BIZARRE: 8 - You Need To See This

Florida rule would expand so-called ‘don’t say gay’ to 12th grade

ORLANDO, Fla. — The DeSantis administration next month could effectively bar all public school teachers from providing classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity, a move that would expand Florida’s controversial 2022 law and go even further than the legislation Republican lawmakers are pushing in Tallahassee this spring.

Orlando Sentinel · Mar 21, 2023

DeSantis wants to ban federal digital currency, despite debunking of concerns

TALLAHASSEE — Echoing recent claims by Alex Jones and other right-wing personalities that the federal government wants to create a Communist-style surveillance system to track the spending habits of Americans, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday said he wants to ban such activities in Florida.

Orlando Sentinel · Mar 20, 2023

Disney plans 4,000 layoffs as part of previously announced job cuts: report

The Walt Disney Co. plans to lay off about 4,000 people company-wide as part of the 7,000 job cuts CEO Bob Iger announced in February, according to a report by Business Insider.

Orlando Sentinel · Mar 20, 2023

$17.50 an hour? Hospitality companies say quality pay brings quality staff

When Eddie Hamann heard his employees found it hard to make ends meet in Orlando, he saw an opportunity to help.

Orlando Sentinel · Mar 17, 2023

Magic drop close road game to Suns despite Fultz’s 25 points

The Orlando Magic cleaned up some of their defensive lapses Thursday against the Phoenix Suns after allowing 22 3-pointers in Tuesday’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

Orlando Sentinel · Mar 17, 2023

Under fire, DeSantis, Ladapo keep trashing COVID-19 vaccines

ORLANDO, Fla. — In the wake of federal health officials’ harshest criticism yet of their anti-COVID vaccine views, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Gov. Ron DeSantis persisted Thursday in claiming the “mRNA jabs” are worthless at best and even dangerous, despite an abundance of evidence to the contrary.

Orlando Sentinel · Mar 16, 2023

No. 13 Furman stuns No. 4 Virginia, 68-67, in first round of NCAA tourney

ORLANDO, Fla. — Welcome back, March Madness!

Orlando Sentinel · Mar 16, 2023

Florida homeowners are in the dark about flood insurance, expert says

After the back-to-back named storms last year left billions of dollars in flood losses across Florida, one organization is warning that major reforms are needed to government regulations and flood insurance, especially inland as climate change makes storms wetter and more powerful.

Orlando Sentinel · Mar 16, 2023

Taxpayer-funded vouchers in Florida go mostly to religious schools. ‘Pay for it yourself,’ rabbi says

ORLANDO, Fla. — Most Florida students using state vouchers to pay for private school spend their scholarships at religious schools, as their parents select campuses where lessons from the Bible, the Torah and the Quran are taught alongside traditional academics.

Orlando Sentinel · Mar 16, 2023

Tyre Sampson’s mom settles lawsuit against Free Fall owner, ICON Park

ORLANDO, Fla. — Standing in front of the Orlando Free Fall drop tower where her 14-year-old son Tyre Sampson lost his life nearly a year ago, Nekia Dodd and her lawyer announced Wednesday they had reached a settlement with ride owner Orlando Slingshot and landlord ICON Park in the civil…

Orlando Sentinel · Mar 15, 2023