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Florida Democratic Rep. Sheila Chafferas McCormick has been indicted by the federal government on charges that she orchestrated a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme involving FEMA disaster relief funds and funneled illegal contributions to her political campaign, prosecutors said. Federal investigators allege that the congressman stole more than $5 million intended for disaster relief programs and diverted the funds through a network of fake nonprofits and private associates. Prosecutors say the scheme included submitting fraudulent reimbursement claims to FEMA for community relief projects that were never implemented or greatly overstated. The indictment alleges that the congressman then diverted some of the stolen…

I’m not sure what to call this cookie. Because that’s what we make, it’s been just oatmeal cookies for about 20 years. They use dried cranberries instead of raisins. Because all the people in the world who have been hurt by raisins have hurt me with raisin trauma. not much. I love dried cranberries. This seasonal warm cookie is colorful and autumn-like, and goes perfectly with the ginger served with it. There’s an obvious name you could give these cookies (hint: it rhymes with oatmeal raisin), but unfortunately that name is trademarked, so you don’t want to get in trouble.…

Sunrise, Fla. – Fanatics, a provider of authentic National Hockey League (NHL) and NHL outfits, today announced the Discover NHL Winter Classic uniforms that the reigning two-time Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will wear when they take on the New York Rangers on January 2, 2026 at Lawndepot Park in Miami. This matchup will make NHL history as the southernmost outdoor matchup in league history and will mark the 17th NHL Winter Classic since the tradition began in 2008. The Panthers’ NHL Winter Classic uniforms pay homage to Florida’s hockey history and local military ties. The jersey features a vintage…

Next week is Black Friday, and the Federal Trade Commission compared data on the average number of quarterly fraud reports per 100,000 residents over three years to reveal which states are most at risk of being scammed on Black Friday. Florida ranks 5th among states with the highest risk of being scammed on Black Friday. This is 24% higher than the national average, highlighting Florida as a state at risk for fraud during sales. Over the three years analyzed, there were a total of 452,222 fraud reports in Florida. The average loss per reported victim was a hefty $650.59 per…

Epic Universe, Central Florida’s newest theme park and Universal Orlando Resort’s newest expansion, is the recipient of four Thea Awards, a global honor bestowed by the Themed Entertainment Association. Epic Universe, which opened to the public in May, was praised for Outstanding Achievement in Theme Park category at the Thea Awards. How to Train Your Dragon – Berk Island Area won the theme park land category. Epic’s dark ride “Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment” was recognized in the Attraction category, and the immersive “Harry Potter and the Battle of the Ministry” was praised as an outstanding ride experience. In addition,…

The Florida Department of Insurance Regulation announced that the top five major auto insurance companies will lower their premiums by an average of 6.5% this year. State Farm recently announced a 10% reduction in car rates. Progressive Insurance also offers customers savings on their auto insurance premiums. Since January 2024, 17 new insurance companies have entered the Sunshine State market and 33 have applied for rate reductions. This is the third time in two years that State Farm has announced rate reductions, which the company says are more than 20%. The insurance industry says recent moves by these companies show…

SeaWorld Orlando has unveiled the rides for the upcoming SEAQuest: Legends of the Deep. This ride is an indoor attraction that allows you to experience a simulated underwater experience while moving forward and swinging from side to side. The vehicle, unveiled Tuesday on the exhibit floor at the IAAPA Expo at the Orange County Convention Center, recreates the behavior of a submarine without the cramped quarters. Open-air vehicles are suspended from rails using gravity to assist in programmed movement. “We’re really excited about all of the dynamics,” said Connor Kerr, corporate vice president of rides and engineering for United Parks…

This holiday season at Orlando’s theme parks is like a cozy cardigan you’ve put away for months. It looks completely familiar, full of memories, and oh, there are some things in my pocket that I completely forgot about. For example, take a look at what happened at SeaWorld Orlando and what happened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios Theme Park, an after-hours event called “Disney Jollywood Nights.” SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration will feature a variety of activities throughout the day, including O Wonderous Night, a stage show with carols and puppetry that tells the story of Jesus’ birth, and the Sesame Street Christmas…

Kroger will cease operations at its Groveland, Fla., fulfillment center early next year as part of a major shift in the company’s e-commerce strategy. The announcement was made this week in a company press release outlining broad changes to Kroger’s online delivery model. The Groveland facility was launched as part of a high-profile partnership between Kroger and Ocado to serve as the delivery-only grocery store’s hub in Central Florida. Since Kroger does not operate a traditional supermarket in the area, this fulfillment center is the company’s sole presence in the Central Florida grocery market. Kroger confirmed it will close its…

Below is the official statement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida regarding the sentencing of a Cape Coral man involved in gun trafficking. FORT MYERS, Fla. – U.S. District Judge Kyle Dudek sentenced Derrick Desir, 28, Cape Coral, to three years and 10 months in federal prison for his role in a gun-trafficking conspiracy. Desir pled guilty on July 23, 2025, to charges of conspiracy to make false statements to a gun trafficker and making false statements to a gun trafficker. In May 2022, Desir took part in a conspiracy to “straw buy” handguns…