Orange County

The Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail runs right past Gemini Springs Park, pictured here, in DeBary. The Volusia County city is the only place in Florida where three regional trails intersect, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Environment & Climate

Progress planned for this year on Central Florida bike trails

Molly Duerig

Thirteen construction projects are planned for regional trails this year, including nine projects in Central Florida.

Work will start this year on planned improvements to State Road 408 near Downtown Orlando.

Environment & Climate

Work begins this year on road improvements near Downtown Orlando

Molly Duerig

The nearly $219 million project includes improvements to State Road 408 and several local roads.

SeaWorld Orlando staff members help unload Kemp’s ridley sea turtles from a rescue plane flown by volunteer pilots. The turtles had washed ashore up north after being cold-stunned earlier this year.

Environment & Climate

Fourteen tiny, endangered sea turtles receive care in Central Florida

Molly Duerig

The turtles were cold-stunned by low water temperatures up north and are now being rehabilitated at SeaWorld Orlando.

Health

AI project poised to help more Florida communities predict and track drug use

Joe Mario Pedersen

A new AI-powered tech is showing law enforcement and public health leaders dangerous drugs entering their communities and predicting the drug wave.

The Rev. Patricia Orlando stands during the Blue Christmas service, talking about the cards that would later be handed out so parishioners could write down their pain and prayers.

Featured Stories

Cathedral in Orlando reaches out to people feeling blue at Christmas

Marian Summerall

The Cathedral Church of Saint Luke offers a Blue Christmas service, a candlelit service where guests can give their sorrows and prayers to God – and find hope.

The city of Orlando announced that plans for a permanent memorial are planned to be completed by the end of 2027.

Government & Politics

Orlando begins moving objects out of Pulse as memorial plans move forward

Joe Mario Pedersen

Crews began moving artifacts from inside the Pulse Nightclub ahead of plans to begin clearing the site next year.

Eddie Cole, former Eatonville Mayor, Tars basketball coach, civics leader, and father has passed away.

Education

Central Florida mourns the death of former Eatonville Mayor Eddie Cole

Danielle Prieur

Cole was 67 at the time of his death.

Five years ago, Landon (left) was diagnosed with leukemia. He beat his cancer, but the road to recovery has left him hurting. Post-chemo therapy treatments left Landon with a learning disability, osteoporosis, and muscle atrophy. His mother, Erin, has been working to get him the therapies he needs to get better, but the two have had a long, bumpy road with Medicaid and the Florida Children's Health Insurance Program.

Health

2 years after healthcare expansion passes, Florida kids are still waiting to get access

Joe Mario Pedersen

A law was passed to give Florida kids more access to healthcare, but 2 years later medically fragile kids are still waiting.

Johanna Álvarez speaks at a press conference Tuesday at Orange County’s administration building. To her left, a screenshot captured from security camera footage shows Álvarez’s mother standing outside of her home with the immigration agents who ultimately detained her.

Government & Politics

Immigrant detainees with no pending charges flood Orange County Jail

Molly Duerig

Immigrant detainees with no pending criminal charges are flooding the Orange County Jail close to the facility’s capacity, according to county staff.

Pastor Sarah Robinson, of Audubon Park Church, prays with a man prior to his appointment inside the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Center.

Government & Politics

Outside Orlando ICE office, pastors offer prayer and support

Joe Mario Pedersen

Pastors with the Immigrants Are Welcome Here Coalition have been offering their spiritual guidance for immigrants outside the south Orlando ICE removal facility.