Seminole sheriff’s deputy arrested for falsifying overtime hours, police say

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 2/27 5:41A Silas Morgan

A Seminole County Sheriff s Office deputy is accused of falsifying the number of overtime hours he worked, allowing him to collect thousands of dollars in pay he didn t earn. Nestor Nieves Jr. was arrested Thursday on a charge of organized fraud....

Maxwell: Randy Fine loses an endorsement. Florida may gain a state bird

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 2/27 4:50A Scott Maxwell

Today we have an edition of the “Follow-up Files” that looks at the University of Florida’s law school dean s defense of putting Florida’s attorney general on her school’s payroll and an attempt to settle Florida’s ridiculously long-running...

Pictures: Sentinel celebrates 150th birthday with themed beer from Ten10

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 2/27 2:55A Stephen M. Dowell

If birthdays deserve a toast, 150 of them deserve more than a few. That s why as part of the Orlando Sentinel’s celebration of bringing a century-and-a-half of news to Central Florida, we’ve partnered...

Dense fog to start, with rain chances increasing throughout the day

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 2/27 12:55A Garfield Hylton

A brief reprieve from the consistently dry conditions may be on its way. Friday begins with a dense fog advisory across the southern parts of Central Florida through 9 a.m., according to NWS Melbourne. The advisory includes Osceola, Okeechobee,...

Orlando Sentinel 150: Friday Focus on famous E.T. billboard

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 2/26 11:23P Roger Simmons

If you think Interstate 4 traffic is bad now, imagine what happened when an alien landed next to the road. That s what occurred in February 1989 when E.T.-The Extra Terrestrial arrived in Orlando in...

Former Imagineer Joe Rohde announces book about creativity, cooperation

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 2/26 10:05P Dewayne Bevil

Joe Rohde , formerly of Walt Disney Imagineering , is releasing a book about creativity. Floating Mountains: The Art of Imagining the Impossible will be available in September. I ve had a career as a...

‘Red Flag’ warning Thursday afternoon due to elevated fire danger

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 2/26 1:33A Garfield Hylton

Thursday has sunny skies, pleasant temperatures and hazardous weather conditions in the afternoon. Temperature highs are near 79 across the region, according to NWS Melbourne. During the afternoon, breezy southwest winds will blow at 10 to 15...

USF Sarasota-Manatee campus transfer to New College one step closer to reality

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 2/24 6:00A Carter Weinhofer

The Florida House of Representatives passed a bill that would transfer the University of Florida’s Sarasota-Manatee campus to New College of Florida. New College would gain USFSM’s 11 campus buildings, including the new 100,000 square-foot Atala...

Freezing temperatures and a cool afternoon for Tuesday

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 2/24 1:54A Garfield Hylton

Tuesday is off to a frigid start before it warms up in the afternoon. The day starts with wind chills in the 20s to 30s, according to NWS Melbourne. There is a freeze warning and a cold weather advisory that remains in effect through 9 a.m....

First ride: Legoland’s Galacticoaster launches, spins into darkness

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 2/24 12:45A Dewayne Bevil

WINTER HAVEN – Legoland Florida’s new roller coaster swirls riders into an outer-space situation, one that may create mild out-of-body sensations. Galacticoaster debuts to the public Friday. There’s a...

Maxwell: Florida’s property tax cut plan is flailing. Here’s what should happen

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 2/23 11:00P Scott Maxwell

For more than a year, Tallahassee politicians have been yapping about how Floridians deserve a property tax break. But you know what they haven’t done? Actually given you one. When Big Business lobbyists ask for tax breaks to help pad their...

Another alleged Walmart shoplifter is shot after Orange deputy confronts man armed with knife,...

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 2/23 7:42A Cristóbal Reyes

A second alleged Walmart shoplifter was shot by law enforcement in Central Florida on Sunday, just days after a 16-year-old was shot and killed inside a Walmart store in Osceola County. On Sunday, a man who allegedly made threats while trying to...

Cancellations pile up at Orlando, other Florida airports because of northeast storms

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 2/23 3:58A Richard Tribou

Winter storms in the northeastern United States have caused travel headaches in Florida, with airports in Orlando, South Florida and Tampa ranking among the highest in the nation for canceled flights Monday. By 2 p.m., Orlando International...

Winter freezes hit Florida growers with $3.1 billion tab, state says

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 2/23 3:23A Jim Turner

TALLAHASSEE With farmers caught shorthanded and with crops not ready for harvesting, a pair of winter storms at the beginning and end of January potentially inflicted more than $3.17 billion in losses to the state’s agricultural industry . Winter...

Windy afternoon and a dangerous cold snap heading toward Central Florida

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 2/23 1:46A Garfield Hylton

Temperature highs are in the mid-50s as Central Florida prepares for a dangerously cold night. Monday will be sunny with a high near 56 and wind chill values as low as 34, according to NWS Melbourne. Winds are blowing northwest at 15 to 20 mph...