Legoland Florida sets opening date for indoor roller coaster

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/8 5:26A Dewayne Bevil

Legoland Florida theme park has confirmed the opening date for its Galacticoaster . The indoor, family-friendly roller coaster will debut on Feb. 27. Development of the thrill ride was announced in March, with its theme identified in July and its...

Hallmark Channel to film holiday movie at Disney World

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/8 4:07A Dewayne Bevil

Hallmark Channel will film a holiday movie next year at locations across Walt Disney World , the companies have announced. The film, starring Lacey Chabert and titled Holiday Ever After: A Disney World Wish Come True, will air in late 2026. The...

Early morning rain chances and mostly cloudy skies to start the week

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/8 12:08A Garfield Hylton

Monday has a 40 percent chance of rain, mainly before 8 a.m. After the rain, skies will be mostly cloudy throughout the day, according to NWS Melbourne. Highs are in the low-70s across the Orlando metro, with Daytona Beach s high peaking at 69...

Orange County families get help with home repairs needed after storm damage

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/7 11:00P Michael Cuglietta

For years, Rodney and LaShonda Alexander used a collection of receptacles to catch rainwater that came through the leaky roof on their Pine Hills home. “We had coolers, mop buckets. We had so many of...

Orlando airport expands facial IDs for international flyers

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/7 11:00P Skyler Swisher

One by one, a group of passengers arriving at Orlando International Airport from Costa Rica stepped up to a kiosk and looked at a camera. In just seconds, the screen flashed green with the word...

Forced to end minority business program, Orlando seeks to favor small and local companies

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/7 11:00P Ryan Gillespie

Forced by the Trump administration to cancel its program offering a leg up to companies owned by women and minorities, Orlando officials are seeking to boost small and local businesses instead. The city council is planning to vote Monday to create...

Ready for an AI taxi to do the I-4 driving for you? It should be possible next year.

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/7 12:00A Natalia Jaramillo

Central Florida residents may not have to drive Orlando s congested roads much longer. The car can drive instead. Residents will be able to hail a driverless robo-taxi when Waymo begins its service in...

Nearly 50 years later, Zeigler killings still captivate public

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/7 12:00A Martin E. Comas

On one side of the small but crowded courtroom — behind Tommy Zeigler and his team of attorneys — sat a cousin of the convicted killer, a Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist, and a woman who has long...

United Arts sets biggest-ever fundraiser goal: $10 million

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/6 4:40A Matthew J. Palm

As cultural organizations grapple with less government funding, United Arts of Central Florida s Collaborative Campaign has announced a $10 million private-sector fundraising goal, an all-time high....

Bus providing overnight refuge to western Orange’s homeless could hit roads by April

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/6 12:00A Brian Bell

A bus that will offer an overnight refuge for homeless residents of western Orange County could hit the roads by April now that nonprofit Matthew s Hope has secured funding and one location where it...

After a decade off, Florida resumes bear hunting today. Here’s what to expect.

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/6 12:00A Stephen Hudak

Hunters will fan out across Florida beginning today as the first sanctioned hunt of black bears in a decade kicks off amid sharply divided public opinion and efforts by humane advocates to cajole — and even pay — sportsmen not to shoot the state...

Rollins College student arrested after security finds AR-15 rifle in dorm

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/5 5:37A Cristóbal Reyes

A Rollins College student was arrested this week after an online ammunition purchase led campus security to discover an AR-15 rifle in his dorm room, according to the Winter Park Police Department. On Wednesday, Constantine Demetriades, 21, was...

Friday has mild temperatures and sunny skies, rain expected over the weekend

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/5 12:47A Garfield Hylton

Friday is sunny with highs in the mid-80s. Weather is expected to be mostly dry with patchy fog overnight, according to NWS Melbourne. There is a moderate risk of rip currents at all area beaches. Looking ahead toward the weekend, rain chances...

Thursday is dry but weekend weather could see rain and storms

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/4 12:49A Garfield Hylton

Thursday is sunny with a high near the high 70s. The day will be mostly dry, according to NWS Melbourne. There is a moderate risk of rip currents at all Atlantic beaches. Dry conditions are expected across the area through Friday, but the weekend...

Swim with Florida’s sea cows in Crystal River, the ‘Manatee Capital of the World’

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/3 10:00P Patrick Connolly

It s one thing to visit an aquarium and gaze in awe at a 1,000-pound manatee swimming just behind the glass. It s another thing to share the same water with Florida s sea cows, encountering them in an...