed prominently on…
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. Juneteenth Silent Demonstration Set For Friday Morning A special silent demonstration is set for tomorrow (Friday) morning at 9AM in Orlando. The names of 300 people who died…
Fewer than one in four hospital adult intensive-care unit beds statewide are empty, according to data updated Wednesday by the state Agency for Health Care Administration. Florida had 6,006 adult ICU beds as of Wednesday, with 1,409 available. The issue has drawn attention as hospitals treat patients with COVID-19, which is particularly dangerous to seniors and…
Farmworkers are pushing back after Gov. Ron DeSantis said clusters of “overwhelmingly Hispanic” day laborers and agriculture workers are the source for Florida’s recent surge in coronavirus cases. The Republican governor told reporters on Tuesday that migrant workers and Hispanic construction workers have been testing positive for COVID-19, in part, because of cramped living and…
A silent, peaceful demonstration is set for Orlando on Juneteenth – Friday, June 19 – to honor Black people who have lost their lives due to racism and police brutality. More than 300 names will be held up on individual signs by socially distanced demonstrators standing silently along John Young Parkway at West Colonial Drive…
Staff members at nursing homes and assisted living facilities will be required to be tested for COVID-19 every two weeks under a pair of emergency rules issued Wednesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration. Facilities that don’t comply with the emergency rules could have their licenses revoked or suspended and face administrative fines. The new rules…
Well, now you do. (Also, Season 2 is now on HBO Max.)
Let’s get one thing straight right up top. Out of the 500 COVID-19 tests administered over three days last week to workers at the Orlando International Airport, only two showed positive results for the virus. Not 260 workers. Two. The confusion stemmed from remarks made by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, where he stated on Tuesday that…
Siesta Key, a Florida-based reality show about rich kids enjoying boats and pools, has parted ways with the show’s lead. The season premiere of MTV’s Siesta Key was last night, and as some of you may have noticed, the show was significantly shorter than the usual two-episode block. Also, the lead shirtless guy, Alex Kompothecras,…
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. COVID Concerns Force The WWE To Suspend Operations You might remember when the state deemed the WWE an essential Florida business, allowing the organization to hold closed matches.…
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday he will soon slash enough spending from the state’s proposed $93.2 billion budget to keep lawmakers from having to address a coronavirus-fueled loss in tax revenues before the November elections. “There’s going to be a lot more vetoes, there’ll be a lot of red,” DeSantis told reporters during a late…
Saying society needs to “function,” Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed Tuesday to keep Florida open despite a recent surge in the number of people infected with COVID-19. “We are not shutting down. We are going to go forward.,” DeSantis said during a late afternoon news conference. “We are going to continue to protect the most vulnerable.…
Updated Saturday, 4:45 p.m. | On Friday, the Associated Press announced that AP writing style will be changed to capitalize the ”b” in Black. Re: Racist “Journalist”: Please explain why a “journalist” working for your paper chooses to capitalise the word “black” when referring to subjects’ skin color or race, yet not the word “white”? Other…
In 2008, NPR’s resident music maven and “All Songs Considered” host Bob Boilen saw indie-folk singer Laura Gibson play an Austin bar during SXSW. The sound was bad, the atmosphere worse. During some post-set chitchat, it was idly suggested Gibson should play in NPR’s Washington, D.C., office. Three weeks later, Gibson showed up unannounced, guitar…
I’m a 32-year-old straight guy. My wife and I have been married for four years and together for nine. We have a great marriage and all is well. We have been quarantining at home since March. During this time, we have been exploring things sexually, which has been really fun. We have also been talking…
Orlando Legals Legal Public Notices AUCTION Extra Space Storage – Store 8138, 1001 Lee Rd. Orlando FL. 32810 Extra Space Storage will hold a public auction to sell personal property described below belonging to those individuals listed below at the location indicated: 1001 Lee d. Orlando, FL. 32810 (407) 489-3742, July 16, 2020 @ 4:00…
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. Alligator Bites Man In Face And He Survives I’m not exactly sure how you survive an alligator bite to the face, but one Florida man sure figured it…
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. Local Businesses Shutting Down Again As Florida sees a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases, some local businesses are finding themselves closing for a second time. – LINK…
Every morning on Magic 107.7 FM, Leslye Gale discusses the most interesting Orlando Weekly stories of the day on “Chad & Leslye.” Check out Leslye’s picks today. The Republican National Convention Is Heading To Florida While the Republican National Convention won’t be coming to Orlando, it will be held in Jacksonville. Here’s how it’s going…
