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The City of Orlando is moving forward with a new initiative to transform the historic Church Street Station area into a more vibrant downtown destination. Orlando’s Community Redevelopment Agency will host a groundbreaking ceremony for Phase I of the Church Street Festival Street Project, a downtown improvement effort related to the City of Orlando’s Downtown Orlando Action Plan. The project will transform Church Street from Garland Avenue east to Magnolia Avenue into what city officials describe as a “festival street” designed to support outdoor dining, local businesses, public events and pedestrian activity. The first phase will focus on the stretch…

U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody announced that she helped secure more than $64 million in FEMA assistance for Charlotte County as Florida communities continue to recover from the major hurricane. Moody announced the funding at the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center in Punta Gorda. The funding will support 28 restoration projects in the county, including waterways, roads, traffic signal systems, debris removal and improvements to Charlotte Harbor. The money is part of about $2 billion in FEMA assistance and helped secure funding for the state overall, Moody said. These projects are related to recovery from Hurricanes Debbie, Helen, Milton, Idalia, and…

Sen. Rick Scott is calling on Congress to pass a series of bills to crack down on scammers who deceive and exploit Americans, including older adults, who are increasingly targeted by phone scams, cybercrime, and artificial intelligence. Scott said the bill is part of a broader effort to combat fraud and hold criminals accountable. “Our country is rife with scammers, whether it’s over the phone or through sophisticated cybercrime,” Scott said. “Criminals are weaponizing new technologies like artificial intelligence to defraud Americans of their savings. We must stop them and hold them accountable. These bills will go a long way…

Universal Orlando will hold its first after-hours event for ticket purchasers at Epic Universe over two days in October, the resort announced. Tickets for Universal Nights will be valid on two Saturdays at Epic: October 3rd and October 17th. However, Universal says tickets won’t go on sale until August 13th. Prices for limited-capacity events “start at $179 per person,” according to the park’s website. According to the site, annual pass holders will receive a 10% discount. Admission includes access to all theme park rides and experiences from 9pm to midnight. Guests will also receive complimentary Coca-Cola beverages courtesy of the…

A recent NBC News poll looked at which government and American institutions most voters do or do not trust. The poll found that only 36% of Americans have confidence in universities. Fifty-two percent of Democrats had “a great deal” or “a lot” of confidence in universities. Only 17% of Republican voters trust universities. When it comes to the U.S. military, 86% of Republicans trust the U.S. military, while most Democrats (58%) say they are “not very proud,” “not at all proud,” or have “little or no confidence” in the U.S. military. 52% had no confidence in the current federal government.…

Summers are long and hot, so it’s nice to have fresh food to help you work up a sweat at Orlando’s theme parks and attractions. Some of the options include a revived laser light show, extensive barbecue and new nighttime spectaculars. cue cue SeaWorld Orlando is launching barbecue inspired by a variety of American styles, including Kansas City, Texas, Memphis, Louisiana (think Cajun) and North Carolina (coleslaw alert). The park’s Red, White & BBQ Weekend, which continues every weekend until Aug. 23, will also include non-barbecue food and drinks for sale at 18 kiosks. Menu items include fish and grits.…

When embracing innovation, there is often an element of “surprise” that can lead to over-optimism and over-reliance on unproven technologies. If you or a loved one has been harmed by the misuse of technology or medical technology, this is helpful information. Increase in medical errors Medical malpractice claims cost the United States $8.9 billion annually. The average payout in a medical malpractice case is $300,000, and one in 10 cases exceeds $1 million. With 45% of lawsuits resulting in a payout for the plaintiff (the person suing the insurance company), it is clear that there is a serious problem with…

Guest editorial: Kevin Doyle Florida’s economy has long been defined by tourism, real estate, and the industries that serve them. That foundation has served our country well, but the next generation of economic growth will run on something else: digital infrastructure. The systems that support modern healthcare, logistics, financial services, and Florida’s military and aerospace operations all rely on data centers. Our state already has some of the fastest-growing technology corridors in the country, and there is a clear opportunity to make data center investments the next centerpiece. Missing that opportunity through misinformation and falsehoods would be a mistake and…

Governor DeSantis signs a new $117.6 billion state budget. Highlights include: $735 million to repay state debt. Florida’s total reserves currently sit at just under $18 billion, including $5 billion in the state’s rainy day fund. education. $1.56 billion will be used to increase pay for full-time K-12 classroom and preschool teachers with at least 10 years of full-time teaching experience in Florida public schools. Funding per student is $9,338. environment and natural resources. More than $300 million to support local water projects. This includes construction, upgrades and expansions of wastewater facilities, septic tank to sewer conversions, stormwater management and…

A surprising new analysis from Edmunds reveals that $20,000 new cars have all but disappeared from the U.S. market, highlighting how affordability has changed dramatically in just a few years. Rising prices, shrinking entry-level inventories, and changing manufacturers’ strategies have many consumers wondering whether buying a new car is still within their reach. “A number of factors are leading to the extinction of new cars under $20,000,” said Ray Szewska, auto retail analyst at CardEdge. “Part of it is inflation, which continues to drive up prices, and part of it is the ever-increasing costs of government-mandated safety technology, but in…