Kissimmee mom’s dying wish: Family raising $300K to build food pantry

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/23 11:00P Michael Cuglietta

Martha Cusimano was determined to build a new food pantry in Kissimmee. She ran one there for many years, feeding families in need and the homeless, but the cramped facility regularly ran out of food...

Health inspectors shut down 6 Central Florida restaurants last week

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/23 11:00P Richard Tribou

The Department of Business and Professional Regulation shut down six Central Florida restaurants for health code violations during the week from Dec. 14-20. Orange King Cajun Crawfish Restaurant at 924 N. Mills Ave. in Orlando shut down on Dec....

Student’s costume creation is onstage and Broadway-bound

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/23 10:00P Matthew J. Palm

A Winter Park High School senior could see the whimsical holiday costume she designed as part of her theater studies on Broadway one day. And for the rest of the Christmas season, her design will be part of the Pomp, Snow & CIRQUEumstance show at...

Orlando will have itself a very balmy Christmas — unlike the rest of the U.S.

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/23 8:09A Martin E. Comas, Richard Tribou

While portions of the country celebrate the Christmas season with flood alerts and snow flurries, Central Floridians this week can expect sunny skies and warmer weather than normal. High temperatures are forecast to reach a balmy 78 degrees every...

Orange County wants full reimbursement for holding ICE detainees

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/23 7:25A Stephen Hudak

As immigration agents bring more and more ICE detainees to the Orange County jail, the county s cost grows heavier every day and Mayor Jerry Demings appealed this week in writing to federal authorities for relief in shouldering the burden. He...

‘Hush hush’: Texts show family discussed how to handle Anna Kepner death

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/23 7:19A Cristóbal Reyes

In the aftermath of Anna Kepner s death last month aboard a cruise ship, her family discussed how to protect their children — including the teen stepbrother considered a suspect by the FBI. Text messages released last week between divorced...

Ben Sasse, former UF president and U.S. senator, announces cancer diagnosis

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/23 6:14A Steven Walker

Ben Sasse, a former president at the University of Florida and U.S. Senator from Nebraska, has been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer, according to his social media. Sasse, 53, wrote in a post on his X account that he’s “gonna die.”...

Popular theme parks YouTuber ‘Adam the Woo’ found dead in Celebration home

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/23 3:48A Steven Walker

David Adam Williams, a popular theme parks and travel YouTuber known as Adam the Woo, was found dead Monday afternoon in his home in Celebration, deputies said. Osceola Sheriff’s deputies found Williams, 51, in his upstairs bedroom after a...

Maxwell: Christmas is a magical time, yet also dark, lonely for many. You can help

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/23 3:22A Scott Maxwell

Growing up in the Maxwell house, there was no more magical time than Christmas. Dad pumped Ray Conniff songs through the house. Mom personalized Christmas cards. And my brother, sister and I would gleefully work on gift lists and hand-deliver...

Florida’s Turnpike back open after crews clear overturned tractor trailer

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/23 12:59A Richard Tribou

Florida s Turnpike was shut down Tuesday morning after a tractor trailer overturned in the northbound lanes in Osceola County. The incident occurred before dawn beyond mile marker 244 near Kissimmee. FL511 showed the overturned truck continuing...

Central Florida lined up for beautiful weather through Christmas

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/22 11:55P Richard Tribou

If you like your Christmas not so much white, but sunny and dry, then Central Florida won t disappoint this week. Rain chances are minimal across the region with temperatures a little warmer than normal, according to the National Weather Service...

Cruises, an epic bike ride and more: Central Florida Explorer’s 2025 year in review

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/22 10:00P Patrick Connolly

When thinking back on the year past, it s hard to know exactly how to begin reflecting on another 52 weeks of memories, stories and adventures. Perhaps the year can be measured by the number of...

Katherine Page named associate curator at Orlando Museum of Art

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/22 10:00P Matthew J. Palm

The newest staff addition at Orlando Museum of Art comes from right across the street. Katherine Page will leave the Mennello Museum of American Art and move across Loch Haven Park to OMA as its new associate curator. The position had been vacant...

Orlando removes artifacts from Pulse building, marking major step in new memorial

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/22 7:09A Martin E. Comas

One by one, crew members slowly hauled out large wooden boxes filled with chandeliers, posters, a cash register, the top of a bar, and other items frozen in time from June 12, 2016. It was nearly all...

Barry Manilow postpones Orlando, other Florida concerts to have surgery for early-stage lung cancer

Local News : Orlando Sentinel 12/22 5:50A Associated Press

Barry Manilow will be having surgery to remove a cancerous spot on his lung and will reschedule his January concerts, including one in Orlando, the singer announced Monday. Manilow, 82, said doctors found the cancer after he had an extended bout...