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In his final budget proposal, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday rolled out a $117.36 billion plan for the 2026-2027 fiscal year that includes increased money for teachers and law-enforcement officers.

In his final budget proposal, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday rolled out a $117.36 billion plan for the 2026-2027 fiscal year that includes increased money for teachers and law-enforcement officers.

DeSantis’s proposed state budget tops $117 billion

Jim Turner
Friday, December 12, 2025
News Service of Florida -- In his final budget proposal, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday rolled out a $117.36 billion plan for the 2026-2027 fiscal year that includes increased money for teachers and law-enforcement officers.
County and library officials cut the ribbon Tuesday on OLLie—the new Osceola Library Link van, fully equipped to serve as a Library on the Move to places not near existing libraries. (Photo/David Chivers)

County and library officials cut the ribbon Tuesday on OLLie—the new Osceola Library Link van, fully equipped to serve as a Library on the Move to places not near existing libraries. (Photo/David Chivers)

OLLie puts Osceola Library on the move—could it be coming to you?

David Chivers
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Under bright skies and with a gathering of staff and supporters, the Osceola Library unveiled OLLie—the new Osceola Library Link van, fully equipped to serve as a Library on the Move, at a ribbon cutting held Tuesday at the Buenaventura Lakes Library.
The Ramirez family—mother Karina, father Joel and now 2-year-old Jalen got a Healthy Start to life, familyhood and parenthood thanks to the Osceola County non-profit, which held its annual awards ceremony Tuesday, below. (Photo/Ken Jackson)

The Ramirez family—mother Karina, father Joel and now 2-year-old Jalen got a Healthy Start to life, familyhood and parenthood thanks to the Osceola County non-profit, which held its annual awards ceremony Tuesday, below. (Photo/Ken Jackson)

Healthy Start primed to help more Osceola parents, babies in 2026

Ken Jackson
Thursday, December 11, 2025
Healthy Start of Osceola County stands ready to help expecting mothers and parents of newborns make sure everything is okay.Thanks to community partnerships, this non-profit, one of 32 such coalitions in the state, is poised to help even more mothers, fathers and newborns in Osceola County.
Navy veteran Pat Rudd, left, during World War II (Photo/Rudd Family) and being honored for her contributions at a recent Silver Spurs Rodeo (Photo/Taylor McFee).

Navy veteran Pat Rudd, left, during World War II (Photo/Rudd Family) and being honored for her contributions at a recent Silver Spurs Rodeo (Photo/Taylor McFee).

Fair winds and following seas to World War II Navy veteran Pat Rudd

Terry Lloyd
Thursday, December 11, 2025
If you have spent any time at all around the Osceola veterans community, you most likely met or at least saw St. Cloud resident Dorothy “Pat” Rudd, who recently passed away at age 104.She was a steady presence. Born in Illinois in 1921, she enlisted in the U.S.
The ceremonial groundbreaking for Osceola County’s first White Castle on West U.S. Highway 192 included a special proclamation from a Town Crier and a “blessing of the onions” tradition. It’s slated for a Spring 2026 opening. (Photo/Jennifer Chalifoux)

The ceremonial groundbreaking for Osceola County’s first White Castle on West U.S. Highway 192 included a special proclamation from a Town Crier and a “blessing of the onions” tradition. It’s slated for a Spring 2026 opening. (Photo/Jennifer Chalifoux)

Have fun storming the White Castle—for some sliders!

Jennifer Chalifoux
Thursday, December 11, 2025
A new castle is coming to Osceola County!White Castle will open its Kissimmee doors in spring 2026, on U.S. Highway 192 near Old Town. The 3,430-squarefoot eatery will host indoor and outdoor seating, as well as two drive-through lanes.
Representatives were on hand taking donations at the St. Cloud Holiday Festival last weekend, and the Osceola County official drop-off location Friday is in the Celebration Town Center.

Representatives were on hand taking donations at the St. Cloud Holiday Festival last weekend, and the Osceola County official drop-off location Friday is in the Celebration Town Center.

How to ‘Share Your Christmas’ Friday

Jennifer Chalifoux
Wednesday, December 10, 2025
It’s the season of giving—and the annual Share Your Christmas food and fund drive is doing just that.In its 40th year, the donation drive surpassed its Giving Tuesday goal of $400,000 by raising $487,177 to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.
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