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The end has been long overdue for Lost Continent, one of the original themed lands at Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme park. Indeed, when The Wizarding World of Harry Potter branched out into it in 2010, it felt natural for Hogsmeade to continue penetrating its mythical realm. Instead, Universal Orlando opened Potter Part 2 next to Universal Studios in Florida in 2014, but Lost Continent has been a bit of a mess ever since, with temporary closures, construction walls, an unlikely connection to the Jurassic Park area, a Halloween Horror Nights shop, and other mysterious merchandise. We’ve persevered through the…

An exhibit featuring optical illusions and how they confuse your mind is scheduled to open at the Orlando Science Center on Sunday. Phenomena: An Exhibition uses 20 immersive examples to explore the scientific explanation of why the eye can deceive you. Some of the stations include a mirror maze, a zero-gravity room, a table where your head appears to be separated from your body, and a ladder to the center of the earth that tests your depth perception. Although not very educational, this example also serves as a selfie or social media opportunity. Science Center members can preview “Phenomena” from…

Just a few weeks ago, I made a brand new discovery: manchows. Equal parts spicy and tart, this soup is of Indochinese origin, making it the perfect recipe for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and a surefire way to soothe your cold-weather sinuses. My first taste of the city was at Nawabi Hyderabad House. Although it is the first locally owned franchise in Orlando, and is well established in other parts of the country and internationally, its first location appeared in Houston, Texas. While we were having a beautiful lamb biryani with fried gobi here at Lake Mary,…

The proposal, called the “Living Wage for All,” would raise the federal minimum wage to $25 an hour. Supporters of the bill are liberal groups ranging from the National Labor Federation to civil rights groups and economic justice organizations, including: Unions such as Squad, SEIU, Teachers Federation, National Education Association (NEA), NAACP, People’s Center for Democracy, Fair Pay, Our Revolution, Alliance for a Just Society, Patriotic Billionaires, New Disabled South, Keystone Progress Education Fund, National Organization for Women (NOW). Supporters say the wage hikes are needed to address the U.S. price crisis. “There is no place in America where workers…

Teen online safety has been one of Washington state’s hottest priorities in recent years. The issue is a rare one that unites Republicans and Democrats who agree on little else at a time of deep polarization. These proposals range from the constitutionally reckless, such as banning youth social media use entirely, to the constructive, building robust digital literacy programs that provide young people with important tools to navigate the online world. Unfortunately, Congress has been far more attracted to interventionist options than empowering options. The desire to protect teens online has united Democrats and Republicans, but no proposals have reached…

Florida Attorney General James Usmayer criticized Orlando District Attorney Monique Worrell’s handling of the criminal case in which Marcus Anderson was indicted by a grand jury on capital murder charges.Anderson was facing charges that could carry the death penalty. Instead, Usmayer said Worrell’s office allowed Anderson to be sentenced to four years in prison as a “youthful offender.”Usmayer argued that the results reflected what he described as a broader pattern of lenient plea deals for violent offenders. He denounced the decision as a dereliction of duty and called for an end to what he characterized as “sweetheart plea bargains” in…

A recent Axios report found that America’s pastoral pipeline is collapsing, with fewer Americans wanting to become pastors. Enrollment in U.S. Master of Divinity programs affiliated with the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) decreased by 14% from 2020 to 2024. Catholic seminaries saw a decline in the number of graduate and undergraduate students in the 2024-2025 academic year, according to Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. According to the ATS Master of Divinity, enrollment of black Protestant students all declined by 31% between 2000 and 2020. The Associated Press reported that just over 4 in 10 clergy…

Brightwater Strategies Group (PLLC), a leading Florida-based consulting firm specializing in government affairs and environmental strategy, is proud to announce the addition of Jason Andreotta to its executive team. Mr. Andreotta joins Brightwater after a distinguished career with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), where he most recently served as Assistant Secretary for Regulatory Programs. With more than 20 years of experience in environmental regulation, water resources management, and ecosystem restoration, Andreotta adds significant technical expertise and strategic insight to the company’s expanding client portfolio. His appointment further strengthens Brightwater’s ability to support development projects, investment groups and agricultural…

Walt Disney World Resort President Jeff Vahr has announced that he will be retiring at the end of July. “I started my career as a Magic Kingdom engineer and am about to end it with the best job ever, working with our incredible cast members and community to lead Walt Disney World through a period of tremendous growth,” Valle posted on his LinkedIn account Monday afternoon. Valle has been in the top job at WDW since May 2020, succeeding Josh D’Amaro, who was then chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Projects. D’Amaro is currently the CEO of the Walt Disney…

In 1999, then-Florida Governor Jeb Bush introduced what he called the A+ Accountability Program, which combined school choice with educational accountability. From 2011 to 2019, Florida Governor Rick Scott supported the expansion of charter schools and scholarship programs that allow students to attend private schools. But since Governor DeSantis took office, educational freedom has expanded rapidly, with record numbers of students attending the schools of their choice. But other areas of public education have seen and will continue to see further changes. Suzanne Gallagher, Executive Director of Parental Rights in Education, says public education is undergoing a quiet but undeniable…