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Kissimmee City Attorney Olga Sanchez de Fuentes (far left) and Mayor Jackie Espinosa (far right) discuss the reasoning behind the mayor's motion to terminate the attorney prior to the vote at Monday's Commission meeting. (Photo/Ken Jackson)

Kissimmee City Attorney Olga Sanchez de Fuentes (far left) and Mayor Jackie Espinosa (far right) discuss the reasoning behind the mayor's motion to terminate the attorney prior to the vote at Monday's Commission meeting. (Photo/Ken Jackson)

Kissimmee City Commission terminates City Attorney

Ken Jackson
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
The Kissimmee City Commission voted 3-1 to pass Mayor Jackie Espinosa's motion to terminate City Attorney Olga Sanchez de Fuentes at Tuesday night's meeting.Commissioner Noel Ortiz seconded the motion, Carlos Alvarez voted in favor and Vice Mayor Angela Eady voted against.
House Bill 1205, which has been in the courts almost since its signing by Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 2, 2025, imposed additional hurdles on the ballot-initiative process and heightened penalties for wrongdoing.

House Bill 1205, which has been in the courts almost since its signing by Gov. Ron DeSantis on May 2, 2025, imposed additional hurdles on the ballot-initiative process and heightened penalties for wrongdoing.

Proposed Constitutional amendments fail to gain ballot access

Jim Turner
Monday, February 2, 2026
News Service of Florida — Florida Decides Healthcare, a political committee sponsoring a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at expanding Medicaid coverage, was quick to turn its eyes to 2028 as the state declared an end to all initiative petition drives for the November ballot.
County Commissioners, Osceola County Fire Rescue & EMS, community leaders and project partners gathered Thursday to officially bring the newly-built Fire Station 43 into service with a traditional “uncoupling” ceremony. (Photo/Osceola County)

County Commissioners, Osceola County Fire Rescue & EMS, community leaders and project partners gathered Thursday to officially bring the newly-built Fire Station 43 into service with a traditional “uncoupling” ceremony. (Photo/Osceola County)

New County Fire Station 43 expands longtime Campbell City rescue operations

Staff Report
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Osceola County Fire Rescue Station 43 has been a mainstay near Campbell City for decades. Now it has a brand-new station at the corner of Whispering Pines Boulevard South Orange Blossom Trail to house a rescue unit that helps keep the area’s growing population safe.
St. Cloud Elementary School paraprofessional Jessica Mintz (left, with flowers) was named the Osceola County School District School-Related Employee of the Year, and Harmony Middle School’s Kyndall Brown (right) was named its Teacher of the Year at the 2026 Education Awards Friday at Osceola Heritage Park (Photo/Katie Williams)

St. Cloud Elementary School paraprofessional Jessica Mintz (left, with flowers) was named the Osceola County School District School-Related Employee of the Year, and Harmony Middle School’s Kyndall Brown (right) was named its Teacher of the Year at the 2026 Education Awards Friday at Osceola Heritage Park (Photo/Katie Williams)

Education Award winners noted for making work ‘personal over professional’

Ken Jackson
Saturday, January 31, 2026
When they were introduced to an Osceola Heritage Park events center crowd of hundreds — their peers in education — Friday, the nominees for the Osceola County School District Education Awards called their students, schools and their co-workers things like “my second home”, “a family” and “the...
Kissimmee native and Chief Petty Officer Franklin Mateo recently took part in a New York trip to honor the legacy of Cpl. Jason Dunham, his ship’s namesake. (Photo/ Navy Office of Community Outreach)

Kissimmee native and Chief Petty Officer Franklin Mateo recently took part in a New York trip to honor the legacy of Cpl. Jason Dunham, his ship’s namesake. (Photo/ Navy Office of Community Outreach)

Poinciana High grad Naval officer honors namesake of his ship

Ensign Han Fiori-puyu
Friday, January 30, 2026
Chief Petty Officer Franklin Mateo, a native of Kissimmee, serving aboard USS Jason Dunham, completed a visit to Scio, New York, Jan. 16-19, to honor the legacy of Medal of Honor recipient Cpl. Jason Dunham, the ship’s namesake.
Setting your home thermostat to 68 degrees during this cold snap can conserve energy and keep your power bill for the month a bit lower. (Graphic/OUC)

Setting your home thermostat to 68 degrees during this cold snap can conserve energy and keep your power bill for the month a bit lower. (Graphic/OUC)

How power companies suggest to cope with weekend's frigid weather — and SNOW?!?

Ken Jackson
Friday, January 30, 2026
Highs in the 40s, lows in the 20s, wind chills approaching the single-digits.We don't do this all the time in Osceola County and Central Florida. But a polar vortex is primed to send temperatures to lows we haven't seen since 2010, and before that, 1989.
NEWS BRIEFS — Library Valentine program; annual KUA Calendar now available; New service to curb false alarms

NEWS BRIEFS — Library Valentine program; annual KUA Calendar now available; New service to curb false alarms

NEWS BRIEFS — Library Valentine program; annual KUA Calendar now available; New service to curb false alarms

News Staff
Thursday, January 29, 2026
“Crafting Kindness” Library Valentine ProgramThis Valentine’s season, the Osceola Library System is inviting community members to turn creativity into compassion through Crafting Kindness, a heartfelt program designed to spread joy to local seniors.
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