Polk County Public Schools needs roughly 70 full‑time bus drivers before classes begin Aug. 11, and is offering paid CDL training plus $19.46/hour and benefits to attract hires.

National builders Perry Homes, Lennar and Dream Finders have signed on at Waterlin, a 6,000‑acre master plan near St. Cloud; model homes and early sales are under way.

The Orlando Sentinel and a coalition of Central Florida outlets will publish a shared voters guide by late July with candidate answers ahead of the Aug. 18 primary.

Downtown Orlando’s Shin Sushi is opening an all‑you‑can‑eat outpost in Clermont’s former Good Town Buffet space. A soft opening is scheduled for Thursday.

A House of Jerky storefront opened on Dillard Street in Winter Garden, offering beef, turkey and pork jerky with gluten- and sugar-free options.

Blue Spring State Park will require day‑use reservations starting July 15; booking opened July 8 and applies to all visitors, including passholders. Plan ahead and have your confirmation ready.

Commissioners approved a $13M purchase of a 200‑room hotel near the Orange County jail to convert it into transitional housing as local shelter demand rises.

Security footage shows kittens suffering heat exhaustion outside H.A.L.O. No‑Kill Rescue in Sebastian; the shelter and weather officials urge people not to leave animals unattended in the heat.

Heat Advisory in effect Thursday, July 9 from 11 AM–8 PM. Highs near 97°F with heat indices into the 108–110°F range; late-day storms possible.

The 2026‑27 state budget includes $500K for a Human Coalition telecare program while Florida continues to fund the Pregnancy Care Network with nearly $29.5M.

Walt Disney World added an Extended Evening Hours night at Hollywood Studios on September 16, 2026, giving on-site resort guests two hours of late-night access to top rides.

A Wisconsin woman was arrested at Orlando International Airport after investigators say she drove her rental van into a Windsor Island Resort guard in Davenport. She faces aggravated battery and aggravated assault warrants.

Seminole State is planning a $60M workforce building at its Altamonte Springs campus to expand nursing and allied‑health programs and boost local enrollment. The project would be built on a grassy parking lot and is pitched as a major capacity lift.