Disney employees will get $3k annual stipend after DeSantis board nixes free park passes

Orlando Weekly 9/28 10:17A Matthew Moyer

The contentious matter of Disney employees getting complimentary park passes has finally been settled: employees will now see their actual tickets and discounts replaced by a yearly stipend. The...

Liquid diamonds finally come to market in Florida’s medical cannabis dispensaries

Orlando Weekly 9/28 8:58A Seth Kubersky

Among the nearly 850,000 medical marijuana cardholders currently in Florida, vaporizing oil is becoming an increasingly popular method of conveniently consuming cannabis. In my time as a patient, I've...

Downtown Orlando urban park and ‘creative epicenter’ Art Squared aims for a winter opening

Orlando Weekly 9/28 8:51A Matthew Moyer

There looks to be a new arts venue and public "creative epicenter" coming soon(ish?) to downtown Orlando. The City District — the Main Street district organization that encompasses downtown's central...

SeaWorld Orlando to launch new coaster Penguin Trek next spring

Orlando Weekly 9/28 7:12A Chloe Greenberg

Confirming new-coaster suspicions, SeaWorld Orlando announced Thursday morning an all-new immersive roller coaster heading to the park next spring. The coaster, Penguin Trek, will feature...

Recent Central Florida bankruptcies

Orlando Sentinel (Brinkmann On Business) 9/28 6:57A Compiled by Sentinel Staff

Chapter 7 Central Florida individuals and businesses that have filed for liquidation under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code include: Art Systems of Florida Inc. , 1740 State Road 436, Suite 124, Winter Park. Filed: Sept. 20. Assets:...

‘We’ve got way too many’: Florida Republican wants state to hold bear hunt

Orlando Weekly 9/28 6:47A Jim Turner, the News Service of

A North Florida lawmaker is calling for the state to hold a bear hunt after a county sheriff raised the issue as a way to help manage the area’s bear population. Rep. Jason Shoaf, R-Port St. Joe,...

Florida's Citizens Insurance points to ‘depopulation’ to help decrease policy count

Orlando Weekly 9/28 6:31A Jim Saunders, News Service of Fl

As it tries to move customers into the private market after three years of massive growth, the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. could start to see its number of policies decrease. Citizens...

Orlando pizza franchise failed to pay tipped servers overtime and direct cash wages

Orlando Weekly 9/28 5:18A McKenna Schueler

An Orlando location of the Giordano’s Pizza franchise failed to pay two dozen servers overtime and paid servers only in tips, a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found. Both actions, as well as a...

Orlando restaurant openings and closings: The last remaining Dexter’s, Nami Lake Nona, Castle Irish...

Orlando Weekly 9/28 5:13A Faiyaz Kara

Castle Irish Pub and Restaurant has opened in the former RusTeak space in College Park. The bar itself was built in Ireland, then shipped here and reassembled on-site. Tavistock, the investment firm...

Local food events: A fancy sitdown James Beard dinner, a fun James Beard walk-around tasting, and a...

Orlando Weekly 9/28 4:12A Faiyaz Kara

A couple of James Beard Foundation benefit dinners to announce: The Lake Nona Wave Hotel hosts Dinner Under the Stars — A Culinary Journey to benefit the James Beard Foundation at 6 p.m. Saturday,...

Morning starts with patchy fog, showers drifting onshore

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 9/28 1:09A Garfield Hylton

Road cameras captured fog just before sunrise in several parts of Central Florida. The fog was located in Lake, Volusia and portions of northern Brevard County, according to NWS Melbourne. Showers and lightning storms over the Atlantic will...

Tropical Storm Philippe could mix with new system likely to form, hurricane center says

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 9/28 12:47A Richard Tribou

A slowing Tropical Storm Philippe might end up mixing with what the National Hurricane Center says could become Tropical Storm Rina in the coming days. As of 5 a.m. the NHC said Philippe was located...

Central Florida art listings: Sept. 29-Oct. 5

Orlando Sentinel (Osceola County News) 9/27 10:20P Compiled by Sentinel Staff

Celebramos Juntos (We Celebrate Together) art exhibition:   9 a.m.; Sept. 29, Oct. 2-5; Casselberry Art House, 127 Quail Pond Circle in Casselberry; free; 407-262-7700; calendar.unitedartscfl.org Closing Reception & Artist Talk: Covering Carbon...

Coyotes roaming around Longwood neighborhood

WESH.com (Politics) 9/27 2:48P

A trapper estimates there are more than eight dens, with at least 24 coyotes roaming around.

Orlando diplomat-photographer uses unique access to capture sensitive portraits of Colombian life

Orlando Weekly 9/27 2:47P Richard Reep

Photographers are notorious for letting their lenses do the talking, but Juan David Tena is an exception to the rule. His communication skills led him to a post in the Colombian Consulate-General in...