Tag Archives: Orlando

NBC News reports: Hurricane Ian was downgraded to a tropical storm early Thursday but still expected to produce strong winds, heavy rains, and storm surge across, according to the National Weather Service. The storm made landfall over the west coast of Florida as a category 4 storm on Wednesday afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center. It knocked out power …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Universal Orlando Resort, including CityWalk, will close on Wednesday and Thursday, with tentative plans to reopen on Friday as conditions permit. Universal Orlando said its hotels are currently at full capacity and will remain operational. Walt Disney World has announced that the theme parks and Disney Springs will be closing. All Disney parks are scheduled to …

Gentle readers, on today’s sixth anniversary of the Pulse massacre, I’m rerunning my account of that day. The story below originally ran on Pride Life’s website on July 12th 2016 and makes its third appearance on JMG today. Their Phones Kept Ringing One month ago today, Sunday June 12th, around 8AM, I began my day, as usual, by examining my …

From the Democratic National Committee: DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, DNC Secretary Jason Rae, and LGBTQ Caucus Chair Earl Fowlkes issued the following joint statement on Pulse Remembrance Day: Today marks the sixth anniversary of the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, a horrific tragedy that cut short the lives of 49 people — the vast majority of whom …

Reuters reports: Orlando cracked a list of the world’s top 10 busiest airports by passengers for the first time last year, as the home of the Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Florida theme parks joined mostly American hubs as soaring leisure travel underpins a recovery in traffic. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport topped the rankings by passenger traffic published Monday …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: The Orlando World Center Marriott on Friday night was the scene of white nationalist Nick Fuentes’ America First Political Action Conference, or AFPAC, according to HuffPost.  Fuentes was involved in the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville in 2017 and has been subpoenaed over his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. Speakers at his …

The Jerusalem Post reports: Participants at a neo-Nazi rally in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday waved Nazi flags and shouted antisemitic and anti-Black slogans, according to StopAntisemitism.org. The rally was organized by the National Socialist Movement (NSM) and was live-streamed on the American Nazi Party’s website. NSM has a 25-point manifesto on its website and advocates an American “White” ethnostate in …

Orlando’s ABC News affiliate reports: Universal Orlando Resort will soon be requiring guests to wear face masks. Starting Dec. 24, face masks will be required at all public indoor locations regardless of vaccination status. Public indoor locations include restaurants, shops and indoor hotel public areas. Face masks will also be required at all attractions from the moment guests enter the …

Orlando’s CBS News affiliate reports: The onePulse Foundation, a nonprofit incorporated by the owner of the Pulse nightclub, is asking for any information on an arson from October. The foundation posted a video on Facebook on Saturday that shows a man in a wheelchair lighting part of the interim memorial on fire. The foundation said it happened on October 12 …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Orlando’s utility is barely able to get enough liquid oxygen needed to purify the city’s drinking water even as other urgent worries are peaking. “We are definitely not out of the woods,” said Tim Trudell, Orlando Utilities Commission spokesman. “This could quickly turn,” said Wade Gillingham, OUC’s vice president for production of electricity and water. Wade …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: The city of Orlando and its water utility on Friday appealed to residents to cut back sharply on water usage for at least several weeks because of a pandemic-triggered shortage of liquid oxygen used to treat water. Orlando Utilities Commission consumes 10 tankers of liquid oxygen each week to remove odor and color from water. A …

Gentle readers, on today’s fifth anniversary of the Pulse massacre, I’m rerunning my account of that day. The story below originally ran on Pride Life’s website on July 12th 2016 and makes its second appearance on JMG today. Their Phones Kept Ringing One month ago today, Sunday June 12th, around 8AM I began my day, as usual, by examining my …

From Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer: In the years since the tragedy, we have worked to increase the visibility of Orlando’s LGBTQ+ community and celebrate our city’s diversity during annual events like Come Out With Pride and on murals throughout the city. We proudly fly the Pride flag at City Hall and at soccer games. Businesses now display stickers provided by …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Days before the fifth anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting, U.S. Senators passed a bill designating the site of the former nightclub as a national memorial. The legislation passed unanimously Wednesday afternoon after its sponsor, Sen. Rick Scott, asked that it and its companion bills be approved by unanimous consent in observance of the five years …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Although the Parliament House will be demolished, its distinctive multicolored sign will be preserved as a piece of Orlando history. “The City of Orlando is working on saving the sign,” city spokeswoman Samantha Holstein wrote in an email. “Staff has been in conversations with the property owner and working on coordinating the removal and storage for …

From the Parliament House’s Facebook page: For over 45 years, The Parliament House has called Orange Blossom Trail our home. We have to announce that our home at its current location will be closing Monday, November 2, 2020. We put up a good fight over the last 11 months to secure financing and renovate our existing property. Unfortunately, that fight …

Politico reports: In the shadow of Walt Disney World, in one of Florida’s fast-growing metropolises, Democrats are assembling a political machine that they’re counting on to destroy President Donald Trump’s dreams of reelection. The president must win Florida to capture a second term. But the increasingly Democratic Orlando region stands in his way as one of the few places in …

Orlando’s NBC News affiliate reports: “The Most Magical Place on Earth” has reopened after nearly four months with new rules in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom opened Saturday, while Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios will follow next week. All of Disney’s Central Florida parks closed in mid-March in an …

CBS News reports: Walt Disney World employees are urging park executives and state and local officials to reconsider delaying the reopening of the parks due to concern over the recent surge of coronavirus cases in Florida in a petition posted to moveon.org. “This virus is not gone, unfortunately, it’s only become worse in this state,” cast members wrote. “While theme …

Orlando’s NBC News affiliate reports: A popular bar in central Florida where dozens of workers and patrons have come down with the new coronavirus had its alcohol license suspended after a state inspector found patrons weren’t socially distancing and following other rules meant to slow the virus’ spread. At least 13 employees and 28 patrons have tested positive for COVID-19 …