Local Events

In a stark reminder of the toll of COVID-19 on seniors and their caregivers, slightly more than half of the reported deaths of Floridians from the disease are now linked to long-term care facilities, state figures show. …

Update: This event will not start around 1:30 p.m. Follow the event page for up0dates and changes to the schedule. The run time of the event might also be impacted due to today's announcement of a curfew in Orange County. For two months – pretty much from the moment that venues were forced to close their doors as the coranavirus spread through Florida – Jessica Pawli and her Southern Fried Sunday family have staged virtual music festivals every single weekend, with over 70 musicians from all around the country taking part.…

A new study suggests that testing every assisted living and nursing home resident and staff member for COVID-19 just once across Florida could cost $43 million dollars. …

Five days after the death of unarmed Black father George Floyd under the knee of white, now-former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin, protests Saturday from Windermere to downtown Orlando joined those taking place across the nation. …

The Tampa Bay Times teamed up with health researcher Troy Quast from the University of South Florida to understand why there has been hundreds of unexpected deaths that have not been counted toward the tally of COVID-19 deaths within the state of Florida.…

Florida elections officials are moving ahead to comply with a federal judge’s order that could pave the way for hundreds of thousands of felons to register and vote without paying court-ordered fines and restitution, even as Gov. Ron DeSantis initiated an appeal of the ruling on Friday.…

In an interview on NASA's "Launch America" approximately 18 minutes after the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said he watched the launch with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, and that Trump's attendance at Wednesday's earlier launch attempt was "a big risk." …

SpaceX and NASA successfully launched the new Falcon 9 spacecraft from Cape Canaveral on Saturday, shortly after 3:22 p.m. The historic launch marks the first time in nine years that American astronauts have been launched in an American rocket on American soil.…

The National Rifle Association and Florida officials are asking a federal judge to drop court-ordered mediation in a lawsuit challenging a 2018 state law that prevents people under age 21 from purchasing firearms.…

Back in March, when COVID-19 brought our restaurant industry to its knees, Jason Chin, who runs Osprey Tavern, Seito Sushi Baldwin Park and Reyes Mezcaleria with his wife Sue, told me it was without a doubt the most extreme and trying times they'd ever experienced and that it had left his business few options to keep everyone employed. …

Update, Sunday, May 31: The event has been canceled. There is a statement from the organizers here.

What if I told you that even though raves, like most live music, are off the table for a while, enterprising promoters are figuring out new ways to keep bodies moving … just at a slight remove?…

After moving to Orlando homeless in 1989 and with only $500 in her pocket, Theresa Defairia worked hard to eventually purchase her own small home that same year. It had been scheduled for demolition but she bought it "just in time."…

On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., the Equal Ground Education Fund will host a drive-by letter drop off for George Floyd and his family called Pull Up for George Floyd. …

Daytona's Museum of Arts & Sciences joined other Central Florida museums in reopening to the general public this month, and when they opened their doors, it was with a new exhibit that should be of particular interest to Orlandoans. …

The year 2020 sure didn't turn out how most of us expected, but we can take some small comfort in community traditions, especially ones that spotlight the best of our city.…

On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a new partnership with three Home Depot and three Publix stores to act as COVID-19 testing sites. …

Gov. Ron DeSantis approved on Friday plans by Walt Disney World and SeaWorld to reopen. Both theme park companies had presented their plans to reopen on May 27, and received approval from an Orange County task force. Both parks will implement numerous safety guidelines to ensure guest safety, such as physical distancing, contactless interactions, temperature screening and required masks for guests and employees.…

Just after celebrating their 10th anniversary this month, Snap Orlando announced it is leaving its Mills 50 location at the end of the year. Snap has operated a gallery at the historic Cameo Theatre space on Colonial for six years but will be moving out to focus more on public art exhibitions.…

If you love Buffalo Wild Wings, this one's for you. "B-Dubs" is reopening select Orlando-area locations on Friday, giving you another spot to watch dozens of enormous TVs and eat slightly better-than-average wings.…

On Wednesday, Walt Disney World presented plans to reopen on July 11 and July 15 to an Orange County task force. The task force and Orange County Major Jerry Demings approved the plan and Disney now continues to await approval from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.…

Updated, 1:45 p.m. | Derek Chauvin has been arrested in Minnesota, in connection with George Floyd's death.
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The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season doesn’t officially start until June 1, and we may already see our third named storm.…

The Florida university system’s governing board on Thursday approved a broad blueprint for how to reopen campuses in the fall, which will help schools as they work to finalize their individual plans over the next two weeks.…