News

The National Hurricane Center declared Lee a Category 5 hurricane at 11 p.m. with 160 mph top winds -- and it doesn't appear to be done. PHOTO/WEATHER UNDERGROUND

NHC: Lee is a Category 5 hurricane in Atlantic after 48 hours of "explosive intensity"

Ken Jackson

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Just 48 hours ago, Hurricane Lee was a tropical storm with 50 mph top-end winds. Thursday morning, it was a Category 1 storm with 80 mph winds. This evening, as you go to bed, it is a monster Category 5 storm. The National Hurricane Center upgraded it at 11 p.m.

The Osceola Library System is celebrating Library Card Sign Up Month by launching their annual “Show Your Card, Osceola!” campaign.

Osceola Library launching ‘Show Your Card’ discount offer

Annelle De Jesus Abikarram

Thursday, September 7, 2023

September is Library Card Sign Up Month! The Osceola Library System (OLS) is celebrating by launching their annual “Show Your Card, Osceola!” campaign where they partner with local businesses to make an Osceola Library Card the most powerful card in everyone's wallet.

Veteran's Voice — Sept. 7, 2023

PACT Act Claims — message received weak but readable

Terry Lloyd

Thursday, September 7, 2023

The VA announced that due to high volume, some Veterans and survivors are receiving error messages when submitting their intent to file PACT Act claims. If you received one of these messages, they say not to worry, as they have logged your intent to file and saved your effective date for benefits.

A Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) program is where community members buy shares of crops or goods of local farmers and producers ahead of time.

Kissimmee starts Community Shared Agriculture program — what is it?

Ken Jackson

Thursday, September 7, 2023

When the city of Kissimmee discussed last month ways to make groceries available in downtown, adjacent to where people moving into new housing complexes in the area, one of the ways was to create a cooperative space where they could be sold — a downtown grocery store with more.

A long bargaining process resulted in an approved service contact between Osceola County and its Fire Rescue Department.

Osceola County, firefighters approve new 'good' contract with pay increases

Ken Jackson

Thursday, September 7, 2023

After a long bargaining process, Osceola County and the Osceola Professional Firefighters Association Local #3284 recently came to terms on a new contact that calls for higher starting salaries for county firefighters.

Bill Dalton of the Southport Connector Alternative Routes group meets with community members and business owners at Boriquen Restaurant last week. PHOTO/ASHLEY GUSS

Poinciana businesses: Southport Connector will displace workers

Ashley Elizabeth Guss

Thursday, September 7, 2023

Robert Brea, the new business owner of Borinquen, a staple restaurant of Poinciana, remembers how busy this location has been over the last 10 years. This was a key motivator when he and his wife decided to purchase the Hispanic restaurant and pizzeria.

A public document request showed the county spent $153,777 defending this case. COURTESY OF JOSHUA MEYERS

Appeals court upholds 2021 Osceola County Sunshine Law violation

Ken Jackson

Thursday, September 7, 2023

An appeals court upheld an Osceola County resident’s legal filing, saying the county violated the state’s Government in the Sunshine laws in March 2020 when an emergency group that met made policy at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic without informing or inviting the public.

Monique Worrell's supporters hold signs at her press conference announcing her removal from office by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Aug. 9. FACEBOOK

Worrell fights ouster at Florida Supreme Court

Jim Saunders

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

News Service of Florida Suspended Orlando-area State Attorney Monique Worrell on Wednesday asked the Florida Supreme Court to overturn Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision last month to oust her, saying he had no legal basis for the move. “To the extent the governor disagrees with how Ms.

The red "dots" represent possible positions of Lee in about 6 days on the European storm model. TROPICAL TIDBITS/LEVI COWAN

Lee is a hurricane — will it affect Florida? Well, kinda, at least

Ken Jackson

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

The National Hurricane Center upgraded the central Atlantic storm to Hurricane Lee (75 mph) at 5 p.m. Wednesday, just 30 hours after it became Tropical Depression 13. And, according to forecast, he ain't done.

The Osceola Council on Aging, along with the Peer Support Coalition of Florida, an organization dedicated to advancing peer support across the state, hosted a Mental Health First Aid course on how to better identify and respond to signs of clinical depression, the varying degrees of mental illness, and substance abuse challenges. PHOTO/OSCEOLA COUNCIL ON AGING