Orange County News
Orange Headlines
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Pence criticizes Times op-ed, rallies for Rick Scott in Orlando
The New York Times should be “ashamed” it printed a column by an anonymous Trump Administration official who claimed there is chaos within the White House, Vice President Mike Pence told reporters in Orlando on Thursday. Pence, in town to stump for Gov. Rick Scott in his bid to become a U.S. senator,...
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Man whose roof was split by toppled crane gets free lunch at Wall Street Plaza
A day after a crane tore through his home, a Baldwin Park resident got lunch on the house Wednesday at Wall Street Cantina, according to the restaurant. “There is one positive to a [crane] splitting your house in two, FREE LUNCH!” the downtown eatery posted on Twitter about noon. “Good luck to...
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Rollins College: Alfond Inn expansion placed on 'temporary hold'
Rollins College has delayed two construction projects, including an expansion of the world-renowned Alfond Inn, because of parking and cost factors. The Winter Park college pulled proposals due to be considered at upcoming zoning hearings about the downtown hotel and adding a parking garage to...
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Vice President Pence, Scott, DeSantis to kick off GOP campaign in Orlando
Florida Republicans are kicking off the general election campaign in Orlando on Thursday with a unity rally of all statewide candidates and a visit from Vice President Mike Pence. First, the Republicans will gather with Gov. Rick Scott, the party’s U.S. Senate candidate, and gubernatorial candidate...
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Big Wheels, Big Thrills Monster Jam championship bound for Orlando in 2019, '20
The Super Bowl of monster-truck racing — which promises to pack an economic punch of $44 million and fill 44,000 hotel rooms — is coming to Orlando next year. Sarasota-based Feld Entertainment, owner of the big-truck touring series, made the announcement Wednesday at Camping World Stadium, which...
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Ron DeSantis demands Orange GOP official resign over racially charged post on Andrew Gillum
Ron DeSantis is demanding an Orange County Republican committee member resign over a racially-charged Facebook post that falsely implied Andrew Gillum wants “his people” to be “paid back” for slavery.” In a statement to Politico, the GOP candidate for governor said Kathy Gibson “should resign,...
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Andrew Gillum releases first general election ad, 'American Way'
The general election for governor kicked off in earnest Tuesday with the release of Andrew Gillum’s first TV ad as the Democratic nominee. The ad, “American Way,” is designed to “introduce Floridians to Mayor Gillum and his family,” the Tallahassee mayor’s campaign said. The ad consists of footage...
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Florida governor's poll: Andrew Gillum, Ron DeSantis run neck-and-neck
Democrat Andrew Gillum leads Republican U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis in the first Quinnipiac University poll since last week’s primaries, but the survey found the race too close to call. In the poll of 785 likely Florida voters from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3, Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee, was at 50 percent...
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Orlando approves $8 million upgrades, including splash pad, to Lake Lorna Doone Park
The Orlando City Council on Tuesday approved a partnership with Florida Citrus Sports to give Lake Lorna Doone Park a much-need $8 million facelift, which includes the city’s first splash pad in a public park. The council voted on a funding agreement for the upgrades to the park with the city putting...
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Orange schools to get $12 million for enrolling hurricane-displaced students
Orange County’s school district will receive $12 million in reimbursement for taking in K-12 students from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands last year, topping the list of Florida counties set to receive the federal funds. U.S. Rep. Stephanie Murphy’s office revealed the funding breakdown Tuesday....
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Mother of slain singer Christina Grimmie dies of cancer, family says
Tina Grimmie, the mother of 22-year-old slain pop singer Christina Grimmie, has died after a lengthy battle with breast cancer, her family announced on Sunday. Christina Grimmie, who rose to fame on YouTube and was known for her performance on NBC’s “The Voice,” was shot and killed on June 10,...
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Car crashes into Orange County retention pond, FHP says
Two Orlando men escaped injury on Sunday when the car they were riding in crashed into a pond in Orange County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Jose Puga, 21, was driving a 2015 Hyundai four-door sedan around 4:30 a.m. on John Young Parkway near Taft Vineland Road when, for unknown reasons,...
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Spaceship Earth closed after water leak, Disney says
Epcot’s Spaceship Earth was closed on Sunday because of a “minor water leak”, according to Walt Disney World. A Disney spokesperson said the leak occurred in the morning — inside the theme park's iconic geodesic structure — and the ride was temporarily shut down but is expected to reopen by Monday....
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Man who ran from Orange deputies into a lake believed to be alive and 'at large'
Orange County deputies believe a man who ran into a lake near Universal Boulevard to escape them got out of the water alive, a sheriff’s spokesman said Monday afternoon. Deputies have been searching for Jared Gearity, 38, since he ran away early Sunday. At first investigators thought he could have...
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Negative restaurant review led to drive-by shooting in Orange County, deputies say
A man upset about a negative restaurant review committed a drive-by shooting at the home of the person who wrote the review, according to an arrest affidavit. Orange County deputies say Monica Walley wrote a Facebook post on Aug. 20 claiming that Daybreak Diner on Curry Ford Road near Crystal Lake...
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Andrew Gillum, Bill Nelson rally for Democratic unity in Orlando
Andrew Gillum, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and three of the Democratic Party’s unsuccessful gubernatorial candidates appeared together in Orlando on Friday to show party unity after a hard-fought primary. Gillum, 39, and Nelson, 75, had contrasting tones and styles, but the Tallahassee mayor and three-term...
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Rolls of red carpet, computers, weed-whackers among items up for bid in Orange County comptroller's surplus property auction
The Orange County Comptroller’s Office has launched its first-ever online auction of surplus county property. Need exercise equipment? Don’t join a gym. You can shop online from your couch, my flabby friend. Among the hundreds of surplus county items up for bid through Friday are three stationary...
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Despite demand for new Orange deputies, training them will take time, officials say
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office posted a photo on social media in early August welcoming 14 new deputies to its ranks, their hands raised to be sworn in by Sheriff Jerry Demings. But the new deputies still face weeks of training before they’ll be ready to hit the streets alone, a timetable that...
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Metro Orlando toll roads to begin accepting E-ZPass
Motorists have a new way to pay for tolls on highways across Metro Orlando — one familiar to out-of-state drivers. E-ZPass will be accepted here starting Saturday on any of the regions 118 miles of toll roads, Central Florida Expressway Authority spokesman Brian Hutchings said. The transponder...
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Teen struck while walking on SunRail tracks in 'critical but stable' condition
A teenager who was struck by a SunRail train Thursday evening remains in critical condition at a local hospital, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said. In an update Friday, the agency said the conductor told deputies the 14-year-old “walked directly into the path of the train” behind a home on...
Other News
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Deputies seek man, woman after Orange County death
A man died Thursday morning after a confrontation at a home near Lake Weston, an Orange County Sheriff’s spokesman said. Deputies released few details about the case but said they are looking for a man and a woman seen outside the Satel Drive home. Spokesman Jeff Williamson called the two “persons...
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Army veteran tried helping a stranded driver — a hitman who'd been hired to kill him, cops say
When Carlos Cruz-Echevarria was found dead along the side of a Deltona road in November, Volusia County detectives believed he was a good Samaritan, randomly shot as he tried helping a stranded driver. An investigation soon revealed that the story went much deeper. The stranded driver who Cruz-Echevarria...
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Florida K-9 officer goes viral after nabbing a suspect on the run
A Pasco County K9 officer went viral Wednesday after a video of him nabbing a suspect was posted to the Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook page. A body cam video worn by Deputy Nick Carmack shows K-9 Shep in pursuit of a suspect who fled from a traffic stop Tuesday in New Port Richey in a red Nissan Rogue...
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Ron DeSantis picks Miami Rep. Jeanette Nuñez as running mate
U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis on Thursday chose as his running mate Miami state Rep. Jeanette Nuñez, the first Cuban-American woman to become a candidate for lieutenant governor in Florida history. “I’m picking a very special person for lieutenant governor,’’ said DeSantis at a Republican rally at the...
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DeSantis, Scott, Pence come to Orlando — highlights of big day in Florida politics
Thursday has been quite a day for Florida politics, and almost all of the action is happening here in Orlando. Here are some highlights: • U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, the GOP nominee for governor, announced his choice for lieutenant governor: Miami Rep. Jeanette Nuñez, the first Cuban-American woman...
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Convicted child molester Larry Nassar moved to Coleman federal prison in Central Florida
The federal prison in Sumter County — the nation’s largest — has another high-profile prisoner: former Olympics team doctor and convicted serial child molester Larry Nassar. Nassar was convicted last year of molesting dozens of girls and young women under his care when he served as the USA Gymnastics...
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A new hotel coming near Kennedy Space Center will have a rocket launch viewing lounge
Listen up rocket-launch enthusiasts, this new Space Coast hotel is for you. A Hyatt Place hotel breaking ground next month near the causeway that leads to Kennedy Space Center will boast a standout feature: A launch viewing lounge. The 118-room hotel, expected to open in fall 2019, will be the...
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Winter Park man tried to suffocate his mother after argument, police say
A Winter Park man is facing attempted murder and other charges after police say he tried killing his mother. Authorities say Robert Chester Courtney, 31, was suffocating his mother inside their home in August before police intervened. The victim told officers Courtney attacked her during a drug-induced...
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Motorcyclist killed in Volusia County crash, troopers say
A motorcyclist was run over and killed by several cars in a crash on Interstate 4 in Volusia County early Thursday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash happened about 12:20 a.m. near mile marker 107, FHP Lt. Kim Montes said. The motorcyclist, Van Hicks, 21, was traveling...
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Orlando traffic: I-4 opens after several crashes
Several crashes on Interstate 4 caused traffic delays Thursday morning. One crash happened in the westbound lanes near John Young Parkway, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. Three lanes were blocked, causing traffic to build to Anderson Street, officials said. That accident...