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Michelin returns to City Beautiful magazine in 2025 with three new stars. Two of them were at Solekala, one of the Orlando Sentinel’s new restaurants of the year at the time. The other one we went to was OS’s best new restaurant, Ômo by Jônt. Of course, it’s great to have a fine dining restaurant of choice in a city where talent is exploding. And while luxury competition continues to intensify, patrons here don’t seem to be as concerned as others, as they’re eating out far less frequently than last year, according to YouGov’s year-end survey. A significant 37% of…
Maria Sherman, Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) – The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will be held Sunday and will be broadcast live on CBS and Paramount+ from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. What can viewers expect? According to the Recording Academy, some are new, some are old, and we’re very excited. Executive producers Raj Kapoor, Ben Winston and Jesse Collins return with a different show from last year, when the event was completely changed to help those affected by the devastating Los Angeles area wildfires. Here are four big questions and answers ahead of the event. What’s the latest…
For homeowners, seeing an insurance claim marked “closed” often feels like the end of the road. Many believe that once the carrier closes the file, no further action is possible. In fact, the closing of a claim does not necessarily mean that the matter is legally or financially resolved. In Florida, homeowners still have options, depending on timing, documentation, and how the claim is handled. It is important to understand what “closed” actually means before accepting a loss that may not reflect the full extent of your damages. What does it mean for an insurance company when a claim is…
WASHINGTON – Republican Congressman Vern Buchanan, who has represented Florida’s 16th Congressional District for 20 years, announced Tuesday that he will retire at the end of his current term. Mr. Buchanan, 74, has been a member of Congress since 2007 and currently serves as vice chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees federal tax, trade and health care policy. His retirement marks the end of his tenure as the longest-serving Republican representing Southwest Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives. “After 20 years of service, I believe this is the right time to pass the torch and…
Automobile problems remain the number one complaint of American consumers. In 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported more than 350,000 complaints. A recent survey of a major dealer group found that as many as 80% of customers were charged for “required” add-ons they didn’t want, and felt they had signed a wasted deal, even after signing the paperwork. “Legally, if you signed all the paperwork, completed the purchase, and drove your new car home, there’s not much you can do legally in most jurisdictions. From a legal perspective, you own the car. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t practical…
How does MSC Cruises stand out in the increasingly competitive cruise market?We offer a value proposition that rivals Carnival Cruise Lines, attracting guests with low fares and new ships with plenty to do on board. MSC Cruises began year-round service in North America in 2014, making it a much newer cruise in this market than Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian. The cruise company finally debuted a ship in Port Canaveral in 2021 and has since continued to grow its presence in Florida, particularly with the addition last year of MSC World America, which sails from Port Miami. MSC Grandiosa in…
Florida officials announced the results of a state test for heavy metals in candy products, expanding a broad effort to evaluate foods marketed to children and provide information to consumers. The Florida Department of Health (DOH) tested 46 candy products from 10 companies for heavy metals, including arsenic. The state said arsenic was detected in 28 of the products analyzed, prompting further investigation into potential exposure risks, especially to children. The testing was conducted under the state’s Healthy Florida First initiative, which aims to increase transparency about food safety and product composition. Governor Ron DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis, and…
The University of Florida has been ranked No. 1 in the nation for online bachelor’s degree programs in the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Online Programs rankings, marking another milestone in the university’s expansion of its digital education footprint. The university also received top rankings in several professional categories, including No. 1 for online bachelor’s programs for business and veterans, and No. 3 for online bachelor’s programs in psychology. Multiple graduate-level online programs were also ranked among the leaders in the U.S., with education programs ranked No. 2 and online MBA programs ranked No. 5. University officials said…
Data from our partners at Open The Books reveals some of the spending and DEI information that occurred during the Biden administration. 1. NASA spent $24 billion in fiscal year 2024, most of which ($14.6 billion) came from contracts. Accounting for inflation, government spending remained relatively stable in the decades following the moon landing. 2. The second largest contractor was Boeing, which received $6.4 billion in federal contract spending from fiscal years 2021 to 2024. 3. NASA has relied on private contractors to deliver cargo to the ISS since 2012 and personnel since 2020. The two contractors used to transport…
A new report from the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) shows the country’s murder rate has fallen to historic levels. CCJ analyzed monthly crime data from 40 cities over the past eight years. In 2025, 11 out of 13 crime categories decreased compared to 2024. Nine of the 13 categories saw declines of 10% or more, with homicides down 21%. The CCJ states that drug offenses were the only crime category that increased (up 7%). Sexual assault remained egalitarian. Key points from CCJ: Looking at changes in violent crime, the reported homicide rate in 2025 was 21% lower than in…