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The Osceola Chamber passed its gavel to Rebekah Hurd and honored Adrianna Sekula with the Linda Goodwin-Nichols Service Award and Danny Ruiz Manrique the Bill Hansen Unity Award at its 101st Annual Meeting. (Photos/Osceola Chamber)

The Osceola Chamber passed its gavel to Rebekah Hurd and honored Adrianna Sekula with the Linda Goodwin-Nichols Service Award and Danny Ruiz Manrique the Bill Hansen Unity Award at its 101st Annual Meeting. (Photos/Osceola Chamber)

Osceola Chamber issues annual awards entering new ‘Era’

Jennifer Chalifoux
Thursday, February 12, 2026
The Osceola Chamber honored those in service to the community Saturday, awarding Adrianna Sekula the Linda Goodwin-Nichols Service Award and Danny Ruiz Manrique the Bill Hansen Unity Award.
Pennsylvania’s Ryan Matylewicz won the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series on the Kissimmee Chain last weekend. (Photo Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.)

Pennsylvania’s Ryan Matylewicz won the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series on the Kissimmee Chain last weekend. (Photo Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.)

NEWS BRIEFS — Pennsylvania’s Matylewicz wins Bassmaster Kayak Series on Kissimmee Chain; AdventHealth News

News Staff
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Pennsylvania’s Matylewicz wins Bassmaster Kayak Series on Kissimmee ChainRyan Matylewicz didn’t come close to catching the biggest bag of bass in the Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series at Kissimmee Chain presented by Native Watercraft. But he caught a 98.
Current Silver Spurs Rodeo Big Boss Kaye Whaley, just like past bosses George Kempfer (right) and Scott Ramsey (bottom), have a hand in putting on the rodeo all throughout the year. (Photos/Silver Spurs Riding Club)

Current Silver Spurs Rodeo Big Boss Kaye Whaley, just like past bosses George Kempfer (right) and Scott Ramsey (bottom), have a hand in putting on the rodeo all throughout the year. (Photos/Silver Spurs Riding Club)

This year’s rodeo? The work started last year

Ken Jackson
Thursday, February 12, 2026
If you count the two annual Silver Spurs Rodeos as one event, fans attend about four events if you see every annual rodeo at the Silver Spurs Arena.Mostly the patrons come, enjoy the show, buy some fries and a drink, maybe a hat and a belt buckle … and we’ll see you in six months.
The city will vote Tuesday whether to strengthen its ban on smoking in public spaces like Lakefront Park to the point of allowing staff to eject those who refuse to comply. (Photo/Ken Jackson)

The city will vote Tuesday whether to strengthen its ban on smoking in public spaces like Lakefront Park to the point of allowing staff to eject those who refuse to comply. (Photo/Ken Jackson)

Kissimmee commissioners to vote on tougher smoking ban in parks, election changes

Ken Jackson
Thursday, February 12, 2026
The Kissimmee City Commission will vote Tuesday on the final approval for a pair of charter amendments that would be passed on to voters in August regarding commissioner term limits and making background checks part of the election process, as well as a measure that would add strength to the city’s...
Kissimmee resident and New York native Gloria Vasquez has run marathons in all 50 states and is approaching 100 total races run—and has the medals to prove it. (Photos/Gloria DeLuca, Edwin Barrera)

Kissimmee resident and New York native Gloria Vasquez has run marathons in all 50 states and is approaching 100 total races run—and has the medals to prove it. (Photos/Gloria DeLuca, Edwin Barrera)

For Kissimmee grandmother, life’s not a sprint but a marathon—nearly 100 of them

David Chivers
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Gloria Vasquez is not your everyday 74-yearold Kissimmee grandmother.Unless your grandmother is nearing the mark of running 100 full marathons.Vazquen has already run marathons in all 50 states; a goal she completed by the time she was 60. She had run about 65 marathons at the time.“That’s me.
Residents view aerial displays of the proposed Sunbridge Parkway Extension Project. (Photo/Terry Lloyd)

Residents view aerial displays of the proposed Sunbridge Parkway Extension Project. (Photo/Terry Lloyd)

County presents Sunbridge Parkway Extension plans

Terry Lloyd
Thursday, February 12, 2026
A number of rural residents along Nova Road and Old Melbourne Highway east of St. Cloud, attended a public hearing on the proposed route of the Sunbridge Parkway Extension last week.The design phase for the new roadway will begin later this year. It will connect U.S.
Last week Gov. Ron DeSantis held a roundtable on artificial intelligence at New College of Florida in Sarasota where he stressed that the state has a responsibility to channel technology to benefit people and enhance, rather than supplant, the human experience. (Photo/Joe Raedle/Getty Images via News Service of Florida)

Last week Gov. Ron DeSantis held a roundtable on artificial intelligence at New College of Florida in Sarasota where he stressed that the state has a responsibility to channel technology to benefit people and enhance, rather than supplant, the human experience. (Photo/Joe Raedle/Getty Images via News Service of Florida)

DeSantis, state House of Representatives differ on AI legislation

Jim Turner
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
News Service of Florida — Gov. Ron DeSantis ratcheted up his concerns last week about potential “serious harms” from the growth of artificial intelligence and the need for state regulations.
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