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Grocery prices rose at the fastest monthly pace in more than three years in December, according to new data released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to the Consumer Price Index, dine-in prices rose 0.7% in December, more than double the 0.3% increase recorded in September, the most recent data before the federal government shutdown. This was the largest monthly increase since late 2022, when food prices also rose 0.7% in August and September. The last time prices rose more than that was in July 2022, when they rose 1.3%. Compared to the same month last year,…
For decades, Florida’s lack of a state income tax and warmer climate have encouraged large-scale internal migration. By early 2026, the population will exceed 23.8 million, making it the most populous state in the United States, IBIS World reports. While fueling a $1.4 trillion economy, this growth is pushing Florida’s aging physical and social infrastructure toward a critical tipping point. Currently, Florida’s core systems are locked in a race against time. The roads, water systems, and power grids that supported Florida’s growth are now under strain from increased demand and increased environmental instability. This article explores how rapid population growth…
Florida’s Republican gubernatorial primary is shaping up to be far more consequential and potentially more damaging than many party members acknowledge. At first, the race seemed all but decided. Byron Donald entered the contest as the clear favorite, buoyed by an early and decisive endorsement from Donald Trump, one that came before Donald officially declared his candidacy. Such support is no small thing in a Republican primary. But the field is starting to get crowded. Last week, Jay Collins entered the race, lending credibility to the establishment and giving Republican voters an alternative lane. Former Florida House Speaker Paul Renner…
Ten Florida residents have been selected as semifinalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards, and Wendy Lopez, chef and partner at Reyes Mezcaleria, is one of three nominees from Central Florida. Last year, the Orlando area had six nominations. Lopez was named a semifinalist in the Best Chef category, which includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Puerto Rico. “It’s an incredible honor to be named alongside these amazing chefs,” Lopez says of his nod to advance to the semifinals. “Years of dedication to this wonderful craft have brought me this far. It’s been 23 years, and this is just…
Attorney General James Usmeyer announced the release of an economic report prompting a Department of Consumer Protection investigation into deceptive pet sales practices and high-cost financing arrangements that allegedly cost Floridians more than $25.1 million annually. The report was commissioned by the Attorney General’s Office and conducted by the Haas Center at the University of West Florida. The report details widespread concerns about the sale of sick or mislabeled animals and the use of what investigators describe as predatory lending practices related to pet purchases. Research shows that more than 80% of puppies sold in Florida come from large breeders…
Below is an official statement from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. Malcolm Jewell Williams, 39, of Jacksonville, was sentenced by Chief District Judge Marcia Morales Howard to 11 years and three months in federal prison for possession of a firearm and possession of cocaine after conviction for felony and misdemeanor domestic violence. The court also ordered Williams to forfeit the firearm used in the crime. Mr. Williams was found guilty following a jury trial on July 25, 2025. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe. According to court documents, Williams has…
Epcot International Arts Festival is back at Walt Disney World. The event has many of the same artistic attractions as previous years, but during the opening weekend we spotted some tweaks and updates throughout the rounds. Here are some highlights from the festival, which will be held daily at the theme park until February 23rd. living room large lamp There’s something new, big and shiny outside the entrance to the “Once Upon a Stage: The Magic of Disney on Broadway” exhibition. And people are rubbing it in hopes of making a wish. It’s a big golden lamp in the style…
It’s truly wonderful to see the large theater at 54 W. Church St. filled with enthusiastic patrons once again. The former home of the Mad Cow Theater and Fringe Arts Space in the heart of downtown is buzzing again thanks to a lively production of the musical “Mean Girls.” That fan-favorite show is an adaptation of the 2004 film by Tina Fey. (If you’re wearing pink on Wednesdays, you may also remember that Fey, a Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock alum, brought the story, which was originally adapted into a stage musical, to a musical film in 2024, coming…
The Orange County Regional History Center’s newest exhibit might get your creative juices flowing and give you a wave of nostalgia. “Animationland” offers experiential art activities, and its sister production, “Drawing Magic: Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida,” is a return to homegrown work. Created by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, much of this space depicts a storyline featuring Turtleback Island’s pencil dog Tracy and her various friends. The exhibit features multiple stations where visitors can create animated sequences using these characters. Participants learn storyboarding and drawing techniques and can then move on to practicing stop-motion animation, creating sound…
“At Girl Scouts, we believe in the magic and scale of the cookie program,” says Citrus Girl Scouts Executive Director Jennifer Wilcox. As cookie season began earlier this month, so did legions of believers who started stocking up on boxes of their favorite Thin Mints and Trefoils. But wait a minute, Caramel Delites. Because new cookies are coming this year. Inspired by the flavors of Rocky Road ice cream, these chocolate sandwich cookies feature a fluffy marshmallow and toasted almond-flavored cream filling. It might become your new favorite? Maybe. But more importantly, the program behind these classic treats acts as…